Multi-channel redundant wireless network link and device

• US 7,136,619 B2
• Filed: 12/06/2001
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Zhigang Zhang
• Original Assignee: Franklin Zhigang Zhang
• Inventors: Zhang, Franklin Zhigang
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHARMA, SUJATHA R
• Application Number:
  US10/008,948
• Publication Number:
  US 20020072330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,804 Days
• Field of Search: 455/13.1, 455/8, 455/9, 455/509, 455/510, 455/500, 455/553.1
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A Multi-Channel Redundant Wireless Network Link (RWNL) device (10) comprises a plurality of wireless networking radio units, a processor unit, a radio control unit, and wired network units. Two RWNL devices communicating to each other form a multi-channel redundant wireless network communication link. The RWNL device aggrades the networking bandwidth of all its wireless networking units to become a big networking bandwidth. Network packets flow control means controls the networking packets transmitted between the wireless networking units and wired networking unit, the communication between the local wireless networking units to remote wireless networking units of the other RWNL. When the communication of one of the wireless networking channels failed to continue the communication, the flow control means will redistribute the packet flow among the remaining wireless networking radio units, shutdown the problem wireless networking channel, and report the networking status. Thus, as long as there is one wireless networking channel still functioning, the network link keeps communicating. The communication link has multiple redundancies.

Claims

1. A multi-channel redundant wireless link (RWNL) device comprising:

a processor unit;

a system function means;

a plurality of wireless networking units;

a plurality of wired networking units;

at least one system bus;

whereby the said units are interconnected with each other via the said system bus, and

whereby all the units are inside one enclosure with necessary connectors for connecting to the outside of the said enclosure, and

wherein the system function means is the digital possessing function running primary in the processor unit and among all the other units, and

wherein said wireless networking unit can communicate with remote wireless networking device, forming a wireless networking sub-link via antenna means, and

wherein said system function means is running to control networking communication packets to be redistributed among all the wireless networking units for aggregating the networking bandwidth and providing redundancy among the wireless units, and

wherein the said system function means is communicating between the said wireless and wired networking units in the same said RWNL device, and

wherein the said system function mean is running to control networking packets to be redistributed among all the remaining communicating wireless networking sub-links and keeping communication between one RWNL device and one remote RWNL device when there is wireless networking sub-link that failed communication with remote networking device.

2. The said RWNL device of claim 1 may include a control unit for extending the system control to wireless networking units

whereby said control unit connecting to system bus

whereby said control unit connecting to said wireless networking units

whereby said processor unit can extend the controlling capability via the control unit.

3. A point-to-point multi-channel fully redundant wireless networking link comprising:

two multi-channel redundant wireless networking link (RWNL) devices of claim 1, and

whereby one said RWNL device is connecting to one wired network via its wired networking unit, and

Whereby the second RWNL device is connecting to another wired network via its wired networking unit, and

Whereby said two RWNL devices communicating to each other wirelessly, and

wherein one of the wireless networking units of the one said RWNL device communicating with remote corresponding wireless networking unit of the another said RWNL device form a wireless sub-link, and

wherein the said system function means of said two RWNL devices coordinating each other when one of the wireless sub-links is having problem and to disable the said problem wireless sub-link, and wherein further the said system function means continuing to redistribute the networking traffic among the remaining sub-links forming a new virtual communication link, and

Whereby two said wired networks connecting to each other via said virtual communication link redundantly.

4. A point-to-multi-point multi-channel full redundant wireless networking link comprising:

One multi-channel redundant wireless networking link (RWNL) devices of claim 1 as master node

A plurality of multichannel redundant wireless networking link (RWNL) devices of claim 1 as client nodes

whereby said master RWNL device connecting to master wired network via its wired networking unit, and

Whereby client RWNL device connecting to corresponding client wired networks via their own wired networking unit, and

Whereby the said a plurality of RWNL client devices are communicating with the said RWNL master device wirelessly, and

wherein one of the wireless networking units of said master RWNL device communicating with corresponding wireless networking unit of said client RWNL device forming a wireless sub-link, and

wherein further the wireless networking unit of said master RWNL communicating with corresponding wireless networking units of multiple said client RWNL devices forming a wireless point-to-multiple-point sub-link, and

wherein the said system function means in the RWNL device aggregating the networking bandwidth of the all the wireless sub-links forming a virtual bigger point-to-multiple-point networking link, and

wherein the said system function means coordinating each other between the master RWNL device and client RWNL devices when one of the sub-links is having problem and to disable that said problem sub-link, and

wherein further the control means continuing to redistribute the networking traffic among the remaining sub-links forming a new virtual point-to-multiple-point communication link, and

Whereby said master wired networks connecting to client wired networks via said virtual communication link redundantly.

5. A point-to-multi-point multi-channel partial redundant wireless networking link comprising:

one multi-channel redundant wireless networking link (RWNL) devices of claim 1 as master node

A plurality of multi-channel redundant wireless networking link (RWNL) devices of claim 1 as client nodes

whereby said master RWNL device connecting to master wired network via its wired networking unit, and

Whereby client RWNL devices connecting to corresponding client wired networks via their own wired networking unit, and

Whereby the said a plurality of RWNL client devices are communicating with the said RWNL master device wirelessly, and

wherein further one group of wireless networking units of said master RWNL communicating with corresponding wireless networking units of multiple said client RWNL devices forming a wireless point-to-multiple-point sub-link group, and

wherein further the other group of wireless networking units of said master RWNL communicating with corresponding wireless networking units of multiple said client RWNL devices forming the other wireless point-to-multiple-point sub-link group, and

wherein the said system function means in the RWNL device aggregating the networking bandwidth of the all the wireless sib-links in the same said point-to-multiple-point sub-link group forming a virtual bigger point-to-multiple-point networking link, and

wherein the said system function means coordinating each other between the master RWNL device and client RWNL devices of the same wireless point-to-multiple-point sub-link group when one of the sub-links is having problem and to disable that said problem sub-link, and wherein further the control means continuing to redistribute the networking traffic among the remaining sub-links of the same group forming a new virtual point-to-multiple-point communication link, and

Whereby said master wired network connecting to client wired networks via said virtual communication link redundantly.