Local area network having multiple channel wireless access
First Claim
1. A communication network for collecting and communicating data, comprising:
- a wireless access device comprising a control circuit and a first RF transceiver that selectively operates in one of a plurality of spread spectrum modes;
at least one mobile terminal comprising a second RF transceiver that operates in at least one of a plurality of spread spectrum modes; and
the control circuit responsive to transmissions received from the first RF transceiver for evaluating communication performance and dynamically selecting one of the plurality of spread spectrum modes of the first RF transceiver while taking into consideration at least one of the plurality of spread spectrum modes of the second RF transceiver.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively. Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point. For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel.
80 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A communication network for collecting and communicating data, comprising:
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a wireless access device comprising a control circuit and a first RF transceiver that selectively operates in one of a plurality of spread spectrum modes;
at least one mobile terminal comprising a second RF transceiver that operates in at least one of a plurality of spread spectrum modes; and
the control circuit responsive to transmissions received from the first RF transceiver for evaluating communication performance and dynamically selecting one of the plurality of spread spectrum modes of the first RF transceiver while taking into consideration at least one of the plurality of spread spectrum modes of the second RF transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. In a communication network, a plurality of wireless access device capable of communicating with a plurality of wireless terminals, each of the plurality of wireless access device comprising:
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a first radio controllable to support a communication channel operating pursuant to one of a plurality of modes;
a second radio supporting a busy/control channel independent of the communication channel;
a controller that selects one of the plurality of modes and controls the first radio to support the selection; and
the controller utilizes the second radio to communicate on the busy/control channel to manage the communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. In a communication network, a plurality of wireless access device capable of communicating with a plurality of wireless terminals each of the plurality of wireless access device comprising:
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a transceiver controllable to operate pursuant to any of a plurality of communication modes;
a controller that selects from the plurality of modes a communication channel and an independent, busy/control channel; and
the controller controls the transceiver to support data routing on the communication channel while managing access to the communication channel while managing access to the communication channel via the busy/control channel. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An access point for communicatively coupling a first roaming wireless device and a second roaming wireless device to a wired link, the access point comprising:
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a housing;
a control circuit disposed in the housing;
a wired transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and the wired link;
a first wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the first wireless transceiver operating on a first wireless communication channel to communicatively couple with the first roaming wireless device;
a second wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the second wireless transceiver operating on a second wireless communication channel to communicatively couple with the second roaming wireless device; and
the control circuit accommodates communications between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver exclusive of the wired link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An access point for establishing communications with a wired link, the access point comprising:
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a first wireless transceiver operating to establish a first wireless cell;
a second wireless transceiver operating to establish a second wireless cell;
the first and second wireless transceivers being located such that the first and second cells are substantially overlapping;
a control circuit that communicatively couples the first and second wireless transceivers to one another;
a wired transceiver that communicatively couples the control circuit to the wired link; and
the control circuit communicatively couples the first wireless transceiver and the wired transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A communication network comprising:
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a wired LAN;
a plurality of access point coupled via the wired LAN, each of the plurality of access points comprising;
a housing;
a control circuit disposed in the housing;
a wired transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and the wired link;
a first wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and the first roaming wireless device, the first roaming wireless device operating on a first wireless communication channel; and
a second wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit and the second roaming wireless device, the second roaming wireless device operating on a second wireless communication channel; and
the control circuit accommodates communications between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver exclusive of the wired link;
a first roaming wireless device comprising a third wireless transceiver that operates on the first wireless communication channel; and
a second roaming wireless device comprising a fourth wireless transceiver that operates on the second wireless communication channel. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A communication system, comprising:
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a wired LAN;
a plurality of access point coupled via the wired LAN, each of the plurality of access points comprising;
a housing;
a control circuit disposed in the housing;
a wired transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is configurable to communicatively couple the control circuit to a wired local area network;
a first wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the first wireless transceiver operating pursuant to a substantially deterministic, time bounded wireless communication protocol; and
a second wireless transceiver, disposed in the housing, that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the second wireless transceiver operating pursuant to a substantially non-deterministic contention access wireless communication protocol; and
a plurality of roaming wireless devices that each wirelessly communicate with at least one of the first and second wireless transceivers.
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Specification