Interconnecting device having radio communication function, and interconnecting system

• US 20030048794A1
• Filed: 07/03/2002
• Published: 03/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK
• Original Assignee: Allied Telesis Holdings KK
• Inventors: Nishi, Takatsugu, Sato, Kazuhiko
• Application Number:
  US10/190,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20030048794A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/04 Interfaces between hierarchically different network devices

Abstract

An interconnecting device configured to be connected to a network and a plurality of network devices. The interconnecting device comprises a wireless communication portion for wireless communication with the network devices, and a control portion for routing a packet among the network devices via the wireless communication portion. The wireless communication portion may comprise a bluetooth compatible module.

Claims

1. An interconnecting device configured to be connected to a network and a plurality of network devices, the interconnecting device comprising:

a wireless communication portion comprising a bluetooth compatible module; and

a control portion configured to route a packet among the network devices via the wireless communication portion.

2. The interconnecting device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication portion further comprises an infrared data association (IrDA) module.

3. The interconnecting device of claim 1, further comprising a housing configured to accommodate the wireless communication portion and the control portion, the housing having a slot, wherein the wireless communication portion comprises an expansion medium for expanding a function of the interconnecting device, and wherein the expansion medium is insertable into the slot in the housing.

4. The interconnecting device of claim 3, wherein the expansion medium is a Personal Handy-phone System card.

5. The interconnecting device of claim 3, wherein the expansion medium is a communication card having the bluetooth compatible module.

6. The interconnecting device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wire communication portion configured to provide communication with at least one of the network devices; and

a storage portion configured to store a routing table for correlating each network device with one of the wireless and wire communication portions.

7. The interconnecting device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication portion comprises at least one of a transmitter and receiver configured for short range communication.

8. An interconnecting device, configured for connection to a network and a plurality of network devices, the interconnecting device comprising:

a control portion configured to route a packet among the network device; and

a housing for accommodating a wireless communication portion and a control portion, wherein the housing comprises a slot through which an expansion medium for expanding a function of the interconnecting portion is inserted.

9. An interconnecting system, comprising:

a plurality of network devices; and

an interconnecting device configured to connect the plurality of network devices to a network, wherein the interconnecting device comprises;

a wireless communication portion comprising a bluetooth compatible module; and

a control portion configured to route a packet to one of the plurality of network devices via the wireless communication portion.

10. The interconnecting system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of network devices comprises a portable device.

11. The interconnecting system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of network devices comprises a router.

12. The interconnecting system of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication portion comprises at least one of a transmitter and receiver configured for short range communication.

13. An interconnecting system, comprising:

a first network;

a plurality of network devices;

an interconnecting device configured to connect the network devices to the first network, wherein the interconnecting device comprises a wireless communication portion and a control portion, and wherein the control portion is configured to route a packet to one of the plurality of network devices via the wireless communication portion;

a second network connected to the first network; and

a third network, wherein the second network is connected to the first network via the third network.

14. The interconnecting system of claim 13, wherein the second network comprises:

a plurality of other network devices, different from the plurality of network devices of the first network; and

an interconnecting device, wire-connected to the other network devices and the third network, and configured to route a packet among the other network devices of the second network.

15. A method of connecting a plurality of network devices to a network, wherein the plurality of network devices are connected to an interconnecting device and the interconnecting device comprises a wireless communication portion and a wire communication portion, the method comprising:

creating a routing table for correlating each network device with one of the wireless and wire communication portions; and

routing a packet to the network devices using one of the wireless and wire communication portions defined in the routing table.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein creating a routing table uses a Media Access Control address for identification of each network device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the plurality of network devices comprises a first and second network device, and wherein the method further comprises performing a predefined process including modulation and demodulation for a packet from the first network device to the second network device, wherein the interconnecting device uses a different one of the wireless and wire communication portions for each of the first and second network devices.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication portion comprises a plurality of wireless communication means, and wherein creating a routing table further comprises identifying one of the wireless communication means or wire communication portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of network devices comprise a first and a second network device, wherein the method further comprises performing a predefined process including modulation and demodulation for a packet from the first network device to the second network device, and wherein when the interconnecting device uses a different type of wireless communication means for each of the first and second network devices.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication portion is a bluetooth module.

21. An interconnecting device, configured to connect to a first network and a plurality of network devices, the interconnecting device comprising:

a first bluetooth compatible communication device; and

a controller, configured to route a packet from the interconnecting device to at least one of the plurality of network devices via wireless communication using the bluetooth communication device.

22. The interconnecting device of claim 21, further comprising an expansion module, configured to receive a communication medium and to expand the communication capabilities of the interconnecting device.

23. The interconnecting device of claim 22, wherein the communication medium comprises a second bluetooth communication device.

24. The interconnecting device of claim 22, wherein the communication medium is a Personal Handy-phone System card.

25. The interconnecting device of claim 22, wherein the communication medium is configured to provide wireless communication between the interconnecting device and a second network, so as to allow the plurality of network devices to communicate with the second network via the interconnecting device.

26. The interconnecting device of claim 25, wherein the second network is a public network.

27. The interconnecting device of claim 21, further comprising communication ports configured to connect a plurality of network devices to the interconnecting device via a wire connection.

28. The interconnecting device of claim 22, wherein the first bluetooth communication device is a removable medium, and wherein the interconnecting device further comprises a second expansion module configured to receive the first bluetooth communication device.

29. The interconnecting device of claim 21, wherein the control portion is further configured to control a security of the network.

30. The interconnecting device of claim 21, wherein the control portion is further configured to monitor a status of the network devices.