Wireless network for automation, realtime and/or industrial applications
First Claim
1. A wireless network configured for at least one of automation, real-time and industrial applications, comprising:
- a plurality of access network nodes, each of the plurality of access network nodes including a first transmit/receive unit for radio communication over a selected data channel and a second transmit unit for sending heartbeat messages configured as a beacon frame over a control communication channel; and
at least one radio station for wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of access network nodes;
wherein each of the plurality of access network nodes utilizes a data channel selected from a set of available selectable data channels for wireless communication with a radio station of the at least one radio station assigned to the each of the plurality of access network nodes;
wherein the control communication channel is distinct from the selectable data channels, each of the plurality of access network nodes being configured for wirelessly sending the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over the control communication channel, the beacon frame including an information element which identifies a sending access point as an access point having a separate management channel and simultaneously notifies a client of the selected data channel of the access point, and the at least one radio station being configured for receiving the control communication channel; and
wherein the first transmit/receive unit is assigned a first antenna and the second transmit unit is assigned a second antenna, the first and second antennas having identical or similar antenna characteristics.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention describes a wireless network, in particular for automation, realtime and/or industrial applications, having at least two access network nodes and at least one radio station for wireless communication with at least one of the at least two access network nodes, wherein each of the at least two access network nodes uses a data channel selected from a set of available selectable data channels for wireless communication with a radio station assigned to it in each case, wherein a control communication channel which is distinct from the selectable data channels is provided in addition, and each of the at least two access network nodes is embodied for wirelessly sending information messages over the control communication channel and the at least one radio station is embodied for receiving the control communication channel.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A wireless network configured for at least one of automation, real-time and industrial applications, comprising:
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a plurality of access network nodes, each of the plurality of access network nodes including a first transmit/receive unit for radio communication over a selected data channel and a second transmit unit for sending heartbeat messages configured as a beacon frame over a control communication channel; and at least one radio station for wireless communication with at least one of the plurality of access network nodes; wherein each of the plurality of access network nodes utilizes a data channel selected from a set of available selectable data channels for wireless communication with a radio station of the at least one radio station assigned to the each of the plurality of access network nodes; wherein the control communication channel is distinct from the selectable data channels, each of the plurality of access network nodes being configured for wirelessly sending the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over the control communication channel, the beacon frame including an information element which identifies a sending access point as an access point having a separate management channel and simultaneously notifies a client of the selected data channel of the access point, and the at least one radio station being configured for receiving the control communication channel; and wherein the first transmit/receive unit is assigned a first antenna and the second transmit unit is assigned a second antenna, the first and second antennas having identical or similar antenna characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An access network node for a wireless network, comprising:
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a first transmit/receive unit for radio communication over the selected data channel; and a second transmit unit for sending the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over a control communication channel; wherein the first transmit/receive unit is assigned a first antenna and the second transmit unit is assigned a second antenna, the first and second antennas having identical or similar antenna characteristics; and wherein the access network is configured for radio communication with a radio station in the wireless network over a data channel selected from a set of available data channels and is configured for sending the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over the control communication channel which is distinct from the set of available data channels, the beacon frame including an information element which identifies a sending access point as an access point having a separate management channel and simultaneously notifies a client of the selected data channel of the access point. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A radio station for a wireless network for communication with an access network node assigned to the radio station, the access node including a first transmit/receive unit for radio communication over a selected data channel and a second transmit unit for sending heartbeat messages configured as a beacon frame over a control communication channel, wherein the radio station is configured for data communication with an access network node assigned to the radio station over a selected data channel and for receiving the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over the control communication channel, the beacon frame including an information element which identifies a sending access point as an access point having a separate management channel and simultaneously notifies a client of the selected data channel of the access point;
- and wherein the first transmit/receive unit is assigned a first antenna and the second transmit unit is assigned a second antenna, the first and second antennas having identical or similar antenna characteristics.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for assigning a radio station to an access network node in a wireless network, wherein the radio station is assigned to a first access network node in the wireless network and a second access network node is included in the wireless network, the first and second access nodes each use a data channel selected from a set of available data channels for wireless communication with an assigned radio station, the method comprising:
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a) receiving and evaluating, by the radio station, heartbeat messages configured as a beacon frame of at least one of the first access network node and the second access network node sent over a control communication channel distinct from the set of available data channels, the beacon frame including an information element which identifies a sending access point as an access point having a separate management channel and simultaneously notifies a client of the selected data channel of the access point, the first and second access nodes each including a first transmit/receive unit for radio communication over the selected data channel and a second transmit unit for sending the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame over the control communication channel; and b) determining, by the radio station, a preferred access network node based on at least a result of the evaluation of the heartbeat messages configured as the beacon frame; wherein the first transmit/receive unit is assigned a first antenna and the second transmit unit is assigned a second antenna, the first and second antennas having identical or similar antenna characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification