Plug-in network device
A plug-in network device is disclosed. The plug-in network device can be used in association with a network management system and an infrastructure network device. The plug-in network device includes two antenna arrays, one of which is up-facing and one of which is front-facing. The plug-in network device can achieve wireless communication with the infrastructure network device via the up-facing antenna array and provide network services to wireless stations through the front-facing antenna array. The network management system can manage both the infrastructure network device and the plug-in network device.
1. A system, comprising:
a network management system that includes hardware configured to manage a wireless local area network (WLAN) at a physical location;
an infrastructure network device on the WLAN at the physical location coupled to the network management system; and
a plug-in network device, coupled to the infrastructure network device via a wireless medium, that includes:
an up-facing antenna array;
an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
a front-facing antenna array;
a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array; and
a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface, wherein the network management system is configured to allow the plug-in network device access to network services via the infrastructure network device.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network management system is implemented on a cloud-based platform.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network management system includes a plug-in network device onboarding engine.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network management system includes a network security engine.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network management system includes an access control engine.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the infrastructure network device includes a wireless access point.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a plug-in mesh network device.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device is a newly deployed device added to the WLAN.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the backbone communication interface is coupled to a wired backbone network.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes an antenna signal shield disposed between the up-facing antenna array and the front-facing antenna array.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a plug-in network device housing and secure coupling brackets operationally connected to the plug-in network device housing.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a protocol conversion engine coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a network device processing engine coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a network device security management engine coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a network device portability power control engine coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a local output interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device includes a sensor coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface.
18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plug-in network device is deployed at a location that is lower in elevation than that of the infrastructure network device.
19. A plug-in network device, comprising:
an up-facing antenna array;
an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
a front-facing antenna array;
a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array;
a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface; and
an antenna signal shield disposed between the up-facing antenna array and the front-facing antenna array.
20. A plug-in network device, comprising:
an up-facing antenna array;
an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
a front-facing antenna array;
a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array;
a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface;
a plug-in network device housing; and
secure coupling brackets operationally connected to the plug-in network device housing.