WIRELESS COUPLING OF STANDARDIZED NETWORKS AND NON-STANDARDIZED NODES

• US 20020012358A1
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Published: 01/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: SATO, TAKASHI
• Granted Patent: US 6,445,691 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for establishing wireless communications between multiple standardized information networks and non-standardized information devices. Communicating networks may operate in accordance with the same or different standards. For each network, virtual proxy nodes are formed which represent each of the other communicating networks and each of the non-standardized information devices.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication in a system including a plurality of standardized networks and at least one non-standardized node, said method comprising, for each standardized network:

a. establishing an associated virtual network including a respective virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

b. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

c. communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said non-standardized node;

d. communicating information between each said virtual node and the associated standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said associated standardized network.

2. A method as in claim 1 where each of the standardized networks comprises a real half bridge for communicating with standardized nodes in the respective network and where the virtual network includes a virtual half bridge for communicating with the real half bridge and with the virtual nodes in said communication format/protocol.

3. A method of wireless communication in a system including a first standardized network, at least one other standardized network, and at least one non-standardized node, said method comprising:

a. determining the identity of each other standardized network and of each non-standardized node and selecting a communication format/protocol compatible with each said other standardized network and with each said non-standardized node;

b. establishing a virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

c. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

d. communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said non-standardized node;

e. communicating information between each said virtual node and the first standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said first standardized network.

4. A wireless information system including:

a. at least one non-standardized node having a transceiver for wireless communication;

b. a plurality of standardized networks, each including;

i. a local bus for carrying communications between any standardized nodes that are connected to the bus;

ii. a local wireless station including a transceiver for wireless communication with the at least one non-standardized node;

iii. a local virtual network coupled to the local bus and to the local wireless station and including a controller and a memory for cooperatively;

(1) establishing in the memory a virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

(2) communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

(3) communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in a communication format/protocol compatible with said non-standardized node;

(4) communicating information between each said virtual node and the local standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said local standardized network.