Wireless internet access system

• US 6,831,921 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: East West Bank (East West Bancorp Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: James Higgins
• Inventors: Higgins, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H.
• Application Number:
  US10/108,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20030185169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 370/408, 370/310.2, 370/315, 370/328, 370/334, 370/338, 370/339, 370/349, 370/400-402, 370/420, 370/463, 370/465, 370/466, 370/471, 370/474, 370/422, 375/222, 709/223
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0435 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply symmetric encryption, i.e. same key used for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for symmetric key encryption H04L9/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A wireless network access system and method that provides a multiplicity of access point devices, each being capable of relaying information. The upstream network access may include an omni-directional antenna for downstream communications. The wireless network is provided as a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of the multiplicity of access point devices. The described system does not employ routers, and thereby speeds processing time and reduces network latency and costs associated with a mesh network employing routers. A multiplicity of customer premise wireless network devices are provided with a wireless modem for communication from the customer premise limited to a path all the way back to a main gateway upstream to the wired side of the network where the gateway provides a T3 or other high speed Internet connection. Each customer premise wireless network access device includes a directional antenna connected to the wireless modem and an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals. The wireless modem and the directional antenna are locatable in an environmental enclosure outside the customer premise for communication with an upstream network access device. Anything that comes in on the wireless side has to go out on the wired side, i.e., via the gateway. The relay points for communicating information via the access point devices provide filtering, e.g., on the Ethernet hub, such that communications is limited as between the downstream customer premise and the access point providing service only upstream communication directly to the gateway.

Claims

1. A wireless network access device and relay point customer premise, comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem;

a first interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals and power via a customer premise to said first wireless modem;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem;

and a second interface for receiving power and at least a portion of the bidirectional data signals and for switching data from said second wireless modem to said first wireless modem to be communicated from said first wireless modem; and

wherein one or more of said first wireless modem, said second wireless modem, a connection to said directional antenna, a connection to said omni-directional antenna, said first interface, or said second interface, are environmentally enclosed, and

wherein said first and second wireless modems, said directional and omni-directional antennas, and said first and second interfaces are each located at a customer premise which also serves as a relay point of the wireless network.

2. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, wherein said interface comprises a first splitter adapted for conveying power and adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise.

3. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 2, comprising a transformer operable from the customer premise for converting alternating current (AC) power to direct current (DC) power for transmission via said first splitter conveying the power and bidirectional data signals.

4. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 2, wherein said first wireless modem comprises said first splitter for communication via said interface conveying power and bidirectional signals via the customer premise.

5. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, comprising a splitter receiving power and bidirectional data signals from a workstation at the customer premise.

6. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 5, comprising a single four (4) pair cable connecting said first splitter and second splitter.

7. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second interface comprises:

a splitter for receiving the power and bidirectional data signal; and

a hub for switching data from said second wireless modem to said splitter.

8. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of downlink wireless modem devices in communication with said second interface, each downlink wireless modem device comprising:

a downlink wireless modem; and

a downlink directional antenna connected to said downlink wireless modem for relaying information in the wireless network from downstream customer premises;

wherein the second interface switches at least some of the relayed information to the first wireless modem.

9. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 8, wherein each said downlink directional antenna comprises at least one of vertical, horizontal, circular, or different angles of polarization utilized for communication with at least one downstream access point to reduce interference from other devices.

10. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, comprising a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing an Ethernet bridge from the customer premise to said gateway.

11. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 1, wherein said directional antenna and said omni-directional antenna each comprise low power transmission broadcast capabilities allowing for frequency reuse within a relatively small operating area.

12. A wireless network access device, comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a directional antenna connected to said wireless modem;

an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via a customer premise to said wireless modem;

an environmental enclosure for housing said wireless modem, a connection to said directional antenna and said interface, said enclosure being locatable outside the customer premise;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem;

a second interface for receiving the power and bidirectional data signals and for switching data from said second wireless modem; and

a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as a upstream access point for establishing an Ethernet bridge from the customer premise to said gateway;

wherein said Ethernet bridge comprises one or more filters in place on the Ethernet level of the network such that each customer may only establish a communication path to said gateway, thereby prohibiting establishment of communication paths with other customers.

13. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 12, wherein said filters only allow information from customer premises to go onto the wired network via said gateway such that two or more customer premises workstation on the same access point are prohibited from establishing direct communication paths therebetween.

14. A wireless network access device, comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a directional antenna connected to said wireless modem;

an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via customer premise to said wireless modem;

an environmental enclosure for housing said wireless modem, a connection to said directional antenna and said interface, said enclosure being locatable outside the customer premise;

wherein said interface comprises a first splitter adapted for conveying power and adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem;

a second interface for receiving the power and bidirectional data signals and for switching data from said second wireless modem; and

a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing an Ethernet bridge from the customer premise to said gateway;

wherein said gateway comprises virtual private network (VPN) service across said Ethernet bridge for security from the customer premise to the other side of said gateway.

15. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 14, comprising a packet shaper to dynamically adjust connection speeds based upon network utilization to provide bandwidth management on a per customer basis.

16. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 14, wherein said Ethernet bridge comprises one or more filters in place on the Ethernet level of the network such that each customer may only establish a communication path to said gateway, thereby prohibiting establishment of communication paths with other customers.

17. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 14, further comprising a plurality of downlink wireless modem devices in communication with said second interface, each downlink wireless mode device comprising:

a downlink wireless modem; and

a downlink directional antenna connected to said downlink wireless modem for relaying information in the wireless network from downstream customer premises.

18. A wireless network access device and relay point customer premise, comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a first directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem for communication with at least one other wireless network access device serving as an upstream access point;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem for downstream broadcast;

a first interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first wireless modem;

a second interface for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first interface; and

a hub or hub/splitter for switching bidirectional data signals from said second wireless modem to said second interface, and

wherein said first and second wireless modems, said directional and omni-directional antennas, said first and second interfaces and said hub are each located at a customer premise which also serves as a relay point of the wireless network.

19. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 18, comprising:

a third wireless modem; and

a second directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem for communication with at least one downstream access point.

20. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 19, wherein said second directional antenna comprises at least one of vertical, horizontal, circular, or different angles of polarization utilized for communication with at least one downstream access point to reduce interference from other devices.

21. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 18, comprising a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modern communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing a bridge from the customer premise to said gateway.

22. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 18, wherein said directional antenna and said omni-directional antenna each comprise low power transmission broadcast capabilities allowing for frequency reuse within a relatively small operating area.

23. A wireless network access device comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a first directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem for communication with at least one other wireless network access device serving as an upstream access point;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem for downstream broadcast;

a first interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first wireless modem;

a second interface for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first interface;

a hub for switching bidirectional data signals from said second wireless modem to said second interface; and

a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing a bridge from the customer premise to said gateway;

wherein said bridge comprises one or more filters in place operable with a lower level protocol supporting TCP/IP traffic on the network such that each customer may only establish a communication path to said gateway, thereby prohibiting establishment of communication paths with other customers.

24. A wireless network access device, comprising:

a first wireless modem;

a first directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem for communication with at least one other wireless network access device serving as an upstream access point;

a second wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem for downstream broadcast;

a first interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first wireless modem;

a second interface for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first interface;

a hub for switching bidirectional data signals from said second wireless modem to said second interface; and

a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing a bridge from the customer premise to said gateway;

wherein said gateway comprises virtual private network (VPN) service across said bridge for security from the customer premise to the other side of said gateway.

25. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 24, comprising a packet shaper to dynamically adjust connection speeds based upon network utilization to provide bandwidth management on a per customer basis.

26. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 24, comprising:

a third wireless modem; and

a second directional antenna connected to said second wireless modem for communication with at least one downstream access point.

27. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 24, wherein said second directional antenna comprises at least one of vertical, horizontal, circular, or different angles of polarization utilized for communication with at least one downstream access point to reduce interference from other devices.

28. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 24, wherein said directional antenna and said omni-directional antenna each comprise low power transmission broadcast capabilities allowing for frequency reuse within a small operating area.

29. A wireless network access system, comprising:

a multiplicity of access point devices, each being capable of relaying information from at least one of said other access point devices, the wireless network being provided as a tree structure wherein each access point device feeds back to a higher access point device of said multiplicity of access point devices;

wherein said multiplicity of access point devices comprise a bridge, instead of a router, to a gateway or router, thereby avoiding announcement and IP routing latency, and a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices comprising a multiplicity of wireless modems, directional antennas connected to the wireless modems and interfaces adapted for conveying data signals, and wherein at least one access point device comprises;

a first wireless modem, a first directional antenna connected said first wireless modem, and a first interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise to said first wireless modem, said first wireless modem and said first directional antenna being located at the customer premise.

30. A wireless network access system as recited in claim 29, wherein at least one of said access point devices comprises:

a second wireless modem;

a second directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem for communication with at least one other wireless network access device serving as an upstream access point;

a third wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said third wireless modem for downstream broadcast;

a first splitter adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals with said second wireless modem;

a second splitter for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first splitter; and

a hub for switching bidirectional data signals from said third wireless modem to said second sputter.

31. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 30, comprising a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modern communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing a bridge from the customer premise to said gateway.

32. A wireless network access device as recited in claim 31, wherein said gateway comprises virtual private network (VPN) service across said bridge for security from the customer premise to the other side of said gateway.

33. A wireless network access system, comprising:

a multiplicity of access point;

devices, each being capable of relaying information from at least one of said other access point devices, the wireless network being provided as a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of said multiplicity of access point devices; and

a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices, each said access device comprising;

a first wireless modem, a directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem, an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise to said first wireless modem, said first wireless modem and said directional antenna being locatable at the customer premise device; and

wherein the wireless network access system further comprises a gateway supplying internet access to the wireless network from a T3 or other high-speed internet connection, said first wireless modem communicating with at least one other wireless network access device or said gateway serving as an upstream access point for establishing a bridge from the customer premise to said gateway,

wherein at least one of said access point devices comprises;

a second wireless modem;

a second directional antenna connected to said first wireless modem for communication with at least one other wireless network access device serving as an upstream access point;

a third wireless modem;

an omni-directional antenna connected to said third wireless modem for downstream broadcast;

a first splitter adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals with said second wireless modem;

a second splitter for conveying bidirectional data signals with said first splitter; and

a hub for switching bidirectional data signals from said third wireless modem to said second splitter,

wherein said bridge comprises one or more filters in place operable with a lower level protocol supporting TCP/IP traffic on the network such that each customer may only establish a communication path to said gateway, hereby prohibiting establishment of communication paths with other customers.

34. A wireless network access method, comprising:

providing a multiplicity of access point devices to the wireless network in a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of the multiplicity of access point devices;

providing a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices having a wireless modem, a directional antenna, and an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise wireless modem to at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices as an uplink to the main gateway for supplying a high-speed internet connection to the wireless network; and

relaying information from one of the customer premise wireless network access devices through at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices to establish a bridge from the customer premise to the main gateway or to a router, such that said relaying comprises bridging to said gateway or router, instead of routing, thereby avoiding announcement and IP routing latency.

35. A wireless network access method as recited in claim 34, comprising establishing a virtual private network (VPN) service across the ridge for security from a customer premise to the other side of the main gateway.

36. A wireless network access method as recited in claim 34, comprising disabling security features to allow for roaming.

37. A wireless network access method as recited in claim 34, wherein the wireless modem and directional antenna of them multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices provide low power transmission capabilities for frequency reuse within an operating area for relaying information from the access devices.

38. A wireless network access method, comprising:

providing a multiplicity of access point devices to the wireless network in a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of the multiplicity of access point devices;

providing a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices having a wireless modem, a directional antenna, and an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise wireless modem to at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices as an unlink to the main gateway for supplying a high-speed internet connection to the wireless network;

relaying information from one of the customer premise wireless network access devices through at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices to establish a bridge from the customer premise to the main gateway; and

disabling security features to allow for roaming,

wherein each of the multiplicity of access point devices for relaying information is provided with the same extended service set identification (ESSID) across all relay points of the wireless network communities, with roaming software being provided for each customer premise to establish security for allowing for roaming.

39. A wireless network access method, comprising:

providing a multiplicity of access point devices to the wireless network in a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of the multiplicity of access point devices;

providing a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices having a wireless modem, a directional antenna, and an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise wireless modem to at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices as an uplink to the main gateway for supplying a high-speed internet connection to the wireless network;

relaying information from one of the customer premise wireless network access devices through at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices to establish a bridge from the customer premise to the main gateway; and

adding filters operable at a lower level capable of supporting TCP/IF facilitating communication from each customer only to the main gateway, thereby prohibiting the establishment of communication links directly between customers.

40. A wireless network access method, comprising:

providing a multiplicity of access point devices to the wireless network in a tree structure wherein each access point feeds back to a higher access point of the multiplicity of access point devices;

providing a multiplicity of customer premise wireless network access devices having a wireless modem, a directional antenna, and an interface adapted for conveying bidirectional data signals via the customer premise wireless modem to at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices as an uplink to the main gateway for supplying a high-speed internet connection to the wireless network;

relaying information form one of the customer premise wireless network access devices through at least one of the multiplicity of access point devices to establish a bridge from the customer premise to the main gateway;

establishing a virtual private network (VPN) service across the bridge for security from a customer premise to the other side of the main gateway; and

performing packet shaping to dynamically adjust connection speeds based upon network utilization to manage bandwidth on a per customer basis.