Concentrator for coupling local wireless networks to a wired network
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for coupling a plurality of local wireless communication networks for communication with a wired communication network, comprising:
- a plurality of RF sections respectively coupled to a plurality of antennas for wireless communication with wireless communication devices operating in the local networks;
an antenna array processor coupled to said RF sections for performing antenna array processing relative to said antennas, a first group of said antennas responsive to said antenna array processor for performing wireless communications with a first wireless communication device operating in a first of the local networks, and a second group of said antennas responsive to said antenna array processor for performing wireless communications with a second wireless communication device operating in a second of the local networks, wherein the second device is different from the first device and the second network is different from the first network; and
said antenna array processor having a communication port for coupling to the wired network to permit communication between the wired network and the devices operating in the local networks.
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Abstract
A concentrator (11) coupled to a wired network (13) also acts as a master device relative to each of a plurality of ad hoc wireless communication networks (15), thereby permitting wireless communication devices in the ad hoc networks to access the wired network. The concentrator utilizes antenna array processing and beamforming techniques when communicating with the devices of the various networks, in order to advantageously reduce communication interference between the networks.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coupling a plurality of local wireless communication networks for communication with a wired communication network, comprising:
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a plurality of RF sections respectively coupled to a plurality of antennas for wireless communication with wireless communication devices operating in the local networks;
an antenna array processor coupled to said RF sections for performing antenna array processing relative to said antennas, a first group of said antennas responsive to said antenna array processor for performing wireless communications with a first wireless communication device operating in a first of the local networks, and a second group of said antennas responsive to said antenna array processor for performing wireless communications with a second wireless communication device operating in a second of the local networks, wherein the second device is different from the first device and the second network is different from the first network; and
said antenna array processor having a communication port for coupling to the wired network to permit communication between the wired network and the devices operating in the local networks. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for coupling a plurality of local wireless communication networks for communication with a wired communication network, comprising:
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using antenna array processing to control a plurality of antennas such that a first group of the antennas performs wireless communications with a first wireless communication device operating in a first of the local networks and a second group of the antennas performs wireless communications with a second wireless communication device operating in a second of the local networks, wherein the second device is different from the first device and the second network is different from the first network; and
coupling the wired network to the plurality of antennas to permit communication between the wired network and the devices operating in the local networks. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification