Wireless Mesh Network Including Resilient Backhaul Links and WLAN Traffic Local Switching

摘要

A wireless mesh network includes mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP over wireless backhaul links. The root AP has a wired connection to a wired network. An AP detects a loss of connectivity to a controller through which traffic associated with the AP is normally routed to and from the wired network. In response, if the AP is the root AP, the root AP operates as a proxy controller through which the traffic may be routed. The AP maintains connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
at an access point (AP) in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of mesh APs and a root AP forming a root of a tree of the mesh APs in which the mesh APs are linked back to the root AP through parent-child relationships over wireless backhaul links, the root AP having a wired connection to a wired network, detecting a loss of connectivity from the AP to a controller of the mesh network through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is normally routed from and to the wired network, and in response to detecting the loss of connectivity:
if the AP is the root AP, operating the root AP as a proxy controller through which traffic to and from the wireless mesh network is routed from and to the wired network;notifying each child AP of the loss of connectivity; andmaintaining connectivity with parent and child APs over the wireless backhaul links that exist when the loss of connectivity is detected, so as to maintain the tree.