ADMINISTRATION OF WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS

摘要

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING ACCESS TO A WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORK ARE PROVIDED. A WIRELESS ACCESS POINT (AP) (301, 410, 501, 610) MAY USE A UNIFIED APPROACH THAT UTILIZES AN OUT-OR-BAND CHANNEL TO COMMUNICATE AUTHENTICATION KEY AND NETWORK ADDRESS INFORMATION TO A GUEST DEVICE, AND UTILIZES AND IN-BAND CHANNEL TO ESTABLISH COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE GUEST DEVICE, AND ALSO PROVIDES SUPPORT FOR IN-BAND SETUP ON ALL DEVICES. THE ABILITY TO USE OUT-OF-BAND WHERE POSSIBLE PROVIDES FOR AN INCREASE TO SECURITY AND USABILITY, AND THE POSSIBILITY OF DELEGATING ACCESS FROM ONE DEVICE TO ANOTHER. THE UNIFIED APPROACH THEREBY ALSO PROVIDES EASY MANAGEMENT OF GUEST ACCESS TO THE WLAN.