ACCESS POINT IN A WIRELESS LAN

• US 20090022114A1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambium Networks Limited (Cambium Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xirrus Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Steve, Laity, Ian, Sauter, Kurt, Conley, Michael R., De La Garrigue, Michael, Gates, Dirk Ion
• Granted Patent: US 8,160,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.

Claims

15. A method for providing wireless access to a plurality of stations comprising:

generating a plurality of sectors of coverage area using a plurality of transceivers, each sector generated using a directional antenna on a corresponding one of the plurality of transceivers;

communicating signals with at least one station in at least one of the sectors; and

managing communication of signals between the at least one station and a data network.

1. A wireless access device comprising:

a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device;

a network interface to a data network; and

an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.

2. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the array controller includes coverage pattern defining functions operable to control the transceivers to generate coverage patterns that provide access to a border beyond with access is limited.

3. A wireless access device according to claim 2 where the coverage pattern defining functions operate by enabling and disabling selected transceivers.

4. A wireless access device according to claim 2 the coverage pattern defining functions generate coverage patterns that limit reflections of signals off of an obstacle.

5. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where each of the plurality of transceivers is a radio that may be configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g or any sub-part of IEEE 802.11.

6. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g.

7. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a.

8. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where the transceivers include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g.

9. A wireless access device according to claim 8 where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a.

10. A wireless access device according to claim 8 where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g.

11. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna.

12. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

13. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

four 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 90°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

14. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

16. A method according to claim 15 further comprising:

generating a coverage pattern that provides access to stations located on one side of a border, but limits access to stations located on the other side of the border.

17. A method according to claim 16 further comprising:

generating a coverage pattern by enabling and disabling selected transceivers.

18. A method according to claim 16 the coverage pattern defining functions generate coverage patterns that limit reflections of signals off of an obstacle.

19. A method according to claim 15 further comprising configuring each of the plurality of transceivers is a radio configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g standard.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising configuring the plurality of transceivers to cover all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g.

21. A method according to claim 19 further comprising configuring the plurality of transceivers to cover all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a.

22. A method according to claim 21 further comprising assigning a unique channel defined by 802.11a.

23. A method according to claim 21 further comprising assigning a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g.

24. A method according to claim 21 further comprising configuring one of the plurality of transceivers to receive only using an omni-directional antenna.

26. A system according to claim 25 where the at least one wireless access device includes coverage pattern defining functions operable to control the transceivers to generate coverage patterns that provide access to a border beyond with access is limited.

27. A system according to claim 26 where the coverage pattern defining functions operate by enabling and disabling selected transceivers.

25. A system for providing access to data network services comprising:

at least one wireless access device having a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device; and

a wired network connected to the at least one wireless access device, the wired network having an interface to at least one data network service;

where the at least one wireless access device communicates with stations within the coverage area and forms a communications path between the wireless stations and the wired network.

29. A system according to claim 25 where each of the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device is a radio configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g standard.

30. A system according to claim 29 where the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g.

31. A system according to claim 29 where the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a.

32. A system according to claim 29 where the transceivers in the at least one wireless access device include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g.

33. A system according to claim 32 where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a.

34. A system according to claim 32 where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g.

35. A system according to claim 29 where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna.

36. A system according to claim 25 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

37. A system according to claim 25 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

four 802.11a radios configured to generate a unidirectional sector of at least 90°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

38. A system according to claim 25 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

39. A system according to claim 25 further comprising:

a network management system operable to provide management functions over the at least one wireless access device.

26-1. A system according to claim 24 the coverage pattern defining functions generate coverage patterns that limit reflections of signals off of an obstacle.

40. A wireless service access area comprising:

a plurality of coverage sectors, each coverage sector defining a space within which a client station may associate with a corresponding one of a plurality of radios mounted in a wireless access device;

where the wireless access device includes an interface to a data network such that stations that associate with the radios access data network services.

41. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where each coverage sector overlaps with at least one adjacent coverage sector such that the client station may associate with at least one other one of the plurality of radios.

42. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where the plurality of radios form a corresponding plurality of coverage sectors that form a 360°

coverage area.

43. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where the plurality of radios are controlled to turn on or off in accordance with a desired coverage pattern.

44. A wireless service access area according to claim 43 where the desired coverage pattern is a 180°

coverage pattern.

45. A wireless service access area according to claim 43 where the desired coverage pattern avoids an obstacle that would generate reflected radio signals.

46. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where the plurality of radios are each controlled to communicate at a designated power level in accordance with a desired coverage pattern.

47. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where the plurality of radios communicate according to any part of IEEE 802.11.

48. A wireless service access area according to claim 40 where a first plurality of radios communicates according to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of radios communicates according to IEEE 802.11b or g.