Multiprotocol WLAN access point devices

• US 20040125775A1
• Filed: 12/31/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nextwlan Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nextwlan Corporation
• Inventors: Rios, Carlos A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,873,611 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

The present invention consists of a device-internal data flow organization coupled with a wireless communications medium access control protocol for a set of WLAN “Multiprotocol Devices”, each containing a 2.4 and 5 GHz frequency band-agile CCK and OFDM modulation capable radio, such that the devices may support simultaneous IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g-compliant Access Point functionality. The set includes a “Multiprotocol Access Point” that bridges communications from IEEE 802.11a and/or IEEE 802.11b/g compliant WLAN client devices, and other Multiprotocol Devices, to the wired LAN distribution system. Also included is a “Multiprotocol Repeater” that relays communications from the above client and Multiprotocol devices wirelessly to another Multiprotocol Device. Lastly, the set includes a “High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater” that can relay a higher volume of communications from IEEE 802.11a, b or g devices wirelessly to another Multiprotocol Device.

Claims

1. An IEEE 802.11 compliant wireless local area network (WLAN) multiprotocol device comprising:

one frequency band agile, complementary code keying (CCK) and orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) modulation-capable radio;

a data flow structure framework which organizes and routes transmitted and received WLAN data packets within the multiprotocol device; and

a medium access control (MAC) mechanism which wirelessly exchanges the data packets between the multiprotocol device and other IEEE 802.11 compliant devices,

wherein the device is capable of engaging in simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g WLAN communications.

2. The multiprotocol device of claim 1 wherein:

the data flow structure comprises one wired portal and three or more wireless portals, each portal consisting of a transmit queue and an associated receive buffer; and

interconnections between the distinct wired and wireless portal receive buffers and transmit queues such that any WLAN data packet externally deposited at the wired portal receive buffer is internally routed to one appropriate wireless portal transmit queue, and any data packet externally deposited at a wireless portal receive buffer is internally routed to one appropriate wired portal or other wireless portal transmit queues, and

the MAC mechanism provides for distinct, sequential time intervals assigned to each wireless portal, only during which data packets can be transmitted from or received at the respective wireless portal, and where each time interval includes a beginning and end indicated by specific, standard 802.11 MAC management or control data packets.

3. The multiprotocol device of claim 2, wherein

one of the wireless portals is disabled such that any data packet externally deposited at either of the two remaining enabled wireless portal receive buffers is internally routed to the wired portal transmit queue, and any data packet externally deposited at the wired portal receive buffer is internally routed to an appropriate one of the two remaining enabled wireless portal transmit queues, and

wherein all wireless communications conforming to the IEEE 802.11a standard are routed through one of the enabled wireless portals on one 5 GHz band RF channel, and

wherein all wireless communications conforming to the IEEE 802.11b/g standards are routed through the other remaining enabled wireless portal on one 2.4 GHz band RF channel, and

wherein the multiprotocol device, referred to as a multiprotocol access point, complies with all relevant IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards regarding access point devices.

4. The multiprotocol device of claim 2 wherein the multiprotocol device is coupled to and configured to communicate with one separate upstream multiprotocol device, and

wherein the wired portal is disabled and any data packet externally deposited at a first of the three wireless portal receive buffers is internally routed to an appropriate transmit queue of a second or a third wireless portal, and any data packet externally deposited at the receive buffer of the second or third wireless portal is internally routed to the transmit queue of the first wireless portal, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through the first of the three wireless portals conform to the IEEE 802.11a standard and occur on a same 5 GHz band RF channel as that used by a wireless portal of the upstream multiprotocol device, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through the second of the three wireless portals conform to the IEEE 802.11a standard and occur on a 5 GHz band RF channel likely, but not necessarily, distinct from the channel used by the first wireless portal, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through the third of the three wireless portals conform to the IEEE802.11b/g standard and occur on a 2.4 GHz band RF channel, and

wherein the multiprotocol device, referred to as a multiprotocol repeater, complies with all relevant IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards regarding access point devices.

5. A combination multiprotocol device comprising:

a first multiprotocol device of claim 2 and

a second multiprotocol device of claim 2, the second multiprotocol device being different from the first multiprotocol device,

wherein the first multiprotocol device is coupled to and configured to communicate with one separate upstream multiprotocol device and

wherein the first multiprotocol device has two wireless portals disabled such that any data packet deposited at its wired portal receive buffer is routed to the remaining wireless portal transmit queue, and any data packet externally deposited at the wireless portal receive buffer is routed to the wired portal transmit queue, and

wherein the second multiprotocol device has one wireless portal disabled, such that any data packet externally deposited at its wired portal receive buffer is internally routed to the transmit queue of one of its remaining enabled wireless portals, as appropriate, and that any wireless data packet externally deposited at either of the two remaining enabled wireless portal receive buffers is internally routed to its wired portal transmit queue, and

wherein the first and second multiprotocol devices are mutually interconnected at their wired portals, such that packets at the first multiprotocol device'"'"'s wired portal transmit queue are routed to the second multiprotocol device'"'"'s wired portal receive buffer, and that packets at the second multiprotocol device'"'"'s wired portal transmit queue are routed to the first multiprotocol device'"'"'s wired portal receive buffer, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through the first multiprotocol device'"'"'s wireless portal conform to the IEEE 802.11a standard and occur within the same 5 GHz band RF channel as that used by a wireless portal of the upstream multiprotocol device, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through one of the second multiprotocol device'"'"'s wireless portals conform to the IEEE 802.11a standard and occur within a 5 GHz band RF channel likely, but not necessarily, distinct from the channel used by the first multiprotocol device'"'"'s wireless portal, and

wherein all wireless communications routed through the other second multiprotocol device'"'"'s wireless portal conform to the IEEE802.11b/g standard and occur within one 2.4 GHz band RF channel and

wherein the combination multiprotocol device, referred to as a high capacity multiprotocol repeater, complies with all relevant IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards regarding access point devices.