Patent Application
20160080198
A wireless network is a digital communications network that allows a wireless network device to communicate with or access a computer network via a radio communication link. For a number of years, the most common type of wireless network has been that which is commonly referred to as “WiFi” or “802.11,” the latter term in reference to the IEEE 802.11 set of standards that govern such networks. Such an 802.11 network comprises one or more access points (APs) that are each connected by a wired connection with a router or similar networking device. The router or other such networking device allows a client device, such as a portable computer, smartphone, etc., to communicate with or access a computer network. It is common for the networking device to provide the client device with a connection to the Internet.
A wireless mesh network is a digital communications network comprising APs organized in a mesh topology, where each AP can communicate via radio communication links in a peer-to-peer manner with other such APs in the network. Each AP can receive a message from another (peer) AP and forward or relay the message to still another (peer) AP. The message reaches its ultimate destination via one or more such relays or “hops” as they are commonly referred to in the art. In a client-server computing system, the source and destination of a message is generally a client device or a server device. Wireless mesh networks provide numerous benefits over other types of wireless networks, including redundancy. For example, if a wireless mesh AP is removed from operation in the network, it may still be possible for messages that would have been routed via that AP to reach their destinations via alternative routes. A route through the wireless mesh network between an AP and the controller via one or more hops can be referred to as an uplink. Wireless mesh networks can employ radio technology and protocols that are similar to those employed in non-mesh wireless networks, such as those governed by IEEE 802.11. A set of standards known as IEEE 802.11s relates more specifically to wireless mesh networks and is an extension of the IEEE 802.11 set of standards.
A subset of the wireless mesh APs in a network may also be wireless mesh portal APs. A wireless mesh portal AP not only can communicate via wireless communication links with peers but also can communicate via wired connections with management systems or gateways to other networks, such as the Internet.
A wireless mesh AP includes a processing system that operates under control of firmware stored in a non-volatile memory. From time to time, system administrators may wish to update the firmware of the wireless mesh APs in the network. Using a management system, the system administrator can transmit a notification to each wireless mesh AP in the network that indicates a firmware update is available for download. In response to this notification message, each wireless mesh AP initiates a process in which the firmware is downloaded from the management system to the AP memory. The firmware image or file may take multiple hops through intermediary APs before reaching the destination AP that initiated the download and that stores the firmware image in its memory. A given intermediary AP may, in some instances, relay the same firmware image multiple times in association with downloads initiated by different APs.
The above-described method by which firmware updates are performed in a wireless mesh network may be inefficient and uneconomical. For example, contention among wireless mesh APs for wireless communication link bandwidth can slow the process. Also, for example, in some instances an owner or operator of the wireless mesh network may incur a monetary cost (e.g., a bandwidth usage charge) each time a firmware image is downloaded from a source via the Internet. It would be desirable to provide firmware updates in a manner that may be more efficient and economical.
Embodiments of the invention relate to a system, method, and computer program product for controlling a firmware download in a wireless mesh access point. In an illustrative or exemplary embodiment, the wireless mesh access point receives a first notification of firmware download availability. In response to the first notification, the wireless mesh access point downloads a firmware file from a peer from which the first notification was received. The wireless mesh access point loads the downloaded firmware file into a firmware memory associated with operation of a processor. The wireless mesh access point then transmits a second notification of firmware download availability to one or more other peers.
Other systems, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the specification, and be protected by the accompanying claims.
The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention.
As illustrated in
While APs 12-20 can only communicate with each other via wireless communication links 24-30, AP 12 can also communicate via wired communication links 32 and 34 because it is a wireless mesh portal AP. Similarly, AP 14 is a wireless mesh portal AP because it can communicate via a wired communication link 36. In the exemplary embodiment, wired communication link 34 connects AP 12 with a server 38, and wired communication links 32 and 36 connect AP 12 and AP 14, respectively, with management system 22.
The flow diagram of
As indicated by block 40, the exemplary AP 60 receives a message or notification indicating that a firmware image or file is available to download. The source of this notification can be, for example, a peer or a management system. As indicated by block 42, in response to this notification, the exemplary AP 60 determines whether it has already received the firmware file (from, for example, a different peer). If the exemplary AP 60 determines (block 42) that it has already received the firmware file, the exemplary AP 60 transmits an acknowledgement message to the source of the notification, as indicated by block 44. If the exemplary AP 60 has already received the firmware file, the exemplary AP 60 does not download it again. If the exemplary AP 60 determines (block 42) that it has not yet received the firmware file, the exemplary AP 60 transmits a download request to the source of the notification, as indicated by block 46.
As indicated by block 48, following the download request, the exemplary AP 60 receives the firmware file from the source of the notification. As indicated by block 50, the exemplary AP 60 stores the received firmware file, i.e., as firmware.
As indicated by block 52, the exemplary AP 60 computes a checksum from the received firmware file. An example of a suitable checksum computation is MD5. As well understood in the art, a unique checksum can be computed for each unique firmware file. The above-described notification can include an MD5 or other suitable checksum value as well as an indication of the file size. If the computed checksum matches the checksum value that was included in the notification message, it can be concluded that the exemplary AP 60 accurately or correctly received the firmware file, i.e., without errors.
If the exemplary AP 60 determines (block 52) that it correctly received the firmware file, then the exemplary AP 60 transmits another notification similar to the above-described notification to one or more of its peers, as indicated by block 54. That is, the exemplary AP 60 that downloaded the firmware file is the source of this second notification. In response to receiving this second notification, another AP can then download the firmware file in the same manner as described above.
The above-described method of operation can be further described with regard to the following example and wireless mesh network 10 (
It should be understood that the method described above is not intended to represent the entirety of the operation of each of APs 12-20, network 10 or any portion thereof. Rather, the method described above represents only those operational aspects that are most directly related to the exemplary embodiment of the invention. Other operational aspects of each of APs 12-20, such as those that are conventional, may not be described herein, as they are well understood by persons skilled in the art. Except as otherwise stated herein, each of APs 12-20 operates not only in the manner described above but also in a conventional manner. Thus, for example, each of APs 12-20 is configured to establish and communicate via wireless communication links with client devices (not shown). Also, each of APs 12-20 is configured to relay messages along a route through network 10 between a client device and server 38 or another server (not shown). It should also be noted that although not shown for purposes of clarity, network 10 can be connected to other networks, such as the Internet. Wired communication link 34 can represent a connection to the Internet or other network.
As illustrated in
The above-described downloaded firmware 68 is stored in memory 66. However, AP 60 can include additional firmware, such as firmware that is not downloaded in accordance with the method described above but rather firmware that causes processor 62 to effectuate the method described above with regard to
Although the foregoing logic elements are shown in
It should be understood that the combination of memory 66 and the above-referenced logic elements or software, firmware, instructions, etc., underlying the logic elements, as stored in memory 66 in non-transitory computer-readable form, defines a “computer program product” as that term is understood in the patent lexicon. In view of the descriptions herein, persons skilled in the art will readily be capable of providing suitable software or firmware or otherwise configuring AP 60 to operate in the manner described. Also, although the effect of each of the above-referenced logic elements is described herein, it should be understood that the effect may result from contributions of two or more logic elements, or from contributions of the logic elements and conventional wireless mesh access point logic elements or other network features that are not shown for purposes of clarity.
First notification logic 70 contributes to the configuring of AP 60 to wirelessly receive a first notification of firmware download availability from a peer, management system, or other source. Download logic 72 contributes to the configuring of AP 60 to wirelessly download a firmware file from a peer, management system, or other source in response to the first notification, including transmitting a download request and receiving the firmware file. Firmware load logic 76 contributes to the configuring of AP 60 to load the firmware file into memory 66. Second notification logic 78 contributes to the configuring of AP 60 to wirelessly transmit a second notification of firmware download availability to one or more peers. Acknowledgement logic 74 contributes to the configuring of AP 60 to determine if the firmware file has already been received and, if so, to transmit an acknowledgement.
One or more illustrative or exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described above. However, it is to be understood that the invention is defined by the appended claims and is not limited to the specific embodiments described.
