Local area network with a bridge terminal for transmitting data between a plurality of sub-networks

• US 6,556,576 B1
• Filed: 10/21/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Lighting Holding BV (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Herrmann, Christoph, Du, Yonggang, May, Klaus P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, TUAN A
• Application Number:
  US09/422,732
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/401-404, 370/328, 370/408, 370/285
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5612 Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5618 Bridges, gateways [GW] or interworking units [IWU]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A bridge terminal of a local area network is provided for transmitting data between the terminals of at least two sub-networks via a wireless medium. The bridge terminal is alternately connected to the sub-networks for exchanging data. For buffering received data for an unconnected sub-network, the bridge terminal includes an intermediate store.

Claims

1. A local area network comprising at least one bridge terminal, which bridge terminal is provided for transmitting data between the terminals of at least two sub-networks via a wireless medium, wherein the bridge terminal is alternately connected to the sub-networks for exchanging data and in that the bridge terminal includes an intermediate data store provided for temporarily storing received data for an unconnected sub-network,

wherein the bridge terminal, for terminating a connection to a sub-network after a sleep request message has been transmitted and a sleep confirmation message has been received from a terminal called controller, which is responsible for at least management functions in this sub-network, and for beginning a connection to another sub-network after a wake-up request message has been transmitted and a wake-up confirmation message has been received from a controller of this other sub-network.