Method and apparatus to provide data streaming over a network connection in a wireless MAC processor

• US 20060023685A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark Krischer, Michael J. Webb, Philip J. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Mark Krischer, Michael J. Webb, Philip J. Ryan
• Inventors: Krischer, Mark, Ryan, Philip J., Webb, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/90 Buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/9021 Plurality of buffers per packet
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/062 for key distribution, e.g. centrally by trusted party cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving a central third party H04L9/0819
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]

Abstract

A method of wirelessly transmitting or receiving a packet of information, and an apparatus to wirelessly transmit or receive a packet of information. In the case of transmitting, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time. In the case of receiving, the method includes streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during receive time. The transmitting or receiving is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is to or from the station from or to a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

Claims

1. A method of wirelessly transmitting a packet of information, the method comprising:

streaming a data element including at least some of the contents of the packet over a network link during transmit time; and

transmitting the packet of information.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmitting is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is to the station from a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the station is an access point of the wireless network.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the wireless network conforms to one of the IEEE 802.11 standards or derivatives thereof.

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein the packet is an 802.11 MAC packet.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the network device is a network switch that includes a memory wherefrom data is streamed during the wireless transmitting.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein the network link is a Gigabit Ethernet link or an Ethernet link at least as fast as a Gigabit Ethernet link.

8. A method of wirelessly receiving a packet of information, the method comprising:

wirelessly receiving a packet of information; and

streaming a data element including at least some of the contents of the packet over a network link during receive time.

9. A method as recited in claim 8, wherein the receiving is by a station of a wireless network and the streaming is from the station to a network device coupled to the station by the network link.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the station is an access point of the wireless network.

11. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the wireless network conforms to one of the IEEE 802.11 standards or derivatives thereof.

12. A method as recited in claim 11, wherein the packet is an 802.11 MAC packet.

13. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the network device is a network switch that includes a memory whereto data is streamed during the wireless receiving.

14. An apparatus to wirelessly transmit a packet of information, the apparatus including:

means for wirelessly transmitting a packet of information; and

means for streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time.

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein the transmitting is in a station of a wireless network, and wherein the streaming is from a network device coupled to the wireless station by the network link.

16. A carrier medium carrying a set of machine readable instructions to instruct a machine to carry out a method of wirelessly transmitting a packet of information, the method including:

streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the packet, over a network link during transmit time.

17. A carrier medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the transmitting is in a station of a wireless network, and wherein the streaming is from a network device coupled to the wireless station by the network link.

18. An apparatus to wirelessly receive a packet of information, the apparatus including:

means for wirelessly receiving a packet of information; and

means for streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during transmit time.

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 18, wherein the receiving is in a station of a wireless network, and wherein the streaming is to a network device coupled to the wireless station by the network link.

20. A carrier medium carrying a set of machine readable instructions to instruct a machine to carry out a method of wirelessly receiving a packet of information, the method including:

streaming a data element, including at least some of the contents of the received packet, over a network link during transmit time.

21. A carrier medium as recited in claim 20, wherein the receiving is in a station of a wireless network, and wherein the streaming is to a network device coupled to the wireless station by the network link.