Programmable bridging apparatus to connect multiple networks of different protocols

• US 6,269,252 B1
• Filed: 05/27/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hutchings, William Joseph, Silverthorn, Lee, Cornils, Curtis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/085,685
• Time in Patent Office: 1,161 Days
• Field of Search: 455/73, 455/11.1, 455/553, 455/552, 455/132, 455/103, 455/74.1, 455/20, 455/21, 455/22, 455/418, 370/911, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A bridging apparatus (10) for use in bridging a plurality of external communications networks (20a-20n) includes a plurality of network interfaces (12) and a bridge (14). The individual interfaces within the plurality of network interfaces (12) are each capable of converting signals between a signal format used by an associated external communications network and a common signal format supported by the bridge (14). The bridge (14) establishes at least one bridge connection between network interfaces according to a predetermined bridging function. The bridge (14) includes a digital processor having an associated memory for storing one or more bridging programs. The digital processor executes at least one of the bridging programs in order to implement the desired bridging function.

Claims

1. A bridging apparatus for use in a wireless communications system suitable for being programmed by software programs to communicate wireless signals of different formats between a plurality of external wireless communication networks and a user, comprising:

a plurality of network interfaces for use in communicating with the plurality of external wireless communications networks, each of said plurality of network interfaces being capable of converting a wireless communications signal between a signal format used by an associated external wireless communications network and a common signal format used by said bridging apparatus;

a bridge, operatively coupled to said plurality of network interfaces, for establishing at least one bridge connection between the external wireless communications networks, said bridge operating on communications signals having said common signal format, wherein said bridge includes a processor and a memory, said processor for executing programs stored in said memory, wherein said memory includes a program for effecting said at least one bridge connection;

a user interface, coupled to said bridge, for use in transferring information to said bridge from the user of said bridging apparatus and for transferring information to the user from said bridge;

said user interface being adapted for use in delivering the software programs from said user to said bridge;

at least one of said plurality of network interfaces being electronically reconfigurable for operating with the different signal formats;

said at least one bridge connection being reconfigured by changing a software program executed by said processors;

at least two of the plurality of external communications networks using signal formats that are different from one another; and

at least one of the plurality of network interfaces communicating a wireless signal with a corresponding external communications network via a wireless communications channel.

2. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of network interfaces and said bridge are mounted on a common support structure.

3. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of network interfaces includes a transceiver adapted for use with a predetermined wireless signal format.

4. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said common signal format comprises a baseband data signal format.

5. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said user interface is adapted for use in transferring communications signals between said user and said plurality of network interfaces.

6. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said user interface is adapted for use in delivering configuration commands from said user to said bridge.

7. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of network interfaces includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA).

8. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said at least one bridge connection includes a first connection between a first network interface and at least one second network interface, wherein all communications signals received by said first network interface from a corresponding external communications network are automatically transferred to said at least one second network interface.

9. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

each of said plurality of network interfaces is capable of converting a voice signal between a first voice signal format and a second voice signal format.

10. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first voice signal format utilizes a first vocoder type.

11. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said voice signal is converted using a digital translation.

12. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said apparatus is implemented within a wireless basestation.

13. A bridging apparatus for use in a wireless communications system suitable for being programmed by software programs to communicate wireless signals of different formats between a plurality of external wireless communication networks and a user, comprising:

a plurality of network interfaces for use in communicating with the plurality of external communications networks, each of said network interfaces being capable of converting a wireless communications signal between a signal format used by an associated external wireless communications network and a common signal format used by said bridging apparatus;

a bridge, operatively coupled to said plurality of network interfaces, for establishing at least one bridge connection between the external wireless communications networks, said bridge operating on communications signals having said common signal format, said bridge including a processor and a memory, said processor for executing programs stored in said memory wherein said memory includes a program for effecting said at least one bridge connection;

a user interface, operatively coupled to said bridge, for allowing information transfer to said bridge from the user of said bridging apparatus and for transferring information to the user from said bridge;

wherein said plurality of network interfaces, said bridge, and said user interface are all mounted on a common support structure;

said bridge includes a processor and a memory, said processor being capable of executing programs stored in said memory, wherein said memory includes at least one program for effecting said at least one bridge connection; and

at least one of said plurality of network interfaces being electronically reconfigurable for operating with the different signal formats.

14. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of network interfaces includes a transceiver adapted for use with a predetermined wireless signal format.

15. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said common support structure is adapted for use in stationary applications.

16. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said common support structure includes a rack mountable housing.

17. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said common support structure includes a portable housing for use in mobile applications.

18. The apparatus, as claimed in claim 17, wherein:

said portable housing includes a handheld communicator housing.

19. A multi-channel radio for communicating with a plurality of external wireless communications networks suitable for being programmed by software programs to communicate wireless signals of different formats between a plurality of external wireless communication networks and a user, said radio comprising:

a plurality of radio transceivers for use in communicating with the plurality of external wireless communications networks, each of said plurality of radio transceivers being capable of converting a wireless communications signal between a predetermined wireless signal format and a common signal format used by said multi-channel radio;

a bridge, operatively coupled to said plurality of radio transceivers, for establishing at least one bridge connection between the external wireless communications networks, said bridge operating on communications signals having said common signal format, said bridge including a processor and a memory, said processor for executing programs stored in said memory wherein said memory includes a program for effecting said at least one bridge connection;

a user interface, operatively coupled to said bridge, for allowing information transfer to said bridge from the user of said multi-channel radio and for transferring information to the user from said bridge;

wherein said plurality of radio transceivers, said bridge, and said user interface are all mounted on a common support structure;

said bridge includes a processor and a memory, said processor being capable of executing programs stored in said memory, wherein said memory includes at least one program for effecting said at least one bridge connection; and

at least one of said plurality of radio transceivers being electronically reconfigurable.

20. The radio, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said common signal format comprises a baseband data signal format.

21. The radio, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said common support structure is adapted for use in stationary applications.

22. The radio, as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said common support structure includes a rack mountable housing.

23. The radio, as claimed in claim 21, wherein:

said common support structure is adapted for use in a basestation.

24. The radio, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

said common support structure includes a portable housing for use in mobile applications.

25. The radio, as claimed in claim 24, wherein:

said portable housing includes a handheld communicator housing.

26. The radio, as claimed in claim 19, wherein:

at least one of said plurality of radio transceivers includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA).