Local area network having multiple channel wireless access

• US 20060270338A1
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Published: 11/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1993
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innovatio IP Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,907 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.10
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/692 Hybrid techniques using combinations of two or more spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• 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

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.

Claims

1-42. -42. (canceled)

43. Communication circuitry for communicatively coupling a first roaming wireless device and a second roaming wireless device, the communication circuitry comprising:

a control circuit;

a wired transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the wired transceiver for coupling to the wired link;

a first wireless transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the first wireless transceiver for operating on a first wireless communication channel to communicatively couple with the first roaming wireless device;

a second wireless transceiver that is communicatively coupled to the control circuit, the second wireless transceiver for operating on a second wireless communication channel to communicatively couple with the second roaming device; and

the control circuit accommodates communications between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

44. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the communication circuitry is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

45. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the communication circuitry is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

46. The communication circuitry of claim 43, further comprising a bus interface communicatively coupling the control circuit to the first and second wireless transceivers and the wired transceiver.

47. The communication circuitry of claim 46, wherein the bus interface is substantially compliant with a bus standard.

48. The communication circuitry of claim 47, wherein the bus standard is a PCI standard.

49. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with an Ethernet network.

50. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with a token-ring network.

51. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with an asynchronous transfer mode network.

52. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with a packetized network.

53. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the first wireless transceiver supports a substantially non-deterministic media access protocol and the second wireless transceiver supports a substantially deterministic media access protocol.

54. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver support substantially distinct non-deterministic media access protocols.

55. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver operate independently to form a first communication cell and a second communication cell.

56. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the control circuit synchronizes transmissions on the first wireless communication channel and the second wireless communication channel to minimize conflicts between transmissions on one wireless transceiver and receipts on the other wireless transceiver.

57. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the wired link is a local area network.

58. The communication circuitry of claim 43, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver have substantially different operating characteristics.

59. Communication circuitry comprising:

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 operating 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; and

a wired transceiver that communicatively couples the control circuit to a wired link,

where the control circuit communicatively couples the first wireless transceiver and the wired transceiver.

60. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein said communication circuitry is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

61. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein said communication circuitry is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

62. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein the first and second wireless transceivers each comprise processing circuitry that supports a communication protocol.

63. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein the control circuit allows communications between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

64. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein the first wireless transceiver supports a substantially non-deterministic media access protocol and the second wireless transceiver supports a substantially deterministic media access protocol.

65. The communication circuitry of claim 59, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver support substantially distinct non-deterministic media access protocols.

66. Communication circuitry comprising:

a control circuit operational to, at least;

communicatively couple to a wired transceiver operable to communicate over a wired link;

communicatively couple to a first wireless transceiver operable to communicate with at least a first roaming wireless device over a first wireless communication channel;

communicatively couple to a second wireless transceiver operable to communicate with at least a second roaming wireless device over a second wireless communication channel; and

accommodate communication between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

67. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the control circuit is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

68. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the control circuit is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

69. The communication circuitry of claim 68, further comprising a bus interface operational to communicatively couple the control circuit to the first and second wireless transceivers and the wired transceiver.

70. The communication circuitry of claim 69, wherein the bus interface is substantially compliant with a bus standard.

71. The communication circuitry of claim 70, wherein the bus standard is a PCI standard.

72. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with an Ethernet network.

73. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with a token-ring network.

74. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with an asynchronous transfer mode network.

75. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the wired transceiver accommodates communication with a packetized network.

76. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the first wireless transceiver supports a substantially non-deterministic media access protocol, and the second wireless transceiver supports a substantially deterministic media access protocol.

77. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver support substantially distinct non-deterministic media access protocols.

78. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver operate independently to form a first communication cell and a second communication cell.

79. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the control circuit is further operational to synchronize transmissions on the first wireless communication channel and the second wireless communication channel to minimize conflicts between transmissions on one wireless transceiver and receipts on the other wireless transceiver.

80. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the wired link is a local area network.

81. The communication circuitry of claim 66, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver have substantially different operating characteristics.

82. Communication circuitry comprising:

a control circuit operational to, at least;

communicatively couple to a wired transceiver operable to communicate over a wired link;

communicatively couple to a first wireless transceiver operable to establish a first wireless cell;

communicatively couple to a second wireless transceiver operable to establish a second wireless cell that substantially overlaps the first wireless cell;

communicatively couple the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver to one another; and

accommodate communication between the first wireless transceiver and the wired transceiver.

83. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the control circuit is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

84. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the control circuit is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

85. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the first and second wireless transceivers each comprise processing circuitry that supports a communication protocol.

86. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the control circuit operates to allow communications between the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver.

87. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the first wireless transceiver supports a substantially non-deterministic media access protocol, and the second wireless transceiver supports a substantially deterministic media access protocol.

88. The communication circuitry of claim 82, wherein the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver support substantially distinct non-deterministic media access protocols.