Method and apparatus for a fixed wireless broadband access and wireless LAN integration

• US 7,289,478 B1
• Filed: 07/30/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kim, Byoung-Jo J., Skinner, John Jerome Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shah; Chirag G.
• Application Number:
  US09/363,733
• Time in Patent Office: 3,014 Days
• Field of Search: 370/276, 370/277, 370/278, 370/285, 370/338, 370/328, 370/324, 370/343, 370/332, 370/333, 370/282, 370/288, 455/554, 455/3.01, 455/422
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/06 Airborne or Satellite Networks space-based or airborne stations H04B7/185
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for integrating Fixed Wireless Broadband Access (FWBA) and a Wireless Local Access radio Network (WLAN) is presented. An antenna or satellite dish leads to an RF (Radio Frequency) processor and modulator/demodulator component installed in a home or business which allows for receipt of an analog and/or digital signal sent by broadband transmission from a fixed base station. Integrated to the FWBA set-up is a transmitter/receiver linking a number of portable or stationary devices in a WLAN, allowing for seamless communication to and from the WLAN devices inside or outside of the home and/or business. Devices can be programmed to receive or transmit data according to location and channel conditions and signal strength inside and outside of the home or business.

Claims

1. A method of integrating fixed wireless broadband access associated with a building and a local area network, comprising the steps of:

receiving a fixed wireless broadband signal from a source outside the building, which signal is characterized by a first communication protocol;

demodulating the fixed wireless broadband signal, processing the demodulated signal to obtain a user signal, and re-modulating the user signal to form a converted signal that follows a second communication protocol that is different from the first communication protocol; and

transmitting the user signal to an electronic device via the local area network within said building when said electronic device is conditioned to receive signals via said local area network in accord with said second protocol, and refrains from transmitting said user signal to said electronic device when said electronic device is conditioned to receive signals via other than said local area network, even when said electronic device is found within said local area network.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether to condition said electronic device to receive signals via said local area network, or via said other than said local area network.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said electronic device, when conditioned to receive signals via other than said local area network, is conditioned to receive signals from said source directly.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving is performed on signals received by an antenna, or a satellite dish.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said local area network is wireless.

6. A method executed in a mobile user device comprising the steps of:

first determining a signal strength and a channel interference level for said user device communicating with a source over a first channel that includes a local area network within a building and a broadband wireless channel that couples said local area network to said source via a fixed broadband wireless access means;

second determining a signal strength and a channel interference level for communicating with said source over a second channel that is distinct from said first channel, where said user device employs a first protocol when communicating via said first channel and employs a second protocol that is different from said first protocol when communicating via said second channel;

making a determination, based on said first determining and said second determining, as to whether the second channel is a higher quality communication channel than the first channel; and

causing said user device to communicate over said second channel when said determination is in the affirmative, and to communicate over said first channel when said determination is in the negative.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of:

interrogating said user device to pass information relating to the at least some of said steps of determining.