Systems and methods for wireless communications

• US 6,584,146 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: VANU Incorporated
• Original Assignee: VANU Incorporated
• Inventors: Chiu, Andrew, Chapin, John, Bose, Vanu
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, PHUONG M
• Application Number:
  US09/781,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20020035633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 862 Days
• Field of Search: 375/219, 375/316, 375/295, 375/259, 375/222, 375/223, 375/220, 455/418, 455/103, 370/330, 370/336, 370/345
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0007 wherein the AD/DA conversion occurs at radiofrequency or intermediate frequency stage
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/28 the receiver comprising at least one semiconductor device having three or more electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Systems and methods including a wireless communications device that consists of a collection of one or more processing elements, optionally forming a computer cluster, that together carry out the functions necessary to exchange information over a plurality of wireless communications links, wherein the communication links may employ different communication protocols, respectively. The systems and methods combine two techniques: the use of multiple flexible processing elements, and a design in which each of the elements can carry out any part of the processing performed by the device, including without limitation the physical, MAC, link, network, transport, and presentation layer processing.

Claims

1. A system for implementing a communications process for communicating via a plurality of wireless communication protocols, comprising

a cluster having two or more processing elements with a processor having a memory management unit capable of supporting an operating system that separates application-level and system-level address spaces,

a network for data communication among the processing elements,

programs executing within respective application-level spaces of the two or more processing elements for collectively processing digitized IF signals as required to implement the physical layer of the wireless communication protocols wherein such programs process such IF signals within a latency period corresponding to an associated wireless communication protocol, and

a configuration module for selectively activating one of said application-level programs for processing signals according to a selected wireless communication protocol,

wherein the configuration module includes a process for changing support for a wireless communication protocol by causing processing elements supporting the specified protocol to change a processing capacity of said supported protocol.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the two or more processing elements are selected from the group consisting of workstations, and workstation motherboards.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of the two or more processing elements has a central processing unit, random access memory, and I/O interface.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the two or more processing elements are disposed at remote locations relative to each other.

5. A system according to claim 1, further comprising a program for performing within application level space one or more of the physical, MAC, link, network, transport, or presentation layer processing functions for communicating via a wireless communication protocol.

6. A system according to claim 1,

wherein the process removes support by sending a message to the executing application-level programs performing processing functions in support of the specified protocol, the message including instructing for changing an internal configuration into a configuration in which these functions are not carried out.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the process for changing the processing includes increasing the processing capacity dedicated to support said protocol, wherein the process causes at least some of the processing elements supporting said protocol to begin performing such processing.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein the process for changing the processing includes decreasing the processing capacity dedicated to support said protocol, wherein the process causes at least some of the processing elements supporting said protocol to cease supporting said protocol.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the system functions as a plurality of base stations for a plurality of mobile communication networks, such networks employing a plurality of communication protocols.

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal processing system includes a plurality of workstations coupled through a network system for processing data signals for supporting a plurality of air standards.

11. A method for using the system according to claim 1 for selecting an air standard for transmitting information over a wireless network, comprising

having the system identify the entity that requested the transmission,

having the system identify the air standard associated with such entity, and

directing the system to process the transmission according to the selected air standard.

16. A system according to claim 1, wherein the system functions as test equipment for wireless systems.

17. A system according to claim 1, wherein the network is an Ethernet network.

18. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processing elements include interfaces connected to an I/O bus.

12. A method for using a system for processing a given transmission in accordance with an air standard appropriate for that transmission, the system including:

a cluster having two or more processing elements with a processor having a memory management unit capable of supporting an operating system that separates application-level and system-level address spaces,

a network for data communication among the processing elements,

programs executing within respective application-level spaces of the two or more processing elements for collectively processing digitized IF signals as required to implement the physical layer of the wireless communication protocols wherein such programs process such IF signals within a latency period corresponding to an associated wireless communication protocol,

the method comprising

having the entity that requested such transmission attach a tag to information sent to the system, which tag identifies the air standard appropriate for that transmission,

providing a process in the system that reads the tag and forwards the transmission request to the process in the system corresponding to that tag, which correspondence is stored in the system, and

having the process perform the signal processing in accordance with the specified air standard such that the data is formatted appropriately for transmission via that air standard.

13. A method for using a system for interoperation between a plurality of wireless communication protocols, the system including:

a cluster having two or more processing elements with a processor having a memory management unit capable of supporting an operating system that separates application-level and system-level address spaces,

a network for data communication among the processing elements,

programs executing within respective application-level spaces of the two or more processing elements for collectively processing digitized IF signals as required to implement the physical layer of the wireless communication protocols wherein such programs process such IF signals within a latency period corresponding to an associated wireless communication protocol,

the method comprising

configuring the system with a plurality of communication channels, each configured with one of a the plurality of wireless communication protocols,

detecting a party communicating via one of the channels having reserved the channel for transmission, and executing the mechanisms appropriate to reserve the transmission channel on the remaining channels according to their respective protocols, having the system receive the information transmitted by such party and retransmit such information over the remaining channels in accordance with their respective protocols, and

detecting that the channel reservation acquired by such party has been released, and releasing the reservation acquired on the remaining channels according to their respective protocols.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the system functions as a router between two or more wireless networks.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the router employs a local-area data network selected from the group consisting of IEEE802.11 and Bluetooth.