SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFICIENTLY ROUTING INFORMATION

• US 20090252136A1
• Filed: 06/10/2009
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Morris, Michael D., Meier, Robert C., Mahany, Ronald L., Danielson, Arvin D., Bunte, Alan G., West, Guy J.
• Application Number:
  US12/482,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20090252136A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/707 using direct sequence modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70705 Rate detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0032 Without explicit signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0038 Blind format detection for detection of modulation format H04L27/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1671 the supervisory signal being transmitted together with control information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1685 the supervisory signal being transmitted in response to a specific request, e.g. to a polling signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/48 Routing tree calculation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• 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 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A hierarchical communication system is described in which two wireless local area networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed to link inherently portable or mobile computer devices. A series of radio base stations make up a infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one portable computer device make up the first local area network. The communication on the first local area network is accomplished by spread spectrum frequency hopping communication A second local area network allows for radio communication between a portable computer device and peripheral devices with built-in transceivers utilized by the portable computer device. The communication in each local area network is controlled by a reservation access communication protocol. The communication protocol facilitates frequency hopping synchronization and supports adaptive data rate selection based upon the quality of communication on the communication channel. The communication protocol prevents interference between communication on the first local area network and communication on the second local area network. In a premises LAN, a series of radio base stations and a backbone LAN make up an infrastructure network. The infrastructure network and at least one mobile computing device make up a higher-power LAN, utilizing a frequency hopping protocol. A lower-power LAN allows for radio communication between a mobile computing device and peripheral devices, utilizing a single-frequency spread spectrum protocol. A vehicular LAN provides for short-range communication between a vehicle terminal and a portable terminal. When out of direct RF range of the premises LAN, the vehicle terminal maintains indirect communication when necessary with the premises LAN via one of several alternate RF channels. A microprocessor, located inside radio units which participate in multiple LAN'"'"'s, selects the appropriate protocol, frequency band and power level for communicating through the network.

Claims

1-60. -60. (canceled)

61. A communication system for distributing data comprising:

an access device operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal accessing the communication system through said access device, said access device being associated with a routing table that subdivides routing information according to the type of data to be routed; and

said access device operative to form a wired network comprising a plurality of network devices and operative to be in communication with at least one of the plurality of network devices, wherein bandwidth on the wired network is allocated according to the type of data to be routed.

62. The communication system of claim 61, wherein the data is voice data.

63. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to route voice data to a computer.

64. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to route voice data between a terminal and a computer.

65. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to route voice data between a portable computer terminal and a computer.

66. The communication system of claim 61, wherein the data is video data.

67. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly.

68. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a cellular telecommunication link.

69. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a telecommunication link.

70. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to communicate data routing options for a particular type of data to the at least one terminal.

71. The communication system of claim 69, wherein said access device is further operative to communicate data over a data routing option specified by the at least one terminal.

72. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to request a voice link with a computer.

73. The communication system of claim 61, wherein dedicated bandwidth is allocated for real-time voice communication.

74. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link having particular characteristics.

75. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a real-time voice communication link.

76. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a priority level.

77. The communication system of claim 61, wherein said access device is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a cost consideration.

78. A communication system for distributing data comprising:

a plurality of access devices, each access device operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal accessing the communication system through the access device, each access device is associated with a routing table that subdivides routing information according to the type of data to be routed; and

a plurality of computers, the access devices and computers forming a wired network, each computer in communication with at least one other computer, each access device in communication with at least one computer, wherein bandwidth on the wired network is allocated according to the type of data to be routed.

79. The communication system of claim 78, wherein the data is voice data.

80. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to route voice data to at least one of said computers.

81. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to route voice data between the at least one terminal and at least one of said computers.

82. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to route voice data between a portable computer terminal and at least one of said computers.

83. The communication system of claim 78, wherein the data is video data.

84. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly.

85. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a cellular telecommunication link.

86. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a telecommunication link.

87. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to communicate data routing options for a particular type of data to the at least one terminal.

88. The communication system of claim 87, wherein the at least one of said access devices is further operative to communicate data over a data routing option specified by the at least one terminal.

89. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to request a voice link with a computer.

90. The communication system of claim 78, wherein dedicated bandwidth is allocated for real-time voice communication.

91. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a real-time voice communication link.

92. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a priority level.

93. The communication system of claim 78, wherein at least one of said access devices is operative to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a cost consideration.

94. A communication system for distributing data comprising:

an access device, wherein said access device comprises;

a memory readable by a processor, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access point to, at least;

transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal accessing the communication system through said access device, said access device being associated with a routing table that subdivides routing information according to the type of data to be routed; and

form a wired network comprising a plurality of network devices and communicate with at least one of the plurality of network devices, wherein bandwidth on the wired network is allocated according to the type of data to be routed.

95. The communication system of claim 94, wherein the data is voice data.

96. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to route voice data to a computer.

97. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to route voice data between a terminal and a computer.

98. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to route voice data between a portable computer terminal and a computer.

99. The communication system of claim 94, wherein the data is video data.

100. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly.

101. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a cellular telecommunication link.

102. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to transmit data to and receive data from at least one terminal wirelessly through a telecommunication link.

103. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to communicate data routing options for a particular type of data to the at least one terminal.

104. The communication system of claim 103, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to communicate data over a data routing option specified by the at least one terminal.

105. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to request a voice link with a computer.

106. The communication system of claim 94, wherein dedicated bandwidth is allocated for real-time voice communication.

107. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to receive and process a request for a communication link having particular characteristics.

108. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a real-time voice communication link.

109. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a priority level.

110. The communication system of claim 94, wherein said memory comprises instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause said access device to receive and process a request for a communication link specifying a cost consideration.