Synchronized beacon for wireless access point having multiple radios

• US 20060217076A1
• Filed: 03/28/2006
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wavestar Communications Systems LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mediacell Licensing Corporation
• Inventors: Bishop, Donald M.
• Application Number:
  US11/392,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20060217076A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/73
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2693 Centralised synchronisation, i.e. using external universal time reference, e.g. by using a global positioning system [GPS] or by distributing time reference over the wireline network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/12 using downlink control channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0808 using carrier sensing, e.g. carrier sense multiple access [CSMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless access point having multiple radio transceivers and multiple antennas is operated by sending a beacon signal from several radio transceivers simultaneously. The radio transceivers may normally operate by delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected, which would normally prevent beacon signals from being broadcast simultaneously. By forcing the beacon signals to transmit simultaneously, the available bandwidth is utilized much more efficiently. Embodiments include wireless access points that contain multiple directional antennas as well as those that have overlapping coverage areas.

Claims

1. A wireless access point comprising:

a connection to a network;

a plurality of antennas;

a plurality of radio transceivers, each of said plurality of radio transceivers being adapted to establish at least one two-way data communication session, and adapted to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected;

wherein each of said plurality of radio transceivers being adapted to transmit a beacon signal substantially simultaneously.

2. The wireless access point of claim 1 further comprising:

a controller adapted to send a synchronization signal to said plurality of radio transceivers substantially simultaneously.

4. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said antennas are arranged such that a first portion of a first coverage area of a first of said plurality of radio transceivers overlaps a second portion of a second coverage area of a second of said plurality of radio transceivers.

5. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of radio transceivers is adapted to substantially operate in conformance to IEEE 802.11 specification.

6. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein a first of said plurality of radio transceivers is adapted to sense said beacon signal transmitted by a second of said plurality of radio transceivers and adjust the transmission of said beacon signal sent by said first of said plurality of radio transceivers so that said beacon signals are transmitted substantially simultaneously.

7. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said beacon signal comprises an identifier for a radio transmitter.

8. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said beacon signal comprises a network identifier.

9. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein at least one of said radio transceivers are mounted on a utility pole.

10. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein at least one of said radio transceivers are mounted in a utility pedestal.

11. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said network further comprises an Internet connection.

12. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said network comprises coaxial cable.

13. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said network comprises fiber optic cable.

14. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a hybrid fiber/coax connection.

15. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said network comprises a radio communication path.

16. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of radio transceivers is adapted to operate in substantial conformance with IEEE 802.11 specification.

17. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said beacon signal comprises an identifier for a radio transmitter.

18. The wireless access point of claim 1 wherein said beacon signal comprises a network identifier.

3. The wireless access point of claim I wherein at least one of said plurality of antennas is a directional antenna.

19. A method comprising:

establishing communications between a controller and a plurality of radio transceivers comprising a wireless access point, said wireless access point being connected on a network, said radio transceivers being adapted to establish at least one two-way data communication session, and adapted to delay sending a transmission when another ongoing transmission is detected;

sending a synchronization signal from said controller to said plurality of radio transceivers; and

transmitting a beacon signal from each of said plurality of radio transceivers substantially simultaneously using said synchronization signal.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said controller comprises a connection to the Internet.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein at least one of said radio transceivers comprises a directional antenna.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein a portion of a first coverage area of one of said plurality of radio transceivers overlaps a portion of a second coverage area of a second of said plurality of radio transceivers.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein said controller is remotely located on a network.

24. The method of claim 19 wherein said controller is integral to said wireless access point.