Self-configuring, adaptive, three-dimensional, wireless network

• US 8,116,258 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2003
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: OnLive Incorporated
• Inventors: Perlman, Stephen G.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLS, DONALD L
• Application Number:
  US10/608,594
• Publication Number:
  US 20050073968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,154 Days
• Field of Search: 370/277, 370/279, 370/293, 370/310.2, 370/315, 370319-322, 370/326, 370/492, 370/501, 455/3.05, 455/11.1, 455/15, 455/16, 455/426.1, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452.1
• US Class Current: 370/326
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A network for wireless transmission of a media data in a building includes a plurality of access points. A first access point receives the media data from a source and transmits the media data downstream at a first data rate. A plurality of additional access points is distributed about the building, each of which includes an upstream transceiver to receive the media content on a first channel and a downstream transceiver to re-transmit the media content at substantially the first data rate on a second channel. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A repeater for a wireless network comprising:

a first transceiver operable to wirelessly receive a digital data stream transmitted in a pipeline of packets on a first channel of a first frequency band, each packet being transmitted during an odd time interval of a sequence of intervals at a data rate of 11 Mbps or greater, each time interval of the sequence being of equal duration;

a second transceiver connected to the first transceiver via a wired link, the second transceiver operable to wirelessly transmit the data stream in the pipeline of packets at the data rate on either the first channel or a second channel of the first frequency band, each packet being transmitted during an even time intervals, the second transceiver not transmitting during the odd time intervals.

2. The repeater of claim 1 wherein the first and second transceivers each includes a transmitter and a receiver.

3. The repeater of claim 2 wherein the transmitters and receivers of the first and second transceivers are frequency programmable.

4. The repeater of claim 1 wherein the first and second frequency channels are either within a 5 GHz or a 2.4 GHz frequency band.

5. A wireless network comprising:

a source device that wirelessly transmits a digital data stream as a pipeline of packets on a first frequency channel of a first frequency band;

a repeater having first and second transceivers connected via a wired link, the first transceiver wirelessly receiving each packet from the source device on the first frequency channel only during an odd time interval of a sequence of intervals, the second transceiver wirelessly transmitting each packet on the first frequency channel at a data rate of 11 Mbps or greater during an even time interval, the second transceiver not transmitting during the odd time intervals.

6. The wireless network of claim 5 further comprising a destination device that receives the transmitted data.

7. The wireless network of claim 5 wherein the source device is coupled to a broadband data network.

8. The wireless network of claim 6 wherein the network is bi-directional, such that data sent wirelessly from the destination device is received and re-transmitted to the source device by the repeater.

9. The wireless network of claim 5 wherein either the first or the second transceiver operates at any given time interval.

10. The wireless network of claim 5 wherein the data comprises video media content.

11. The wireless network of claim 5 further comprising one or more additional repeaters, each having a pair of transceivers wired together to wirelessly receive and wirelessly re-transmit the data during alternate respective time intervals.

12. The wireless network of claim 5 further comprising a second repeater having third and fourth transceivers, the third transceiver wirelessly receiving the data from the repeater on the first frequency channel, and the fourth transceiver wirelessly re-transmitting the data on a second frequency channel.

13. The wireless network of claim 12 wherein the destination device is configured to wirelessly receive the data from the second repeater on the second frequency channel.

14. The wireless network of claim 13 wherein the destination device comprises a media receiver connected to a display device.

15. A wireless network comprising:

a source device that wirelessly transmits a digital data stream as a pipeline of packets on a first frequency channel of a first frequency band;

a plurality of repeaters arranged in a tree topology, each of the repeaters having an upstream transceiver to wirelessly receive the data stream and a downstream transmitter to wirelessly send the data stream across the wireless network, the upstream transceiver of a first repeater in the tree topology being operable to receive each packet of the data stream on a first channel during a first time interval of a sequence of intervals, and the downstream transceiver of the first repeater being operable to re-transmit the packet at a data rate of 11 Mbps or greater on the first channel to a next repeater in the tree topology during a second interval delayed by one interval from the first time interval when the packet was received, the downstream transceiver not transmitting during the first time interval, the upstream transceiver of the next repeater receiving the packet during the second time interval, the downstream transceiver of the next repeater re-transmitting the packet at the data rate of 11 Mbps or greater during a third interval delayed by one interval from the second time interval when the packet was received, the downstream transceiver of the next repeater not transmitting during the second time intervals; and

a destination device that receives the packet.

16. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein two or more of the repeaters are configured to receive the data from the source device on the first frequency channel.

17. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein one of the plurality of repeaters re-transmits the data directly to two or more of the repeaters.

18. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the source device is coupled to a broadband data network.

19. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the upstream or downstream transceiver operates at any given time interval.

20. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the destination device comprises a media receiver connected to a display device.

21. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein each of the transceivers includes a transmitter and a receiver.

22. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein each of the repeaters in configurable to operate in a bi-directional manner.

23. The wireless network of claim 21 wherein the transmitter and the receiver of each of the transceivers are frequency programmable.

24. The wireless network of claim 15 wherein the first frequency channel is within either a 5 GHz or a 2.4 GHz frequency band.