Collaboration between wireless LAN access points using wired lan infrastructure
First Claim
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1. A method for network communication, comprising:
- linking a plurality of nodes together in a local area network (LAN);
conveying data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency; and
preempting conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the first MAC protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and wherein preempting conveying the data comprises asserting a signal in accordance with a media independent interface (MII) between physical and MAC layers of the Ethernet protocol.
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Abstract
A method for mobile communication includes arranging a plurality of access points in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate on a common frequency channel with a mobile station, and linking the access points together by cables in a wired local area network (LAN). When one or more of the access points receive an uplink signal transmitted over the WLAN by the mobile station on the common frequency channel, the access points send messages over the LAN and arbitrate among themselves based on the messages so as to select one of the access points to respond to the uplink signal.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for network communication, comprising:
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linking a plurality of nodes together in a local area network (LAN);
conveying data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency; and
preempting conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the first MAC protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and wherein preempting conveying the data comprises asserting a signal in accordance with a media independent interface (MII) between physical and MAC layers of the Ethernet protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for network communication, comprising:
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linking a plurality of nodes together in a local area network (LAN);
conveying data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency; and
preempting conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein conveying the data comprises establishing a synchronization between the nodes on the LAN in accordance with the first MAC protocol, and wherein preempting conveying the data comprises using the established synchronization to send the message using the second MAC protocol.
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5. A method for network communication, comprising:
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linking a plurality of nodes together in a local area network (LAN);
conveying data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency; and
preempting conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency. wherein conveying the data comprises sending data frames including a first type of error detection code, and wherein preempting conveying the data comprises sending the message with a second type of error detection code, different from the first type.
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6. A system for network communication, comprising:
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cables arranged to form a wired local area network (LAN); and
a plurality of nodes, which are linked together by the LAN and are adapted to convey data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency, and which are further adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the first MAC protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and wherein the nodes are adapted to preempt conveying the data by asserting a signal in accordance with a media independent interface (MII) between physical and MAC layers of the Ethernet protocol. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A system for network communication comprising:
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cables arranged to form a wired local area network (LAN); and
a plurality of nodes, which are linked together by the LAN and are adapted to convey data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control MAC protocol characterized by a first latency, and which are further adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the nodes are adapted to establish a synchronization between the nodes on the LAN in accordance with the first MAC protocol, and to use the established synchronization to send the message using the second MAC protocol.
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10. A system for network communication, comprising:
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cables arranged to form a wired local area network (LAN); and
a plurality of nodes, which are linked together by the LAN and are adapted to convey data over the LAN among the nodes in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency, and which are further adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN among the nodes using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the nodes are adapted to convey the data by sending data frames including a first type of error detection code, and to send the message with a second type of error detection code, different from the first type.
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11. Access point apparatus deployment in a wireless local area network (WLAN) as one of a plurality of access points for mobile communication, the apparatus comprising:
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a radio transceiver, which is configured to communicate on a predetermined frequency channel with a mobile station;
a physical layer interface, for connecting the access point to a wired local area network (LAN) interconnecting the access points; and
processing circuitry, which is adapted, when the transceiver receives an uplink signal transmitted over the WLAN by the mobile station on the predetermined frequency channel, to send and receive messages via the physical layer interface over the LAN to and from the plurality of access points, and to arbitrate among the access points based on the messages so as to select one of the access points to respond to the uplink signal, and to control the transceiver so that the transceiver returns a response to the mobile station subject to the arbitration protocol, wherein the processing circuitry is further adapted to convey data to an from the mobile station over the LAN via the physical layer interface, in addition to sending and receiving the messages over the LAN responsive the uplink signal, and wherein the processing circuitry is adapted to convey the data in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency, and to send and receive the messages responsive to receiving the uplink signal using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, and wherein the processing circuitry is adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to send the messages using the second MAC protocol, and wherein the processing circuitry comprises a multiplexer, which is adapted invoke a collision-avoidance mechanism provided by the first MAC protocol in order to preempt conveying the data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Node apparatus for deployment as one of a plurality of nodes in a local area network (LAN), the apparatus comprising:
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a physical layer interface, for connecting the node to the LAN; and
processing circuitry, which is adapted to convey data via the physical layer interface over the LAN in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency, and which is further adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the first MAC protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and wherein the processing circuitry comprises;
a first MAC processor, for conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol;
a second MAC processor, for sending and receiving the message in accordance with the second MAC protocol; and
a multiplexer, coupling the first and second MAC processors to the physical layer interface, which is adapted to preempt the first MAC processor so as to enable the second MAC processor to send the message. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Node apparatus for deployment as one of a plurality of nodes in a local area network (LAN), the apparatus comprising:
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a physical layer interface, for connecting the node to the LAN; and
processing circuitry, which is adapted to convey data via the physical layer interface over the LAN in accordance with a first media access control (MAC) protocol characterized by a first latency, and which is further adapted to preempt conveying the data in accordance with the first MAC protocol in order to pass a message over the LAN using a second MAC protocol, having a second latency lower than the first latency, wherein the first MAC protocol comprises an Ethernet protocol, and wherein the physical layer interface is adapted to establish a synchronization between the nodes on the LAN in accordance with the first MAC protocol, and to use the established synchronization to send the message using the second MAC protocol.
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Specification