WO2016119754A1

WO2016119754A1 - Providing wireless services

Info

Publication number: WO2016119754A1
Application number: PCT/CN2016/073031
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weiwei Guo
Original assignee: Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2015-01-30
Filing date: 2016-02-01
Publication date: 2016-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 2017-07-30
Also published as: CN105992395A; CN105992395B

Abstract

According to an example, an access point (AP) establishes a control channel with an AP management apparatus, obtains radio configuration from the AP management apparatus via the control channel, and provides a wireless service according to the radio configuration. The radio configuration is obtained from an access controller (AC) by a virtual AP management unit created for the AP in the AP management apparatus.

Description

PROVIDING WIRELESS SERVICES

BACKGROUND

In a wireless local area network (WLAN) , an access point (AP) is usually utilized to construct a small local area network. The AP acts as a bridge between a wired network and a wireless network. Its main function is to connect clients in the wireless network to the wired network and with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the present disclosure are illustrated by way of examples and not limited in the following figure (s) , in which like numerals indicate like elements, in which:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 2 is another flowchart illustrating the method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 3 is still another flowchart illustrating the method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 4 is yet another flowchart illustrating the method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a WLAN network structure according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating establishment of a CAPWAP connection between an AP management apparatus and an AC according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating establishment of a control channel and a data channel between a super-Fit AP and the AP management apparatus according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating establishment of the CAPWAP connection between a virtual AP process in the AP management apparatus and the AC according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from a wireless station (STA) to a server in a centralized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the server to the STA in the centralized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the STA to the server in a localized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the server to the STA in the localized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an AP management apparatus according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an AP according to some examples of the present disclosure；

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an AP management apparatus according to some examples of the present disclosure； and

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an AP according to some examples of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various examples will be described below by referring to the following figures.

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is described by referring mainly to an example thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. It will be readily apparent however, that the present disclosure may be practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, some methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “includes” means includes but not limited to, the term “including” means including but not limited to. The term “based on” means based at least in part on. In addition, the terms “a” and “an” are intended to denote at least one of a particular element.

With the development of Wireless Local Area network (WLAN) , access points (APs) may fall into three categories.

A Fat AP is an AP that has complete radio functions and also service functions such as authentication, management, quality of service (QoS) , firewall, etc. However, Fat APs are relatively expensive and do not scale well. If thousands of Fat APs are deployed, it may be a complicated and heavy task to manage these Fat APs and implement service plan and configurations. Also, it is hard for the Fat AP to meet the increasing service requirements of users.

Another kind of AP is a Fit AP. A Fit AP carries out radio functions, but leaves higher level functions to an external Access Controller (AC) . Each AC may manage a plurality of APs, in some cases thousands of APs. The AC may communicate with and manage the APs using protocol such as light weight access point protocol (LWAPP) or control and provisioning of wireless access points protocol (CAPWAP) etc. The AC-Fit AP architecture reduces complexity of AP management, reduces network configuration cost and increases the efficiency. Furthermore, the AC may have powerful computing ability and thus be able to efficiently provide complicated services and satisfy complicated user requirements that may not be easily satisfied by a Fit AP with limited computing power.

In one common arrangement data traffic is forwarded from the AP to the AC, so that the AC can forward the traffic to the desired location. However, the AC may be positioned at a higher layer of the network which may mean that traffic is forwarded over the Internet or another wide area network between the AC and the Fit AP. This is not efficient. Another arrangement is to have the Fit AP forward traffic locally, e.g. if the destination of a packet received by a Fit AP is another AP on the same WLAN or a device on the same segment of the wired network, then the Fit AP may forward the packet directly instead of forwarding the packet via the AC. However, local forwarding can make heavy demands on the Fit AP. For example, functions such as access control list (ACL) , QoS, authentication, deep packet inspection (DPI) and firewall which could have been implemented by the AC are now implemented by the Fit AP. In order to satisfy the computing requirements, the processing ability of the Fit AP may be increased, but then the cost becomes higher and higher, which runs contrary to the original rationale for having a “Fit AP” .

Some examples of the present disclosure provides another kind of AP, which may be referred to as super-Fit AP. This kind of AP does not have complicated service processing functions. It is responsible for basic radio functions such as radio packet transmitting and receiving, radio control (rate, power) , etc.

Therefore, the super-Fit AP does not implement complicated service functions and the size of the super-Fit AP may be reduced. However, since the AP provided by the examples of the present disclosure has reduced functions, in order to not affect the operation of the AC, some examples of the present disclosure provides an AP management apparatus (also referred to as an AP container) which acts a bridge between the AP and the AC. In some examples, one “AP management apparatus” may manage at least one AP. The AP is focused on the radio and is not affected by various complicated services. As such, complexity of the AP is reduced. Due to the existence of the AP management apparatus, service characteristics are not lost. Since one AP management apparatus may manage a plurality of APs, the average cost of the AP may be decreased compared to the Fit AP and the Fat AP. The AP network can be extended and is applicable for wireless network in any scale (large, medium, small) .

Hereinafter, descriptions are provided on how the AP management apparatus and the AP provide wireless services with reference to accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure.

As show in FIG. 1, the method includes the following.

At block 101, an access point (AP) management apparatus establishes a control channel with an AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AP refers to the super-Fit AP with reduced functions as described above. Since the service functions are split from the AP and realized in the AP management apparatus, a control channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP to implement communications between the AP management apparatus and the AP. In some examples of the present disclosure, while the control channel is established, a data channel is also established between the AP management apparatus and the AP. The control channel may be used for transmitting control packets, and the data channel may be used for transmitting data packets.

At block 102, the AP management apparatus creates an AP management unit for the AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus creates an AP management unit for each AP coupled to the AP management apparatus to realize the service functions split from the AP. The AP management unit may be a virtual AP.

At block 103, the AP management apparatus establishes via the virtual AP management unit a connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC.

At block 104, the AP management apparatus obtains via the virtual AP management unit radio configuration of the AP from the AC through the connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the radio configuration is used by the AC to configure a radio on the AP. The service configuration may include ACL, QoS, DPI and authentication information and is used by the virtual AP management unit to implement service processing.

At block 105, the AP management apparatus transmits via the virtual AP management unit the radio configuration to the AP through the control channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, such that the AP provides wireless services according to the radio configuration.

In the examples of the present disclosure, in the AP management apparatus, a virtual AP management unit is respectively created for each AP managed by the AP management apparatus. The AP management apparatus communicates with the AC through the virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP, which does not change the functions of the AC and reduces the complexity of the AP.

The AP provided by the examples of the present disclosure may indirectly communicate with the AC via the AP management apparatus. Therefore, from the view point of the AC, the AP is like a Fit AP. Those complicated services which are originally implemented by the AP are now moved to the “AP management apparatus” . For example, the “AP management apparatus” may manage a plurality of APs. The more the APs that the AP management apparatus manages, the more the number of the APs share the cost of the AP management apparatus. Therefore, the total cost of the APs and the AP management apparatus is lower than deploying the same number of other kinds of APs.

In the examples of the present disclosure, a communication protocol between the AP, the AC and the AP management apparatus may include but is not limited to: control and provisioning of wireless access points protocol specification (CAPWAP) , generic routing encapsulation (GRE) , or hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) .

In examples of the present disclosure, after the AP is powered on, the AP seeks out an AP management apparatus with which to associate. This is accomplished by the following procedure. The AP broadcast a discovery request carrying a type of the AP. The AP management apparatus receives the discovery request broadcasted by the AP and determines according to the type whether the AP management apparatus supports the AP； if the AP management apparatus supports the AP, the AP management apparatus returns a discovery response to the AP, indicating that the AP management apparatus supports the AP. The AP selects one of the AP management apparatuses returning a discovery response and transmits an image data request to the selected AP management apparatus carrying the type of the AP. The AP management apparatus receives the image data request transmitted from the AP, searches for corresponding image data according to the type, transmits the image data to the AP via an image data response. The AP receives the image data response returned by the AP management apparatus and reboots according to the image data. The image data may for example include firmware for an AP, an operating system of an AP and/or data or instructions for configuring the AP. Through the above, the AP is coupled to the AP management apparatus and the control channel and the data channel may be established between the AP management apparatus and the AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus includes a connection establishing module to communicate with the AC. For example, if the AP management apparatus and the AC communicate with each other according to the CAPWAP protocol, the connection establishing module may be a CAPWAP function module for realizing communication with the AC. For example, the CAPWAP function module may realize various functions defined by the CAPWAP protocol.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus may locally store the image data of the supported AP via a following manner: before receiving the discovery request broadcasted by the AP, the AP management apparatus establishes, via the CAPWAP function module, the CAPWAP connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC； the AP management apparatus obtains via the CAPWAP function module image data of the AP management apparatus and the image data of at least one AP whose type is supported by the AP management apparatus from the AC through the CAPWAP connection； the AP management apparatus stores the obtained image data via the CAPWAP function module.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the virtual AP management unit may be an AP process created by the AP management apparatus. The AP management apparatus may respectively create an AP process for each coupled AP or create an AP process shared by at least one AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, after transmitting the radio configuration to the AP, the AP may provide wireless services to a wireless station. For example, the AP management apparatus receives a first data packet from the AP through the data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP. The AP management apparatus assigns the first data packet to the virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP. The virtual AP management unit forwards, according to a VLAN ID of the first data packet, the first data packet to the AC through the CAPWAP connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC or to a wired network.

In some examples of the present disclosure, after transmitting the radio configuration to the AP, the AP management apparatus may receive a second data packet from the AC through the CAPWAP connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC, wherein a destination port number of the second data packet corresponds to the AP； the AP management apparatus forwards the second data packet to the virtual AP management unit according to the destination port number. The virtual AP management unit decapsulates the second data packet to obtain a raw packet, and transmits the raw packet to the AP through the data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus and the AP communicate with each other via link layer frames.

In the examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus may be operated in two modes: a Fit mode and a Fat mode. In the Fit mode, the AP management apparatus does not include an AC module, whereas in the Fat mode, the AC module is embedded in the AP management apparatus.

The Fat mode is applicable for small wireless networks, such as small enterprises, small shops, etc. In this mode, the AC module embedded in the AP management apparatus. In this mode, extension is not complicated and therefore the network is easier to be extended. For example, a small network includes an AP management apparatus and 20 APs originally and is constructed in the Fat mode. Later, services are increased and another AP management apparatus and another 20 APs are added. Thus, the two AP management apparatuses may be connected directly. The two AP management apparatuses are respectively operating in the Fat mode and the Fit mode (the embedded AC module of one AP management apparatus is enabled, and the embedded AC module in the other AP management apparatus is disabled) . As such, the two AP management apparatuses are able to manage the 40 APs. For the user, configuration of the 40 APs is implemented in the AP management apparatus in the Fat mode, network configuration of the user is not changed and services are not lost. If the network is further expanded and the performance of the embedded AC in the AP management apparatus is insufficient, a dedicated AC may be added and the AC modules of both AP management apparatuses are disabled. Thus, the structure of AC + AP management apparatus (in the Fit mode) + AP is formed. Therefore, this model has a good expandability.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the AC and the AP management apparatus may be independent apparatuses. Hereinafter, the communications between the AP, the AP management apparatus and the AC are described with reference to FIG. 2 supposing that the AC and the AP management apparatus are independent apparatuses.

At block 201, the AP management apparatus is powered on and establishes a CAPWAP connection with the AC. At least one AP may be coupled to the AP.

At block 202, the AP management apparatus obtains the image data of the AP management apparatus and image data of at least one AP supported by the AP management apparatus through the CAPWAP connection.

At block 203, the AP management apparatus establishes a control channel and a data channel with each AP coupled to the AP management apparatus, and respectively creates a virtual AP management unit for each coupled AP.

In some examples, the AP establishes the control channel and the data channel with each coupled AP includes:

the AP management apparatus receiving a discovery request broadcasted by the AP, wherein the discovery request includes a type of the AP or type + serial-id of the AP； if it is determined that the AP management apparatus supports the type or the type + serial-id, the AP management apparatus returning a discovery response to the AP；

the AP management apparatus receiving an image data request from the AP carrying the type or type + serial-id of the AP, searching an image package of the AP management apparatus for corresponding image data according to the type or the type + serial-id, and transmitting the image data to the AP via an image data response； and

the AP management apparatus establishing the control channel and the data channel with the AP after the AP reboots according to the image data.

In some examples, the AP management apparatus respectively creates the virtual AP management unit for each coupled AP includes:

the AP management apparatus respectively creating a virtual AP process for each coupled AP； or, the AP management apparatus creating a virtual AP process shared by all coupled APs.

At block 204, the virtual AP management unit in the AP management apparatus establishes a CAPWAP connection with the AC and obtains radio configuration from the AC via the CAPWAP connection, transmits the obtained radio configuration to the AP via the control channel, such that the AP provides wireless services according to the radio configuration.

In addition, the virtual AP management unit may further obtain service configuration, e.g., ACL, QoS, DPI and authentication from the AC via the CAPWAP connection.

In some examples of the present disclosure, after the obtained radio configuration is transmitted to the AP, the method may further include the following.

The AP management apparatus receives a packet from the AP, assigns the packet to the virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP； the virtual AP management unit determines whether a forwarding mode of the packet is centralized forwarding or localized forwarding according to a VLAN ID carried in the packet； if it is the centralized forwarding, the packet is encapsulated into a CAPWAP packet and is transmitted to the AC, such that the AC forwards the packet to a server； if it is the localized forwarding, the packet is forwarded to a wired network after standard layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing.

The AP management apparatus receives a CAPWAP packet from the AC, forwards the packet to a corresponding virtual AP management unit according to a destination port number of the packet, the virtual AP management unit performs CAPWAP decapsulation to the packet to obtain a raw packet, and transmits the raw packet to the AP connected with the virtual AP management unit via the data channel.

In the above examples the AC is an external device which is separate from the AP management apparatus. For example the AC may be connected to the AP management apparatus over a network as show in Figure 5. In some other examples of the present disclosure, the AC may be an internal module of the AP management apparatus. In this case the AP management apparatus includes a radio adaptation module (e.g., the radio adaptation module 1502 in FIG. 15) to enable the super-fit APs to communicate with the internal AC module. That is a conventional external AC can communicate directly with a conventional Fat AP or Fit AP. However, as in examples disclosed herein the AP may be a super-Fit AP which has basic radio communication functions without higher level functions, the AP management apparatus includes a radio adaption module to bridge the super-Fit AP with the internal AC module of the AP management apparatus. An example of the communication between the AP and the AP management apparatus in the case that the AC is an internal module of the AP management apparatus is described with reference to FIG. 3.

At block 301, the AP management apparatus is powered on, and its CAPWAP function module and the AC module establish a CAPWAP connection. At least one AP may be coupled to the AP management apparatus.

At block 302, the AP management apparatus obtains its image data and image data of at least one AP supported by the AP management apparatus from the AC module via the CAPWAP connection.

At block 303, the AP management apparatus establishes a control channel and a data channel with each coupled AP, and respectively creates a virtual AP management unit for each coupled AP.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the establishment of the control channel and the data channel with each coupled AP may be similarly to those described in block 203 and is not repeated herein.

In some examples of the present disclosure, for both cases that the AC is external or internal, the AP management apparatus respectively creating a virtual AP management unit for each coupled AP includes:

At block 304, each virtual AP management unit of the AP management apparatus respectively establishes a CAPWAP connection with the AC module, and obtains radio configuration from the AC module via the CAPWAP connection, transmits the obtained radio configuration to the AP connected with the virtual AP management unit via the control channel, such that the corresponding AP provides wireless services according to the radio configuration.

In some examples of the present disclosure, after the obtained radio configuration is issued to the corresponding AP via the control channel, the procedure may further include:

The AP management apparatus receives an IEEE 802.3 packet from the AP, assigns the packet to the virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP, the virtual AP management unit determines whether the forwarding mode of the packet is centralized forwarding or localized forwarding, if it is the centralized forwarding, encapsulating the packet into a CAPWAP packet and transmitting the encapsulated packet to the AC module, such that the AC module forwards the packet to a server； if it is the localized forwarding, the packet is forwarded to a wired network after a layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing.

The AP management apparatus receives a CAPWAP packet from the AC module via the CAPWAP connection, forwards the packet to the corresponding virtual AP management unit according to a destination port number of the packet. The virtual AP management unit performs a CAPWAP decapsulation to the packet to obtain a raw packet and transmits the raw packet to the corresponding AP via the data channel.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure. The method includes the following.

At block 401, an AP and an AP management apparatus establish a control channel.

For example, after the AP is powered on, the AP broadcasts a discovery request, wherein the discovery request includes a MAC address and a type of the AP. The AP selects one of the AP management apparatuses that sent a discovery response, and transmits an image data request to the selected AP management apparatus carrying the MAC address and the type of the AP, such that the AP management apparatus searches for corresponding image data according to the type； the AP receives an image data response returned by the AP management apparatus, reboots according the image data and establishes the control channel and the data channel with the working AP management apparatus.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the discovery response includes access capability and/or current load of the AP management apparatus which sent the discovery response； and the AP may select the working AP management apparatus according to the access capability and/or current load.

At block 402, the AP obtains radio configuration from a virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP in the AP management apparatus via the control channel.

At block 403, the AP provides wireless services according to the radio configuration.

Herein, the provided wireless services include broadcasting service set identification (SSID) and forwarding packets from STA and server, etc.

In some examples, the AP receives a first data packet from a STA, transmits the first data packet to the AP management apparatus via the data channel, wherein a header of the first data packet includes radio information of the first data packet.

In some examples, the AP receives a second data packet from the corresponding virtual AP management unit in the AP management apparatus via the data channel, performs a radio operation to the second data packet according to the radio configuration and transmits the second data packet to the STA via air interface.

For example, a radio chip of the AP transmits a packet received from the STA to a radio adaptation module of the AP, and the radio adaptation module converts the packet from the IEEE 802.11 to IEEE 802.3 and then transmits the data packet via the data channel.

For another example, the radio adaptation module of the AP receives a packet from the corresponding virtual AP management unit in the AP management apparatus via the data channel, performs a radio operation to the data packet according to the radio configuration of the AP before transmitting the packet to the radio chip of the AP, and the radio chip transmits the packet to the STA via air interface.

Further, if the packet transmitted from the virtual AP management unit an IEEE 802.3 packet, the radio adaptation module of the AP converts the packet into the IEEE 802.11 packet before performing the radio operation to the packet.

Compared to the Fat AP and the Fit AP, the AP (also referred to super-Fit AP) provided by the examples of the present disclosure does not implement the CAPWAP function by complicated instructions. Since image data may be obtained from the AP management apparatus, the AP also does use high capacity non-transitory storage device and thus powerful CPU and high capacity memory are not necessitated. The super-Fit AP is responsible for basic radio functions, such as radio packet transmitting, receiving, radio control (rate, power) , etc. Therefore, complexity of the AP is reduced and the size of the AP may be reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a WLAN network according to some examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the WLAN is configured with a plurality of AP management apparatuses 501～502. The AP management apparatuses 501～502 are connected to the AC 503 via the Internet. A plurality of APs 511～517 are respectively coupled to the AP management apparatuses 501～502.

In some examples of the present disclosure, after the AP management apparatus is powered on, the AP management apparatus initiates the establishment of the CAPWAP connection with the AC.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the establishment of the CAPWAP connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 600, the AP management apparatus and the AP are configured in the WLAN, and each AP is coupled under one AP management apparatus.

Each AP has a unique MAC address. Each AP management apparatus has a unique IP address and a unique MAC address.

One AP is coupled to one AP management apparatus. At least one AP may be coupled to each AP management apparatus.

At block 601, for each AP management apparatus, image data corresponding to the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus and image data corresponding to the type (or type + serial-id) of each AP supported by the AP management apparatus are packaged in an image package, and the image package is configured in the AC.

The image package may be indexed by the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus, i.e., the image package can be searched out according to the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus. The image data mainly refers to the program image data of an operating system.

In addition, when leaving factory, the non-transitory storage medium (e.g., flash) of the AP management apparatus includes a default image package which includes image data corresponding to the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus and image data corresponding to the type (or type +serial-id) of each AP supported by the AP management apparatus.

At block 602, the AP management apparatus is powered on, starts its system according to the image data in its flash and transmits a CAPWAP join request to the AC carrying an IP address of the AP management apparatus.

It should be noted that, after the AP management apparatus is powered on, if the IP address of the AC has been configured statically or obtained via a dynamic manner, the IP address of the AC is utilized to directly transmit the CAPWAP join request to the AC； otherwise, the AP management apparatus broadcasts CAPWAP discovery packet and selects one of the ACs that sent CAPWAP discovery response, and transmits the CAPWAP join request to the selected AC.

At block 603, the AC receives the CAPWAP join request and returns a CAPWAP join response to the AP management apparatus.

At block 604, the AP management apparatus receives the CAPWAP join response and the CAPWAP connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC is established.

After establishing the CAPWAP connection with the AC, the AP management apparatus may request image data, config (configuration) and other information from the AC.

At block 605, the AP management apparatus transmits an image data request to the AC, wherein the image data request includes the IP address, the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus.

At block 606, the AC receives the image data request, searches for corresponding image data package according to the type (or type + serial-id) in the image data request, and returns the image data to the AP management apparatus via an image data response.

The image data package includes not only the image data for the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus, but also includes the image data for each type (or type + serial-id) of AP supported by the AP management apparatus.

At block 607, the AP management apparatus receives the image data response, saves the image data package in the image data response and transmits a CAPWAP config request to the AC.

Herein, if the version of the image data corresponding to the type (or type + serial-id) of the AP management apparatus in the image data package is different from that of the image data in the flash of the AP management apparatus, the AP management apparatus updates the image data in the flash by the image data in the image data package, reboots the system using the updated image data in the flash, and re-establishes the CAPWAP connection with the AC.

At block 608, the AC receives the CAPWAP config request, returns a CAPWAP config response to the AP management apparatus, wherein the CAPWAP config response includes configuration information.

It should be noted that, different from the CAPWAP config response returned by the AC to the Fit AP, the CAPWAP config response returned by the AC to the AP management apparatus does not include the radio configuration, but includes wired interface configuration and universal configuration such as service set identifier (SSID) , channel ID, etc.

At block 609, the AP management apparatus receives the CAPWAP config response and saves the configuration information.

In addition, similar to the keep-alive mechanism of the CAPWAP connection between the Fit AP and the AC, after the CAPWAP connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC is established, the connection may be kept alive by CAPWAP echo messages. In the case that a party does not receive CAPWAP echo message during a predefined heartbeat period, the CAPWAP connection is deleted.

After being powered on, the AP establishes the control channel and the data channel with the AP management apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for establishing a control channel and a data channel between the AP and the AP management apparatus according to some examples of the present disclosure. In some examples of the present disclosure, a virtual AP process is taken as an example virtual AP management unit.

At block 700, the AP management apparatus and the AP are configured in the WLAN, and each AP is coupled under one AP management apparatus.

At block 701, the AP broadcasts a discovery request when powered on, the packet includes a MAC address and a type of the AP.

The broadcast discovery request may further include a serial-id and a VLAN ID of the AP.

At block 702, after receiving the broadcast discovery request, if any AP management apparatus determines that it supports the type (or type +serial-id) of the AP, the AP management apparatus returns a discovery response to the AP including a MAC address of the AP management apparatus.

The discovery response may further include an access capability, current load and VLAN ID of the AP management apparatus.

At block 703, the AP receives the discovery response returned by each AP management apparatus, selects one AP management apparatus as a working AP management apparatus, transmits an image data request to the working AP management apparatus including the MAC address, type (type +serial-id) of the AP.

The AP may select the working AP management apparatus according to the load of each AP management apparatus.

At block 704, the working AP management apparatus of the AP receives the image data request, searches the image package stored in the Flash of the AP management apparatus for a corresponding image according to the type (or type + serial-id) carried in the packet, and transmits the image to the AP via an image data response.

At block 705, the AP receives the image data response returned by the working AP management apparatus, starts its system according to the image in the packet, and establishes the control channel and the data channel with the working AP management apparatus.

At block 706, after the control channel and the data channel between the AP and the working AP management apparatus are established, the working AP management apparatus creates a corresponding virtual AP process for the AP in the AP management apparatus.

The AP management apparatus creates a virtual AP process with respect to each AP which establishes the control channel and the data channel with the working AP management apparatus.

After the AP management apparatus establishes the control channel and the data channel with the AP and creates the AP process for the AP, the virtual AP process may establish the CAPWAP connection with the AC.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating the establishment of the CAPWAP connection between the virtual AP process in the AP management apparatus and the AC according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 801, the virtual AP process in the AP management apparatus transmits a CAPWAP join request to the AC, wherein a source IP address of the packet is the IP address of the AP management apparatus, and a source port number of the packet is the UDP port number of the virtual AP process.

It should be noted that, if the virtual AP process has already obtained the IP address of the AC has been configured statically or obtained via a dynamic manner, the IP address of the AC is utilized to directly transmit the CAPWAP join request to the corresponding AC； otherwise, the virtual AP process broadcasts the CAPWAP discovery packet, and selects one of the ACs sent CAPWAP discovery response, transmits the CAPWAP join request to the selected AC. In some examples, the virtual AP may directly use the IP address of the AC saved by the AP management apparatus.

At block 802, the AC receives the CAPWAP join request, and returns a CAPWAP join response to the virtual AP process.

At block 803, the virtual AP process receives the CAPWAP join response and the CAPWAP connection between the virtual AP and the AC is established.

In blocks 802～803, a datagram transport layer security (DTLS) connection may also be established between the virtual AP process and the AC, so as to ensure the security of the CAPWAP connection.

After the CAPWAP connection between virtual AP process and the AC is established, the virtual AP process may request config (configuration) from the AC.

At block 804, the virtual AP process transmits a CAPWAP config (configuration) request to the AC.

At block 805, the AC receives the CAPWAP request, returns a CAPWAP config response to the virtual AP process, wherein the CAPWAP config response includes configuration information such as radio configuration and forwarding mode configuration.

The radio configuration is similar to that issued by the AC to the Fit AP, including SSID, packet transmitting/receiving rate and power, etc.

The forwarding mode configuration includes: a VLAN ID supporting centralized forwarding, and/or a VLAN ID supporting localized forwarding.

In addition, the CAPWAP config response may further include rate limit information, bandwidth restriction information and other configuration information.

At block 806, the virtual AP process receives the CAPWAP response, saves the configuration information carried by the packet, and issues the radio configuration to the corresponding AP via the control channel.

In addition, in some examples of the present disclosure, the AP management apparatus periodically reports its status information, configuration update information and event information to the AC. Meanwhile, each virtual AP process also periodically reports its state information, configuration update information and event information to the AC.

At block 807, the AP receives and saves the radio configuration issued by the virtual AP process.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from an STA to a server in a centralized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 901, the STA transmits an IEEE 802.11 packet to the AP via a Wi-Fi network card.

At block 902, a radio chip of the AP receives the packet, transmits the packets to an radio adaptation module which converts the packet into an IEEE 802.3 packet and then transmits to an interface module, the interface module transmits the packet to the AP management apparatus via the data channel, wherein the header of the packet includes the radio information.

The radio information of the packet includes: rate of the packet, channel, received signal strength indication (RSSI) , signal-noise ratio (SNR) background noise, etc.

At block 903, the AP management apparatus retrieves the packet from the data channel and assigns the packet to a corresponding virtual AP process.

In some examples, after receiving the packet from the data channel, the AP management apparatus may assign the packet to a corresponding virtual AP process according to a MAC address of the packet. For example, the AP management apparatus may store a correspondence between the MAC address of the packet and a virtual AP process ID. As such, in block 903, the AP management apparatus may find the corresponding virtual AP process ID according to the MAC address of the packet.

At block 904, the virtual AP process receives the packet, and determines that the forwarding mode of the packet is centralized forwarding according to the VLAN ID carried in the packet, and encapsulates the packet into a CAPWAP packet before transmitting it to the AC.

At block 905, the AC retrieves the packet via the CAPWAP connection, forwards the packet to the Internet via a wired network after performing a layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing, and packet is routed to the server via the Internet.

During the layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing, the AC may perform some complicated service processing such as QoS, DPI, 802.1X or Web authentication, etc. The processing of the complicated services is not repeated herein.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the server to the STA in the centralized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 1001, a packet transmitted by the server is routed by the Internet and arrives at the AC.

At block 1002, the AC encapsulates the packet into a CAPWAP packet after performing a layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing, and transmits the packet to the AP management apparatus.

At block 1003, the AP management apparatus searches for a corresponding virtual AP process according to a destination port number of the packet, and transmits the packet to the virtual AP process.

When establishing the CAPWAP connection with the AC, the virtual AP process uses a UDP SOCKET of TCP/IP. At this time, the TCP/IP protocol stack automatically uses a UDP source port number corresponding to the virtual AP process. The AP management apparatus records the association relationship between the virtual AP process and the UDP source port number. In this block, the AP management apparatus finds the virtual AP process corresponding to the destination port number of the packet according to the association relationship.

At block 1004, after receiving the packet, the virtual AP process performs a CAPWAP decapsulation to the packet to obtain a raw packet, and transmits the raw packet to the corresponding AP via the data channel.

At block 1005, the radio adaptation module of the AP retrieves the packet from the data channel, performs a radio operation to the packet according to its radio configuration, and transmits the packet to the radio chip which then transmits the packet to the STA via an air interface.

Herein, if the packet retrieved by the AP is an IEEE 802.3 packet, the radio adaptation module of the AP converts the packet into an IEEE 802.11 packet before performing the radio operation.

The radio operation performed to the packet may include: selecting rate and power for the packet, aggregation MAC protocol data unit (AMPDU) processing, etc.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the STA to the server in the localized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 1101, the STA transmits an IEEE 802.11 packet to the AP via a Wi-Fi network card.

At block 1102, the radio chip of the AP receives the packet, forwards the packet to an radio adaptation module which converts the packet into an IEEE 802.3 packet and then transmits it to an interface module, the interface module transmits the packet to the AP management apparatus via the data channel, wherein the header of the packet includes the radio information.

At block 1103, the AP management apparatus retrieves the packet from the data channel and assigns the packet to a corresponding virtual AP process.

At block 1104, the virtual AP process receives the packet, determines that the forwarding mode of the packet is localized forwarding according to the VLAN ID carried by the packet, and forwards the packet to the Internet via a wired network after performing a layer-2 or layer-3 processing, the packet is routed to the server via the Internet.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating packet transmission from the server to the STA in the localized forwarding mode according to some examples of the present disclosure.

At block 1201, a packet transmitted by the server destined to the STA is routed by the Internet and arrives at the AP management apparatus.

At block 1202, the AP management apparatus transmits the packet to a corresponding virtual AP process according to a destination port number of the packet.

At block 1203, the virtual AP process determines that the forwarding mode of the packet is localized forwarding according a VLAN ID carried in the packet, and transmits the packet to a corresponding AP via a data channel after performing layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing.

At block 1204, the radio adaptation module of the AP retrieves the packet from the data channel, transmits the packet to a radio chip after performing a radio operation, and the radio chip transmits the packet to the STA via an air interface.

Herein, if the packet retrieved by the AP is an IEEE 802.3 packet, the radio adaptation module of the AP converts the packet into an IEEE 802.11 packet before performing the radio operation to the packet.

The radio operation performed to the packet includes: selecting rate and power for the packet, performing AMPDU processing, etc.

FIG. 13 shows an apparatus for providing wireless services according to some examples of the present disclosure. The apparatus may be also referred to as an AP management apparatus. As shown in FIG. 13, the apparatus 1300 includes a processor 1310, a non-transitory storage medium 1320, a bus 1330, and a first network interface 1340. The bus 1330 connects the processor 1310, the non-transitory storage medium 1320, and the first network interface 1340. The first network interface 1340 implements communications between the AP management apparatus and at least one AP. The non-transitory storage medium 1320 stores instructions 1322 for providing wireless services executable by the processor 1310.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the access controller may be a device independent from the AP management apparatus 1300. At this time, the AP management apparatus 1300 further includes a second network interface 1350 for implementing communications between the AP management apparatus 1300 and the AC.

In other examples of the present disclosure, the AC may be a module in the AP management apparatus 1300, e.g., the AC module 1360 as shown in FIG. 13. At this time, the AP management apparatus 1300 communicates with the AC module via the bus 1330.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the instructions 1322 are executed by the processor 1310 to implement any one or any combination of the methods described above. Functions and operations of the instructions 1322 may be similar to those described above with reference to the method examples and are not repeated herein.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating an apparatus for providing wireless services in a network according to some examples of the present disclosure. The apparatus may be referred to as an AP. The AP 1400 includes a processor 1410, a non-transitory storage medium 1420, a bus 1430, a first network interface 1440, a second network interface 1450, and a radio chip 1460. The bus 1430 connects the processor 1410, the non-transitory storage medium 1420, the first network interface 1440, the second network interface 1450 and the radio chip 1460. The first network interface 1440 implements communications between the AP and an STA. The second network interface 1450 implements communications between the AP and an AP management apparatus. The non-transitory storage medium 1420 stores instructions 1422 for providing wireless services executable by the processor 1410.

In some examples of the present disclosure, the instructions 1422 are executed by the processor 1410 to implement any one or any combination of the methods described above. Functions and operations of the instructions 1422 may be similar to those described above with reference to the method examples and are not repeated herein.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an AP management apparatus according to some examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 15, the AP management apparatus 1500 includes: a connection establishing module 1501 and a radio adaptation module 1502； wherein

the connection establishing module 1501 establishes a control channel with an AP； creates a virtual AP management unit for the AP inside the AP management apparatus；

the radio adaptation module 1502 establishes a connection between the virtual AP management unit and an AC, and obtains radio configuration of the AP from the AC via the connection； and

the radio adaptation module 1502 transmits the radio configuration to the AP through the control channel, such that the AP provides a wireless service according to the radio configuration.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of an AP according to some examples of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 16, the AP 1600 includes: a radio adaptation module 1601 and a radio chip 1602； wherein

the radio adaptation module 1601 establishes a control channel with the AP management apparatus after the AP is powered on, obtains radio configuration from the AP management apparatus via the control channel, wherein the radio configuration is obtained from an access controller (AC) by a virtual AP management unit created for the AP in the AP management apparatus； and

the radio chip 1602 provides a wireless service according to the radio configuration obtained by the radio adaptation module 1601.

Functions and operations of the above modules may be similar to those described with reference to the method examples and are not repeated herein. The above modules may be implemented by machine readable instructions stored in a memory and executable by a processor, hardware (e.g. the processor of an ASIC) , or a combination thereof.

Claims

A method for providing a wireless service, comprising:

establishing, by an access point (AP) management apparatus, a control channel with an AP；

creating, by the AP management apparatus, a virtual AP management unit for the AP inside the AP management apparatus；

establishing, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit, a connection between the virtual AP management unit and an access controller (AC) ；

obtaining, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit, radio configuration of the AP from the AC via the connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC； and

transmitting, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit, the radio configuration obtained from the AC to the AP through the control channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the AP provides a wireless service according to the radio configuration.
The method of claim 1, wherein the AP management apparatus establishing the control channel with the AP comprises:

receiving, by the AP management apparatus, an image data request from the AP, said image data request carrying the type of the AP, searching for image data according to the type carried in the image data request, and transmitting the image data to the AP via an image data response；

after the AP reboots, the AP management apparatus establishing the control channel with the AP.
The method of claim 2, wherein the method further comprises:

obtaining, by the AP management apparatus image data of the AP supported by the AP management apparatus from the AC via a connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC； and

the AP management apparatus storing the obtained image data.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the AP management apparatus, a first data packet from the AP via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； forwarding, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit corresponding to the AP according to a virtual local area network VLAN ID of the first data packet, the first data packet to the AC through the connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC； or

receiving, by the AP management apparatus, a second data packet from the AC via a connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC, wherein a destination port number of the second data packet corresponds to the virtual AP management unit； performing by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit a decapsulation to the second data packet to obtain a raw packet and transmitting the raw packet to the AP through the data channel.
The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the AP management apparatus, a third data packet from the AP via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； assigning, by the AP management apparatus, the third data packet to the virtual AP management unit； and forwarding, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit, the third data packet to a wired network after layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing； or

receiving, by the AP management apparatus, a fourth data packet； assigning, by the AP management apparatus, the fourth data packet to the virtual AP management unit according to a destination port number of the fourth data packet； and forwarding, by the AP management apparatus via the virtual AP management unit, the fourth data packet to the AP after layer-2 or layer-3 forwarding processing.
A method for providing a wireless service, comprising:

establishing, by an access point (AP) , a control channel between the AP and an AP management apparatus；

obtaining, by the AP, radio configuration from the AP management apparatus via the control channel, wherein the radio configuration is obtained from an access controller (AC) by a virtual AP management unit created for the AP in the AP management apparatus；

providing a wireless service by the AP according to the radio configuration.
The method of claim 6, wherein the establishing the control channel between the AP and the AP management apparatus comprises:

broadcasting a discovery request carrying a type of the AP；

selecting, by the AP, one of AP management apparatuses that sent a discovery response；

transmitting, by the AP, an image data request to the selected AP management apparatus carrying the type of the AP； and

receiving an image data response returned by the AP management apparatus, wherein the image data response includes image data found by the AP management apparatus according to the type of the AP, rebooting according to the image data.
The method of claim 7, wherein the selecting one of the AP management apparatuses that sent the discovery response comprises:

selecting the AP management apparatus according to at least one of an access capability and a current load of the at least one virtual AP management unit that sent the discovery response.
The method of claim 6, wherein the AP providing the wireless service according to the radio configuration comprises:

receiving a first data packet from a wireless station, transmitting the first data packet to the AP management apparatus via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； wherein a header of the first data packet carries radio information of the first data packet； or

receiving, by the AP, a second data packet from the virtual AP management unit via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； performing radio operation to the second data packet according to the radio configuration and transmitting the second data packet to a wireless station via an air interface.
A non-transitory machine readable storage medium, applicable to an access point AP management apparatus, comprising machine readable instructions executable by a processor to:

establish a control channel with an AP；

create a virtual AP management unit for the AP inside the AP management apparatus；

establish a connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC；

obtain radio configuration of the AP from the AC via the connection between the virtual AP management unit and the AC； and

transmit the radio configuration obtained from the AC to the AP through the control channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the AP provides a wireless service according to the radio configuration.
The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the AP management apparatus establishing the control channel with the AP comprises:

receiving an image data request from the AP, said image data request carrying the type of the AP, searching for image data according to the type carried in the image data request, and transmitting the image data to the AP via an image data response；

after the AP reboots, establishing the control channel with the AP.
The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 11, further comprising machine readable instructions executable by the processor to:

obtain image data of the AP supported by the AP management apparatus from the AC via a connection between the AP management apparatus and the AC； and

store the obtained image data.
A non-transitory machine readable storage medium, applicable to an access point (AP) , comprising machine readable instructions executable by a processor to:

establish a control channel between the AP and an AP management apparatus；

obtain radio configuration from the AP management apparatus via the control channel, wherein the radio configuration is obtained from an access controller (AC) by a virtual AP management unit created for the AP in the AP management apparatus；

provide a wireless service by the AP according to the radio configuration.
The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the establishing the control channel between the AP and the AP management apparatus comprises:

broadcasting a discovery request carrying a type of the AP；

selecting one of AP management apparatuses that sent a discovery response；

transmitting an image data request to the selected AP management apparatus carrying the type of the AP； and

receiving an image data response returned by the AP management apparatus, wherein the image data response includes image data found by the AP management apparatus according to the type of the AP, rebooting according to the image data.
The non-transitory machine readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein providing the wireless service according to the radio configuration comprises:

receiving a first data packet from a wireless station, transmitting the first data packet to the AP management apparatus via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； wherein a header of the first data packet carries radio information of the first data packet； or

receiving a second data packet from the virtual AP management unit via a data channel between the AP management apparatus and the AP, wherein the data channel is established between the AP management apparatus and the AP while the control channel is established； performing radio operation to the second data packet according to the radio configuration and transmitting the second data packet to a wireless station via an air interface.