Method and system for distribution of configuration information among access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN) across a distribution system (DS)
View Patent ↗Aspects of a method and system for distribution of configuration information among access points (AP) in a WLAN across a distribution system (DS) are presented. An AP, performing in a role of an AP-configurator may configure another AP, performing in a role of AP-client. The AP-configurator may distribute configurator configuration information to the AP-client. A configured AP-client may adopt a role of AP-configurator to configure a subsequent AP-client. An AP-configurator, or configured AP-client may subsequently configure a client station. The AP-configurator or configured AP-client may distribute configuration information to the client station. The configuration information may be based on previously distributed configurator configuration information. The method may enable client stations to be configured based on common configuration information that may be derived from configurator configuration information that was distributed by an AP-configurator. The client stations configured based on the common configuration information may communicate information in a secure network.
1. A method for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the method comprising:
receiving at first access point functioning as an AP-client, configuration information from second access point functioning as an AP-configurator via a network;
configuring said first access point functioning as said AP-client to function as a configurator based on said received configuration information; and
configuring by said first access point functioning as said configurator, one or both of a client station and another access point functioning as an AP-client.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising configuring said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on at least a portion of said received configuration information.
3. The method according to claim 2 , comprising selecting one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on receiving one or both of authentication response information and configuration response information.
4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising opening one or both of a configurator timing window and a client timing window at a time instant that precedes said selecting.
5. The method according to claim 3 , comprising configuring said selected one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client.
6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising communicating one or both of a service set identifier and a passphrase during said configuring of said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client.
7. A system for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the system comprising:
one or more processors and/or circuits for use in first access point functioning as an AP-client, said one or more processors and/or circuits being operable to:
receive configuration information from second access point functioning as an AP-configurator via a network;
configure said first access point functioning as said AP-client to function as a configurator based on said received configuration information; and
configure one or both of a client station and another access point functioning as an AP-client.
8. The system according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to configure said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on at least a portion of said received configuration information.
9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to select one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on receiving one or both of authentication response information and configuration response information.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to open one or both of a configurator timing window and a client timing window at a time instant that precedes said selecting.
11. The system according to claim 9 , wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to configure said selected one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client.
12. The system according to claim 7 , wherein said one or more processors and/or circuits are operable to communicate one or both of a service set identifier and a passphrase during said configuring of said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client.
13. A non-transitory machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for enabling communication of information in a secure communication system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:
receiving at first access point functioning as an AP-client, configuration information from second access point functioning as an AP-configurator via a network;
configuring said first access point functioning as said AP-client to function as a configurator based on said received configuration information; and
configuring by said first access point functioning as said configurator, one or both of a client station and another access point functioning as an AP-client.
14. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on at least a portion of said received configuration information.
15. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code for selecting one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client based on receiving one or both of authentication response information and configuration response information.
16. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code for opening one or both of a configurator timing window and a client timing window at a time instant that precedes said selecting.
17. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 15 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code for configuring said selected one of said client station or said another access point functioning as said AP-client.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to claim 13 , wherein said at least one code section comprises code for communicating one or both of a service set identifier and a passphrase during said configuring of said one or both of said client station and said another access point functioning as said AP-client.