Frequency hopping cellular LAN system

• US 5,923,702 A
• Filed: 06/10/1996
• Issued: 07/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Breeze Wireless Communications Limited
• Original Assignee: Breeze Wireless Communications Limited
• Inventors: Shousterman, Leonid, Ratner, Miri, Brenner, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roundtree, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US08/661,008
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 370/330, 370/335, 370/515, 370/522, 370/540, 375/202, 375/356, 379/59, 379/60, 455/33.1, 455/54.1, 455/57.1, 455/53.1, 455/33.2
• US Class Current: 375/133
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/713 using frequency hopping
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

This invention discloses a frequency hopping cellular LAN system including a LAN, a plurality of access points each operatively connected to the LAN, the plurality of access points including at least a first access point and a second access point, and a station which communicates with at least some of the plurality of access points using frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication, wherein the first access point and the second access point each communicate with the station using a first and second predetermined sequence of frequencies respectively, and wherein, during a neighbor beacon interval, the second access point communicates with the station using the first predetermined sequence of frequencies, and wherein the station chooses an access point with which to communicate based, at least in part, on a transmission received from the second access point during the neighbor beacon interval.

A method for choosing an access point with which to communicate in a frequency hopping cellular LAN system is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A frequency hopping cellular LAN system comprising:

a LAN;

a plurality of access points each operatively connected to said LAN, said plurality of access points comprising at least a first access point and a second access point; and

a station which communicates with at least some of the plurality of access points using frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication,

wherein said first access point and said second access point each communicate with said station using a first and second predetermined sequence of frequencies respectively, and

wherein, during a neighbor beacon interval, said second access point communicates with said station using said first predetermined sequence of frequencies, and

wherein said station chooses an access point with which to communicate based, at least in part, on a transmission received from said second access point during said neighbor beacon interval.

2. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said station sends a message to said second access point, said message comprising an identification of said first access point, and

wherein, during said neighbor beacon interval, said second access point communicates using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on said identification.

3. A system according to claim 2 and wherein, during said neighbor beacon interval, said second access point communicates using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on a message sent from said first access point to said second access point.

5. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said LAN comprises a wired LAN.

7. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said LAN comprises a wireless LAN.

9. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said LAN comprises an Ethernet LAN.

11. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said station sends a message to said second access point, said message comprising:

a representation of said first predetermined sequence of frequencies; and

frequency timing information associated with said first predetermined sequence of frequencies.

13. A system according to claim 1 and wherein said second access point receives a LAN message via said LAN, said LAN message comprising a representation of said first predetermined sequence of frequencies.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein during said neighbor beacon interval and second access point communicates with said station using a frequency chosen from said first predetermined sequence of frequencies and corresponding to a time period.

4. A frequency hopping cellular LAN system comprising:

a LAN;

a plurality of access points each operatively connected to said LAN, said plurality of access points comprising at least a first access point and a second access point; and

a plurality of stations comprising at least a first station and a second station, each of which communicates with at least some of the plurality of access points using frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication,

wherein said first access point and said second access point each communicate with said plurality of stations using a first and second predetermined sequence of frequencies respectively, and

wherein said first station sends a message to said second access point, said message comprising an identification of said first access point, and

wherein said second access point communicates with said second station during neighbor beacon intervals using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on said identification.

6. A system according to claim 4 and wherein said LAN comprises a wired LAN.

8. A system according to claim 4 and wherein said LAN comprises a wireless LAN.

10. A system according to claim 4 and wherein said LAN comprises an Ethernet LAN.

12. A system according to claim 4 and wherein said first station sends a message to said second access point, said message comprising:

a representation of said first predetermined sequence of frequencies; and

frequency timing information associated with said first predetermined sequence of frequencies.

14. A system according to claim 4 and wherein said second access point receives a LAN message via said LAN, said LAN message comprising a representation of said first predetermined sequence of frequencies.

19. A system according to claim 4 wherein during said second access point communicates with said second station during neighbor beacon intervals using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on a time period corresponding to said frequency.

15. A method for choosing an access point with which to communicate in a frequency hopping cellular LAN system, the system comprising a LAN, a plurality of access points each operatively connected to said LAN, said plurality of access points comprising at least a first access point and a second access point, and a station which communicates with at least some of the plurality of access points using frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication, the method comprising:

said first access point and said second access point each communicating with said station using a first and second predetermined sequence of frequencies respectively;

during a neighbor beacon interval, said second access point communicating with said station using said first predetermined sequence of frequencies; and

said station choosing an access point with which to communicate based, at least in part, on a transmission received from said second access point during said neighbor beacon interval.

17. A method according to claim 15 and also comprising:

said station switching communication to the chosen access point,

wherein said step of switching does not include scanning.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein said during a neighbor beacon interval-communicating step comprises communicating with said station using a frequency chosen from said first predetermined sequence of frequencies and corresponding to a time period.

16. A method for determining a communication frequency during a neighbor beacon interval in a frequency hopping cellular LAN system, the system comprising a LAN, a plurality of access points each operatively connected to said LAN, said plurality of access points comprising at least a first access point and a second access point, and a plurality of stations comprising at least a first station and a second station, each of which communicates with at least some of the plurality of access points using frequency hopping spread spectrum wireless communication, the method comprising:

said first access point and said second access point each communicating with said station using a first and second predetermined sequence of frequencies respectively;

sending a message from said station to said second access point, said message comprising an identification of said first access point; and

said second access point communicating with said second station during neighbor beacon intervals using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on said identification.

21. A method according to claim 16 wherein said second access point communicating with said second station step comprises communicating with said second station during neighbor beacon intervals using a frequency determined, at least in part, based on a time period corresponding to said frequency.