Patent ID: 7230920
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. In a wireless local area network comprising a cable medium conveying packets between a portable unit configured for transmitting and receiving packets through air, and a plurality of access points in a predetermined spaced-apart arrangement, each of the plurality of access points being configured for transmitting and receiving packets through air within a limited area and being coupled to the cable medium for transfer of packets to and from the cable medium, each of the plurality of access points requiring registration of the portable unit with the access point before transferring packets between the portable unit and the cable medium, a method of associating said portable unit by placing and maintaining the portable unit in wireless communication with the cable medium for transfer of packets via the cable medium to and from the portable unit, comprising: establishing an association between the portable unit with one of the plurality of access points with an association process comprising: (a) transmitting through air from the portable unit a packet requesting a response from each of the plurality of access points; (b) responding to the request for response from each of the access points that receives the packet from the portable unit, the responding comprising transmitting through air a response packet identifying the access point and indicating that the access point may register the portable unit; (c) responding at the portable unit to receipt of at least one access point response packets by selecting one of the responding access points based on the latency of the response time and transmitting through air from the portable unit a selection packet indicating the selected access point, wherein the latency of the response time is given the highest priority for selecting one of the responding access points; (d) responding at the selected access point to receipt of the selection packet by registering the portable unit with the selected access point; (e) transmitting via the cable medium from the selected access point upon its association of the portable unit a registration-indicating packet indicating that the selected access point has registered the portable unit; (f) responding to receipt of the registration-indicating packet at another of the access points with which the portable unit had been registered prior to registration with the selected access point by de-registering the portable unit from the other access point; and, monitoring transmission of packets between the portable unit and the selected access point at the portable unit after registration of the portable unit with the selected access point thereby to detect transmission faults and re-initiating the registration process at the portable unit in response to transmission faults; and wherein the association process is re-initiated by the portable device when throughput falls below a minimum acceptable threshold; wherein the minimum acceptable threshold is user selected.