Wireless area network having flexible backhauls for creating backhaul network

• US 6,654,616 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 11/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Wireless Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GTE Wireless Service Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Pope, Frank Bingham Jr., Fye, Donald Mugar, Eckard, Richard G., Giordano, Arthur Anthony, Biagini, William Attilio
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip J
• Application Number:
  US09/528,405
• Time in Patent Office: 1,348 Days
• Field of Search: 455/517, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557, 455/566, 455/575, 455/445, 455/404, 455/422, 370/331, 714/712, 375/200
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

As demand for data services expands, users expect untethered (“wireless”) systems to provide a same level of service as their tethered (“wired”) systems. Described herein are systems and networks for providing high bandwidth wireless connectivity with user broadcast throughput of at least 1 Mbps. This connectivity is may be used in stationary, portable, and mobile computing environments. A communication system is described having a radio card for electrical communication with a transceiver. A wireless area network is described having a communication system and a wireless local area network adapted for broadcast communication with the communication system. The wireless local area network comprises one converter having a point-to-multipoint radio having at least a 10 MHz bandwidth, and another converter having a point-to-point radio having at least a 10 MHz bandwidth. The wireless local area network may form a cell of a plurality of cells in a wireless metropolitan network. A cell may be configured to be operatively coupled to a wired backhaul, which may be operatively coupled to a wide area network.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a transceiver having an operating frequency and a first data format;

a first antenna operatively coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting and receiving the first data format and configured to wirelessly communicate with a second antenna, the second antenna operatively coupled to a first converter for converting data between the first data format and a second data format for transmission along a transit conduit, the transit conduit including a flexible backhaul, which provides both wired and wireless backhaul options; and

a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor, memory, an input device, an output device, the input/output device operatively coupled to the transceiver;

wherein the transceiver and the first antenna in combination have a broadcast range of approximately 3 to 5 kilometers.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the input/output device is a radio interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operating frequency is within a range of approximately 5.3 to 5.8 GHz.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver with the first antenna provides approximately 4 watts of effective radiated power.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver operates at approximately 2.4 GHz.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver is configured to operate in accordance with IEEE 802.11.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver operates at approximately 5.8 GHz.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transceiver uses an unlicensed information infrastructure band.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is a directional antenna having a gain equal to or greater than 6 dBi.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first antenna is an omni-directional antenna.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second converter connected to the transit conduit, the second converter being used for converting data between the second data format and a third data format, the second converter comprising at least a portion of a wireless backhaul and having a point-to-point radio; and

a third antenna operatively coupled with the second converter.

12. A communication system comprising:

a transceiver having an operating frequency and a first data format;

a first antenna operatively coupled to the first transceiver for transmitting and receiving the first data format and configured to wirelessly communicate with a second antenna, the second antenna operatively coupled to a first converter for converting data between the first data format and a second data format for transmission along a transit conduit, the transit conduit including a flexible backhaul, which provides both wired and wireless backhaul options; and

a computer system, the computer system comprising a processor, memory, an input device, an output device, the input/output device operatively coupled to the transceiver;

wherein the transceiver with the first antenna provides approximately 4 watts of effective radiated power.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a second converter connected to the transit conduit, the second converter being used for converting data between the second data format and a third data format, the second converter comprising at least a portion of a wireless backhaul and having a point-to-point radio; and

a third antenna operatively coupled with the second converter.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the input/output device is a radio interface.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the operating frequency is within a range of approximately 5.3 to 5.8 GHz.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver operates at approximately 2.4 GHz.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver is configured to operate in accordance with IEEE 802.11.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver operates at approximately 5.8 GHz.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the transceiver uses an unlicensed information infrastructure band.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein the first antenna is a directional antenna having a gain equal to or greater than 6 dBi.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the first antenna is an omni-directional antenna.