Architecture for signal distribution in wireless data network
First Claim
1. A distribution network for coupling wireless local area network signals between an internetworking device and a plurality of remotely located access points, to provide wireless local area network service within a geographic coverage area composed of microcells, the distribution network making use of available optical transport cabling of a fiber optic network, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of cable access points, each deployed within a respective one of the microcells, the cable access points each further comprising;
i) a wireless local area network access point, for receiving wireless local area network (WLAN) format signals from computing equipment located within the respective microcell, and converting the WLAN format signals to wired local area network format compatible signals;
ii) an access point remote optical converter, for receiving the wired local area network format compatible signals from the wireless local area network access point and converting the wired local area network format signals to optical frequency signals for transmission over the available optical transport cabling;
(b) a head end access point, comprising;
i) a head end remote converter, connected to receive the optical signals from the optical transport cabling and to convert the optical signals to network compatible signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A simple and low cost architecture for a distribution network is provided for coupling wireless local area network (“wireless LAN”) signals between geographically distributed access points and centrally located internetworking devices. The distribution network eliminates complexities involved with the deployment of such systems in the past, which have typically required the computer network-compatible wiring to be extended to each access point directly from an internetworking device such as a repeater, bridge, router, or gateway. The distribution network makes it economically efficient to deploy wireless local area networking equipment in locations where wired network infrastructure is not readily available. In particular, any convenient existing physical wiring, such as may be provided by the existing optical transport cabling of a fiber optic network, is used as a physical layer transport medium to carry the wireless local area network signals between the access points and centrally located network hub equipment.
111 Citations
6 Claims
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1. A distribution network for coupling wireless local area network signals between an internetworking device and a plurality of remotely located access points, to provide wireless local area network service within a geographic coverage area composed of microcells, the distribution network making use of available optical transport cabling of a fiber optic network, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of cable access points, each deployed within a respective one of the microcells, the cable access points each further comprising; i) a wireless local area network access point, for receiving wireless local area network (WLAN) format signals from computing equipment located within the respective microcell, and converting the WLAN format signals to wired local area network format compatible signals; ii) an access point remote optical converter, for receiving the wired local area network format compatible signals from the wireless local area network access point and converting the wired local area network format signals to optical frequency signals for transmission over the available optical transport cabling; (b) a head end access point, comprising; i) a head end remote converter, connected to receive the optical signals from the optical transport cabling and to convert the optical signals to network compatible signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A distribution network for coupling wireless local area network signals between an internetworking device and a plurality of remotely located access points, to provide wireless local area network service within a geographic coverage area composed of microcells, the distribution network making use of available optical transport cabling of a fiber optic network, comprising:
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(a) a plurality of access points, each deployed within a respective one of the microcells, the access points each further comprising; i) a direct optical frequency translator that provides an interface between the optical transport cabling and the wireless local area network format signals and converts the wireless local area network format signals used within the respective microcells directly to optical signals for transmission over the optical transport cabling; (b) a head end access point, comprising; i) a head end frequency translation stage, for converting the optical signals from the optical transport cabling to wireless local area network transmission band signals; and ii) a wireless local area network bridge, for receiving the wireless local area network transmission band signals and converting them to network compatible signals.
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Specification