Two-tier wireless broadband access network

• US 8,625,547 B1
• Filed: 03/09/2006
• Issued: 01/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Miller, Robert Raymond II
• Primary Examiner(s): Figueroa, Marisol
• Application Number:
  US11/371,578
• Time in Patent Office: 2,861 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310.2, 370/328, 370/338, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/026 Co-operative diversity, e.g. using fixed or mobile stations as relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless access network is based on a two-tier access point (AP) structure to provide effective and efficient wireless communication into an individual home/office building. A first tier of the network utilizes “neighborhood” APs, relatively low power, and utilized to provide wireless communication with a “nanocell” boundary (e.g., 300-1000 feet). A second tier of the network utilizes a set of “network concatenation devices” (window bridge), with a separate network concatenation device at each permanent facility in the nanocell that houses wireless devices. The network concatenation device is attached to a window, for example, of a home in communication with the neighborhood AP. The network concatenation device functions as a bridge to couple to each of the wireless devices within the home. This communication is then relayed in an efficient manner between the network concatenation device and the neighborhood AP. By using a number of neighborhood APs, rather extensive wireless coverage can be obtained.

Claims

1. A broadband wireless access network comprising:

a plurality of neighborhood access points, coupled to a backbone communication network, wherein each neighborhood access point is configured to provide public access wireless communication and private access wireless communication within a defined nanocell coverage area, wherein the public access wireless communication is provided when available throughput needs of network subscribers to the private access wireless communication are met, and wherein a particular communication channel is used by the plurality of neighborhood access points to maintain synchronization between the plurality of neighborhood access points to enable shared use of a second communication channel by adjacent nanocells; and

a plurality of network concatenation devices, each network concatenation device of the plurality of network concatenation devices uniquely associated with a network subscriber, wherein each network concatenation device is configured to form an indoor network serving a communication device at a location associated with a corresponding network subscriber.

2. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein wireless communication between a particular network concatenation device and an associated neighborhood access point is defined as a private access communication.

3. The broadband wireless access network of claim 2, wherein the private access communication is provided using a wireless Ethernet standard.

4. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein a neighborhood access point of the plurality of neighborhood access points comprises an access interface configured to directly communicate with mobile wireless client devices within the defined nanocell coverage area.

5. The broadband wireless access network of claim 4, wherein the neighborhood access point communicates with the mobile wireless client devices based on a wireless Ethernet standard.

6. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein the plurality of communication device includes a voice over internet protocol phone, a wireless laptop computer, or a wireless gaming device.

7. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1,

wherein a unique set of network concatenation devices is associated with each neighborhood access point, and

wherein a particular network concatenation device of a particular unique set of network concatenation devices associated with a particular neighborhood access point individually and separately communicates with the particular neighborhood access point, without direct communication between the particular network concatenation device and other network concatenation devices.

8. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein a network concatenation device of the plurality of network concatenation devices is configured to mount on a glass window and is configured to facilitate wireless communication between a neighborhood access point associated with the network concatenation device and a particular communication device associated with the network concatenation device.

9. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein the backbone communication network comprises a telecommunications network.

10. The broadband wireless access network of claim 9, wherein the telecommunications network utilizes a digital subscriber loop system.

11. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein the backbone communication network comprises a fiber optic communication network.

12. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein the backbone communication network comprises a free-space optical network.

13. The broadband wireless access network of claim 1, wherein a neighborhood access point of the plurality of neighboring access points forms a first tier network connection, and wherein a network concatenation device coupled to the neighborhood access point forms a second tier network connection.

14. The broadband wireless access network of claim 13, wherein the network concatenation device comprises a neighborhood area network station including a directional antenna, a gateway function device with selective routing capabilities, and a wireless local access network access point interface associated with the directional antenna.

15. The broadband wireless access network of claim 13, wherein the network concatenation device comprises a wired Ethernet interface.

16. The broadband wireless access network of claim 13, wherein the network concatenation device is further configured to provide remote configuration, performance monitoring, a firewall, network address translation, and virtual private network tunneling support.

17. The broadband wireless access network of claim 13, wherein the network concatenation device further comprises a graphical user interface configured to display signal strength infatuation that enables a user to determine a mounting location for the network concatenation device.

18. A method of providing wireless communication between a backbone communication network and a plurality of subscriber locations, the method comprising:

establishing a first tier of a two-tier broadband wireless access network, the first tier including a first neighborhood access point configured to provide public access wireless communication and private access wireless communication within a first nanocell coverage area, wherein the public access wireless communication is provided when available throughput needs of subscribers having access to the private access wireless communication are met, and wherein the first nanocell coverage area has a radius less than or equal to one thousand feet;

establishing a second tier of the two-tier broadband wireless access network, the second tier including a plurality of network concatenation devices, wherein each network concatenation device is configured to form an indoor network serving a communication device at a location associated with a corresponding subscriber;

maintaining synchronization via a particular communication channel between the first neighborhood access point and a second neighborhood access point to enable shared use by the first neighborhood access point and the second neighborhood access point of a second communication channel, wherein the first nanocell coverage area is adjacent to a second nanocell coverage area associated with the second neighborhood access point; and

providing private access wireless communication via the first neighborhood access point to a portable communication device associated with a particular network concatenation device when the portable communication device is within the nanocell coverage area and outside of an area serviced by the indoor network associated with the particular network concatenation device.