System with a cell controller adapted to perform a management function

• US 8,699,474 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2007
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Beach, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Hamza, Faruk
• Assistant Examiner(s): GUADALUPE CRUZ, AIXA AMYR
• Application Number:
  US11/622,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20070177561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,651 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/00 Security arrangements; Authentication; Protecting privacy or anonymity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/033 of the user plane, e.g. user's traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices

Abstract

A wireless local area network is provided with simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions and management functions are provided with a system having a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.

Claims

1. A wireless data communications system operating according to a wireless communication standard protocol, comprising:

a first housing;

a second housing physically separate from said first housing;

a RF receiver housed in said first housing, said RF receiver for receiving a first RF signal;

a first processor housed in said first housing and receptive of said first signal and adapted to perform a first plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol to produce a first data signal from said first RF signal; and

a second processor housed in said second housing and receptive of the first data signal produced by said first processor and adapted to perform a second plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol, different from said first plurality of functions, during an operational mode for said first data signal, and adapted to perform a management function of said wireless data communications system, wherein said first plurality of functions and said second plurality of functions each include at least one media access control (MAC) function

wherein the first processor is communicatively coupled to the second processor via a wired network connection, said first plurality of functions include at least one time-critical MAC function, and said second plurality of functions include at least one non-time-critical MAC function.

2. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said wireless communication standard protocol is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard protocol.

3. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function is a bandwidth management function.

4. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function alters bandwidth based at least partially on a type of device that originates said signal.

5. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function at least partially accounts for changing load conditions of said wireless communication network.

6. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function alters a frequency of said signal.

7. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function alters a power of said signal.

8. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function alters a data rate of said signal.

9. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function is a compression function.

10. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function monitors software versions of mobile units within said wireless communication network.

11. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function detects interference and adjusts transmit power levels of said RF port.

12. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function is a security function.

13. The wireless data communications system of claim 1, wherein said management function is a soft-roaming function.

14. A wireless data communications system operating according to a wireless communication standard protocol, comprising:

first housing means;

second housing means physically separate from said first housing means;

receiving means housed in said first housing means for receiving a first RF signal;

first processing means housed in said first housing means and receptive of said first signal to perform a first plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol to produce a first data signal from said first RF signal; and

second processing means housed in said second housing means and receptive of said first data signal produced by said first processing means to perform a second plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol, different than said first plurality of functions during an operational mode, for said first data signal and to perform a management function of said wireless data communications system, wherein said first plurality of functions and said second plurality of functions each include at least one media access control (MAC) function;

wherein the first processing means is communicatively coupled to the second processing means via a wired network connection, said first plurality of functions include at least one time-critical MAC function, and said second plurality of functions include at least one non-time-critical MAC function.

15. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said wireless communication standard protocol is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard protocol.

16. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function is a bandwidth management function.

17. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function alters bandwidth based at least partially on a type of device that originates said signal.

18. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function at least partially accounts for changing load conditions of said wireless communication network.

19. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function alters a frequency of said signal.

20. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function alters a power of said signal.

21. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function alters a data rate of said signal.

22. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function is a compression function.

23. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function monitors software versions of mobile units within said wireless communication network.

24. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function detects interference and adjusts transmit power levels of said RF port.

25. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function is a security function.

26. The wireless data communications system of claim 14, wherein said management function is a soft-roaming function.

27. A method of operating a wireless data communications system operating according to a wireless communication standard protocol, comprising:

receiving a first RF signal with a RF port housed in a first housing;

performing a first plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol with said RF port to produce a first data signal from said first RF signal;

receiving said first data signal with a cell controller housed in a second housing physically separate from the first housing and coupled to the first housing via a wired network connection;

performing a second plurality of functions of the wireless communication standard protocol with the cell controller, different than said first plurality of functions during an operational mode, for said first data signal, wherein said first plurality of functions include at least one time-critical media access control (MAC) function, and said second plurality of functions include at least one non-time-critical MAC function; and

performing a management function of the wireless data communications system with the cell controller.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said wireless communication standard protocol is an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standard protocol.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function is a bandwidth management function.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function alters bandwidth based at least partially on a type of device that originates said signal.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function at least partially accounts for changing load conditions of said wireless communication network.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function alters a frequency of said signal.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function alters a power of said signal.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function alters a data rate of said signal.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function is a compression function.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function monitors software versions of mobile units within said wireless communication network.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function detects interference and adjusts transmit power levels of said RF port.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function is a security function.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein said management function is a soft-roaming function.