Communication system and method for discovering end-points that utilize a link layer connection in a wired/wireless local area network
View Patent ↗Aspects of the invention provide a communication system and method in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. At least one discovery message may be broadcasted to at least one of a plurality of access points. A response may be received from one or more of the access points. The response may report a presence of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points. A status of at least one access device located within a coverage area of one or more of the access points may be requested from the access points.
1. A method for providing communication to a plurality of wireless client devices in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the method comprising:
broadcasting, by a network device, a discovery message to a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network to discover the plurality of wireless client devices within a wireless portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;
receiving, by the network device, responses to the discovery message from each of said plurality of access points, at least two of said access points reporting, within said responses, a presence of a particular wireless client device within coverage areas thereof; and
transmitting, by the network device, status request messages to said at least two access points that reported the presence of said particular wireless client device within said coverage areas thereof, each of said status request messages requesting a status of said particular wireless client device to determine a serving access point serving said particular wireless client device.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising, in response to said status request messages, receiving from said at least two access points within whose coverage areas said particular wireless client device is located, status reply messages.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein each of said status reply messages indicates whether said particular wireless client device is being served by one of said at least two access points.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein each of said status reply messages further indicates signal strengths of signals sent between said particular wireless client device and said at least two access points.
5. The method according to claim 4 , comprising, determining a location of said particular wireless client device using said status reply messages.
6. The method according to claim 2 , wherein one or more of the following:
said discovery message, said status request messages and said status reply messages is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.
7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said broadcasting comprises broadcasting said discovery message from one or more of the following: a server, a switch and at least another one of said plurality of access points.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein said broadcasting comprises broadcasting said discovery message only to said plurality of access points located in a particular subnetwork of said hybrid wired/wireless local area network, said subnetwork with a particular IP address.
9. A system for providing communication to a plurality of wireless client devices in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the system comprising:
at least one broadcaster within a network device, the at least one broadcaster broadcasts a discovery message to a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network to discover the plurality of wireless client devices within a wireless portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;
at least one receiver within the network device, the at least one receiver receives responses to the discovery message from said plurality of access points, at least two access points reporting, within said responses, a presence of a particular wireless client device within respective coverage areas thereof; and
a requester within the network device, the requester transmits status request messages to said at least two access points that reported the presence of said particular wireless client device within said coverage areas thereof, each of said status request messages requesting a status of said particular wireless client device to determine a serving access point serving said particular wireless client device.
10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein, in response to said status request messages, said at least one receiver receives from said at least two access points within whose respective coverage areas said particular wireless client device is located, respective status reply messages.
11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein each of said status reply messages indicates whether said particular wireless client device is being served by one of said at least two access points.
12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein each of said status reply messages further indicates signal strengths of signals sent between said particular wireless client device and said at least two access points.
13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein the network device determines a location of said particular wireless client device using said status reply messages.
14. The system according to claim 10 , wherein one or more of the following: said discovery message, said status request messages and said status reply messages is transmitted utilizing a messaging protocol of a device communication protocol umbrella.
15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein said at least one broadcaster broadcasts said discovery message from one or more of the following: a server, a switch and at least another one of said plurality of access points.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said broadcaster broadcasts said discovery message only to said plurality of access points located in a particular subnetwork of said hybrid wired/wireless local area network, said subnetwork with a particular IP address.
17. A network device for providing communication to a plurality of wireless client devices in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network, the network device comprising:
at least one processor that broadcasts a discovery message to a plurality of access points within the hybrid wired/wireless local area network to discover the plurality of wireless client devices within a wireless portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network;
said at least one processor receives responses to the discovery message from said plurality of access points, at least two access points reporting, within said responses, a presence of a particular wireless client device within coverage areas thereof; and
said at least one processor transmits status request messages to said at least two access points that reported the presence of said particular wireless client device within said coverage areas thereof, each of said status request messages requesting a status of said particular wireless client device to determine a serving access point serving said particular wireless client device.
18. The network device according to claim 17 , wherein, in response to said status request messages, said at least one processor receives from said at least two access points within whose respective coverage areas said particular wireless client device is located, status reply messages.
19. The network device according to claim 18 , wherein each of said status reply messages indicates whether said particular wireless client device is being served by one of said at least two access points and further indicates signal strengths of signals sent between said particular wireless client device and said at least two access points.
20. The network device according to claim 19 , wherein said processor determines a location of said particular wireless client device using said status reply messages.