Access point in a wireless LAN

• US 8,160,036 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cambium Networks Limited (Cambium Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Xirrus Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Steve, Gates, Dirk Ion, Laity, Ian, Conley, Michael R., De La Garrigue, Michael, Sauter, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Ricky
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUONGCHAU BA
• Application Number:
  US11/816,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20090022114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,231 Days
• Field of Search: 370/278, 370/334, 370/338, 455/562.1, 455/63.4, 455/101, 455/67.11, 455/450
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/007 specially adapted for indoor communication
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/106 using two or more intersecting plane surfaces, e.g. corner reflector antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/285 Planar dipole H01Q9/065 takes precedence; patch antenna H01Q9/0407
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.

Claims

1. A wireless access device comprising:

a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device;

a network interface to a data network; and

an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface, the array controller including coverage pattern defining functions operable to control the transceivers to generate coverage patterns that provide access to a border beyond which access is limited, and to generate coverage patterns that limit reflections of signals off of an obstacle.

2. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where each of the plurality of transceivers is a radio that may be configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g or any sub-part of IEEE 802.11.

3. A wireless access device according to claim 2 where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g.

4. A wireless access device according to claim 2 where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a.

5. A wireless access device according to claim 2 where the transceivers include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g.

6. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a.

7. A wireless access device according to claim 5 where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g.

8. A wireless access device according to claim 2 where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna.

9. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30′

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

10. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

four 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 90°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

11. A wireless access device according to claim 1 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

12. A system for providing access to data network services comprising:

at least one wireless access device having a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device, the at least one wireless device including coverage pattern defining functions performed by enabling and disabling selected transceivers, where the coverage pattern defining functions are configured to control the transceivers to generate coverage patterns that provide access to a border beyond which access is limited and to generate coverage patterns that limit reflections of signals off of an obstacle; and

a wired network connected to the at least one wireless access device, the wired network having an interface to at least one data network service;

where the at least one wireless access device communicates with stations within the coverage area and forms a communications path between the wireless stations and the wired network.

13. A system according to claim 12 where each of the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device is a radio configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g standard.

14. A system according to claim 13 where the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g.

15. A system according to claim 13 where the plurality of transceivers in the at least, one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a.

16. A system according to claim 13 where the transceivers in the at least one wireless access device include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g.

17. A system according to claim 16 where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a.

18. A system according to claim 16 where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g.

19. A system according to claim 12 where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna.

20. A system according to claim 12 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30′

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

21. A system according to claim 12 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

four 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 90°

;

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

22. A system according to claim 12 where the plurality of transceivers includes:

three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°

; and

one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern.

23. A system according to claim 12 further comprising a network management system operable to provide management functions over the at least one wireless access device.