Patent ID: 8041319
Filing Date: 2011-10-18
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
1. A method for associating a wireless station with one of a plurality of access points of a wireless network, the method comprising: scanning a plurality of communication channels by the wireless station, the plurality of communication channels being used to transmit data from the plurality of access points of the wireless network, the wireless station comprises a wireless electronic device comprising logic that processes information and a wireless transceiver that receives information from and transmits information to an access point or another wireless station, and wherein the access point comprises a wireless electronic device that provides bi-directional connection between one or more wireless stations and a wired network; storing data obtained from each scan of the plurality of communication channels into a scanning history database that maps a plurality of neighboring access points for a first access point by creating a plurality of records, each record being associated with one of the plurality of access points, each record including access point selection results that indicate patterns of access point selection, the scanning history database also storing beacon timing information including beacon interval and beacon transmit time; constructing a mathematical network map that indicates a plurality of neighboring access points for each of the access points from access point information stored in said scanning history database; determining whether a wireless connection between the first access point and a wireless station has failed; in response to the wireless connection between the first access point and the wireless station failing, identifying a second access point in the scanning history database, the access point selection results for the second access point indicating that the second access point is normally chosen when the first access point becomes unavailable, and associating the wireless station with the second access point selected from the plurality of neighboring access points without rescanning prior to association based on information within the scanning history database; detecting a failure to associate the wireless station with the second access point; in response to a wireless connection between the second access point and the wireless station failing, conducting a partial scanning process that identifies a third access point, the partial scanning process being conducted on only a subset of available communication channels over which data is transmitted by the plurality of neighboring access points, the subset of available communication channels being determined by analysis of a mathematical network map, wherein the subset of available communication channels being determined by analysis of the mathematical network map includes access points listed in the scanning history database as reachable and having previously provided signals with a measured signal strength above a predetermined threshold, wherein a time of conducting the partial scanning process is based on beacon timing information; selecting the third access point based on a weighted analysis of the partial scanning results, the weighted analysis being based on at least signal strength, location, or up/down time; and associating the wireless station with the third access point.