Multi-interface wireless adapter and network bridge
First Claim
1. A device for enabling communication with a gateway device within a user premises, the gateway device controlling communication of one or more associated endpoint devices over a local area network and controlling access and communication to a wide area network to deliver an application service to the one or more associated endpoint devices, the device comprising:
- a wireless transceiver interface for bidirectional wireless data communication at the local area network;
a wired interface for wired communication;
a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver interface and the wired interface for conversion and control of data communicated between the wireless transceiver interface and data communicated via the wired interface;
storage coupled to the processor; and
programming executable by the processor contained in the storage, wherein execution of the programming causes the processor to receive instructions from the gateway device via the wireless transceiver interface or the wired interface to configure the processor to implement its conversion and communication control functions in a manner to communicate with the gateway device via the wireless transceiver interface, the wireless transceiver interface providing a single wireless interface link directly connecting the device and the gateway device, the single wireless interface link including i) a local area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the local area network through the device and ii) a wide area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the wide area network through the device, wherein the gateway device communicates with at least one of the one or more associated endpoint devices through the local area network link-layer sub interface, wherein the device is positioned logically between the wide area network and the gateway device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Among other things, a wireless device is disclosed for enabling communication with a gateway device within a user premises. The wireless device includes a wireless local area network transceiver for bidirectional wireless data communication at the premises, an interface for wired communication, a processor for converting data between the wireless and wired interfaces. The wireless device receives instructions from the gateway device via the transceiver or the interface and implements conversion and communication control functions to implement a selected one of a plurality of wireless-wired adaptations for communications flowing between the selected one of the transceiver and the interface and the other of the transceiver and the interface for communication within the user premises for application service delivered by the gateway device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device for enabling communication with a gateway device within a user premises, the gateway device controlling communication of one or more associated endpoint devices over a local area network and controlling access and communication to a wide area network to deliver an application service to the one or more associated endpoint devices, the device comprising:
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a wireless transceiver interface for bidirectional wireless data communication at the local area network; a wired interface for wired communication; a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver interface and the wired interface for conversion and control of data communicated between the wireless transceiver interface and data communicated via the wired interface; storage coupled to the processor; and programming executable by the processor contained in the storage, wherein execution of the programming causes the processor to receive instructions from the gateway device via the wireless transceiver interface or the wired interface to configure the processor to implement its conversion and communication control functions in a manner to communicate with the gateway device via the wireless transceiver interface, the wireless transceiver interface providing a single wireless interface link directly connecting the device and the gateway device, the single wireless interface link including i) a local area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the local area network through the device and ii) a wide area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the wide area network through the device, wherein the gateway device communicates with at least one of the one or more associated endpoint devices through the local area network link-layer sub interface, wherein the device is positioned logically between the wide area network and the gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. The device of 1, wherein the one or more associated endpoint devices communicate with the gateway via either the wireless transceiver interface or the wired interface.
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12. The device of 1, wherein data communicated between the device and the gateway device using the single wireless interface link includes virtual LAN tags identifying the local area network sub-interface and the wide area network sub-interface.
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13. A communication system for operation within a user premises to provide and manage services of one or more endpoint devices associated with the communication system, the communication system comprising:
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a gateway device controlling communication of one or more associated endpoint devices over a wide area data network and controlling access and communication to a wide area network to deliver a plurality of application services to the associated endpoint devices, the gateway device comprising; a first interface for enabling bi-directional network link-layer communications for the one or more of the endpoint devices via the local area network; a second interface for enabling bi-directional network layer communications for the one or more endpoint devices via a wide area network; storage coupled to a processor; and programming in the storage for a plurality of application services, wherein, for each application service, execution of the programming by the processor causes the gateway device to provide server functions in relation to a respective service for one or more endpoint devices; and an extender, comprising; (a) a wireless transceiver interface and for wireless communication with the gateway device and the one or more endpoint devices; (b) a wired interface for wired communication to the gateway device and the one or more endpoint devices local device interfaces, for wired connection to a communication device; (c) a processor coupled to the wireless transceiver and the wired interface for conversion and control of communication between the wired interface and the wireless transceiver interface; (d) storage coupled to the processor; and (e) programming executable by the processor contained in the storage, wherein execution of the programming causes the processor to receive instructions from the gateway device via either the wireless transceiver interface or the wired interface to configure the processor to implement its conversion and communication control functions in a manner to communicate with the gateway device via the wireless transceiver interface, the wireless transceiver interface providing a single wireless interface link directly connecting the extender and the gateway device, the single wireless interface link including i) a local area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the local area network through the extender and ii) a link-layer wide area network sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the wide area network through the extender, wherein the gateway device communicates with at least one of the one or more associated endpoint devices through the local area network link-layer sub interface; wherein the extender is position logically between the wide area network and the gateway device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An extender for extending communication of a gateway device within a user premises, the gateway device controlling communication of one or more associated endpoint devices over a local area network and controlling access and communication to a wide area network to deliver voice services to the associated endpoint devices, the extender comprising:
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a wireless interface for communication to the one or more associated endpoint devices; a wired interface for communication to the one or more associated endpoint devices; a processor, coupled to the wireless interface and the wired interface, controlling communications between the wireless interface and the wired interface; storage coupled to the processor; and programming contained in the storage executable by the processor, wherein execution of the programming causes the processor to receive instruction from the gateway device via either the wireless transceiver interface or the wired interface to configure the processor to implement its conversion and communication control function in a manner to communicate with the gateway device via the wireless interface, the wireless interface further providing a single wireless interface link directly connecting the extender and the gateway device, the single wireless interface link having including i) a local area network link-layer sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the local area network through the extender and ii) a link-layer wide area network sub interface that provides the gateway device access to the wide area network through the extender, wherein the gateway device communicates with at least one of the one or more associated endpoint devices through the local area network link-layer sub interface, wherein the extender is positioned logically between the wide area network and the gateway device.
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18. The extender of 17, further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to the processor and providing the wireless interface for bidirectional wireless data communication with the gateway device.
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19. The extender of 18, wherein the processor manages the wireless transceiver.
Specification