Method and apparatus to establish communication with wireless communication networks

• US 7,613,160 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2002
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Kitchin, Duncan M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Thong H
• Application Number:
  US10/327,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120301A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/331, 370/337, 370/338, 370/447, 370/296, 370/220, 370/404, 455/427, 455/426, 455/436, 455/434, 455/410, 375/349
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/182 Network node acting on behalf of an other network entity, e.g. proxy
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Briefly, a method of transmitting over a first wireless network a message not addressed to mobile units of the first wireless network, wherein receiving said message causes transmitting stations of the first wireless station to cease transmissions for a predetermined time interval and to enable the access point to be in communication with mobile units or access points of a second wireless network.

Claims

1. A method of communicating in first and second wireless local area networks comprising:

communicating as an access point with dual band network interface card (NIC) stations of the first wireless local area network;

transmitting a message including one of a null message, a ready to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) command, over the first wireless local area network during a predetermined time interval, wherein the transmitting of the message causes stations of the first wireless local area network to refrain from transmitting during the predetermined time interval; and

during said predetermined time interval, communicating as a network bridge with a device of the second wireless network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extending the predetermined time interval to enable communications with the device of the second wireless local area network.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

periodically transmitting the message, with a first time interval between transmissions, wherein the first time interval is based on an estimation of a second time interval of a beacon transmission of the second wireless local area network.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

buffering communications related to the device of the second wireless local area network while communicating with the device of the first wireless local area network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said first frequency band includes 2.4 GHZ, and said second frequency band includes 5 GHz.

6. A method of intermediating between devices of a first wireless local area network and a device of a second wireless local area network comprising:

while communicating as an access point with dual band network interface card (NIC) devices of a first wireless local area network, simulating a standby or power saving mode with respect to at least one device of a second wireless local area network;

transmitting a message including one of a null message, a ready to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) command, to halt for a predetermined time interval communications with the devices of the first wireless local area network; and

during said time interval, communicating as an intermediate device with at least one device of the second wireless local area network.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising:

simultaneously servicing devices of the first and second wireless local area networks, wherein said first wireless network includes devices communicating over a first frequency band, and said second wireless network includes devices communicating over a second frequency band, said first frequency band being different from said second frequency band.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein halting comprises:

broadcasting as an access point of the first wireless network a message to mobile units of the first wireless local area network containing a request to cease transmission for said predetermined time interval.

9. A wireless local area network communication device comprising:

a dual band network interface card (NIC) configured to communicate with devices of a first wireless local area network on a first frequency band and to communicate with devices of a second local area network on a second frequency band;

an intermediate device able to service at least one of the first and second wireless local area networks;

an access point application to configure said dual band NIC to transmit on a first frequency band a message including one of a null message, a ready to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) command, to devices of a first wireless network to cease transmissions for a predetermined time interval; and

a processor able to switch for the predetermined time interval from the access point application to the intermediate device wherein, said intermediate device configured the dual band NIC to communicate on a second frequency band with devices of the second local area wireless network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the processor is able to simulate a power saving mode for the devices of the second wireless network when communicating with mobile stations of the first wireless network.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the apparatus comprises an access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the access point is implemented by a software application.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the access point is able to bridge mobile stations of the first wireless local area network to a gateway of the second wireless local area network.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the devices of said first and second wireless local area networks comprise at least one mobile unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the devices of the first wireless local area networks comprise at least one gateway.

16. A wireless local area network communication apparatus comprising:

a dual band network interface card (NIC) configured to communicate with devices of a first wireless local area network on a first frequency band and to communicate with devices of a second local area network on a second frequency band, said NIC operably coupled to a dipole antenna;

an intermediate device able to service at least one of the first and second wireless local area networks;

an access point application to configure said dual band NIC to transmit on a first frequency band a message including one of a null message, a ready to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) command, to devices of a first wireless network to cease transmissions for a predetermined time interval; and

a processor able to switch for the predetermined time interval from the access point application to the intermediate device wherein, said intermediate device configured the dual band NIC to communicate on a second frequency band with devices of the second local area wireless network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the processor is able to simulate a power saving mode for the devices of the second wireless network when communicating with mobile stations of the first wireless network.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the apparatus comprises an access point.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the access point is implemented by a software application.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the access point is able to bridge mobile stations of the first wireless network to a gateway of the second wireless network.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the devices of said first and second wireless networks comprise at least one mobile unit.

22. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the devices of the first wireless networks comprise at least one gateway.

23. An article comprising:

a processor operably coupled to a storage medium having stored thereon instructions that when executed result in;

communicating as an access point with dual band network interface card (NIC) stations of the first wireless local area network, transmitting a message including one of a null message, a ready to send (RTS) or clear to send (CTS) command, over the first wireless local area network during a predetermined time interval, wherein the transmitting of the message causes stations of the first wireless local area network to refrain from transmitting during the predetermined time interval; and

during said predetermined time interval, communicating as a network bridge with a device of the second wireless network.

24. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

extending the predetermined time interval to enable communications with the device of the second wireless local area network.

25. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

periodically transmitting the message, with a first time interval between transmissions, wherein the first time interval is based on an estimation of a second time interval of a beacon transmission of the second wireless local area network.

26. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

buffering communications related to the device of the second local area wireless network while communicating with the device of the first wireless local area network.

27. The article of claim 23, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

while communicating as an access point with devices of a first wireless local area network, simulating a standby or power saving mode with respect to at least one device of a second wireless local area network;

halting for a predetermined time interval communications with the devices of the first wireless local area network; and

during said time interval, transmitting communications received from said devices of the first wireless local area network to at least one device of the second wireless local area network.

28. The article of claim 27, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

simultaneously servicing devices of the first and second wireless local area networks, wherein said first wireless network includes devices communicating over a first frequency band, and said second wireless network includes devices communicating over a second frequency band, said first frequency band being different from said second frequency band.

29. The article of claim 27, wherein the instructions when executed further result in:

broadcasting as an access point of the first wireless network a message to mobile units of the first wireless local area network containing a request to cease transmission for said predetermined time interval.