Apparatus and method for communicating a wireless data signal in a building

• US 20040192285A1
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: SONY CORPORATION/SONY ELECTRONICS, INC.
• Inventors: Capobianco, Anthony, Nolan, John Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

The apparatus includes a first passive signal repeater and a second passive signal repeater, operable to respond to the wireless data signal and to first and second wireless transceivers, respectively. A mounting device is configured to traverse a structure within the building, and to receive the first and second passive signal repeaters. The mounting device has a transfer path, which is operable to transfer the wireless data received at the first passive signal repeater to the second passive signal repeater, and to transfer the wireless data signal at the second passive signal repeater to the first passive signal repeater. When the mounting device traverses the structure, and the first and second signal repeaters are arranged on the mounting device in such a manner that the transfer path is operating, a wireless signal path traversing the structure is created between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

Claims

1. Apparatus for communicating, in a building, a wireless data signal between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver, comprising:

a first passive signal repeater, operable to respond to the wireless data signal and to the first wireless transceiver;

a second passive signal repeater, operable to respond to the wireless data signal and to the second wireless transceiver; and

a mounting device configured to traverse a structure within the building, and to receive the first and second passive signal repeaters, the mounting device having a transfer path, the transfer path operable to transfer the wireless data signal received from the first wireless transceiver at the first passive signal repeater to the second passive signal repeater, and to transfer the wireless data signal received from the second wireless transceiver at the second passive signal repeater to the first passive signal repeater,

wherein when the mounting device traverses the structure, and the first and second passive signal repeaters are arranged on the mounting device in such a manner that the transfer path is operating, a wireless signal path traversing the structure is created for the wireless data signal between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a frequency range of the wireless data signal is one of a frequency range supported by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.'"'"'s 802.11 series of specifications, a frequency range supported by Bluetooth series of specifications, and an infrared frequency range.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first wireless transceiver is associated with a network connection device and the second wireless transceiver is associated with a computer device.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the mounting device comprises a metal shaft.

6. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the shaft has a first end and a second end, the first end configured to be disposed on one side of the structure and to receive the first signal repeater, and the second end configured to be disposed on another side of the structure and to receive the second signal repeater.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the structure comprises a wall.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the shaft is configured to be pushed through the wall.

9. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the wireless signal path mitigates an effect of an interference source in the building.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the interference source comprises one of an electromagnetic source and a physical source.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the interference source comprises the structure.

12. A method for arranging, in a building, an apparatus for communicating a wireless data signal between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver, comprising:

providing a first passive signal repeater, operable to respond to the wireless data signal and to the first wireless transceiver;

providing a second passive signal repeater, operable to respond to the wireless data signal and to the second wireless transceiver;

installing a mounting device having a transfer path to traverse a structure within the building; and

disposing the first and second passive signal repeaters on the mounting device in such a manner that the transfer path is operable to transfer the wireless data signal received from the first wireless transceiver at the first passive signal repeater to the second passive signal repeater, and to transfer the wireless data signal received from the second wireless transceiver at the second passive signal repeater to the first passive signal repeater,

wherein when the transfer path is operating, a wireless signal path traversing the structure is created for the wireless data signal between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein a frequency range of the wireless data signal is one of a frequency range supported by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.'"'"'s 802.11 series of specifications, a frequency range supported by Bluetooth series of specifications, and an infrared frequency range.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the first wireless transceiver is associated with a network connection device and the second wireless transceiver is associated with a computer device.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein a frequency range of the wireless data signal is one of a frequency range supported by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc.'"'"'s 802.11 series of specifications, a frequency range supported by Bluetooth series of specifications, and an infrared frequency range.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

16. A method for communicating, in a building, a wireless data signal between a first wireless transceiver and a second wireless transceiver, comprising:

providing a mounting device traversing a structure within the building, the mounting device having a transfer path;

receiving the wireless data signal at a first passive signal repeater disposed on the mounting device, the first passive signal repeater responsive to the first wireless transceiver; and

transferring, via the transfer path, the wireless data signal from the first passive signal repeater to a second passive signal repeater disposed on the mounting device, the second passive signal repeater responsive to the second wireless transceiver,

wherein a signal path traversing the structure is created for the wireless data signal between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first wireless transceiver is associated with a network connection device and the second wireless transceiver is associated with a computer device.