Abstract: During operation, an electronic device receives a packet or a frame associated with a second electronic device, where the packet or the frame includes information specifying a factory reset command. For example, the second electronic device may be a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server or may perform functions of a DHCP server. Moreover, the packet or the frame may include an acknowledgment (ACK) in a discover, offer, request and acknowledgment (DORA) procedure, and the information may be included in an option 43 subfield or an option 52 subfield in the packet or the frame. In response to receiving the factory reset command, the electronic device performs a factory reset. Note that the factory reset may restore firmware in the electronic device to a factory-fresh version and a configuration of the electronic device to a factory-fresh state, may erase memory in the electronic device.

Abstract: During operation, an electronic device may emulate client functionality associated with a virtual client in a wireless network, where emulating the client functionality includes generating a first frame that is compatible with a wireless communication protocol and is associated with fictious wireless communication with the virtual client. Then, the electronic device may provide, to a computer, a second frame that includes at least a portion of the first frame, where the second frame is compatible with a wired communication protocol. Next, the electronic device may receive, from the computer, a response message based at least in part on the first frame, where the response message includes information associated with a service provided by the computer. Moreover, the electronic device may assess the service based at least in part on the information and may selectively perform the remedial action based at least in part on the assessment.

Abstract: An access point that provides a transition recommendation is described. This access point may provide a first WLAN having a first capability. During operation, the access point may associate with the electronic device. Moreover, the access point may determine that the electronic device has a second capability that is different from the first capability. For example, the first capability may include compatibility with a first IEEE 802.11 standard and the second capability may include compatibility with a second IEEE 802.11 standard. Next, the access point may provide the transition recommendation addressed to the electronic device based at least in part on the difference in the first capability and the second capability, where the transition recommendation recommends that the electronic device transition from the first WLAN to a second WLAN that has the second capability.

Abstract: An access point that provides a transition recommendation is described. This access point may provide a first WLAN having a first capability. During operation, the access point may associate with the electronic device. Moreover, the access point may determine that the electronic device has a second capability that is different from the first capability. For example, the first capability may include compatibility with a first IEEE 802.11 standard and the second capability may include compatibility with a second IEEE 802.11 standard. Next, the access point may provide the transition recommendation addressed to the electronic device based at least in part on the difference in the first capability and the second capability, where the transition recommendation recommends that the electronic device transition from the first WLAN to a second WLAN that has the second capability.

Abstract: In response to receiving a primary wireless LAN connection request from a computing device, a wireless access point (WAP) establishes a temporary wireless LAN associated with a temporary service set identifier (SSID) of a computing device. WAP stores a computing device identifier of the computing device in association with the temporary SSID. WAP communicates to the computing device, a CAPTCHA challenge-response test requesting connection to the temporary wireless LAN. WAP awaits, for a timeout period, a temporary wireless LAN connection request by the computing device to communicate over the temporary wireless LAN. In response to receiving or failing to receive the temporary wireless LAN connection request from the computing device within a timeout period, WAP classifies the computing device as a human or machine user. WAP applies network policies to communications of the pending computing device over the primary wireless LAN based on the machine or human user classification.

Abstract: During disclosed communication techniques, an electronic device (such as an access point) may receive one or more packets from another electronic device, where the other electronic device has an established connection or association with the electronic device, and the one or more packets are communicated using a first band of frequencies. Then, the electronic device may determine to recommend a basic service set (BSS) transition from the first band of frequencies to at least a second band of frequencies. Moreover, the electronic device may provide a request packet to the other electronic device with a recommendation with one or more candidates for the BSS transition, such as a channel in the second band of frequencies. Next, the electronic device may receive a response packet from the other electronic device, where the response packet indicates a remedial action of the other electronic device in response to the request packet.

Abstract: An access point that provides a transition recommendation is described. This access point may provide a first WLAN having a first capability. During operation, the access point may associate with the electronic device. Moreover, the access point may determine that the electronic device has a second capability that is different from the first capability. For example, the first capability may include compatibility with a first IEEE 802.11 standard and the second capability may include compatibility with a second IEEE 802.11 standard. Next, the access point may provide the transition recommendation addressed to the electronic device based at least in part on the difference in the first capability and the second capability, where the transition recommendation recommends that the electronic device transition from the first WLAN to a second WLAN that has the second capability.

Abstract: An electronic device (such as an access point) may receive a packet (or a frame) from a second electronic device, where the packet includes an encrypted unique identifier of the second electronic device. For example, the encrypted unique identifier may be included in a manufacturer-specific information element in a management packet. Then, the electronic device may decrypt the encrypted unique identifier using an encryption key or a secure hash function to obtain the unique identifier. Next, the electronic device may determine whether the second electronic device is an instance of an authorized access point in the WLAN based at least in part on the unique identifier. Note that the second electronic device may be an instance of an authorized access point when the unique identifier is associated with a manufacturer of the electronic device and/or the second electronic device.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe technologies for providing and receiving available service information for a network, prior to a connection to the network via an access point. An access point determines a list of available services on a network associated with the access point. The list of available services is stored in a memory of the access point. The access point provides the list of available services to an endpoint device in a vendor specific information element prior to an establishment of a wireless connection between the access point and the endpoint device.

Abstract: During operation, an electronic device may emulate client functionality associated with a virtual client in a wireless network, where emulating the client functionality includes generating a first frame that is compatible with a wireless communication protocol and is associated with fictious wireless communication with the virtual client. Then, the electronic device may provide, to a computer, a second frame that includes at least a portion of the first frame, where the second frame is compatible with a wired communication protocol. Next, the electronic device may receive, from the computer, a response message based at least in part on the first frame, where the response message includes information associated with a service provided by the computer. Moreover, the electronic device may assess the service based at least in part on the information and may selectively perform the remedial action based at least in part on the assessment.

Abstract: During operation, an electronic device receives a packet or a frame associated with a second electronic device, where the packet or the frame includes information specifying a factory reset command. For example, the second electronic device may be a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) server or may perform functions of a DHCP server. Moreover, the packet or the frame may include an acknowledgment (ACK) in a discover, offer, request and acknowledgment (DORA) procedure, and the information may be included in an option 43 subfield or an option 52 subfield in the packet or the frame. In response to receiving the factory reset command, the electronic device performs a factory reset. Note that the factory reset may restore firmware in the electronic device to a factory-fresh version and a configuration of the electronic device to a factory-fresh state, may erase memory in the electronic device.

Abstract: During disclosed communication techniques, an electronic device (such as an access point) may receive one or more packets from another electronic device, where the other electronic device has an established connection or association with the electronic device, and the one or more packets are communicated using a first band of frequencies. Then, the electronic device may determine to recommend a basic service set (BSS) transition from the first band of frequencies to at least a second band of frequencies. Moreover, the electronic device may provide a request packet to the other electronic device with a recommendation with one or more candidates for the BSS transition, such as a channel in the second band of frequencies. Next, the electronic device may receive a response packet from the other electronic device, where the response packet indicates a remedial action of the other electronic device in response to the request packet.

Abstract: During disclosed communication techniques, an electronic device (such as an access point) may receive one or more packets from another electronic device, where the other electronic device has an established connection or association with the electronic device, and the one or more packets are communicated using a first band of frequencies. Then, the electronic device may determine to recommend a basic service set (BSS) transition from the first band of frequencies to at least a second band of frequencies. Moreover, the electronic device may provide a request packet to the other electronic device with a recommendation with one or more candidates for the BSS transition, such as a channel in the second band of frequencies. Next, the electronic device may receive a response packet from the other electronic device, where the response packet indicates a remedial action of the other electronic device in response to the request packet.

Abstract: In response to receiving a primary wireless LAN connection request from a computing device, a wireless access point (WAP) establishes a temporary wireless LAN associated with a temporary service set identifier (SSID) of a computing device. WAP stores a computing device identifier of the computing device in association with the temporary SSID. WAP communicates to the computing device, a CAPTCHA challenge-response test requesting connection to the temporary wireless LAN. WAP awaits, for a timeout period, a temporary wireless LAN connection request by the computing device to communicate over the temporary wireless LAN. In response to receiving or failing to receive the temporary wireless LAN connection request from the computing device within a timeout period, WAP classifies the computing device as a human or machine user. WAP applies network policies to communications of the pending computing device over the primary wireless LAN based on the machine or human user classification.

Abstract: During disclosed communication techniques, an electronic device (such as an access point) may receive one or more packets from another electronic device, where the other electronic device has an established connection or association with the electronic device, and the one or more packets are communicated using a first band of frequencies. Then, the electronic device may determine to recommend a basic service set (BSS) transition from the first band of frequencies to at least a second band of frequencies. Moreover, the electronic device may provide a request packet to the other electronic device with a recommendation with one or more candidates for the BSS transition, such as a channel in the second band of frequencies. Next, the electronic device may receive a response packet from the other electronic device, where the response packet indicates a remedial action of the other electronic device in response to the request packet.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for supporting broadcast traffic through a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One method includes obtaining broadcast listening information of a broadcast listening access node, wherein the broadcast listening information includes an identifier of the broadcast listening access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device. The method further includes obtaining broadcast sourcing information of a broadcast sourcing access node, wherein the broadcast sourcing information includes an identifier of the broadcast sourcing access node, and a broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device. The method further includes providing broadcast listening information of the broadcast listening access node to the broadcast sourcing access node upon determining the broadcast identifier of the broadcast sourcing device matches the broadcast identifier of the broadcast listening device.

Abstract: A controller of a wireless access node is operative to estimate an adjacent one of a plurality of wireless channels while the access node is communicating over a present one of the plurality of wireless channels, comprising the controller, determining a difference between a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the present wireless channel and a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the adjacent channel, estimate a difference between a packet success rate of the present channel and a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on the determined difference, and estimating a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on a packet success rate of the present channel and the estimated difference between the packet success rate of the present channel and the packet success rate of the adjacent channel.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses for distributing multicast traffic through a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One apparatus includes an access node that includes one or more transceivers for communicating with other devices of a wireless mesh network, and a processor. The processor is operative to receive a unicast IP packet that includes a special destination IP address through at least one of the one or more transceivers, determine, based on the special destination IP address and a multicast group ID of a multicast distribution table, whether to forward the unicast IP packet to a downstream device, and route the unicast IP packet to the downstream device based on the determination.

Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatuses of supporting multicast traffic of a wireless mesh network are disclosed. One apparatus includes an access node that includes one or more transceivers for communicating with other devices of a wireless mesh network, and a processor. The processor is operative to receive multicast traffic from a multicast traffic source through the one or more transceivers, associate the multicast traffic with a multicast group ID, and encapsulate the received multicast traffic in unicast IP packets that include a special destination IP address associated with the multicast group ID.

Abstract: A controller of a wireless access node is operative to estimate an adjacent one of a plurality of wireless channels while the access node is communicating over a present one of the plurality of wireless channels, comprising the controller, determining a difference between a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the present wireless channel and a measured signal quality of a signal communicated over the adjacent channel, estimate a difference between a packet success rate of the present channel and a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on the determined difference, and estimating a packet success rate of the adjacent channel based on a packet success rate of the present channel and the estimated difference between the packet success rate of the present channel and the packet success rate of the adjacent channel.