Method and system for providing an intelligent data concentrator communicatively coupled to a network by a wireless mode

• US 7,324,488 B1
• Filed: 02/10/2003
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: 3Com Corporation (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Wang, Gary, Rubinstein, Alan, Patel, Bhakt, Chang, Yung-Fu
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord; Marceau
• Application Number:
  US10/364,049
• Time in Patent Office: 1,814 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/337, 370/466, 370/436, 370/330, 370/401, 370/434, 370/252, 370/452, 455/464
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/10 Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks

Abstract

The present invention presents a method and system for providing an intelligent data concentrator communicatively coupled to a network by a wireless mode. Specifically, the present invention comprises a portable intelligent device, communicatively connected to a network by a wireless mode, which may, for example, be placed in the center of a conference table to facilitate a number of client devices connecting for simultaneous access to the network and, at the same time, allowing for ease in moving about the room. In one embodiment, the portable intelligent data concentrator is communicatively coupled by a wireless mode to an access point. In one embodiment, the intelligent data concentrator is battery powered. In one embodiment, the access point through which the intelligent data concentrator is connected to the network is another intelligent data concentrator. In another embodiment, the access point is a Bluetooth access point.

Claims

1. An intelligent data concentrator for coupling a plurality of electronic client devices to a network, comprising:

a first interface for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to said network by a wireless mode, said network comprising at least one network device;

a second interface including a plurality of communication ports for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to each of a plurality of client devices by a direct wired connection such that each of said client devices is communicatively coupled to said network;

a processor coupled to said first interface and said second interface; and

a wireless transceiver for communicatively coupling said first interface to said network, said wireless transceiver coupled to said first interface.

2. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 1 wherein said network device is an access point.

3. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 2 wherein said wireless transceiver is communicatively coupled to said access point by a wireless mode.

4. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 3 wherein said access point is a Bluetooth access point and said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

5. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 3 wherein said access point is a wall-mounted intelligent data concentrator.

6. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an internal power source.

7. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

an external power source.

8. An intelligent data concentrator comprising:

a first interface providing a means for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to said network by a wireless mode, said network comprising at least one network device;

a second interface providing a means for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator directly to each of a plurality of client devices via a wired connection such that said client devices are communicatively coupled to said network;

a means for processing and interpreting data coupled to said first interface and said second interface; and

a means for transmitting and receiving data for communicatively coupling said first interface to said network, said means for transmitting and receiving coupled to said first interface.

9. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 8 wherein said network device is an access point.

10. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 9 wherein said wireless transceiver is communicatively coupled to said access point by a wireless mode.

11. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 10 wherein said access point is a Bluetooth access point and said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

12. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 10 wherein said access point is a wall-mounted intelligent data concentrator.

13. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

an internal power source.

14. An intelligent data concentrator as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

an external power source.

15. A method for accessing a network comprising:

a) providing an intelligent data concentrator comprising;

a first interface for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to said network by a wireless mode, said network comprising at least one network device;

a second interface including a plurality communication ports for communicatively coupling said intelligent data concentrator to each of a plurality of client devices by a direct wired connection such that each of said client devices are communicatively coupled to said network;

a processor coupled to said first interface and said second interface; and

a wireless transceiver, coupled to said first interface, for communicatively coupling said first interface to said network; and

b) coupling said intelligent data concentrator to said network by a wireless mode.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein said network device is an access point.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said wireless transceiver is communicatively coupled to said access point by a wireless mode.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein said access point is a Bluetooth access point and said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein said access point is a wall-mounted intelligent data concentrator.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein said intelligent data concentrator is powered by an internal power source.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein said intelligent data concentrator is powered by an external power source.