Localized radio frequency communication using asynchronous transfer mode protocol

• US 7,257,093 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2001
• Issued: 08/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandia National Laboratories (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Sandia Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Witzke, Edward L., Pierson, Lyndon G., Robertson, Perry J.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US09/975,271
• Time in Patent Office: 2,134 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/310.1, 455/90.1, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 370/310.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4045 where the bus bridge performs an extender function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 2201/10098 Components for radio transmission, e.g. radio frequency identification [RFID] tag, printed or non-printed antennas

Abstract

A localized wireless communication system for communication between a plurality of circuit boards, and between electronic components on the circuit boards. Transceivers are located on each circuit board and electronic component. The transceivers communicate with one another over spread spectrum radio frequencies. An asynchronous transfer mode protocol controls communication flow with asynchronous transfer mode switches located on the circuit boards.

Claims

1. A localized wireless communication system for communication between a plurality of circuit boards, each of the circuit boards having at least one electronic component located on the board, said system comprising a transceiver on each of the circuit boards, said transceiver enabling radio frequency communication between the circuit boards, said system further comprising an asynchronous transfer mode switch locatable on each of the circuit boards, said switch enabling communication via said transceiver between circuit boards in the asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein each of said asynchronous transfer mode switches use the asynchronous transfer mode private network to network interface protocol between circuit boards.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a modulator for modulating electrical signals from the circuit board into signals for radio frequency transmission by said transceiver.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said modulator comprises a spread spectrum modulator.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a demodulator for demodulating radio frequency signals received by said transceiver into electrical signals for the circuit board.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one component transceiver, each of said component transceiver locatable on an electronic component on a circuit board, said component transceiver enabling radio frequency communication between circuit board components or across circuit boards.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising an asynchronous transfer mode switch locatable on each of the circuit boards, said switch enabling communication between circuit boards in the asynchronous transfer mode protocol, said switch also enabling communication with electronic components in the asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said asynchronous transfer mode switch communicates with the electronic components on the circuit board using the asynchronous transfer mode user to network interface protocol.

9. The system of claim 6 further comprising at least one component modulator associated with each of said component transceiver, for modulating electrical signals from the circuit board into signals for radio frequency transmission by said component transceiver.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said component modulator comprises a spread spectrum modulator.

11. The system of claim 6 further comprising at least one component demodulator associated with each of said component transceiver, for demodulating radio frequency signals received by said component transceiver into electrical signals for the circuit board.

12. A method of communicating between a plurality of circuit boards, each of the circuit boards having at least one electronic component located on the board, the method comprising:

transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals to and from transceivers located on each of the circuit boards;

providing an asynchronous transfer mode switch on each of the circuit boards; and

communicating between circuit boards in an asynchronous transfer mode protocol.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein communicating between circuit boards in an asynchronous transfer mode protocol comprises communicating in the asynchronous transfer mode private network to network interface protocol between circuit boards.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of modulating electrical signals from the circuit boards into signals for radio frequency transmission by the transceivers.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of demodulating radio frequency signals received by the transceivers into electrical signals for the circuit boards.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising the step of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals to and from transceivers located on electronic components on the circuit boards.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals to and from transceivers located on electronic components on the circuit boards comprises transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals between electronic components located on a circuit board and transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals between electronic components located on different circuit boards.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising the steps of

providing an asynchronous transfer mode switch on each of the circuit boards;

communicating between circuit boards in an asynchronous transfer mode protocol through the switch; and

communicating between electronic components on circuits boards in an asynchronous transfer mode protocol through the switch.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein communicating between electronic components on circuits boards in an asynchronous transfer mode protocol through the switch comprises communicating in the asynchronous transfer mode user to network interface protocol through the switch.