Wireless Network Architecture

Abstract

The performance and ease of management of wireless communications environments is improved by a mechanism that enables access points (APs) to perform automatic channel selection. A wireless network can therefore include multiple APs, each of which will automatically choose a channel such that channel usage is optimized. Furthermore, APs can perform automatic power adjustment so that multiple APs can operate on the same channel while minimizing interference with each other. Wireless stations are load balanced across APs so that user bandwidth is optimized. A movement detection scheme provides seamless roaming of stations between APs.

1 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . a program product for use by a device in a wireless local area network communications environment including a plurality of access points and a plurality of mobile stations, the program product comprising a computer readable medium having embodied therein a computer program for storing data, the computer program comprising: 
 logic for generating protocol messages, the protocol generating logic including    logic for causing a first access point to transmit, on a first wireless channel, and before utilizing the channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station, a claim message indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel for transmission of non-management data to a mobile station;    logic, operative in response to receipt of a claim message from a second access point indicative of an intent to utilize the selected channel, for causing the first access point to communicate with the second access point to determine which of the first and second access points will utilize the selected channel;    logic for causing a first mobile station that is associated with a third access point to calculate whether a greater data rate is available from a fourth access point than the third access point, and for transmitting a bid message requesting association with the fourth access point if it is calculated that the fourth access point would provide a greater data rate than the third access point; and    logic, operative in response to receipt of a plurality of bid messages submitted by a plurality of mobile stations, for causing the fourth access point to select one of the received bid messages, and to transmit an accept message indicating that the mobile station which submitted the selected bid message is permitted to become associated with the fourth access point.    
   
   
       10 . The program product of  claim 9  wherein the logic for causing the fourth access point to select one of the received bid messages is operative to select the bid submitted from the mobile station that will have the greatest increase in data rate by becoming associated with the fourth access point.  
   
   
       11 . The program product of  claim 9  further including logic for causing the first access point to transmit Announce messages to indicate presence and protocol capability to other devices.  
   
   
       12 . The program product of  claim 11  further including logic for causing the fourth access point to transmit an indication of its load.  
   
   
       13 . The program product of  claim 12  further including logic for causing the fourth access point to adjust its transmit power level based on the more distant of nearest access point operating on the same channel and furthest mobile station associated with the fourth access point.  
   
   
       14 . The program product of  claim 13  further including logic for causing transmission of Registration Request messages, wherein a sending device sends a registration request message to a receiving device to indicate that the sending device desires to communicate in the wireless communications environment via the receiving device using a particular protocol.  
   
   
       15 . The program product of  claim 14  further including logic for causing transmission of Registration Acknowledge messages, wherein a sending device sends a Registration acknowledge message to a receiving device in response to a Registration Request message, to indicate that the sending device understands that the receiving device will communicate in the wireless communications environment using the Dynamic Radio Control Protocol.  
   
   
       16 . The program product of  claim 9  wherein the wireless communications environment is an 802.11 wireless network.