Multi-function wireless apparatus

• US 8,385,978 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fimax Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Fimax Technology Limited
• Inventors: Leung, Hang Ching Jason, Wong, Piu Bill
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US12/470,537
• Publication Number:
  US 20100296439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,376 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562.1, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

Systems and methods which provide a multi-function wireless node are shown. Multi-function wireless nodes of embodiments provide link completion infrastructure suited for a plurality of situations and environments, such as for repeaters, bridges, gateways, and APs. Embodiments provide a multi-function wireless node comprising a plurality of radios. Multi-function wireless nodes of embodiments further comprise a smart antenna system coupled to radios thereof and providing illumination within a service volume. The service volume of embodiments comprises a semi-spherical volume. Embodiments comprise a controller facilitating proper and/or optimal deployment and commissioning of the multi-function wireless node in each of a plurality of different link completion infrastructure forms. Embodiments further comprise a communication interface providing one or more information communication links in addition to those available through wireless links.

Claims

1. A multi-function wireless node configured to provide a plurality of selectable link completion infrastructure forms, the multi-function wireless node comprising:

a plurality of radios, wherein the plurality of radios each provide at least one of multi-protocol operation and multi-frequency operation;

a smart antenna system coupled to the plurality of radios and providing antenna beams for illuminating a service volume for communication via the plurality of radios; and

a controller coupled to the smart antenna system and operable to collect communication environment data using the antenna beams and the plurality of radios and to utilize the collected communication environment data to configure the multi-function wireless node for a selected link completion infrastructure form of the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms, wherein the controller is operable to utilize at least one of information regarding communication environment protocol and communication environment frequency from the collected communication environment data to configure the multi-function wireless node, wherein each of the link completion infrastructure forms of the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms is configured to complete a wireless link between a plurality of other nodes, and wherein the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms comprise at least two link completion infrastructure forms selected from the group consisting of a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, backhaul, and an access point.

2. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein the smart antenna system is configured to provide the antenna beams to define the service volume configured so as to adequately serve each link completion infrastructure form of the plurality of selectable link completion infrastructure forms.

3. The multi-function wireless node of claim 2, wherein smart antenna system is further configured to provide the antenna beams to define the service volume configured so as to facilitate deploying the multi-function wireless node in a plurality of orientations.

4. The multi-function wireless node of claim 3, wherein the service volume comprises a semi-spherical volume which comprises a volume greater than that of a hemisphere but less than that of a sphere.

5. The multi-function wireless node of claim 3, wherein the plurality of orientations comprise an inverted orientation, a vertical orientation, a horizontal orientation, and a finial orientation.

6. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms comprise a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, backhaul, and an access point.

7. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein the antenna beams provided by the smart antenna system comprise a set of a plurality of antenna beams associated with each radio of the plurality of radios.

8. The multi-function wireless node of claim 7, wherein the plurality of antenna beams of each set of the plurality of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

9. The multi-function wireless node of claim 7, wherein the plurality of antenna beams of at least two sets of the plurality of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

10. The multi-function wireless node of claim 7, wherein the communication environment data collected by the controller includes data collected using each antenna beam of each set of the plurality of antenna beams.

11. The multi-function wireless node of claim 7, wherein the plurality of antenna beams of a first set of the sets of a plurality of antenna beams have an orthogonal attribute with respect to the plurality of antenna beams of a second set of the sets of a plurality of antenna beams.

12. The multi-function wireless node of claim 7, wherein the plurality of antenna beams of a first set of the sets of a plurality of antenna beams have a diverse attribute with respect to the plurality of antenna beams of a second set of the sets of a plurality of antenna beams.

13. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein each radio of the plurality of radios is configured to operate in accordance with one or more widely utilized protocol.

14. The multi-function wireless node of claim 13, wherein the widely utilized protocol comprises a WiFi protocol as set forth under the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.11 standards.

15. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein each radio of the plurality of radios is configured to provide multi-protocol operation.

16. The multi-function wireless node of claim 15, wherein the multi-protocol operation comprises a plurality of protocols selected from the group consisting of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), and 802.11(n) protocols.

17. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein the smart antenna system comprises a fixed antenna beam network, wherein one or more of the antenna beams for illuminating the service volume are provided by the fixed antenna beam network.

18. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, wherein the smart antenna system comprises an adaptive antenna beam forming circuit, wherein one or more of the antenna beams for illuminating the service volume are provided by the adaptive antenna beam forming circuit.

19. The multi-function wireless node of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface providing one or more information communication links in addition to information communication links available through wireless links associated with the plurality of radios and the smart antenna system.

20. The multi-function wireless node of claim 19, wherein the communication interface comprises one or more non-wireless network interface.

21. The multi-function wireless node of claim 19, wherein the communication interface comprises one or more point-to-point type interface.

22. The multi-function wireless node of claim 19, wherein the communication interface comprises one or more wireless type interface.

23. A method for providing operation of a multi-function wireless node in a link completion infrastructure form of a plurality of link completion infrastructure forms, the method comprising:

scanning a plurality of antenna beams for each of a plurality of radios, wherein the plurality of radios each provide at least one of multi-protocol operation and multi-frequency operation;

collecting communication environment data for a service volume from said scanning; and

configuring one or more aspects of the multi-function wireless node for the link completion infrastructure form of the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms using the collected communication environment data, wherein the configuring utilizes at least one of information regarding communication environment protocol and communication environment frequency from the collected communication environment data to configure the multi-function wireless node, wherein each of the link completion infrastructure forms of the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms is configured to complete a wireless link between a plurality of other nodes, and wherein the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms comprise at least two link completion infrastructure forms selected from the group consisting of a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, backhaul, and an access point.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of antenna beams comprises a set of antenna beams associated with each radio of the plurality of radios, wherein at least one set of antenna beams comprises two or more antenna beams.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the antenna beams of each set of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the antenna beams of at least two sets of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the service volume comprises a semi-spherical volume which comprises a volume greater than that of a hemisphere but less than that of a sphere.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the scanning comprises:

scanning each antenna beam of the set of antenna beams associated with each radio of the plurality of radios.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein the scanning comprises:

scanning less than all antenna beams of the set of antenna beams associated with at least one radio of the plurality of radios.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

collecting additional communication environment data, the additional communication environment data being associated with a communication interface other than a communication interface provided by the plurality of antenna beams and the plurality of radios, wherein the configuring one or more aspects of the multi-function wireless node uses the collected communication environment data and the collected additional communication environment data.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein the collected communication environment data used in configuring one or more aspects of the multi-function wireless node comprises information regarding a type of node detected in the service area.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of antenna beams for a first radio of the plurality of radios comprises a first set of antenna beams substantially illuminating the service volume and the plurality of antenna beams for a second radio of the plurality of radios comprises a second set of antenna beams substantially illuminating the service volume.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of antenna beams for a first radio of the plurality of radios comprises a first set of antenna beams and the plurality of antenna beams for a second radio of the plurality of radios comprises a second set of antenna beams, wherein the first set of antenna beams and the second set of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

34. The method of claim 23, wherein configuring one or more aspects of the multi-function wireless node comprises:

selecting an antenna beam subset of the first subset for use in providing information communication in the link completion infrastructure form by the first radio; and

selecting an antenna beam subset of the second subset for use in providing information communication in the link completion infrastructure form by the second radio.

35. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

selecting the link completion infrastructure form from the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the selecting the link completion infrastructure form selects the link completion infrastructure form from the group consisting of a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, a backhaul, and an access point.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein selecting the link completion infrastructure form is performed by the multi-function wireless node using the collected communication environment data.

38. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

a user providing one or more parameters for use in the configuring one or more aspects of the multi-function wireless node for the link completion infrastructure form.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more parameters includes selection of the link completion infrastructure form.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the one or more parameters includes information facilitating selecting the link completion infrastructure form from the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms by a controller of the multi-function wireless node.

41. A multi-function wireless node configured to provide a plurality of selectable link completion infrastructure forms, the multi-function wireless node comprising:

a plurality of radios, wherein radios of the plurality of radios each provide multi-protocol operation and multi-frequency operation;

a smart antenna system coupled to the plurality of radios and providing antenna beams for illuminating a service volume for communication via the plurality of radios, wherein the smart antenna system is configured to provide the antenna beams to define the service volume configured so as to adequately serve each link completion infrastructure form of the plurality of selectable link completion infrastructure forms; and

a controller coupled to the smart antenna system and operable to collect communication environment data using the antenna beams and the plurality of radios and to utilize the collected communication environment data to configure the multi-function wireless node for a selected link completion infrastructure form of the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms, and wherein the controller is operable to utilize at least one of information regarding communication environment protocol and communication environment frequency from the collected communication environment data to configure the multi-function wireless node, wherein the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms comprise at least two link completion infrastructure forms selected from the group consisting of a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, backhaul, and an access point.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the controller is operable to select the link completion infrastructure form from the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms using the collected communication environment data.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein the operation of the controller selects the link completion infrastructure form from the group consisting of a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, a backhaul, and an access point.

44. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the service volume comprises a semi-spherical volume which comprises a volume greater than that of a hemisphere but less than that of a sphere.

45. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein smart antenna system is further configured to provide the antenna beams to define the service volume configured so as to facilitate deploying the multi-function wireless node in a plurality of orientations.

46. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the plurality of link completion infrastructure forms comprise a repeater, a bridge, a gateway, a backhaul, and an access point.

47. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the antenna beams provided by the smart antenna system comprise a set of a plurality of antenna beams associated with each set of radios of the plurality of radios.

48. The multi-function wireless node of claim 47, wherein the plurality of antenna beams of each set of the plurality of antenna beams aggregate to substantially illuminate the service volume.

49. The multi-function wireless node of claim 47, wherein the controller controls the sets of antenna beams.

50. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the multi-protocol and multi-frequency operation comprises operation in accordance with the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), and 802.11(n) protocols.

51. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the smart antenna system comprises a fixed antenna beam network, wherein one or more of the antenna beams for illuminating the service volume are provided by the fixed antenna beam network.

52. The multi-function wireless node of claim 41, wherein the smart antenna system comprises an adaptive antenna beam forming circuit, wherein one or more of the antenna beams for illuminating the service volume are provided by the adaptive antenna beam forming circuit.