Method and system for location based configuration of a wireless access point (wap) and an access device in a hybrid wired/wireless network

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.

1 . A method for location based configuration of a network device in a hybrid wired/wireless network, the method comprising:
 identifying a location of the network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network;   determining configuration information corresponding to the identified location of the network device, where determining comprises scanning at least one of a database, or a memory, of an access device, an access point or a switching device of the hybrid wired/wireless network to discover at least a portion of the configuration information; and   communicating the determined configuration information to the network device, where the determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to the network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determining comprises scanning at least one RF channel by at least one of the access point or the access device to discover at least a portion of the configuration information. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the RF channel comprises a broadcast channel and a setup channel. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising updating the network device with the communicated configuration information. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , comprising dynamically updating the network device with the communicated configuration information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to the location of the network device has changed. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the determined configuration information comprises at least one of bandwidth etiquette and sharing rules, channel availability, preferred channel, or available communication protocols. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein identifying the location of the network device comprises:
 sending a ping message to one or more network routing devices;   receiving routing information associated with the ping message; and   triangulating locations of the one or more network routing devices named in the received routing information to determine the location of the network device.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the network device is selected from the group consisting of an access device, an access point and a switching device. 
     
     
         9 . A system for location based configuration of a network device in a hybrid wired/wireless network, the system comprising:
 an identifier adapted to identify a location of the network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network;   a determinator adapted to determine configuration information for the network device, the configuration information corresponding to the identified location of the network device;   a scanner adapted to scan at least one of a database, or a memory, of an access device, an access point or a switching device to discover at least a portion of the configuration information; and   a communicator adapted to communicate the determined configuration information to the network device for providing location based configuration of the network device, where the determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to the network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 9 , comprising a discoverer adapted to discover at least a portion of the configuration information from at least one of a database, or a memory, associated with at least one of the access point and the switching device. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 9 , comprising another scanner adapted to scan at least one RF channel by at least one of the access point and the access device to discover at least a portion of the configuration information. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 11 , wherein the RF channel comprises a broadcast channel and a setup channel. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 9 , comprising an updater adapted to update the network device with the communicated configuration information. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the updater is adapted to dynamically update the network device with the communicated information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to the location of the network device has changed. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the determined configuration information comprises at least one of bandwidth etiquette and sharing rules, channel availability, preferred channel, or available communication protocols. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 9 , comprising at least one querying agent for querying the network device for location information. 
     
     
         17 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage having stored thereon a program executable by a machine for location based configuration of a network device in a hybrid wired/wireless network, the program comprising:
 code for identifying a location of the network device within the hybrid wired/wireless network, the network device being movable within the hybrid wired/wireless network;   code for determining configuration information corresponding to the identified location of the network device, where determining comprises scanning at least one of a database, or a memory, of an access device, an access point or a switching device of the hybrid wired/wireless network to discover at least a portion of the configuration information; and   code for communicating the determined configuration information to the network device, where the determined configuration information facilitates seamless network service to the network device without denial or disconnection from the hybrid wired/wireless network.   
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 17 , wherein the program comprises code for scanning at least one RF channel by at least one of the access point or the access device to discover at least a portion of the configuration information. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 17 , wherein the program comprises code for dynamically updating the network device with the communicated information whenever it is determined that at least one network setting corresponding to the location of the network device has changed. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 17 , wherein the program comprises code for informing at least one of the access point, the access device or the switching device of at least one network parameter related to the location based configuration.