Troubleshooting link and protocol in a wireless network
Methods, apparatuses, and systems directed to facilitating troubleshooting wireless connectivity issues in a wireless network. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, either a diagnostic supplicant in the wireless client or a diagnostic manager initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager over a diagnostic link in response to one or more events. In one embodiment, after the diagnostic supplicant establishes a link to a diagnostic manager via a diagnostic link, the diagnostic supplicant generates and transmits a problem report to the diagnostic manager. The problem report initiates a troubleshooting protocol between the diagnostic manager and the diagnostic supplicant.
1. A wireless access point comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory;
a wireless network interface;
a wireless access point application, physically stored in the memory, comprising instructions operable to cause the one or more processors and the wireless access point to
establish a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager in response to a failed attempt by the wireless client to establish connectivity to a wireless network;
advertise one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link; and
forward messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.
2. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the one or more access parameters are included in wireless management frames transmitted by the wireless access point.
3. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the one or more access parameters comprise one or more of a service set identifier (SSID), a basic service set identifier (BSSID), and an IP address.
4. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as a dedicated RF channel configured with one or more of increased transmit power and a lowered data rate.
5. In a wireless access point, a method comprising:
establishing a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager in response to a failed attempt by the wireless client to establish connectivity to a wireless network;
advertising one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link in wireless management frames; and
forwarding messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the one or more access parameters comprise one or more of a service set identifier (SSID), a basic service set identifier (BSSID), and an IP address.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein the diagnostic link is implemented as a dedicated RF channel configured with one or more of increased transmit power and a lowered data rate.
8. A wireless access point comprising:
means for establishing a diagnostic link between a diagnostic supplicant of a wireless client and a diagnostic manager in response to a failed attempt by the wireless client to establish connectivity to a wireless network;
means for advertising one or more access parameters of the diagnostic link in wireless management frames; and
means for forwarding messages between the diagnostic supplicant and the diagnostic manager.