In-vehicle wireless local area network

• US 6,876,642 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 04/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adams, Jay James, Reger, Ronald Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): HSU, ALPUS
• Application Number:
  US09/538,589
• Time in Patent Office: 1,835 Days
• Field of Search: 370/254, 370/257, 370/312, 370/321, 370/325, 370/329, 370/336, 370/337, 370/338, 370/345, 370/347, 370/357, 370/360, 370/362, 370/401, 370/402, 370/407, 370/422, 370/425, 307/10.1, 307/11, 307/29, 307/36, 307/38, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 455/422, 455/426, 455/432.1, 455/437, 455/446, 455/448, 455/449, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 701/23, 701/24, 701/29, 701/33
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle to provide a voice and/or data connection from a wireless wide area network to a wireless local area network and on to a vehicle wired bus is disclosed. The communication system includes a wireless electronic communication device disposed in or in proximity to the vehicle for communication with the wireless wide area network, a wireless local area network unit disposed in the vehicle in such a manner as to communicate with the wireless electronic communication device and with a wired vehicle bus disposed within the vehicle, and a plurality of electronic devices disposed in or in proximity to the vehicle and in communication with the local area network unit or the wireless electronic communication device.

Claims

1. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle to provide a voice an/or data connection from a wireless wide area network to a wireless local area network and on to a vehicle wired bus, said communication system comprising:

(a) a wireless electronic communication device disposed in or in proximity to said vehicle for communication with said wireless wide area network;

(b) a wireless local area network unit disposed in said vehicle in such a manner as to communication with said wireless electronic communication device and with a wired vehicle bus disposed within said vehicle; and

(c) a plurality of electronic devices disposed in or in proximity to said vehicle and in communication with said wireless local area unit or said wireless electronic communication device.

2. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

at lest one of said plurality of electronic devices is in wired communication with said wireless local area network unit.

3. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle, as defined in claim 1, wherein said plurality of electronic devices is selected from the group consisting of:

a pager, a laptop computer, a radio receiver, a body computer, and a facsimile transmitter/receiver.

4. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said plurality of electronic devices is disposed of within said vehicle.

5. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

said wireless electronic communication device can be disposed of outside said vehicle.

6. A wireless local area network communication system for a vehicle to provide a voice and/or data connection from a wireless wide area network to a wireless local area network and onto a vehicle wired bus, said communication system comprising:

a wireless electronic communication device disposed in or in proximity to said vehicle for communication with said wireless wide area network;

a wireless local are network unit disposed in said vehicle in such a manner as to communicate with said wireless electronic communication device and with a wired vehicle bus disposed within said vehicle;

a plurality of electronic devices disposed in said vehicle and in communication with said wireless local area unit or said wireless electronic communication device, said plurality of electric devices is selected from the group consisting of a pager, a laptop compute, a radio receiver, a body computer, and a facsimile transmitter/receiver;

at least one of said plurality of electronic devices is disposed within said vehicle and is in wired communication with said wireless local area network unit; and

a remainder of aid plurality of electronic devices are in wireless communication with said wireless local area network unit.