Out-of-band management and traffic monitoring for wireless access points
View Patent ↗In a wireless data communications system a method is provided for conducting out-of-band for management and other communications with access points. The system operates under a first protocol, such as IEEE 802.11 protocol to provide wireless data communications. The access points are provided with a second radio module for conducting wireless data communications using a second protocol, such as Bluetooth. A wireless terminal, operating as a Bluetooth master can access the processor in the access point to conduct management and other communications relating to the operation of the access point.
1. In a system for providing wireless data communication with mobile units using a first wireless communications protocol, said system having an access point, a host computer adapted to provide management communications with the access point, and the mobile units, a method performed by the access point for conducting communications, the method comprising the steps of:
conducting wireless data communications with the mobile units using said first wireless communications protocol;
receiving, by a network interface of the access point, the management communications from the host computer over a cable connection; and
when a communication failure between the host computer and the access point occurs over the cable connection, a radio module of the access point receiving the management communications from a wireless terminal that is distinct from the host computer over a wireless connection using a second wireless communications protocol to allow management of the access point, wherein the second wireless communication protocol is different from the first wireless communication protocol.
2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising at least one of configuring one or more resources of said access point and adjusting one or more parameters of said access point responsive to said received management communications.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the first wireless communications protocol is an 802.11 Protocol and the second wireless communications protocol is Bluetooth.
4. The method according to claim 3 , further comprising authenticating said management communications.
5. The method according to claim 4 further comprising associating said radio module as a slave unit.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second wireless communications protocol is Bluetooth.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising authenticating said management communications.
8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein receiving the management communications comprises receiving one or more communications selected from a group of communications that includes updated system information, modified system programming, information concerning association with the mobile units, data for use by access points, and software for use by access points.
9. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising monitoring the wireless data communication using the second wireless communications protocol.
10. An access point for use in a wireless data communication system, comprising:
a first network interface for conducting data communications with one or more computers adapted to provide management communications with the access point, and for receiving the management communications from the one or more computers over a cable connection;
a first radio module using a first wireless communications protocol for wirelessly transmitting first data messages received from the one or more computers at said first network interface to mobile units, and for receiving second data messages from the mobile units and relaying the second data messages to the one or more computers via the first network interface;
at least one processor connected to the first network interface and the radio module for controlling the access point; and
a second radio module operating using a second wireless communications protocol, which is different from the first wireless communications protocol, and for receiving the management communications from a wireless terminal that is distinct from the host computer over a wireless connection when a communication failure between the one or more computers and the access point occurs over the cable connection.
11. The access point as specified in claim 10 , wherein said second radio module is arranged to operate as a slave module using a master slave protocol.
12. The access point as specified in claim 10 , wherein the second radio module is arranged to operate as a slave module using a Bluetooth protocol.
13. The access point as specified in claim 10 wherein said processor is further arranged to authenticate communications via said second radio module.
14. The access point as specified in claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor further allows monitoring the data communications using the second wireless communications protocol.
15. An apparatus, comprising:
a hardwired network interface;
a first radio module adapted to provide data communications with mobile units according to a first wireless communications protocol;
a second radio module adapted to communicate with a wireless terminal according to a second wireless communications protocol, which is different from the first wireless communications protocol; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the hardwired network interface, the first radio module, and the second radio module, the processor adapted to
provide data messages from the hardwired network interface to the first radio module,
receive, via the hardwired network interface, management communications from a remote computer that is distinct from the wireless terminal and that is adapted to provide the management communications to the apparatus, and
when a communication failure between the remote computer and the apparatus occurs over the hardwired network interface, to receive the management communications using the second wireless communications protocol from the wireless terminal via the second radio module.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is adapted to allow data communications through the first radio module and to allow access to management features through the second radio module.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the second radio module operates as a slave unit at least during a portion of the time the access to the management features is allowed.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further adapted to authenticate communications associated with access of management features.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the first wireless communications protocol is an 802.11 protocol and the second wireless communications protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further adapted to allow monitoring of the data communications.