Reconfigureable arrays of wireless access points

• US 20060002326A1
• Filed: 06/30/2004
• Published: 01/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Vesuna, Sarosh
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,070 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/18 Network planning tools
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A wireless communications network includes a reconfigurable array of access points for linking wireless devices in an infrastructure mode. One or more of the access points are mobile. The mobile access points in the network can be repositioned to change the geographic distribution of the bandwidth coverage provided by the wireless network. The mobile access points may be repositioned to redistribute available network bandwidth heterogeneously according to the demand for bandwidth in local areas and to meet quality of service standards.

Claims

1. A wireless network for providing a geographically-flexible bandwidth coverage over an area, comprising

at least one mobile access point;

and

a network controller for supervising the movement of the mobile access point from a first position to a second position, whereby a geographical distribution of the bandwidth coverage provided by the wireless network is changed.

2. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the network controller is programmed to move the mobile access point from the first position to the second position according to a schedule.

3. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the network controller is programmed to the move the mobile access point between the first and the second positions according to the relative demand for wireless access by users in proximity to the first and second positions.

4. The wireless network of claim 1 further comprising an arrangement for determining the location of a wireless user device, and wherein the network controller is programmed to move the mobile access point between the first and second positions to improve the determination of the location of the wireless user device.

5. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the network controller is programmed to move the mobile access point from the first position to the second position to respond a real time quality of service requirement.

6. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the mobile access point is configured to travel on an overhead rail.

7. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the mobile access point is configured to travel on a floor vehicle.

8. The wireless network of claim 1 wherein the mobile access point is configured to travel together with a user wireless device.

9. The wireless network of claim 8 wherein the user wireless device is a mobile RFID portal.

10. A wireless network installation in a structure, comprising:

a grid of rails disposed in the structure;

at least one mobile access point configured to travel on the grid of rails; and

a network controller for positioning the mobile access point at a location to obtain a particular distribution of bandwidth coverage in the structure.

11. The wireless network of claim 10 wherein the grid of rails comprises an electrified rail for supplying power to the mobile access point.

12. The wireless network of claim 10 wherein the mobile access point is powered by rechargeable batteries, and the wireless network further comprises a docking station for recharging the rechargeable batteries.

13. A wireless network, comprising;

a mobile RFID portal having an RFID reader,

an access point disposed on the mobile RFID portal by which the RFID reader communicates data over the wireless network.

14. A method of providing wireless communication network services to wireless device users in an area, comprising:

disposing mobile access points in the area for linking the wireless devices to a communications network, wherein a mobile access point has a range R and a capacity N; and

moving a mobile access point to a first position to provide bandwidth for wireless devices that are within a range R from the first position.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the mobile access point is moved from a first position to a second position to provide bandwidth for wireless devices that are within a range R from the second position.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the mobile access point is moved from the first position to the second position according to a schedule.

17. The method or claim 15 wherein the mobile access point is moved from the first position to the second position according to the load on another access point in the vicinity of the second position by wireless device users.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the mobile access point is moved from the first position to the second position to meet a quality of service requirement for wireless device users in the proximity of the second position.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the communication network is configured to locate a wireless device, and wherein the mobile access point is moved from the first position to the second position to locate the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the wireless device is an RFID portal and wherein disposing mobile access points in the area comprises co-disposing the RFID portal and a mobile access point on a common vehicle.