Abstract: Multiple encryption in a multi-band multi-protocol hybrid wired/wireless network may include receiving on a first PHY channel of an access point, a request for initiation of a communication session from an originating access device. The received request may be acknowledged on the first PHY channel and the originating access device may be authenticated on a second PHY channel. One or more encryption/decryption keys may be provided for use during the communication session. A third PHY channel or the first or second PHY channels may host the communication session. The authentication information may be requested and delivered to the originating access device via a second PHY channel. The encryption key may be delivered to the originating access device via the first PHY channel or the second PHY channel. Additionally, information may be tunneled over a virtual channel established between the originating and a terminating access device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include receiving from a first access point and/or a first switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session. Responsive to the first messaging protocol message, an available communication bandwidth is determined for at least a portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network and bandwidth is allocated to accommodate the communication session. The first access point may be notified of the allocation of bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be received by a second switch and/or a second access point. Bandwidth usage information may be requested from the first access point and/or the first switch using the first messaging protocol message.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a system and method for load balancing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for load balancing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include the step of receiving a polling message from an access device by at least one of a plurality of access points. In response to the polling message, a load on one or more of the access points may be determined and the determined load of one or more of the access points may be received by the access device. One or more of the access points located within an operating range of the access device may interpret the polling message. An access point having a least load may be selected by an access device to provide service.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include receiving from a first access point and/or a first switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session. Responsive to the first messaging protocol message, an available communication bandwidth is determined for at least a portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network and bandwidth is allocated to accommodate the communication session. The first access point may be notified of the allocation of bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be received by a second switch and/or a second access point. Bandwidth usage information may be requested from the first access point and/or the first switch using the first messaging protocol message.

Abstract: A method for managing resources in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network (LAN) includes reserving bandwidth for a network device. The reserving of the bandwidth is based, at least in part, on a device hierarchy established within the hybrid LAN. The hierarchy is utilized for one or more of bandwidth reservation, bandwidth sharing, and/or bandwidth allocation within the hybrid LAN. In response to a communication session associated with the network device, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the network device. The at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be used during the communication session. A request for bandwidth may be received by one or both of the network device and/or a second network device.

Abstract: A method for managing resources in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network (LAN) includes reserving bandwidth for a network device. The reserving of the bandwidth is based, at least in part, on a device hierarchy established within the hybrid LAN. The hierarchy is utilized for one or more of bandwidth reservation, bandwidth sharing, and/or bandwidth allocation within the hybrid LAN. In response to a communication session associated with the network device, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the network device. The at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be used during the communication session. A request for bandwidth may be received by one or both of the network device and/or a second network device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network. A method for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network may include identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network. Configuration information corresponding to the determined location of the network device may be determined. The determined configuration information may be communicated to the networking device in order to facilitate location based configuration of the network device. The network device may include, but is not limited to, an access device, an access point and a switching device.

Abstract: The method may include determining a protocol associated with a communication signal for an access point. A compatible processor may be allocated and selected from a pool of available processors and subsequently utilized to process the communication signal. In one aspect of the invention, a processor may be made compatible by updating it with compatible protocol code that may be used for processing the communication signal. The compatible protocol code may be downloaded to the processor from a memory. The processor may associate a particular protocol code with a particular portion of the memory. Accordingly, the protocol code may be retrieved from the memory based on the association. The processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP), which may be adapted to process 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Bluetooth protocols, for example.

Abstract: The method may include determining a protocol associated with a communication signal for an access point. A compatible processor may be allocated and selected from a pool of available processors and subsequently utilized to process the communication signal. In one aspect of the invention, a processor may be made compatible by updating it with compatible protocol code that may be used for processing the communication signal. The compatible protocol code may be downloaded to the processor from a memory. The processor may associate a particular protocol code with a particular portion of the memory. Accordingly, the protocol code may be retrieved from the memory based on the association. The processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP), which may be adapted to process 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Bluetooth protocols, for example.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for bandwidth allocation and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless network. Bandwidth allocation and sharing may include reserving bandwidth for a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch. In response to a communication session associated with one or more of the first access device, first access point and first switch, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the first access device, first access point and/or first switch. At least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized during the communication session. At least an unused remaining portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized for communication by one or more of a second access device, a second access point and a second switch.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for bandwidth allocation and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless network. Bandwidth allocation and sharing may include reserving bandwidth for a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch. In response to a communication session associated with one or more of the first access device, first access point and first switch, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the first access device, first access point and/or first switch. At least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized during the communication session. At least an unused remaining portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized for communication by one or more of a second access device, a second access point and a second switch.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for communicating in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for communicating in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include sending a first messaging protocol message between a first switch and a first access point, and/or the first switch and a second switch. In response to the first messaging protocol message, receiving at least a second messaging protocol message from the first access point, the first switch, and/or the second switch. The first, second, and a third messaging protocol message may be used to control the first switch, the second switch, a first access point, a second access point, and one or more access devices.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for bandwidth allocation and sharing in a hybrid wired/wireless network. Bandwidth allocation and sharing may include reserving bandwidth for a first access device, a first access point and/or a first switch. In response to a communication session associated with one or more of the first access device, first access point and first switch, at least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be allocated for use by the first access device, first access point and/or first switch. At least a portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized during the communication session. At least an unused remaining portion of the reserved bandwidth may be utilized for communication by one or more of a second access device, a second access point and a second switch.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include receiving from a first access point and/or a first switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session. Responsive to the first messaging protocol message, an available communication bandwidth is determined for at least a portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network and bandwidth is allocated to accommodate the communication session. The first access point may be notified of the allocation of bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be received by a second switch and/or a second access point. Bandwidth usage information may be requested from the first access point and/or the first switch using the first messaging protocol message.

Abstract: The method may include determining a protocol associated with a communication signal for an access point. A compatible processor may be allocated and selected from a pool of available processors and subsequently utilized to process the communication signal. In one aspect of the invention, a processor may be made compatible by updating it with compatible protocol code that may be used for processing the communication signal. The compatible protocol code may be downloaded to the processor from a memory. The processor may associate a particular protocol code with a particular portion of the memory. Accordingly, the protocol code may be retrieved from the memory based on the association. The processor may be a digital signal processor (DSP), which may be adapted to process 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and Bluetooth protocols, for example.

Abstract: An access device may be initially authenticated upon initiating communication with a first access point. Authentication information related to the initial authentication may be provided to a second access point and/or a third access point. The first, second, or third access point may provide service to the access device based on the initial authentication. The initial authentication information may be stored and subsequently retrieved by the second and/or third access point. The second access point may retrieve the initial authentication information when the access device migrates from a first coverage area associated with the first access point to a second coverage area associated with the second access point. Similarly, the third access point may retrieve the initial authentication information when the access device migrates from one of the first coverage area and the second coverage area to a third coverage area associated with the third access point.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network. A method for providing location based configuration in a hybrid wired/wireless network may include identifying a location of a network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network. Configuration information corresponding to the determined location of the network device may be determined. The determined configuration information may be communicated to the networking device in order to facilitate location based configuration of the network device. The network device may include, but is not limited to, an access device, an access point and a switching device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention may provide a system and method for load balancing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for load balancing in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include the step of receiving a polling message from an access device by at least one of a plurality of access points. In response to the polling message, a load on one or more of the access points may be determined and the determined load of one or more of the access points may be received by the access device. One or more of the access points located within an operating range of the access device may interpret the polling message. An access point having a least load may be selected by an access device to provide service.

Abstract: Multiple encryption in a multi-band multi-protocol hybrid wired/wireless network may include receiving on a first PHY channel of an access point, a request for initiation of a communication session from an originating access device. The received request may be acknowledged on the first PHY channel and the originating access device may be authenticated on a second PHY channel. One or more encryption/decryption keys may be provided for use during the communication session. A third PHY channel or the first or second PHY channels may host the communication session. The authentication information may be requested and delivered to the originating access device via a second PHY channel. The encryption key may be delivered to the originating access device via the first PHY channel or the second PHY channel. Additionally, information may be tunneled over a virtual channel established between the originating and a terminating access device.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for communicating in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for communicating in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include sending a first messaging protocol message between a first switch and a first access point. In response to the first messaging protocol message, receiving at least a second messaging protocol message from the first access point and/or the first switch. One or more of the first and second messaging protocol messages and/or a third messaging protocol message may be used to control one or more of the first switch, a second switch, a first access point, a second access point, and one or more access devices.