Reconfigureable arrays of wireless access points
First Claim
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1. A wireless network for providing a geographically-flexible bandwidth coverage area in a structure, comprising:
- at least one mobile access point; and
a network controller in communication with the at least one mobile access point, wherein the network controller is configured to;
receive an indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network by users at a plurality of geographic locations within the structure,evaluate the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network, andcontrol the movement of the at least one mobile access point between the plurality of geographic locations based at least in part on the evaluation of the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network.
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Abstract
A wireless communications network includes a reconfigurable array of access points for linking wireless devices in an infrastructure mode. One or more of the access points are mobile. The mobile access points in the network can be repositioned to change the geographic distribution of the bandwidth coverage provided by the wireless network. The mobile access points may be repositioned to redistribute available network bandwidth heterogeneously according to the demand for bandwidth in local areas and to meet quality of service standards.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless network for providing a geographically-flexible bandwidth coverage area in a structure, comprising:
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at least one mobile access point; and a network controller in communication with the at least one mobile access point, wherein the network controller is configured to; receive an indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network by users at a plurality of geographic locations within the structure, evaluate the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network, and control the movement of the at least one mobile access point between the plurality of geographic locations based at least in part on the evaluation of the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless network housed within a structure having a plurality of geographic locations, comprising:
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a grid of rails disposed in the plurality of geographic locations; at least one mobile access point configured to travel between the plurality of geographic locations on the grid of rails; and a network controller coupled to the at least one mobile access point, wherein the network controller configured to; receive an indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network by users at the plurality of geographic locations, evaluate the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network, and selectively vary a position of the mobile access point among the plurality of geographic locations based at least in part on the evaluation of the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of providing wireless communication network services to wireless device users in a structure, comprising:
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receiving, via a network controller, an indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network by users at a plurality of geographic locations within the structure; evaluating, via the network controller, the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network; and automatically moving, via the network controller, a mobile access point between the plurality of geographic locations to provide additional bandwidth for wireless devices that are within a range R of each respective geographic location based at least in part on the evaluation of the indication of relative demand for access to the wireless network. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for dynamically changing a bandwidth of a plurality of geographic locations within a structure serviced by a wireless communication network, comprising the steps of:
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determining, via a network controller, a first increase in user demand to access the wireless communication network via a first access point disposed at a first geographic location; and automatically moving, via the network controller, a first mobile access point within a range R of the first geographic location in response to the first increase in user demand. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification