Patent · US Active

Heterogeneous deployment of access point clusters

US9930704B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2015
Grant dateMar 27, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 31, 2036

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04W88/08
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Described herein are systems, devices, techniques and products for configuration of access points in access point clustering environments. For example, access points are provided that self-discover existing access point clusters present on a single layer 2 broadcast domain or virtual local area network (VLAN). The access points may join one of the existing access point clusters or establish a new access point cluster, depending on compatibility or capacity, for example. Access point clusters that are present on a single VLAN may be distinguished based on a cluster identifier in order for multiple access point clusters to operate on the VLAN without creating a conflict. One or more criteria, such as a cluster identifier, a cluster size, a cluster version, a network latency, etc., may be used by an access point in determination of which of multiple access point clusters to join. When multiple clusters are operating on the VLAN, a supercluster may be formed. In such a supercluster, for example, one cluster may be elected as the master cluster for cluster management purposes.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.