Method and system for providing an intelligent switch for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network

Abstract

Aspects of the invention provide a system and method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network. A method for bandwidth management in a hybrid wired/wireless local area network may include receiving from a first access point and/or a first switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session. Responsive to the first messaging protocol message, an available communication bandwidth is determined for at least a portion of the hybrid wired/wireless local area network and bandwidth is allocated to accommodate the communication session. The first access point may be notified of the allocation of bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message. The first messaging protocol message may be received by a second switch and/or a second access point. Bandwidth usage information may be requested from the first access point and/or the first switch using the first messaging protocol message.

1 . A method for providing bandwidth management in a hybrid local area network, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a network switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session, the first messaging protocol message being received from a first access point;   responsive to the first messaging protocol message, determining, by the network switch, an available communication bandwidth for at least a portion of the hybrid local area network;   allocating bandwidth to accommodate the communication session when sufficient communication bandwidth is determined to be currently available; and   notifying, by the network switch, the first access point of the allocated bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message to attempt establishment of the communication session.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising requesting bandwidth usage information from the first access point using a second messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , further comprising de-allocating the allocated bandwidth using at least a third messaging protocol message subsequent to termination of the established communication session. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising receiving bandwidth information from at least one of a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, or a network management process using a fourth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , further comprising requesting the bandwidth information from the quality of service management process, the load balancing management process, the session control process, or the network management process using a fifth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first messaging protocol messages comprises a message selected from the group consisting of an access point status message, access point configuration message, a switch status message, a switch configuration message, a client status message, and a device discovery message. 
     
     
         7 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having at least one code section for providing bandwidth management in a hybrid local area network, the at least one code section executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform:
 receiving, by a network switch, a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session, the first messaging protocol message being received from a first access point;   responsive to the first messaging protocol message, determining, by the network switch, an available communication bandwidth for at least a portion of the hybrid local area network;   allocating bandwidth to accommodate the communication session when sufficient communication bandwidth is determined to be currently available; and   notifying, by the network switch, the first access point of the allocated bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message.   
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 7 , further comprising code for requesting bandwidth usage information from the first access point using a second messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 8 , further comprising code for de-allocating the allocated bandwidth using at least a third messaging protocol message subsequent to termination of the established communication session. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 7 , further comprising code for receiving bandwidth information from at least one of a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, or a network management process using a fourth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 10 , further comprising code for requesting the bandwidth information from the quality of service management process, the load balancing management process, the session control process, or the network management process using a fifth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage according to  claim 7 , wherein the first messaging protocol messages comprises a message selected from the group consisting of an access point status message, access point configuration message, a switch status message, a switch configuration message, a client status message, and a device discovery message. 
     
     
         13 . A system for providing bandwidth management in a hybrid local area network, the system comprising:
 a receiver adapted to receive from a first access point a first messaging protocol message for establishing a communication session;   at least one controller adapted to determine an available communication bandwidth for at least a portion of the hybrid local area network, responsive to the first messaging protocol message;   the at least one controller adapted to allocate bandwidth to accommodate the communication session when sufficient communication bandwidth is determined to be currently available; and   the at least one controller adapted to notify the first access point of the allocated bandwidth using a second messaging protocol message.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the receiver is further adapted to receive the first messaging protocol message by at least one of a second switch or a second access point. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is adapted to request bandwidth usage information from the first access point using a second messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one controller is adapted to de-allocate the allocated bandwidth using at least a third messaging protocol message subsequent to termination of the established communication session. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one controller is adapted to send the third messaging protocol message to the first access point. 
     
     
         18 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the receiver is adapted to receive bandwidth information from at least one of a quality of service management process, a load balancing management process, a session control process, or a network management process using a fourth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         19 . The system according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one controller is adapted to request the bandwidth information from the quality of service management process, the load balancing management process, the session control process, or the network management process using a fifth messaging protocol message. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least one controller is a bandwidth management controller, a quality of service controller, a load balancing controller, a session controller, or a network management controller.