Communication gateway between wireless communication networks

• US 8,279,880 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2007
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Allard-Jacquin, Patrick, Coutelou, Olivier, Thonet, Gilles
• Primary Examiner(s): Phillips, Hassan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SWEET, LONNIE V
• Application Number:
  US11/747,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070268920A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,971 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.12, 370/254, 370/401, 455/73
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A communication gateway includes a communication unit that transmits and receives messages in order to communicate with at least one remote communication node on a first wireless communication network according to a protocol which includes network access control (MAC), and receives messages originating from at least one transmitter transmitting messages on a second wireless communication network according to a protocol which does not include network access control (MAC). The protocols of the first and second wireless communication networks use a same physical layer (PHY). The communication gateway also includes a processing unit associated with the communication unit that differentiates between the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network by analyzing header information contained in the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and in the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A communication gateway, comprising:

a communication unit that transmits and receives messages to communicate with at least one remote communication node on a first wireless communication network according to a protocol which includes network access control, and receives messages originating from at least one transmitter transmitting messages on a second wireless communication network according to a protocol which does not include network access control, whereby the protocol of the first wireless communication network and the protocol of the second wireless communication network use a same physical layer; and

a processing unit associated with said communication unit that differentiates between the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network by analysing three bits of frame-type identification information of header information contained in the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and in the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network, wherein, when the three bits of the frame-type identification information are one of 100, 101, 110, and 111, the processing unit determines that a received message originated from the second wireless communication network.

2. The communication gateway according to claim 1, wherein the protocol of the first wireless communication network complies with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, or the IEEE 802.15.4b standard.

3. The communication gateway according to claim 2, wherein the physical layer of the protocol of the second wireless communication network complies with the physical layer of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, or the IEEE 802.15.4b standard.

4. The communication gateway according to claim 1, further comprising:

an actuator which is controlled by the processing unit following a reception of a control command contained in a message originating from the first wireless communication network or from the second wireless communication network.

5. The communication gateway according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the processing unit redirects a received message originating from the second wireless communication network to the first wireless communication network.

12. The communication gateway according to claim 1, wherein, when the processing unit determines that the received message originated from the second wireless communication network based on the three bits of the frame-type identification information, the processing unit transmits the received message according to the protocol which includes network access control.

14. The communication gateway according to claim 1, wherein the header information is included in an MPDU of a message, the MPDU also including an information field.

6. A communication system, comprising:

a gateway comprising a communication unit that transmits and receives messages via a first wireless communication network according to a protocol which includes network access control;

at least one remote communication node that communicates with the gateway on the first wireless communication network;

at least one transmitter that transmits messages on a second wireless communication network according to a protocol which does not include network access control, wherein

said communication unit of the gateway receives the messages originating from said at least one transmitter on the second wireless communication network, the protocol of the first wireless communication network using a physical layer of the protocol of the second wireless communication network, and

the gateway comprises a processing unit associated with said communication unit that differentiates between the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network by analysing three bits of frame-type identification information of header information contained in the received messages originating from the first wireless communication network and the received messages originating from the second wireless communication network, wherein, when the three bits of the frame-type identification information are one of 100, 101, 110, and 111, the processing unit determines that a received message originated from the second wireless communication network.

7. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the protocol of the first wireless communication network complies with the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, or the IEEE 802.15.4b standard.

8. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one transmitter is electrically powered by a converter of mechanical energy into electrical energy.

9. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the gateway comprises an actuator that is controlled following a reception of a control command contained in a message originating from the first wireless communication network or from the second wireless communication network.

10. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one remote communication node comprises an actuator that is controlled by a control command contained in a message transmitted by the at least one transmitter on the second wireless communication network and retransmitted by the gateway to the at least one remote communication node via the first wireless communication network.

11. The communication system according to one of claims 6 and 8 to 10, wherein the processing unit redirects a received message originating from the second wireless communication network to the first wireless communication network.

13. The communication system according to claim 6, wherein the physical layer of the protocol of the second wireless communication network complies with the physical layer of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, the IEEE 802.15.4a standard, or the IEEE 802.15.4b standard.