Methods for providing universal network access within a wireless communication system

• US 8,014,339 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Yao; Kwang B
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, NGUYEN HOANG
• Application Number:
  US10/374,826
• Time in Patent Office: 3,115 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/401, 370/328, 370/277, 370/278, 370/310.2, 370/466, 455/73, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/414.1, 455/426.1
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A wireless network access point that is compatible with multiple wireless network access profiles. The wireless network access point of the present invention allows devices with heterogeneous wireless network access profiles to access the network over the same network access point (NAP). This enables existing networks to upgrade NAPs without being forced to upgrade all the wireless devices within the network. In addition, the NAP of the present invention enables wireless devices to utilize network access profile features available in network access profiles other than the one loaded on the wireless device itself.

Claims

1. A wireless network access point comprising:

a radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) protocol to decode and route wireless data signals from a local area network (LAN) access profile to a computer network over a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data channel;

a Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) to decode and route wireless data signals from a personal area network (PAN) access profile to the computer network over an Internet Protocol (IP) channel;

a transceiver transmitting and receiving wireless data signals from both a PAN access profile device and a LAN access profile device, operating simultaneously; and

a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module to route data packets to one of the RFCOMM protocol and the BNEP protocol based upon an access profile of the data packets.

2. The wireless network access point of claim 1, wherein the BNEP protocol decodes the PAN wireless data signals, encapsulates data packets of the PAN wireless data signals, and transmits the data packets over the IP data channel.

3. The wireless network access point of claim 1, wherein the L2CAP module allows both the PAN access profile device and the LAN access profile device to connect to the computer network.

4. The wireless network access point of claim 1, wherein the L2CAP module allows both the PAN access profile device and the LAN access profile device to directly communicate and exchange data between one another.

5. A Bluetooth network access point comprising:

a radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) protocol to decode and route Bluetooth data signals from a local area network (LAN) access profile to a computer network over a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data channel;

a Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) to decode and route Bluetooth data signals from a personal area network (PAN) access profile to the computer network over an Internet Protocol (IP) channel;

a transceiver transmitting and receiving Bluetooth data signals from both a PAN access profile device and a LAN access profile device, operating simultaneously; and

a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module to route data packets to one of the RFCOMM protocol and the BNEP protocol based upon an access profile of the data packets.

6. The Bluetooth network access point of claim 5, wherein the RFCOMM protocol decodes the LAN Bluetooth data signals and transmits them over the PPP data channel.

7. The Bluetooth network access point of claim 5 wherein the BNEP protocol decodes the PAN Bluetooth data signals, encapsulates data packets of the PAN wireless data signals, and transmits the data packets over the IP data channel.

8. The Bluetooth network access point of claim 5, wherein the L2CAP module allows both the PAN access profile device and the LAN access profile device to connect to the computer network.

9. The Bluetooth network access point of claim 5, wherein the L2CAP module allows both the PAN access profile device and the LAN access profile device to directly communicate and exchange data between one another.

10. A method for providing universal wireless network access to a computing device comprising:

receiving a wireless data signal from a device;

identifying an access profile type of the wireless data signal from a plurality of simultaneously operating profiles;

selecting a protocol that is capable of decoding the identified access profile type;

routing the wireless data signal by a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module to the selected protocol such that the selected protocol creates a decoded data signal; and

transmitting the decoded data signal to a computer network, wherein the protocol includes a radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) Bluetooth protocol and a Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) Bluetooth protocol, and wherein transmitting the decoded data signal further comprises transmitting the decoded data signal over a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the RFCOMM Bluetooth protocol and transmitting the decoded data signal over an Internet Protocol (IP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the BNEP Bluetooth protocol.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable medium embedded with computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

receiving a wireless data signal from a device;

identifying an access profile type of the wireless data signal from a plurality of simultaneously operating profiles;

selecting a protocol that is capable of decoding the identified access profile type;

routing the wireless data signal by a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module to the selected protocol such that the selected protocol creates a decoded data signal; and

transmitting the decoded data signal to a computer network, wherein the protocol includes a radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) Bluetooth protocol and a Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) Bluetooth protocol, and wherein transmitting the decoded data signal further comprises transmitting the decoded data signal over a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the RFCOMM Bluetooth protocol and transmitting the decoded data signal over an Internet Protocol (IP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the BNEP Bluetooth protocol.

12. A method for providing universal Bluetooth network access to a computing device comprising:

receiving a Bluetooth data signal from a device;

identifying an access profile type of the Bluetooth data signal from a plurality of simultaneously operating profiles;

selecting a protocol that is capable of decoding the identified access profile type;

routing the Bluetooth data signal by a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module to the selected protocol such that the selected protocol creates a decoded data signal; and

transmitting the decoded data signal to a computer network, wherein the protocol includes a radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) Bluetooth protocol and a Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) Bluetooth protocol, and wherein transmitting the decoded data signal further comprises transmitting the decoded data signal over a point-to-point protocol (PPP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the RFCOMM Bluetooth protocol and transmitting the decoded data signal over an Internet Protocol (IP) data channel in response to the selected protocol including the BNEP Bluetooth protocol.

13. A wireless computer network comprising:

a wire-based computer network;

a network access point to receive and decode wireless radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) and Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) access profile data signals from at least two different simultaneously operating types of Bluetooth access profile devices, wherein the network access point comprises a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module that routes decoded wireless data signals to the wire-based computer network over a point-to-point (PPP) data channel when the wireless data signals are from a personal area network (PAN) access profile device and over an Internet Protocol (IP) channel when the wireless data signals are from a local area network (LAN) access device;

a first wireless device with the PAN access profile, wherein the first wireless device is in wireless data communication with the network access point; and

a second wireless device with the LAN access profile, wherein the second wireless device is in wireless data communication with the network access point.

14. The wireless computer network of claim 13, wherein the wire-based computer network is a local area Ethernet network.

15. The wireless computer network of claim 13, wherein the network access point enables connected wireless devices to communicate and exchange data with one another directly.

16. A Bluetooth computer network comprising:

a wire-based computer network;

a network access point to receive and decode radio frequency communication (RFCOMM) and Bluetooth network encapsulation protocol (BNEP) access profile data signals from at least two different simultaneously operating types of Bluetooth access profile devices, wherein the network access point includes a logical link control and adaptation protocol (L2CAP) module that routes decoded Bluetooth data signals to the wire-based computer network over a point-to-point (PPP) data channel when the wireless data signals are from a personal area network (PAN) access profile device and over an Internet Protocol (IP) channel when the wireless data signals are from a local area network (LAN) access device;

a first Bluetooth device with the PAN access profile, wherein the first Bluetooth device is in Bluetooth data communication with the network access point; and

a second Bluetooth device with the LAN access profile, wherein the second Bluetooth device is in Bluetooth data communication with the network access point.

17. The Bluetooth computer network of claim 16, wherein the wire-based computer network is a local area Ethernet network.

18. The Bluetooth computer network of claim 16, wherein the network access point enables connected Bluetooth devices to communicate and exchange data with one another directly.