Multiple link layer wireless access point

• US 7,130,904 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2001
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kitchin, Duncan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, ASHOKKUMAR B
• Application Number:
  US09/931,960
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/338, 370/465, 370/466
• US Class Current: 709/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Disclosed are a system and method for permitting communication between subscribers in a wireless network and devices coupled to one or more wired communication networks. A transceiving circuit transmits data to or receives data from one or more subscribers through a wireless transmission medium. A first data link control (DLC) circuit is adapted to transmit data between the transceiveing circuit and one or more devices coupled to a first wired communication network. A second DLC circuit is adapted to transmit data between the transceiving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a second wired communication network.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiving circuit of an access point to transmit data to or receive data from one or more subscribers through a wireless transmission medium;

a first data link control (DLC) circuit of the access point to transmit data between the transceiving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a first wired communication network;

a second DLC circuit of the access point to transmit data between the transceiving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a second wired communication network;

circuitry to control transmission of a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal in a successive manner in the wireless transmission medium from the transceiving circuit; and

circuitry to generate a plurality of interleaved target beacon transmission times (TBTTs) based on a timing synchronization function (TSF) and to maintain constant offsets between the plurality of interleaved TBTTs based on the TSF,

wherein the first and second beacon signals are different beacon signals with the first beacon signal comprising information associated with the first wired communication network and the second beacon signal comprising information associated with the second wired communication network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprise distinct physical transmission media.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus further comprises a first bridge coupling the first DLC circuit to the first wired communication network and a second bridge coupling the second DLC circuit coupled to the second wired communication network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprise a common physical transmission medium.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first DLC circuit is associated with a first media access control (MAC) address on the first wired communication network and the second DLC circuit is associated with a second MAC address on the second wired communication network.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first DLC circuit is adapted to transmit data between a first class of subscribers and devices coupled to the first wired communication network, and wherein the second DLC circuit is adapted to transmit data between a second class of subscribers and devices coupled to the second wired communication network.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second DLC circuits are coupled to the transceiving circuit at a common lower DLC circuit, and wherein the first DLC circuit is coupled to the first wired communication network at a first upper DLC circuit and the second DLC circuit is coupled to the second wired communication network at a second upper DLC circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first basic service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second basic service set.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first extended service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second extended service set.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first DLC circuit is associated with a first media access control (MAC) address on the first wired communication network and the second DLC circuit is associated with a second MAC address on the second wired communication network.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting data between a first class of wireless subscribers and devices coupled to the first wired communication network through the wireless transmission medium and the first DLC circuit; and

transmitting data between a second class of wireless subscribers and devices coupled to the second wired communication network through the wireless transmission medium and the second DLC circuit.

16. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first and second DLC circuits are coupled to the transceiving circuit at a common lower DLC circuit, and wherein the first DLC circuit is coupled to the first wired communication network at a first upper DLC circuit and the second DLC circuit is coupled to the second wired communication network at a second upper DLC circuit.

10. A method comprising:

transmitting data between a transceiver circuit of an access point and subscribers in a wireless transmission medium;

transmitting data between the transceving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a first wired communication network through a first data link (DLC) circuit of the access point;

transmitting data between the transceving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a second wired communication network through a second data link (DLC) circuit of the access point;

controlling transmission of a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal in a successive manner in the wireless transmission medium from the transceiver circuit, the first and second beacon signals are different beacon signals with the first beacon signal comprising information associated with the first wired communication network and the second beacon signal comprising information associated with the second wired communication network;

generating a plurality of interleaved target beacon transmission times (TBTTs) based on a timing synchronization function (TSF); and

maintaining constant offsets between the plurality of interleaved TBTTs based on the TSF.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprises distinct physical transmission media.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

transmitting data between the first wired communication network and the first DLC circuit through a first bridge; and

transmitting data between the second wired communication network and the second DLC circuit through a second bridge.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprise a common physical transmission medium.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first basic service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second basic service set.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first extended service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second extended service set.

19. A system comprising:

a transceiving circuit of an access point to transmit data to or receive data from one or more subscribers through a wireless transmission medium;

a processor to transmit data between the transceving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a first wired communication network, to transmit data between the transceiving circuit and one or more devices coupled to a second wired communication network, to control transmission of a first beacon signal and a second beacon signal in a successive manner in the wireless transmission medium from the transceiving circuit, to generate a plurality of interleaved target beacon transmission times (TBTTs) based on a timing synchronization function (TSF), and to maintain constant offsets between the plurality of interleaved TBTTs based on the TSF,

wherein the first and second beacon signals are different beacon signals with the first beacon signal comprising information associated with the first wired communication network and the second beacon signal comprising information associated with the second wired communication network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprises distinct physical transmission media.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the system further comprises a first bridge coupling the processor to the first wired communication network and a second bridge coupling the processor coupled to the second wired communication network.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the first and second wired communication networks comprise a common physical transmission medium.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the processor is configured to associate the first wired communication network with a first media access control (MAC) address and to associate the second wired communication network with a second MAC address.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processor is adapted to transmit data between a first class of subscribers and devices coupled to the first wired communication network and to transmit data between a second class of subscribers and devices coupled to the second wired communication network.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first basic service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second basic service set.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the first beacon signal is associated with a first extended service set and the second beacon signal is associated with a second extended service set.