Patent ID: 8159937
Filing Date: 2012-04-17
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. An apparatus, comprising: a first interface configured to use a first protocol on a first channel and being configured to service a spanning tree; a second interface configured to use a second protocol on a second channel; and control logic coupled to the first interface and second interface, the control logic is operable to control and configure the first interface and the second interface; wherein the control logic is operable to send a first beacon on the first interface and the second interface; wherein the first beacon comprises data containing a current configuration of the first interface and a current configuration of the second interface; wherein the data for the current configuration of the first interface comprises data representative of the first protocol, data representative of the first channel and data representative of the spanning tree serviced by the first interface; wherein the data for the current configuration of the second interface comprises data representative of the second protocol and the second channel; wherein the control logic is configured to receive a signal from a node belonging to the spanning tree on the first interface, the signal comprising data representative of a channel compatible with the second interface that the node belonging to the spanning tree is reachable; wherein the control logic is configured to detect an event on the first interface, the control logic is responsive to detecting the event to cease communications on the first interface; wherein the controller is configured to select a channel on the second interface for servicing the spanning tree responsive to detecting the event; wherein the control logic transfers servicing of the spanning tree to the selected channel on the second interface; and wherein the control logic is configured to send a second beacon on the second interface on the channel compatible with the second interface that the node belonging to the spanning tree is reachable, the second beacon including data indicating that the servicing of the spanning tree has moved to the selected channel on the second interface, the second beacon further comprising data representative of the selected channel on the second interface that is servicing the spanning tree.