Method and apparatus for progressively scanning channels
View Patent ↗A method for progressively scanning channels first checks whether all channel scanning tasks are completed so as to determine a channel that will be scanned first. During the scanning process, the method records a channel as a last scanned channel after completing a channel scanning task for the channel. In addition, the method scans a channel with a valid service set identifier to increase the possibility of detecting hidden access points.
1. A method for progressively scanning channels comprising the steps of:
checking whether a previous channel scanning procedure is completed and obtaining a scanning instruction;
setting a channel to be continuously scanned after the previous channel scanning procedure in accordance with the scanning instruction, wherein the channel to be continuously scanned is a channel next to a last scanned channel in the previous channel scanning procedure if the scanning instruction indicates that the previous channel scanning procedure is not completed;
deleting only a record of the channel to be continuously scanned if the record of the channel to be continuously scanned is recorded in a scanning record; and
scanning the channel to be continuously scanned after deleting the record of the channel to be continuously scanned.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of performing an active scanning operation with a valid service set identifier to scan the channel to be continuously scanned.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a step of recording the channel to be continuously scanned as the last scanned channel.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the last channel is a K-th channel of N channels, K, N being positive integers.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the N channels to be scanned are channels on which a station operates.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the next channel for 2.4 GHz stations is channel K+1 and the next channel for 5 GHz stations is channel K+4 or a next channel on which the 5 GHz station operates.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein an active scanning operation is utilized for scanning the channel to be continuously scanned.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein a passive scanning operation is utilized for scanning the channel to be continuously scanned.
9. An apparatus for scanning channels progressively, comprising:
a checking unit configured to check at least one result in a recording unit and obtaining a scanning instruction indicating whether a previous channel scanning procedure is completed;
a setting unit configured to set a channel to be continuously scanned after the previous channel scanning procedure in accordance with the scanning instruction, wherein the channel to be continuously scanned is a channel next to a last scanned channel in the previous channel scanning procedure if the scanning instruction indicates that the previous channel scanning procedure is not completed;
a deleting unit for deleting only a scanning result of the channel to be continuously scanned from the recording unit, wherein, the scanning result is obtained from the previous channel scanning procedure;
a scanning unit configured to scan the channel to be continuously scanned after deleting the scanning result of the channel to be continuously scanned; and
the recording unit configured to record at least one scanning result from the scanning unit in a scanning record and to record the channel to be continuously scanned as the last scanned channel.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the scanning unit performs an active scanning operation with a valid service set identifier to scan the channel to be continuously scanned.
11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein an active scanning mode is set for the scanning unit.
12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a passive scanning mode is set for the scanning unit.
13. The apparatus of claim 9 , which is implemented with software, hardware, or a platform with single processor or with multiple processors.