Methods and apparatus to monitor WI-FI media streaming using an alternate access point
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed to monitor WI-FI media streaming using alternate access points. An example apparatus disclosed herein monitor wireless traffic includes an example traffic monitor to identify a connection of a WI-FI client to a primary access point and capture a management frame transmitted from the primary access point to the WI-FI client. The example apparatus further includes an example frame generator to insert a change channel announcement into the captured management frame and a router to cause a wireless interface to transmit the beacon frame to the WI-FI client.
1. An apparatus to monitor wireless traffic, the apparatus comprising:
a first wireless interface to establish a wireless connection with first network credentials to match second network credentials of a primary access point;
a second wireless interface, different than the first wireless interface, to monitor traffic;
a traffic monitor to:
identify, via the traffic monitored via the second wireless interface, a connection of a Wi-Fi client to the primary access point; and
capture a management frame transmitted from the primary access point to the Wi-Fi client;
a frame generator to insert a change channel announcement into the captured management frame; and
a router to cause the first wireless interface to re-transmit the captured management frame including the change channel announcement.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the channel change announcement is to cause the Wi-Fi client to connect to the apparatus.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , further wherein the traffic monitor is to identify a media request transmitted from the Wi-Fi client to an external network, the media request transmitted via the apparatus and, the apparatus further including a media monitor to extract media identifying information from the media request.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the media monitor transmits the media identifying information to an audience measurement entity.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the same network credentials enable the Wi-Fi client to reconnect to the primary access point if the apparatus is disabled.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first wireless interface is to configure the apparatus to have a different channel than the primary access point, the channel change announcement to instruct the Wi-Fi client to use the different channel.
7. A method to monitor wireless traffic, the method comprising:
establishing, via a first wireless interface, a wireless connection with first network credentials to match second network credentials of a primary access point;
monitoring, via a second wireless interface, traffic, the second wireless interface different than the first wireless interface;
identifying, via the traffic monitored via the second wireless interface, a connection of a Wi-Fi client to the primary access point;
capturing, via the alternate access point, a management frame transmitted from the primary access point to the Wi-Fi client;
inserting a change channel announcement into the captured management frame; and
re-transmitting, via the first wireless interface, the captured management frame including the change channel announcement.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the channel change announcement is to cause the Wi-Fi client to connect to the alternate access point.
9. The method of claim 8 , further including:
identifying a media request transmitted from the Wi-Fi client to an external network; and
extracting media identifying information from the media request.
10. The method of claim 9 , further including transmitting the media identifying information to an audience measurement entity.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the same network credentials enable the Wi-Fi client to reconnect to the primary access point if the alternate access point is disabled.
12. The method of claim 7 , further including configuring the alternate access point to have a different channel than the primary access point, the channel change announcement including instruct the Wi-Fi client to use the different channel.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions, which when executed, cause a processor to:
establish, via a first wireless interface, a wireless connection with first network credentials to match second network credentials of a primary access point;
monitor, via a second wireless interface, traffic, the second wireless interface different than the first wireless interface;
identify, via the traffic monitored via the second wireless interface, a connection of a Wi-Fi client to the primary access point; and
capture, via the alternate access point, a management frame transmitted from the primary access point to the Wi-Fi client;
insert a change channel announcement into the captured management frame; and
re-transmit, via the first wireless interface, the captured management frame including the change channel announcement.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the channel change announcement is to cause the Wi-Fi client to connect to the alternate access point.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to:
identify a media request transmitted from the Wi-Fi client to an external network; and
extract media identifying information from the media request.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to transmit the media identifying information to an audience measurement entity.
17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the same network credentials enable the Wi-Fi client to reconnect to the primary access point if the alternate access point is disabled.