Patent ID: 7499411
Filing Date: 2009-03-03
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. In a computer network, an adoption method for a wireless access device, said method comprising: broadcasting a switch discover message over the computer network; receiving, in response to said switch discover message, M switch offer messages associated with N wireless switches on the computer network, each of said switch offer messages comprising a preference designator that indicates whether or not the respective wireless switch is preferred for the wireless access device, and each of said switch offer messages comprising switch selection information that is utilized by the wireless access device to select one of said wireless switches for adoption; processing said preference designators and said switch selection information in said switch offer messages; if the preference designator of one of said switch offer messages indicates a preferred wireless switch, selecting said preferred wireless switch for adoption regardless of said switch selection information; and if the preference designators of said switch offer messages indicate no preferred wireless switch, selecting a desired wireless switch for adoption based upon said switch selection information.