System and method to use a wired network to extend radio coverage of a wireless network

• US 20020052188A1
• Filed: 10/30/2001
• Published: 05/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Valence Semiconductor, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valence Semiconductor, Inc.
• Inventors: Behbahani, Farbod
• Application Number:
  US10/021,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20020052188A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/402
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2609 Arrangements for range control, e.g. by using remote antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A system and method to use a wired network to extend radio coverage of a wireless network is described. With respect to one embodiment, the method comprises converting incoming wireless signals sent by a wireless unit to intermediate frequency (IF) signals. The method further comprises transmitting the converted IF signals over a wired network and retrieving the transmitted IF signals from the wired network. In addition, the method comprises converting the retrieved IF signals to digital data that can be routed to a destination.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting information over a wireless network, comprising:

converting incoming wireless signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals;

transmitting the converted IF signals over a wired network;

retrieving the transmitted IF signals from the wired network; and

converting the retrieved IF signals to digital data that can be routed to a destination.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting of the incoming wireless signals includes converting radio frequency (RF) signals to IF signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wired network includes alternating current (AC) wiring.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the IF signals are baseband signals.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination is at least one of a gateway and server.

6. An Access Point comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) up/down converter to convert RF signals to intermediate frequency (IF) analog signals; and

an IF module to transmit the IF analog signals over a wired communication link for subsequent conversion into digital data at the destination.

7. The Access Point of claim 6, wherein the wired communication link is alternating current (AC) electrical wiring.

8. The Access Point of claim 6, wherein the wired communication link is a twisted pair telephone line.

9. The Access Point of claim 6 further comprising an antenna to receive the RF signals.

10. An Access Point comprising:

a first software module operating as an up/down converter to convert wireless signals to intermediate frequency (IF) analog signals; and

a second software module operating in conjunction with the first software module to transmit the IF analog signals over a wired communication link for subsequent conversion into digital data at the destination.

11. The Access Point of claim 10, wherein the wired communication link is alternating current (AC) electrical wiring.

12. The Access Point of claim 10, wherein the wired communication link is a twisted pair telephone line.

13. The Access Point of claim 10 further comprising an antenna to receive the RF signals.

14. The Access Point of claim 10, wherein the up/down converter is a radio frequency (RF) up/down converter to convert RF signals into the IF analog signals.

16. The intermediary unit of claim 15, wherein the connector is an electrical plug based on the wired communication link being electrical wiring.

17. The intermediary unit of claim 15, wherein the connector is a telephone plug for insertion into a telephone jack based on the wired communication link being a telephone line.

18. The intermediary unit of claim 15, wherein the IF-to-Digital converter formats the digital data according to an Ethernet format based on the digital communication link being an Ethernet communication link.

20. The intermediary unit of claim 19, wherein the connector is an electrical plug based on the wired communication link being electrical wiring.

21. The intermediary unit of claim 19, wherein the connector is a telephone plug for insertion into a telephone jack based on the wired communication link being a telephone line.

15. An intermediary unit comprising:

a connector coupled to a wired communication link;

an intermediary frequency (IF) module to receive incoming IF signals over the wired communication link; and

an IF-to-Digital converter to convert the incoming IF signals to digital data and format the digital data according to a format associated with a digital communication link.

19. An intermediary unit comprising:

a connector coupled to a wired communication link;

an IF-to-Digital converter to receive incoming digital data sent over a digital communication link, and convert the incoming digital data to IF signals; and

an intermediary frequency (IF) module to send the IF signals over the wired communication link to a wired network.

22. A method for transmitting information over a wireless network, comprising:

converting incoming digital data to intermediate frequency (IF) signals;

transmitting the converted IF signals over a wired network;

retrieving the transmitted IF signals from the wired network; and

converting the retrieved IF signals to wireless signals that can be routed to a wireless unit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the converting of the retrieved IF signals includes converting the retrieved IF signals to radio frequency (RF) signals.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the wired network includes alternating current (AC) wiring.