DUAL MODE UNIT FOR SHORT RANGE, HIGH RATE AND LONG RANGE, LOWER RATE DATA COMMUNICATIONS
First Claim
1. A subscriber unit comprising:
- a first transceiver configured to communicate with a first wireless network via a plurality of assigned physical layer channels;
a second transceiver configured to communicate with a second wireless network; and
a processor coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and configured to maintain a communication session, above a physical layer, with the first wireless network in the absence of the plurality of assigned physical layer channels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A technique for communication with a local area network (LAN) via a wireless connection determines whether a first short-range, high-speed, wireless communication path is available and connects to the LAN using a longer range, lower speed wireless communication path if the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path is not available. The low-range, high-speed wireless communication path is a wireless communication path is a wireless LAN connection such as an IEE 802.11-compliant wireless LAN and the long-range, low-sped wireless communication mode is a cellular CDMA-type connection. Determining whether the first IEEE 802.11 mode is available can be done by detecting a beacon signal, or transmitting a probe request message and detecting a probe response message in response to the probe request, indicating the presence or availability of the short-range, high-speed wireless communication path. Alternatively, the availability of short-range, high-speed wireless communication path can be detected by simply detecting activity on it.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A subscriber unit comprising:
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a first transceiver configured to communicate with a first wireless network via a plurality of assigned physical layer channels; a second transceiver configured to communicate with a second wireless network; and a processor coupled to the first transceiver and the second transceiver, and configured to maintain a communication session, above a physical layer, with the first wireless network in the absence of the plurality of assigned physical layer channels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for use in a dual mode subscriber unit, the method comprising:
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establishing a non-physical layer communication session with a first wireless network; maintaining the non-physical layer communication session in the absence of any physical layer channels associated with the first wireless network; and communicating with a second wireless network while maintaining the non-physical layer communication session with the first wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification