Method and apparatus for enhancing link range in a wireless network using self-configurable antenna
First Claim
1. A wireless network node for providing transit of data with other wireless network nodes in a wireless network, the wireless network node comprising:
- at least one transit antenna to provide data transmission between at least one other wireless network node in the wireless network and the wireless network node;
an auxiliary transit antenna port to which an auxiliary transit antenna can be coupled; and
an antenna detector adapted to detect whether or not an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port;
wherein the at least one transit antenna are available to establish one or more transit links;
wherein upon detection that the auxiliary transit antenna is not coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, the wireless network node uses only the at least one transit antenna for communications;
wherein upon detection that the auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, adding the auxiliary transit antenna to a list of available antennas adapted for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals so that the auxiliary transit antenna can be included or ignored as appropriate for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals through the auxiliary transit antenna coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention facilitate providing wireless links with longer link ranges and/or better suppression of interference than can be provided by the integrated antennas of a typical wireless network node. While, in some cases, it is possible to install intermediate wireless network nodes to hop through long expanses between distant wireless network nodes, it is desirable for distantly spaced wireless network nodes to reach one another through a single transit link (i.e. one hop). This approach is preferable because a single transit link is capable of higher data rates and better interference suppression than multi-hop transit links. The present invention provides methods and apparatus for enhancing the link range achievable by typical wireless network nodes so that distantly spaced wireless network nodes are able to communicate with one another using only a single transit link.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A wireless network node for providing transit of data with other wireless network nodes in a wireless network, the wireless network node comprising:
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at least one transit antenna to provide data transmission between at least one other wireless network node in the wireless network and the wireless network node; an auxiliary transit antenna port to which an auxiliary transit antenna can be coupled; and an antenna detector adapted to detect whether or not an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port; wherein the at least one transit antenna are available to establish one or more transit links; wherein upon detection that the auxiliary transit antenna is not coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, the wireless network node uses only the at least one transit antenna for communications; wherein upon detection that the auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, adding the auxiliary transit antenna to a list of available antennas adapted for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals so that the auxiliary transit antenna can be included or ignored as appropriate for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals through the auxiliary transit antenna coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of operating a wireless network node having an auxiliary transit antenna port, the method comprising:
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determining whether or not an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port; and upon determining that an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, adding the auxiliary transit antenna to a list of available antennas adapted for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals so that the auxiliary transit antenna can be included or ignored as appropriate for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals through the auxiliary transit antenna coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port; upon determining that an auxiliary transit antenna is not coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, removing the auxiliary transit antenna from a list of active antennas so that the auxiliary transit antenna will not be used. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A controller for a wireless network node having an auxiliary transit antenna port, the controller having a function of:
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determining whether or not an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port; upon determining that an auxiliary transit antenna is coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, adding the auxiliary transit antenna to a list of available antennas adapted for one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals so tat the auxiliary transit antenna can be included or ignored as appropriate for one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals through the auxiliary transit antenna coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port; and upon determining that an auxiliary transit antenna is not coupled to the auxiliary transit antenna port, removing the auxiliary transit antenna from a list of active antennas so that the auxiliary transit antenna will not be used. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification