Top-level controller for wireless communication devices and protocols

• US 20020173272A1
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Oxford Semiconductor, Inc. (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chen, Minghua, Liang, Ping
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/63.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/1215 for collaboration of different radio technologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Wireless communication networks utilize various communication protocols to exchange data between wireless network devices. Overlapping communication frequencies between data exchange protocols present a collision and interference problem when data transmissions are transmitted using similar timing and frequency characteristics during wireless transit. A device and various network configurations for monitoring, moderating, and/or coordinating wireless transmission traffic in a wireless communication network where overlapping communication frequencies coexist is described to significantly reduce or avoid interference caused by signal collisions.

Claims

1. A communications system in a wireless network having a first access area with a first plurality of wireless communication devices and a second access area with a second plurality of wireless communication devices, the system comprising:

an interference region in the wireless network, wherein the first access area overlaps the second access area, and wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices that exchange communication signals using a first frequency-overlapping protocol coexist with the second plurality of wireless communication devices that exchange communication signals using a second frequency-overlapping protocol; and

an add-in control point positioned within the wireless network, wherein the add-in control point monitors and coordinates the exchange of communication signals between the first and second frequency-overlapping protocols to reduce collisions between the communication signals derived from the first and second frequency-overlapping protocols.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the add-in control point analyzes the timing statistics of the communication signals to identify each type of frequency-overlapping protocol in use and determines a quality of service parameter for each type of frequency-overlapping protocol used.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first frequency-overlapping protocol is a frequency-hopping spread spectrum protocol.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first or second access area comprises a Bluetooth piconet.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first or second frequency-overlapping protocol is a direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol is a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol or an IEEE 802.11B protocol.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the second access area comprises a WLAN access area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the add-in control point is connected to a backbone network.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the add-in control point comprises an access control point that is connected to the backbone network, wherein the access control point permits the add-in control point to manage the exchange of communication signals between the first and second plurality of wireless communication devices and the backbone network.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the backbone network comprises land-based networks including Ethernet, Internet, digital subscriber line, dial-up, or plane telephone networks.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a first access point, and wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the first access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first access point is connected to the add-in control point and exchanges communication signals with the backbone network via the add-in control point.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the first access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network via the add-in control point.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the system further comprises a second access point, and wherein the second plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the second access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second access point is connected to the add-in control point and exchanges communication signals with the backbone network via the add-in control point.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the second plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the second access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network via the add-in control point.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second access areas partially overlap to form the interference region.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second access areas wholly overlap to form the interference region.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access area comprises a first reception radius that encloses the first plurality of wireless communication devices.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the second access area comprises a second reception radius that encloses the second plurality of wireless communication devices.

4. The system of claim 4, wherein the frequency hopping spread spectrum protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

22. A communications system in a wireless network having a first access area and a second access area, the system comprising:

a first plurality of wireless communication devices positioned within the first access area, wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices exchange information by transceiving a first plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals;

a second plurality of wireless communication devices positioned within the second access area, wherein the second plurality of wireless communication devices exchange information by transceiving a second plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals;

an overlapping area in the wireless network, wherein the first and second access areas overlap, and wherein the first plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals derived from the first plurality of communication devices using the first protocol coexist with the second plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals derived from the second plurality of communication devices using the second protocol; and

a collision avoidance device positioned in the wireless network, wherein the collision avoidance device monitors the first and second plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals and coordinates the exchange of the first and second plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals to reduce the occurrence of collisions between the first and second plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the collision avoidance device is positioned adjacent to the interference region.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the collision avoidance device analyzes the timing statistics of the first and second frequency-overlapping wireless communication signals to identify the type of frequency-overlapping protocol used and determines a quality of service parameter for the type of frequency-overlapping protocol used.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the first protocol is a frequency-hopping spread spectrum protocol.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the frequency hopping spread spectrum protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the first access area comprises a Bluetooth piconet.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the second protocol is a direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol is a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol or an IEEE 802.11B protocol.

30. The system of claim 22, wherein the second access area comprises a WLAN access area.

31. The system of claim 22, wherein the collision avoidance device is connected to a backbone network.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the collision avoidance device comprises an access control point that is connected to the backbone network, wherein the access control point permits the collision avoidance device to manage the exchange of communication signals between the first and second plurality of wireless communication devices and the backbone network.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the backbone network comprises land-based networks including Ethernet, Internet, digital subscriber line, dial-up, or plane telephone networks.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the system further comprises a first access point, and wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the first access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the first access point is connected to the collision avoidance device and exchanges communication signals with the backbone network via the collision avoidance device.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein the first plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the first access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network via the collision avoidance device.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the system further comprises a second access point, and wherein the second plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the second access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the second access point is connected to the collision avoidance device and exchanges communication signals with the backbone network via the collision avoidance device.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the second plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the second access point to exchange communication signals with the backbone network via the collision avoidance device.

40. The system of claim 22, wherein the first and second access areas partially overlap to form the overlapping area.

41. The system of claim 22, wherein the first and second access areas wholly overlap to form the overlapping area.

42. The system of claim 22, wherein the first access area comprises a first reception radius that encloses the first plurality of wireless communication devices.

43. The system of claim 22, wherein the second access area comprises a second reception radius that encloses the second plurality of wireless communication devices.

44. A communications system in a wireless network having at least two access areas and a backbone network, the system comprising:

a plurality of wireless communication devices positioned throughout the at least two access areas, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices operate using a plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols;

an interference region in the wireless network, wherein the at least two access areas overlap, and wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices coexist and exchange wireless communication signals using the plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols; and

an interference moderation device positioned adjacent to the at least two access areas, wherein the interference moderation device monitors and coordinates the exchange of communication signals between the plurality of wireless communication devices to reduce collisions between the plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols, and wherein the interference moderation device monitors and coordinates the exchange of communication signals between the plurality of wireless communication devices and the backbone network.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the interference moderation device is positioned adjacent to the interference region.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the interference moderation device analyzes the timing statistics of the communication signals to identify the type of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocol used and determines a quality of service parameter for the type of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocol used.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols comprises a first protocol and a second protocol.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the first protocol is a frequency-hopping spread spectrum protocol.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the frequency hopping spread spectrum protocol is a Bluetooth protocol.

50. The system of claim 47, wherein the second protocol is a direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol.

51. The system of claim 50, wherein the direct-sequence spread spectrum protocol is a wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol or an IEEE 802.11B protocol.

52. The system of claim 44, wherein the at least two access areas comprise a first access area and a second access area.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the first and second access areas partially overlap to form the interference region.

54. The system of claim 52, wherein the first and second access areas wholly overlap to form the interference region.

55. The system of claim 52, wherein the first access area comprises a Bluetooth piconet.

56. The system of claim 52, wherein the second access area comprises a WLAN access area.

57. The system of claim 44, wherein the interference moderation device comprises an access control point that is connected to the backbone network, wherein the access control point permits the interference moderation device to manage the exchange of communication signals between the plurality of wireless communication devices and the backbone network.

58. The system of claim 44, wherein the backbone network comprises land-based networks including Ethernet, Internet, digital subscriber line, dial-up, or plane telephone networks.

59. The system of claim 44, wherein the system further comprises an interface, and wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the interface to exchange communication signals with the backbone network.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the interface is connected to the interference moderation device and exchanges communication signals with the backbone network via the interference moderation device.

61. The system of claim 60, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices interact with the interface to exchange communication signals with the backbone network via the interference moderation device.

62. A method of managing a wireless communications system in an existing network having a plurality of access areas, the method comprising:

monitoring a plurality of wireless communication devices that operate using a plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols in the plurality of access areas; and

incorporating an interference control device into at least one of the plurality of access areas to moderate collisions in an interference region indicative of at least two overlapping access areas, wherein the interference control device monitors and coordinates the exchange of communication signals between the plurality of wireless communication devices to reduce collisions between the plurality of frequency-overlapping wireless communication protocols.

63. A method of coordinating communication signals in a wireless network having a first access area with a first plurality of wireless communication devices and a second access area with a second plurality of wireless communication devices, the method comprising:

identifying an interference region comprising impending interference signals, which are indicative of the simultaneous transmission of communication signals that are derived from the first plurality of wireless communication devices using a first frequency-overlapping protocol and derived from the second plurality of wireless communication devices using a second frequency-overlapping protocol; and

positioning an add-in control point device adjacent to the interference region, wherein the add-in control point device monitors and coordinates the exchange of communication signals in the wireless network such that a reduction in the occurrence of collisions between the communication signals derived from the first and second plurality of wireless communication devices using the first and second frequency-overlapping protocols is achieved.