Wireless network device

• US 9,030,964 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2013
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Essinger, Steven, Zhu, Xiaoxun, Schnee, Michael, Liu, JiBin, Shen, Xin, Chen, LiangLiang, Lu, Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US13/895,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20130250806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/254
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/00 Network planning, e.g. coverage or traffic planning tools; Network deployment, e.g. resource partitioning or cells structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

Various wireless network components offer increased flexibility, ease of use, functionality and performance in many demanding applications in diverse fields of use. In particular, a wireless multi-function network device for use on a wireless communication network can serve multiple functions and dynamically switch and reconfigure from a network router into a network coordinator in the event that the originally designated network coordinator is permanently or temporally disabled.

Claims

1. A network device for use in a wireless communication network having an initial wireless network coordinator, the network device comprising:

a microprocessor having memory comprising firmware which, when executed by the microprocessor, configures the microprocessor to operate the network device as a wireless network router or as a wireless network coordinator;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver communicatively connected to the microprocessor for generating signals;

an RF antenna connected to the RF transceiver for sending and receiving signals;

a global positioning system module operably connected to the microprocessor for locating the network device; and

a power management module for providing electrical power to the microprocessor, the RF transceiver, the RF antenna, and the global positioning system module;

wherein the microprocessor is initially configured to operate the network device as a wireless network router; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to, if the initial wireless network coordinator is disabled, reconfigure the firmware to operate the network device as a wireless network coordinator.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the RF antenna is a phased-array RF antenna structure.

3. The network device of claim 1, comprising an LED indicator for indicating the status of operation of the network device.

4. The network device of claim 1, comprising:

a wall source power adapter; and

an electrical wall plug having electrical prongs for plugging into an electrical wall socket.

5. The network device of claim 1, comprising a backup battery source for maintaining electrical power to the network device.

6. A network device for use in a wireless communication network having an initial wireless network coordinator, the network device comprising:

a microprocessor having memory comprising firmware which, when executed by the microprocessor, configures the microprocessor to operate the network device as a wireless network router or as a wireless network coordinator;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver communicatively connected to the microprocessor for generating signals;

an RF antenna connected to the RF transceiver for sending and receiving signals; and

a power management module for providing electrical power to the microprocessor, the RF transceiver, and the RF antenna;

wherein the microprocessor is initially configured to operate the network device as a wireless network router; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to, if the initial wireless network coordinator is disabled, reconfigure the firmware to operate the network device as a wireless network coordinator.

7. The network device of claim 6, wherein the RF antenna is a phased-array RF antenna structure.

8. The network device of claim 6, comprising an LED indicator for indicating the status of operation of the network device.

9. The network device of claim 6, comprising a wall source power adapter.

10. The network device of claim 6, comprising:

a wall source power adapter; and

an electrical wall plug having electrical prongs for plugging into an electrical wall socket.

11. A network device for use in a wireless communication network having an initial wireless network coordinator, the network device comprising:

a microprocessor having memory comprising firmware which, when executed by the microprocessor, configures the microprocessor to operate the network device as a wireless network router or as a wireless network coordinator; and

a transceiver communicatively connected to the microprocessor for generating signals;

wherein the microprocessor is initially configured to operate the network device as a wireless network router; and

wherein the microprocessor is configured to, if the initial wireless network coordinator is disabled, reconfigure the firmware to operate the network device as a wireless network coordinator.

12. The network device of claim 11, comprising a phased-array radio frequency (RF) antenna structure;

wherein the transceiver is a radio frequency (RF) transceiver.

13. The network device of claim 11, comprising a global positioning system module operably connected to the microprocessor for locating the network device.

14. The network device of claim 11, comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) having an LED indicator for indicating the status of operation of the network device.

15. The network device of claim 14, wherein the PCB comprises a multi-layer PCB.

16. The network device of claim 11, comprising a wall source power adapter.

17. The network device of claim 11, comprising:

a wall source power adapter; and

an electrical wall plug having electrical prongs for plugging into an electrical wall socket.

18. The network device of claim 11, comprising a power management module for providing electrical power to the microprocessor and the transceiver.

19. The network device of claim 11, comprising a backup battery source for maintaining electrical power to the network device.

20. The network device of claim 11, wherein the wireless communication network is a personal area network (PAN).