Method and communication device for expanded coverage in a mesh network
US8107414B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 9, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W12/73
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method (200) are disclosed for expanded coverage in a mesh network (100). A communication device (140) incorporating teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a controller (302) managing operation of a transceiver (320) in communication with the mesh and programmed to acquire (202) a network identification from a mesh node (120), transmit (204) the network identification and appear as another mesh node to clients, and forward traffic from wireless clients to the mesh node. The communication device can operate (206) as a node in the mesh using the network identification and operate (208) as an independent router using a separate wireless router identifier. In another embodiment, the controller can be programmed to detect a network identification of an access point within a coverage area of a communication device (120), transmit a join message, and transmit authenticating information and security associations. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.