Wireless deployment of bluetooth access points using a distributed antenna architecture

• US 6,771,933 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: LGC Wireless Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Young, Robin, Eng, Jim, Chan, Conway
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/818,174
• Time in Patent Office: 1,226 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/562.1, 455/426.1, 455/426.2, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

The present invention provides a wireless communications system, in which a distributed antenna system (DAS) and one or more master Bluetooth access point modules are employed to extend the range of and wirelessly deploy Bluetooth access points (BTAPs) in a scalable and versatile manner. A variety of wireless personal area networks (WPANs) are further created, to support multiple slave Bluetooth devices. As such, the present invention provides a simplified and easily scalable Bluetooth coverage infrastructure, allows pooling the resources of Bluetooth access points for best performance/cost ratio and dynamic RF routing/filtering in capacity management, and simplifies the provisioning in the system.

Claims

1. A wireless communications system comprising:

a) A distributed antenna system, comprising

i) a main unit communicatively connecting to a first local area network (LAN);

ii) a signal-transfer means connected to said main unit for transmitting signals to and from said main unit;

iii) multiple remote units; and

iv) multiple antennae, in RF-communication with said remote units;

wherein said remote units are linked to said main unit by way of said signal-transfer means; and

b) one or more master Bluetooth access point modules, in RF-communication with said distributed antenna system.

2. The wireless communications system of claim 1 wherein said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules are in RF-communication with said antennae and are capable of converting RF signals to data packets and data packets to RF signals.

3. The wireless communications system of claim 2 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules is further in RF-communication with one or more slave Bluetooth devices, thereby creating a wireless personal area network (WPAN) network.

4. The wireless communications system of claim 2 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules comprises a combination of a WLAN radio and a master Bluetooth access point radio (WLAN/M-BTAP).

5. The wireless communications system of claim 4 further comprising one or more WLAN access points tapped into a second or more LAN.

6. The wireless communications system of claim 4 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules communicates with said antennae in the IEEE802.11 frequency band.

7. The wireless communications system of claim 2 wherein said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules are embedded in at least one of said remote units.

8. The wireless communications system of claim 7 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules is further in RF-communication with one or more slave Bluetooth devices, thereby creating a WPAN.

9. The wireless communications system of claim 7 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules comprises a master Bluetooth access point radio (M-BTAP).

10. The wireless communications system of claim 2 wherein said one or more one master Bluetooth access point modules are extended from at least one of said remote units in a wired star or cascaded configuration.

11. The wireless communications system of claim 10 wherein each of said one or more one master Bluetooth access point modules is further in RF-communication with one or more slave Bluetooth devices, thereby creating a WPAN.

12. The wireless communications system of claim 10 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules comprises a master Bluetooth access point radio (M-BTAP).

13. The wireless communications system of claim 1 wherein said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules are connected to said LAN, serve as Bluetooth access points (BTAPs) for said LAN, and are in RF-communication with said main unit;

wherein said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules are capable of converting data packets to RF signals and RF signals to data packets.

14. The wireless communications system of claim 13 wherein each of said one or more master Bluetooth access point modules comprises a master Bluetooth access point radio (M-BTAP) and further communicates with one or more slave Bluetooth devices via said distributed antenna system, thereby creating a WPAN.

15. The wireless communications system of claim 13 wherein each of said one or more mater Bluetooth access point modules comprises a master Bluetooth access point radio (M-BTAP) and further communicates with one or more slave/master Bluetooth access point modules (S/M-BTAPs) via said distributed antenna system.

16. The wireless communications system of claim 15 wherein each of said one or more slave/master Bluetooth access point modules (S/M-BTAPs) further communicates with one or more slave Bluetooth devices, thereby creating a WPAN.

17. The wireless communications system of claim 15 wherein each of said one or more slave/master Bluetooth access point modules (S/M-BTAPs) comprises slave and master Bluetooth access point radios.

18. The wireless communications system of claim 1 wherein said signal-transfer means comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of optical fibers and RF-cables.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 18 wherein said RF-cables are selected from the group consisting of coaxial cables and CAT5 cables.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein each of said remote units is assigned with at least one of said antennae.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein said distributed antenna system further comprises at least one expansion unit.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 1 further comprising an integrated module interfacing said main unit and said LAN, wherein said main unit is in RF-communication with said integrated module.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 22 further comprising a controller connected to said LAN for performing capacity management and enabling dynamic RF routing/filtering.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 23 wherein said signal-transfer means comprises RF-cables connecting said integrated module and said main unit and fiber optics connecting said main unit and said multiple remote units.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 23 wherein said main unit is capable of converting RF signals to optical signals and optical signals to RF signals;

and wherein said multiple remote units are capable of converting optical signals to RF signals and RF signals to optical signals.