Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes monitoring, at one or more wireless network access elements, signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements. Information is collected from said wireless network access elements and converted into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring. The method further includes identifying, based at least in part on interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements, a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assigning channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments.

Abstract: A preemptive roaming mechanism in wireless network environments. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless client that implements a preemptive roaming mode that, when an attribute of the signal (e.g., Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), etc.) between the access point with which the client is currently associated crosses a threshold, scans for other access points with which to associate. In one implementation, the client switches between the scanning mode and a traffic mode to allow data to be transferred between the client and the current access point. The pre-emptive roaming functionality can be configured to support desired data rates or other QoS levels.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method includes monitoring, at one or more wireless network access elements, signal strength of signals transmitted by respective neighboring wireless network access elements. Information is collected from said wireless network access elements and converted into reportable data about signal strength observed during the monitoring. The method further includes identifying, based at least in part on interference associated with concurrent signal transmissions of the wireless network access elements, a combination of channel assignments for the one or more wireless network access elements from a plurality of possible combinations of channel assignments and assigning channels for concurrent, respective use by said wireless network access elements based on the identified combination of channel assignments.

Abstract: A cluster comprises a plurality of end nodes that communicate with one another over at least one communication channel. Each end node is assigned a time slot for transmission of frames; wherein each node comprises a local guardian configured to prevent transmission of timing-related frames sourced from the respective end node. The cluster also comprises a special node that communicates with the plurality of end nodes, wherein the special node establishes a time base and sources timing-related frames to the plurality of end nodes. The transmission schedule includes at least one common scrubbing time slot during which each of the plurality of end nodes is configured to generate a timing-related frame. The special node is configured to determine if the local guardian in any of the plurality of nodes failed to prevent transmission of the respective generated timing-related frame during the common scrubbing time slot.

Abstract: In a fixed channel wireless network system with a limited number of channels, assignment of the fixed channels between remote client elements and access elements is made systematically according to a set of criteria accounting for network loading and interference, then channel assignments are dynamically updated according to a priority to maintain optimal network performance with changing conditions of load and interference. The channel utilization problem is address at a system level rather than at a local level by treating the system as a three dimensional color mapping problem. All noise is treated as having a source in virtual access elements with an appropriate performance metric. The performance metric is used to select a channel set that minimize chances of interference and maximize user performance. Specifically, there are several parameter matrices which are managed and updated by a central resource management element, namely signal strength between elements, interference, and load.

Abstract: A cluster comprises a plurality of end nodes that communicate with one another over at least one communication channel. Each end node is assigned a time slot for transmission of frames; wherein each node comprises a local guardian configured to prevent transmission of timing-related frames sourced from the respective end node. The cluster also comprises a special node that communicates with the plurality of end nodes, wherein the special node establishes a time base and sources timing-related frames to the plurality of end nodes. The transmission schedule includes at least one common scrubbing time slot during which each of the plurality of end nodes is configured to generate a timing-related frame. The special node is configured to determine if the local guardian in any of the plurality of nodes failed to prevent transmission of the respective generated timing-related frame during the common scrubbing time slot.

Abstract: A wireless node location mechanism that defines a search region to optimize the computations associated with estimating the location of a given wireless node. According to one implementation, a coverage map associated with each radio receiver that records signal strength data is defined out to a threshold signal strength level. Before computing the estimated location of a given wireless nodes, a search region is defined based on the intersection of the coverage maps associated with each radio receiver that detects the wireless node. Some implementations use information provided by the fact that certain radio receivers did not detect the wireless node to further optimize the location estimate. By defining a search region, which is a generally small area relative to the space encompassed by an entire RF environment, the present invention provides several advantages, such as reducing the processing time and/or power to compute estimated locations for wireless nodes.

Abstract: A wireless node location mechanism that employs a differential signal strength metric to reduce the errors caused by variations in wireless node transmit power, errors in signal strength detection, and/or direction-dependent path loss. As opposed to using the absolute signal strength or power of an RF signal transmitted by a wireless node, implementations of the location mechanism compare the differences between signal strength values detected at various pairs of radio receivers to corresponding differences characterized in a model of the RF environment. One implementation searches for the locations in the model between each pair of radio receivers where their signal strength is different by an observed amount.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating location or containment of rogue or unauthorized access points on wireless computer network environments. Embodiments of the present invention support one to a plurality of rogue containment methodologies. A first rogue containment type involves identification of the physical connection of the rogue access point to the wired network infrastructure and, thus, allows for disabling of that physical connection to contain the rogue access point. Other rogue containment methods involve wireless techniques for containing the effect of rogue access points. In some embodiments, the present invention provides methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating network location of rogue access points to determine whether one or more rogue containment methodologies should be applied. As discussed below, the rogue location and containment functionality described herein can be applied to a wide variety of wireless network system architectures.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating containment of the effects of rogue or unauthorized access points on wireless computer network environments. Embodiments of the present invention support one to a plurality of rogue containment methodologies. A first rogue containment type involves identification of the physical connection of the rogue access point to the wired network infrastructure and, thus, allows for disabling of that physical connection to contain the rogue access point. Other rogue containment methods involve wireless techniques for containing the effect of rogue access points. As discussed below, the rogue containment functionality described herein can be applied to a wide variety of wireless network system architectures.

Abstract: A wireless node location mechanism that employs a differential signal strength metric to reduce the errors caused by variations in wireless node transmit power, errors in signal strength detection, and/or direction-dependent path loss. As opposed to using the absolute signal strength or power of an RF signal transmitted by a wireless node, implementations of the location mechanism compare the differences between signal strength values detected at various pairs of radio receivers to corresponding differences characterized in a model of the RF environment. One implementation searches for the locations in the model between each pair of radio receivers where their signal strength is different by an observed amount.

Abstract: A wireless node location mechanism that employs a differential signal strength metric to reduce the errors caused by variations in wireless node transmit power, errors in signal strength detection, and/or direction-dependent path loss. As opposed to using the absolute signal strength or power of an RF signal transmitted by a wireless node, implementations of the location mechanism compare the differences between signal strength values detected at various pairs of radio receivers to corresponding differences characterized in a model of the RF environment. One implementation searches for the locations in the model between each pair of radio receivers where their signal strength is different by an observed amount.

Abstract: A preemptive roaming mechanism in wireless network environments. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless client that implements a preemptive roaming mode that, when an attribute of the signal (e.g., Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), etc.) between the access point with which the client is currently associated crosses a threshold, scans for other access points with which to associate. In one implementation, the client switches between the scanning mode and a traffic mode to allow data to be transferred between the client and the current access point. The pre-emptive roaming functionality can be configured to support desired data rates or other QoS levels.

Abstract: A preemptive roaming mechanism in wireless network environments. In one implementation, the present invention provides a wireless client that implements a preemptive roaming mode that, when an attribute of the signal (e.g., Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR), etc.) between the access point with which the client is currently associated crosses a threshold, scans for other access points with which to associate. In one implementation, the client switches between the scanning mode and a traffic mode to allow data to be transferred between the client and the current access point. The pre-emptive roaming functionality can be configured to support desired data rates or other QoS levels.

Abstract: In a fixed channel wireless network system with a limited number of channels, assignment of the fixed channels between remote client elements and access elements is made systematically according to a set of criteria accounting for network loading and interference, then channel assignments are dynamically updated according to a priority to maintain optimal network performance with changing conditions of load and interference. The channel utilization problem is address at a system level rather than at a local level by treating the system as a three dimensional color mapping problem. All noise is treated as having a source in virtual access elements with an appropriate performance metric. The performance metric is used to select a channel set that minimize chances of interference and maximize user performance. Specifically, there are several parameter matrices which are managed and updated by a central resource management element, namely signal strength between elements, interference, and load.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating containment of the effects of rogue or unauthorized access points on wireless computer network environments. Embodiments of the present invention support one to a plurality of rogue containment methodologies. A first rogue containment type involves identification of the physical connection of the rogue access point to the wired network infrastructure and, thus, allows for disabling of that physical connection to contain the rogue access point. Other rogue containment methods involve wireless techniques for containing the effect of rogue access points. As discussed below, the rogue containment functionality described herein can be applied to a wide variety of wireless network system architectures.

Abstract: In a fixed channel wireless network system with a limited number of channels, assignment of the fixed channels between remote client elements and access elements is made systematically according to a set of criteria according for network loading and interference, then channel assignments are dynamically updated according to a priority to maintain optimal network performance with changing conditions of load and interference. The channel utilization problem is addressed at a system level rather than at a local level by treating the system as a three dimensional color mapping problem. All noise is treated as having a source in virtual access elements with an appropriate performance metric. The performance metric is used to select a channel set that minimize chances of interference and maximize user performance. Specifically, there are several parameter matrices which are managed and updated by a central resource management element, namely signal strength between elements, interference, and load.

Abstract: A wireless node RF Fingerprinting location mechanism that uses multiple antenna patterns to enhance the accuracy of wireless node location in an RF environment. In one implementation, substantially non-overlapping antenna pattern diversity is used to provide a degree of sectorization in computing the estimated location of a wireless node.

Abstract: Methods, apparatuses and systems facilitating the configuration of transmit power and coverage areas corresponding to access points in a wireless network environment. The present invention in one embodiment facilitates the dynamic configuration of coverage boundaries across a plurality of access points, improving the performance of the wireless network environment.

Abstract: A wireless node location mechanism that defines a search region to optimize the computations associated with estimating the location of a given wireless node. According to one implementation, a coverage map associated with each radio receiver that records signal strength data is defined out to a threshold signal strength level. Before computing the estimated location of a given wireless nodes, a search region is defined based on the intersection of the coverage maps associated with each radio receiver that detects the wireless node. Some implementations use information provided by the fact that certain radio receivers did not detect the wireless node to further optimize the location estimate. By defining a search region, which is a generally small area relative to the space encompassed by an entire RF environment, the present invention provides several advantages, such as reducing the processing time and/or power to compute estimated locations for wireless nodes.