The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 18, 2011
Filed:
Feb. 27, 2007
Patrice R. Calhoun, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Robert B. O'hara, Jr., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Patrice R. Calhoun, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Robert B. O'Hara, Jr., Santa Clara, CA (US);
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
In a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) system, a hierarchical architecture is provided which employs a protocol which divides protocol processing functions between a plurality of substantially identical access elements in which reside time-critical protocol functions, such as acknowledgment and retransmission of packets, and a centralized control element which provides control and management functions related to dynamic configuration of wireless networks, such as processing of network management messages (e.g., authentication and association), load control, channel control, and handoff, processing of physical layer information, and processing of channel characteristics, propagation, interference or noise, for the plurality of access elements on the WLAN without loss of information about the wireless characteristics of the access elements. This hierarchical protocol processing architecture allows the data flow to be centralized for better performance and provides useful access to all the protocol information from the WLAN.