ARCHITECTURE FOR SIGNAL AND POWER DISTRIBUTION IN WIRELESS DATA NETWORK

• US 20110216751A1
• Filed: 05/18/2011
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LGC Wireless Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Sabat, John JR., Greenwood, Ken C., Bianchi, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,824,457 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2801 Broadband local area networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices

Abstract

An architecture is provided for coupling wireless local area network (WLAN) signals between an internetworking device and a remotely located access point using a transport network. The access point is coupled to the transport network for communicating with the internetworking device. The access point includes a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point and an access point remote converter. The WLAN access point receives wireless local area network signals from wireless computing equipment and converts such signals to local area network compatible signals. The access point remote converter receives the local area network compatible signals from the WLAN access point and converts the signals to transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network. The transport network also provides a power signal to power at least some components of the access point.

Claims

1. A method of communicating wireless local area network (WLAN) signals with an internetworking device using a transport network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point, wireless local area network signals from wireless computing equipment and converting such signals to local area network compatible signals;

converting the local area network compatible signals to transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network; and

powering a component of at least one device in a wireless local area network of which the WLAN access point is a part using power received from the transport network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the transport modulated format signals to the internetworking device over the transport network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the local area network compatible signals from the wireless local area network access point at an access point remote converter, wherein the access point remote converter converts the local area network compatible signals to transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein powering the component of at least one device in the wireless local area network using power received from the transport network comprises receiving a power signal from the transport network at a power supply included in the access point remote converter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport network comprises twisted-pair cabling;

and

wherein converting the local area network compatible signals to the transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network comprises converting the local area network compatible signals to Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport network comprises a coaxial cable network;

and

wherein converting the local area network compatible signals to the transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network comprises converting the local area network compatible signals to the transport modulated format signals using a cable modem.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transport network comprises an optical fiber network;

and

wherein converting the local area network compatible signals to the transport modulated format signals suitable for transmission over the transport network comprises converting the local area network compatible signals to optical signals compatible with the optical fiber network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the transport modulated format signals from the transport network;

converting the transport modulated format signals to data network compatible signals; and

providing the data network compatible signals to the internetworking device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the internetworking device is located remotely from the WLAN access point.

10. An access point apparatus comprising:

a wireless local area network access point to produce an intermediate signal based on a wireless local area network signal received from equipment within a coverage area associated with the wireless local area network access point; and

a modem unit to produce, based on the intermediate signal produced by the wireless local area network access point, a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over transport cabling; and

a power supply adapted to receive power from the transport cabling and power at least a portion of at least one of the wireless local area network access point and the modem unit.

11. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transport cabling comprises available transport cabling.

12. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the intermediate signal comprises a local area network compatible signal.

13. The access point apparatus of claim 12, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network signal and the local area network compatible signal comprises an IEEE 802.3 network signal.

14. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises a multi-user wireless local area network signal.

15. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transport cabling comprises a portion of a cable television plant and wherein the modem unit comprises a cable modem.

16. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the transport cabling comprises telephone twisted-pair cabling and wherein the modem unit comprises a digital subscriber line modem.

17. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the equipment comprises at least one of:

computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

18. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein the modem unit comprises a modem.

19. The access point apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

the modem unit produces a downstream intermediate signal based on a downstream transport modulated format signal received from the transport cabling; and

the wireless local area network access point produces a downstream wireless local area network signal from the downstream intermediate signal; and

the wireless local area network access point radiates the downstream wireless local area network signal within the coverage area.

20. The access point of claim 19, wherein the downstream intermediate signal comprises a downstream local area network compatible signal.

21. A method comprising:

receiving a wireless local area network signal from equipment within a coverage area of a wireless local area network;

producing a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over transport cabling, wherein the transport modulated format signal is derived from the wireless local area network compatible signal received within the coverage area;

transmitting the transport modulated format signal on the transport cabling;

receiving the transport modulated format signal from the transport cabling;

producing a third signal for transmission to a second network, wherein the third signal is derived from the transport modulated format signal; and

powering at least one component of at least one device in the wireless local area network using power received from the transport cabling.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the transport cabling comprises available transport cabling.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating the third signal to the second network.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the third signal is communicated to the second network via one or more internetworking devices and wherein the third signal is compatible with at least one of the one or more internetwork devices.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the second network comprises the Internet.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein producing the transport modulated format signal comprises:

producing a second local area network compatible signal based on the wireless local area network signal; and

producing the transport modulated format signal from the second local area network compatible signal.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the first local area network compatible signal comprises an IEEE 802.3 network signal.

28. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a downstream transport modulated format signal from the transport cabling;

producing a downstream wireless local area network signal that is derived from the downstream transport modulated signal; and

radiating the downstream wireless local area network signal in the coverage area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein producing the downstream wireless local area network signal comprises producing a downstream local area network compatible signal from the downstream transport modulated format signal and producing the downstream wireless local area network signal from the downstream local area network compatible signal.

30. The method of claim 21, wherein the transport cabling comprises at least one of:

a portion of a cable television plant and telephone twisted-pair cabling.

31. The method of claim 21, wherein the equipment comprises at least one of:

computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

32. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network signal.

33. The method of claim 21, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises a multi-user wireless local area network signal.

34. A system comprising:

a first access point communicatively coupled to an internetworking device; and

at least one second access point communicatively coupled to the first access point via at least one transport communication medium;

wherein the second access point produces a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over the transport communication medium;

wherein the transport modulated format signal is derived from a wireless local area network signal received from equipment within a coverage area associated with the second access point; and

wherein at least one component associated with the second access point is powered by power received from the transport communication medium.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the at least one transport communication medium comprises at least one available transport communication medium.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the second access point produces the transport modulated format signal by producing a local area network compatible signal based on the wireless local area network signal and producing the transport modulated format signal from the local area network compatible signal.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the local area network compatible signal comprises an IEEE 802.3 network signal.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein the second access point comprises:

a wireless local area network unit to produce the local area network compatible signal based on the wireless local area network signal; and

a modem unit to produce the transport modulated format signal and transmit the transport modulated signal on the transport communication medium.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the modem unit comprises a modem.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein the internetworking device comprises at least one of a repeater, a hub, a bridge, a router, and a gateway.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area network signal.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the first access point transmits a downstream transport modulated format signal on the transport communication medium;

and

wherein the second access point produces, from the downstream transport modulated format signal, a downstream wireless local area network signal to be radiated in the coverage area.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the second access point produces the downstream wireless local area network signal from the downstream transport modulated format signal by producing a downstream local area network compatible signal from the downstream transport modulated format signal and producing the downstream wireless local area network signal from the downstream local area network compatible signal.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the transport communication medium comprises at least one of:

a portion of a cable television plant and telephone twisted-pair cabling.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment comprises at least one of:

computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

46. A system comprising:

an internetworking device operable to send and receive data in accordance with a first protocol;

a wireless local area network device operable to send and receive the data in accordance with the first protocol and to wirelessly send and receive wireless local area network data;

a first unit that is communicatively coupled to the internetworking device; and

a second unit that is communicatively coupled to the first unit via transport cabling;

wherein data is sent by the internetworking device in accordance with the first protocol and is communicated to the wireless local area networking device via the first unit and the second unit over the transport cabling using a second protocol compatible with the transport cabling; and

wherein a component associated with at least one of the wireless local area network device and the second unit is powered by power received from the transport cabling.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the transport cabling comprises available transport cabling.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein data is sent by the wireless local area networking device in accordance with the first protocol and is communicated to the internetworking device, at least in part, by communicating said data from the second unit to the first unit over the transport cabling using the second protocol.

49. The system of claim 46, wherein the first protocol comprises a local area network protocol.

50. The system of claim 46, wherein the first protocol comprises an IEEE 802.3 protocol.

51. The system of claim 46, wherein the second protocol comprises at least one of a cable modem protocol and a digital subscriber line protocol.

52. The system of claim 46, wherein the internetworking device comprises at least one of a repeater, a hub, a bridge, a router, and a gateway.

53. A method comprising:

receiving first data sent from an internetworking device in accordance with a first wired protocol;

sending, over an available wired communication medium in accordance with a second wired protocol suitable for use on the available wired communication medium, at least a portion of the first data received from the internetworking device; and

receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the first data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing at least a portion of the first data received from the available wired communication medium to a wireless local area network access point for radiating at least a portion thereof from the wireless local area network access point; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the available wired communication medium.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the at least a portion of the first data received from the available wired communication medium is provided to the wireless local area network access point in accordance with the first wired protocol.

55. The method of claim 53, further comprising:

receiving second data at the wireless local area network access point in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol;

sending, from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with the first wired protocol, at least a portion of the second data received at the wireless local area network access point;

receiving at least a portion of the second data sent from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with the first wired protocol;

sending, over the available wired communication medium in accordance with the second wired protocol, at least a portion of the second data received from the wireless local area network access point; and

receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the second data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing, to the internetworking device, at least a portion of the second data received from the available wired communication medium.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the at least a portion of the second data received from the available wired communication medium is provided to the internetworking device in accordance with first wired protocol.

57. A method comprising:

receiving first data at a wireless local area network access point in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol;

sending, from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with a first wired protocol, at least a portion of the first data received at the wireless local area network access point;

receiving at least a portion of the first data sent from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with the first wired protocol;

sending, over an available wired communication medium in accordance with a second wired protocol suitable for use on the available wired communication medium, at least a portion of the first data received from the wireless local area network access point;

receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the first data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing, to an internetworking device, at least a portion of the first data received from the available wired communication medium; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the available wired communication medium.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising:

receiving second data sent from the internetworking device in accordance with the first wired protocol;

sending, over the available wired communication medium in accordance with the second wired protocol, at least a portion of the second data received from the internetworking device; and

receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the second data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing at least a portion of the second data received from the available wired communication medium to the wireless local area network access point for radiating at least a portion thereof from the wireless local area network access point.

59. A system comprising:

a wireless access point operable to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of wireless devices; and

an internetworking device;

wherein available transport cabling is used to communicatively couple the wireless access point to the internetworking device; and

wherein the wireless access point outputs a first signal compatible with a physical layer protocol other than a transport physical layer protocol suitable for use on the available transport cabling;

wherein a second signal that is compatible with the transport physical layer protocol is produced from the first signal;

wherein the second signal is communicated over the available transport cabling to the internetworking device;

wherein the internetworking device receives a third signal having a physical layer protocol other than the transport physical layer protocol;

wherein the second signal is received from the available transport cabling and used to produce the third signal; and

wherein at least a portion of the wireless access point is powered from power received from the available transport cabling.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the internetworking device outputs a fourth signal compatible with a physical layer protocol other than the transport physical layer protocol;

wherein the fourth signal is used to produce to a fifth signal that is compatible with the transport physical layer protocol;

wherein the fifth signal is communicated over the available transport cabling to the wireless access point;

wherein the wireless access point receives a sixth signal that is compatible with a protocol other than the transport physical layer protocol;

wherein the fifth signal is received from the available transport cabling and used to produce the sixth signal; and

wherein the sixth signal is provided to the wireless access point.

61. An access point system comprising:

a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area; and

a digital subscriber line modem communicatively coupled to the wireless access point;

wherein the digital subscriber line modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to a public Internet via a digital subscriber communication link; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the digital subscriber line modem is powered at least in part from power received from the digital subscriber communication link.

62. An access point system comprising:

a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area; and

a digital subscriber line modem communicatively coupled to the wireless access point;

wherein the digital subscriber line modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an internetworking device via a digital subscriber communication link; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the digital subscriber line modem is powered at least in part from power received from the digital subscriber communication link.

63. The access point system of claim 62, wherein the internetworking device is located outside of the coverage area.

64. The access point system of claim 62, wherein the wireless access point is communicatively coupled to the digital subscriber line modem via a wired local area network communication link.

65. The access point system of claim 64, wherein the wired local area network communication link comprises an IEEE 802.3 link.

66. The access point system of claim 62, wherein the internetworking device comprises at least one of:

a repeater, a hub, a bridge, a router, and a gateway.

67. The access point system of claim 62, wherein the digital subscriber line modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an Internet via the digital subscriber communication link.

68. An access point system comprising:

a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area; and

a cable modem communicatively coupled to the wireless local area network access point;

wherein the cable modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to a public Internet via a cable modem communication link; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the cable modem is powered at least in part from power received from the cable modem communication link.

69. An access point system comprising:

a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area; and

a cable modem communicatively coupled to the wireless local area network access point;

wherein the cable modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an internetworking device via a cable modem communication link; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the cable modem is powered at least in part from power received from the cable modem communication link.

70. The access point system of claim 69, wherein the internetworking device is located outside of the coverage area.

71. The access point system of claim 69, wherein the wireless access point is communicatively coupled to the cable modem via a wired local area network communication link.

72. The access point system of claim 71, wherein the wired local area network communication link comprises an IEEE 802.3 link.

73. The access point system of claim 69, wherein the internetworking device comprises at least one of:

a repeater, a hub, a bridge, a router, and a gateway.

74. The access point system of claim 69, wherein the cable modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an Internet via the cable modem communication link.

75. A method comprising:

communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless access point and equipment located within a coverage area;

communicatively coupling the wireless access point to a public Internet using a digital subscriber line communication link; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless access point using power received from the digital subscriber line communication link.

76. A method comprising:

communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless access point and equipment located within a coverage area;

communicatively coupling the wireless access point to an internetworking device using a digital subscriber line communication link; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless access point using power received from the digital subscriber line communication link.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein communicatively coupling the wireless access point to the internetworking device using the digital subscriber line communication link is done using a digital subscriber line modem.

78. The method of claim 77, wherein the digital subscriber line modem is communicatively coupled to the wireless access point via a local area network communication link.

79. The method of claim 77, wherein the wired local area network communication link comprises an IEEE 802.3 link.

80. The method of claim 76, wherein the internetworking device is located outside of the coverage area.

81. The method of claim 76, further comprising communicatively coupling the wireless access point to an Internet using the digital subscriber line communication link.

82. A method comprising:

communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless local area network access point and equipment located within a coverage area;

communicatively coupling the wireless local area network access point to a public Internet using a cable modem communication link; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the cable modem communication link.

83. A method comprising:

communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless local area network access point and equipment located within a coverage area;

communicatively coupling the wireless local area network access point to an internetworking device using a cable modem communication link; and

powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the cable modem communication link.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein communicatively coupling the wireless local area network access point to the internetworking device using the cable modem communication link is done using a cable modem.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the cable modem is communicatively coupled to the wireless access point via a wired local area network communication link.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the wired local area network communication link comprises an IEEE 802.3 link.

87. The method of claim 83, wherein the internetworking device is located outside of the coverage area.

88. The method of claim 83, further comprising communicatively coupling the wireless access point to an Internet using the cable modem communication link.

89. A system comprising:

a plurality of wireless local area network access points, wherein each of the plurality of wireless access points sends and receives respective wireless local area network signals within a respective coverage area; and

an internetworking device;

wherein each of the plurality of wireless local area network access points is communicatively coupled to the internetworking device using a respective at least one of a cable modem and a digital subscriber line modem; and

wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless local area network access points is powered at least in part using power received from the respective at least one of the cable modem and the digital subscriber line modem.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the internetworking device is used to create a local area network comprising the plurality of wireless local area network access points.

91. The system of claim 89, wherein the internetworking device communicatively couples the plurality of wireless local area network access points to an Internet.

92. The system of claim 89, wherein the internetworking device is located outside of the respective coverage areas of the plurality of wireless local area network access points.

93. A system comprising:

a wireless network that comprises a wireless access point that communicates with a wireless device within a coverage area associated with the access point;

a wired network that uses an Ethernet protocol to connect the wireless access point to a converter; and

a transport network that connects the converter to a remote network;

wherein the transport network transports signals over at least one of a POTS cable infrastructure, a CATV cable infrastructure, and a fiber optic cable infrastructure;

wherein the converter converts a signal from the wired network to a signal adapted to communicate over the transport network; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter is powered at least in part from power received from the transport network.

94. The system of claim 93, wherein the transport network is a broadband transport network.

95. The system of claim 93, wherein the wireless access point is located in a common housing with the converter.

96. The system of claim 93, wherein the wired network uses an IEEE 802.3 compliant protocol to connect the wireless access point to the converter.

97. The system of claim 93, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

98. The system of claim 93, wherein the wireless network is an IEEE 802.11 network.

99. The system of claim 93, wherein the wireless access point includes a bridge that converts a wireless signal from the wireless network into a wired Ethernet signal that conforms to an IEEE 802.3 protocol.

100. The system of claim 93, wherein the converter comprises a cable modem.

101. The system of claim 93, wherein the converter converts a wired local area network signal to a digital subscriber line signaling format for transport over POTS cabling.

102. A system for coupling a wireless device to a network, the system comprising:

a wireless access point adapted for wireless local area network communication with a plurality of wireless devices within a coverage area associated with the wireless access point; and

a converter located within the coverage area;

wherein the wireless access point is communicatively coupled to the converter, the converter being adapted to communicate with the network;

wherein the wireless access point communicates with the converter using a wired Ethernet signal;

wherein the converter converts the wired Ethernet signal to a transport format for communication over distribution cabling out of the coverage area and to the network, the distribution cabling comprising at least one of POTS cabling, cable television cabling, and optical fiber cabling; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter are powered at least in part using power received from the distribution cabling.

103. The system of claim 102, wherein the wireless access point is located in a common housing with the converter.

104. The system of claim 102, wherein the wired Ethernet signal is an IEEE 802.3 compliant signal.

105. The system of claim 102, wherein the plurality of wireless devices comprises at least one of computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

106. The system of claim 102, wherein the wireless access point includes a bridge that converts at least one portion of a wireless signal into the wired Ethernet signal.

107. The system of claim 102, wherein the wireless local area network communication between the plurality of wireless devices and the wireless access point uses wireless signals compliant with an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

108. The system of claim 102, wherein the wireless local area network communication comprises a multi-user wireless local area network communication.

109. The system of claim 102, wherein the converter comprises a cable modem.

110. The system of claim 102, wherein the transport format for broadband communication is digital subscriber line signaling.

114. A communication system including the apparatus of claim 108, wherein said system further includes a wireless device in communication with the wireless access point.

115. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the wireless device comprises at least one of computing equipment, mobile equipment, and a personal digital assistant.

116. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the wired local area network signal conforms to an IEEE 802.3 protocol.

117. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the wireless local area network signal conforms to an IEEE 802.11 protocol.

118. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the wireless local area network signal comprises a multi-user wireless local area network signal.

119. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the converter comprises a cable modem.

120. The communication system of claim 114, wherein the converter converts the wired local area network signal to a digital subscriber line signaling format for transport over POTS cabling.

111. An apparatus for communicatively coupling wireless devices to a network, the apparatus comprising:

a wireless access point that receives a wireless local area network signal from at least one wireless device and that converts the wireless local area network signal to a wired local area network signal; and

a converter that converts the wired local area network signal to a transport signal suitable for transmission to the network over at least one of POTS cabling, cable television cabling and optical fiber cabling; and

wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter are powered at least in part from power received from the network.

112. The apparatus of claim 111, wherein the transport signal is suitable for broadband transmission to the network

113. The apparatus of claim 111, wherein the wireless access point is located in a common housing with the converter.