Wireless coupling of standardized networks and non-standardized nodes

• US 6,445,691 B2
• Filed: 06/08/1998
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Sato, Takashi
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/093,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20020012358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,548 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/338, 370/389, 370/396, 370/397, 370/400, 370/401, 370/409, 370/465, 370/466, 370/467, 370/395.1, 709/201, 709/220, 709/227, 709/230, 709/238, 709/249
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for establishing wireless communications between multiple standardized information networks and non-standardized information devices. Communicating networks may operate in accordance with the same or different standards. For each network, virtual proxy nodes are formed which represent each of the other communicating networks and each of the non-standardized information devices.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication is a system including a first standardized network adapted for communication in accordance with a common standard, and at least one other standardized network, wherein each of the standardized networks comprises a respective real half bridge;

and at least one non-standardized node adapted for communication in a communication/protocol compatible with the respective at least one non-standardized node and not adapted for communication with other nodes in accordance with said common standard, wherein said non-standardized node lacks computing capability sufficient to communicate in accordance with said common standard, and said method comprises;

a. determining the identity of each other standardized network and of each non-standardized node and selecting a communication format/protocol compatible with each said other standardized network and the respective communication format/protocol compactible with each said non-standardized node;

b. establishing a respective virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

c. in each respective network, communicating information with the standardized nodes in the respective network through the respective real half bridge;

c. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

d. communication information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in the respective communication format/protocol compatible with said non-standardized node; and

e. communicating information between each said virtual node and the first standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said first standardized network; and

wherein the virtual network includes a virtual half bridge for communicating with the real half bridge and with the virtual nodes in the respective communication format/protocol compatible with the respective virtual node being communicated with.

2. A method of wireless communication in a system including a first standardized network adapted for communication in accordance with a common standard, at least one other standardized network, and at least one non-standardized node adapted for communication in a communication/protocol compatible with the respective at least one non-standardized node and not adapted for communication with other nodes in accordance with said common standard, wherein said non-standardized node lacks computing capability sufficient to communicate in accordance with said common standard, and said method comprises:

a. determining the identity of each other standardized network and of each non-standardized node and selecting a communication format/protocol compatible with each said other standardized network and the respective communication format/protocol compatible with each said non-standardized node;

b. establishing a virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

c. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

d. communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in the respective communication format/protocol compactible with said noon-standardized node; and

e. communicating information between each said virtual node and the first standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said first standardized network.

3. A method as in claim 2, wherein the step of communicating between each non-standardized node and the respective virtual node comprises communicating by a wireless link.

4. A wireless information system for wireless communication with at least one non-standardized node adapted for communication in a communication/protocol compatible with the respective non-standardized node and not adapted for communication with other nodes in accordance with a common standard, and having a transceiver, wherein said at least one non-standardized node lacks computing capability sufficient to communicate in accordance with said common standard;

said system including a plurality of standardized networks adapted for communication in accordance with said common standard, at least a first of said standardized networks including;

a. a local bus for carrying communications between one standardized node and any other standardized nodes that are connected to the bus;

b. a local wireless station including a transceiver for wireless communication with the at least one non-standardized node; and

c. a local virtual network coupled to the local bus and to the local wireless station and including a controller and a memory for cooperatively;

i. establishing in the memory a virtual node representing each other standardizing network and each non-standardizing node;

ii. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

iii. communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with said non-standardized node; and

iv. communicating information between each said virtual node and the local standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said local standardized network.

5. A system as in claim 4, wherein said real half bridge is formed by a bridge interface unit including a physical layer and a link layer.

6. A system as in claim 5, wherein said physical layer is a 1394-Standard physical layer, and said link layer is a 1394-Standard link layer.

7. A system as in claim 4, wherein said virtual half bridge is formed by a virtual intelligence unit comprising said controller, and said memory comprised a program memory and a data memory.

8. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one non-standardized node is a printer which lacks computing capability to communicate according to said common standard.

9. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one non-standardized node is at least one component of a residential entertainment system which lacks computing capability to communicate according to said common standard.

10. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one non-standardized node is a security system which lacks computing capability to communicate according to said common standard.

11. A system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said one non-standardized node is a telephone device which lacks computing capability to communicate according to said common standard.

12. A wireless information system for wireless communication with at least one non-standardized node adapted for communication in a communication/protocol compatible with the respective non-standardized node and not adapted for communication with other nodes in accordance with a common standard, and having a transceiver, wherein said at least one non-standardized node lacks computing capability sufficient to communicate in accordance with said common standard;

said system including a plurality of standardized networks adapted for communication in accordance with said common standard, at least a first of said standardized networks including;

a. a local bus for carrying communications between one standardized node and any other standardized nodes that are connected to the bus, wherein said standardized nodes comprises a real half bridge for communicating with other standardized nodes in the first network;

b. a local wireless station including a transceiver for wireless communication with the at least one non-standardized node; and

c. a local virtual network which includes a virtual half bridge for communicating with the real half bridge, and is coupled to the local bus and to the local wireless station and includes a controller and a memory for cooperatively;

i. establishing in the memory a virtual node representing each other standardized network and each non-standardized node;

ii. communicating information between each other standardized network and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with said other standardized network;

iii. communicating information between each said non-standardized node and the respective virtual node in the communication format/protocol compatible with the respective non-standardized node; and

iv. communicating information between each said virtual node and the local standardized network in a communication format/protocol compatible with said local standardized network.

13. A system as in claim 12, wherein said real half bridge is formed by a bridge interface unit including a physical layer and a link layer.

14. A system as in claim 13, wherein said physical layer is a 1394-Standard physical layer, and said link layer is a 1394-Standard link layer.

15. A system as in claim 12, wherein said virtual half bridge is formed by a virtual intelligence unit comprising said controller, and said memory comprises a program memory and a data memory.

16. A system as in claim 15, wherein said virtual intelligence unit forms a common 1394.1-Standard switching fabric for coupling the two half bridges.