Seamless mobility in wireless networks
AP's associated with a communication network and any wireless devices desiring contact, operated according to a protocol in which each wireless device selects AP's with which to communicate. A system coordinator causes the AP's to operate so as to guide each wireless device to an AP selected by the system coordinator. This has the effect that, notwithstanding that the protocol involves having the wireless device make the selection of AP, functionally, the AP's make the selection for it. In a 1st technique, multiple AP's share an identifier, with the system coordinator directing one particular AP to respond to the wireless device, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal cell”. In a 2nd technique, AP's each maintain identifiers substantially unique to each wireless device, with the system coordinator directing only one particular AP to maintain any particular wireless device's identifier, thus appearing to wireless devices as a “personal AP”.
1. A computer-implemented method in a system coordinator on a wireless communication network and in communication remotely with a plurality of access points, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting with the plurality of access points for management through a set of communication links between the plurality of access points and the system coordinator,
wherein the plurality of access points sends beacon messages to be received by wireless devices, the beacon messages indicating availability of multiple identifiers, wherein the access point customizes the beacon messages on a per-wireless-device-basis, in response to different communication parameters to be assigned to different wireless devices, and wherein communication parameters include at least one of access control, backoff or retry parameters, channel selection parameters, quality of service, and transmit power;
coordinating connections with wireless devices desiring contact with that communication network through the plurality of access points, wherein the plurality of access points on the wireless network appear to be identical to the wireless devices; and
conducting, by the system coordinator, a soft handoff to a particular access point of the plurality of access points from a second access point of the plurality of access points, wherein in response to the soft handoff, the particular access point maintains an identifier for the particular wireless device, the identifier being previously maintained at the second access point that disassociates with the particular wireless device responsive to the soft handoff, wherein the soft handoff is transparent to the particular wireless device,
wherein the particular access points associates with the particular wireless device by responding to a message sent by the particular wireless device without any type of configuration by the particular wireless device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the soft handoff is responsive to changed communication conditions with the particular wireless device.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending beacon messages to be received by wireless devices, indicating availability of multiple identifiers, wherein the access point sends the beacon messages using increased data rates responsive to an increased number of identifiers.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending beacon messages to be received by wireless devices, indicating availability of multiple identifiers, wherein the access point customizes the beacon messages in response to first and second sets of communication parameters to be established with first and second wireless devices.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein either or both of the first of second communication parameters include at least one of access control, backoff or retry parameters, channel selection parameters, quality of service, and transmit power.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifier comprises a unique identifier for each wireless device.
7. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program product to perform a method in a system coordinator on a wireless communication network and in communication remotely with a plurality of access points, the method comprising the steps of:
connecting with the plurality of access points for management through a set of communication links between the plurality of access points and the system coordinator,
wherein the plurality of access points sends beacon messages to be received by wireless devices, the beacon messages indicating availability of multiple identifiers, wherein the access point customizes the beacon messages on a per-wireless-device-basis, in response to different communication parameters to be assigned to different wireless devices, and wherein communication parameters include at least one of access control, backoff or retry parameters, channel selection parameters, quality of service, and transmit power;
coordinating connections with wireless devices desiring contact with that communication network through the plurality of access points, wherein the plurality of access points on the wireless network appear to be identical to the wireless devices; and
conducting, by the system coordinator, a soft handoff to a particular access point of the plurality of access points from a second access point of the plurality of access points, wherein in response to the soft handoff, the particular access point maintains an identifier for the particular wireless device, the identifier being previously maintained at the second access point that disassociates with the particular wireless device responsive to the soft handoff, wherein the soft handoff is transparent to the particular wireless device,
wherein the particular access points associates with the particular wireless device by responding to a message sent by the particular wireless device without any type of configuration by the particular wireless device.
8. A system coordinator on a wireless communication network and in communication remotely with a plurality of access points, the system coordinator comprising:
a processor; and
a memory, storing:
a first module to connect with the plurality of access points for management through a set of communication links between the plurality of access points and the system coordinator, wherein the plurality of access points sends beacon messages to be received by wireless devices, the beacon messages indicating availability of multiple identifiers, wherein the access point customizes the beacon messages on a per-wireless-device-basis, in response to different communication parameters to be assigned to different wireless devices, and wherein communication parameters include at least one of access control, backoff or retry parameters, channel selection parameters, quality of service, and transmit power;
a second module to coordinate connections with wireless devices desiring contact with that communication network through the plurality of access points, wherein the plurality of access points on the wireless network appear to be identical to the wireless devices; and
a third module to conduct a soft handoff to a particular access point of the plurality of access points from a second access point of the plurality of access points by the system coordinator, wherein in response to the soft handoff, the particular access point maintains an identifier for the particular wireless device, the identifier being previously maintained at the second access point that disassociates with the particular wireless device responsive to the soft handoff, wherein the soft handoff is transparent to the particular wireless device,
wherein the particular access points associates with the particular wireless device by responding to a message sent by the particular wireless device without any type of configuration by the particular wireless device.