Local area network having multiple channel wireless access

• US 7,710,935 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Innovatio IP Ventures LLC
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mahany, Ronald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US11/497,499
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 370/401, 370/466, 370/467, 370/400, 370/338, 370/328, 370/352, 370/331, 455/3.01, 455/41.2, 455/432.1, 455/434
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/692 Hybrid techniques using combinations of two or more spread spectrum techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/40013 Details regarding a bus controller
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/52 based on load
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A communication network having at least one access point supports wireless communication among a plurality of wireless roaming devices via a first and a second wireless channel. The access point comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first and second transceivers operate on the first and second wireless channels, respectively. Each of the plurality of wireless roaming devices are capable of communicating on the first and second wireless channel. In one embodiment, the first wireless channel is used to exchange data, while the second channel is used to manage such exchanges as well as access to the first channel. In an alternate embodiment, both channels are used to support communication flow, however the first channel supports a protocol that is more deterministic than that of the second channel. Allocation of ones of the plurality of wireless roaming devices from one channel to the next may occur per direction from the access point. It may also result from decisions made by each of the wireless roaming devices made independent of the access point. For example, a decision may be made based on the data type being transferred or based on the current channel load. Such factors may also be used by the access point for allocation determinations. In addition, allocation may be based on the type of roaming device involved, such as allocating peripherals to a slower channel.

Claims

1. Communication circuitry for controlling operation of a communication device having at least a wired transceiver and a plurality of wireless transceivers, the communication circuitry comprising:

a processing circuit operable to send and receive data according to a first protocol; and

an interface circuit operable to;

receive data from the processing circuit according to the first protocol;

send data to the plurality of wireless transceivers, each operating on a respective independent wireless communication channel, according to at least a second protocol independent of the first protocol;

send data to the wired transceiver operating on a wired link, according to a third protocol independent of the first and second protocols;

receive data from the plurality of wireless transceivers according to at least the second protocol independent of the first protocol;

receive data from the wired transceiver according to the third protocol independent of the first and second protocols; and

send data to the processing circuit according to the first protocol.

2. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where said communication circuitry is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

3. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where said communication circuitry is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

4. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where the second and third protocols are the same and comply with PCI bus standards.

5. The communication circuitry of claim 1, wherein the processing circuit is programmed with a network configuration and is operable to selectively route data through the interface circuit to the plurality of wireless transceivers and the wired link.

6. The communication circuitry of claim 1, comprising at least one acceptor for modularly receiving the plurality of wireless transceivers.

7. The communication circuitry of claim 6, where the plurality of wireless transceivers are carried by at least one PCMCIA card.

8. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where the plurality of wireless transceivers operate independently to form a plurality of communication cells.

9. The communication circuitry of claim 8, where the plurality of communication cells are formed by the plurality of wireless transceivers operating at different data rates.

10. The communication circuitry of claim 8, where the plurality of communication cells are formed by the plurality of wireless transceivers operating at different power levels.

11. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where the respective independent wireless communication channels of the plurality of wireless transceivers are differentiated by at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequencies, modulation schemes and code spreading schemes.

44. The communication circuitry of claim 1, where the communication device is an access device.

12. Communication circuitry for controlling operation of a communication device having at least a wired transceiver and a plurality of wireless transceivers, the communication circuitry comprising:

in a communication device;

an interface system for modularly receiving the plurality of wireless transceivers for operating on independent wireless communication channels;

a processing circuit to control communications effected by the plurality of wireless transceivers modularly received via the interface system, the processing circuit operable to send and receive data according to a first protocol; and

an interface circuit operable to;

receive data from the processing circuit according to the first protocol;

send data to the plurality of wireless transceivers, each operating on a respective independent wireless communication channel, according to at least a second protocol independent of the first protocol;

send data to the wired transceiver operating on a wired link, according to a third protocol independent of the first and second protocols;

receive data from the plurality of wireless transceivers according to at least the second protocol independent of the first protocol;

receive data from the wired transceiver according to the third protocol independent of the first and second protocols; and

send data to the processing circuit according to the first protocol.

13. The communication circuitry of claim 12, where said communication circuitry is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

14. The communication circuitry of claim 12, where said communication circuitry is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

15. The communication circuitry of claim 12, wherein the interface system is configured to receive a plurality of cards each carrying at least one of the plurality of wireless transceivers.

16. The communication circuitry of claim 15, where the plurality of wireless transceivers carried by the plurality of cards have substantially different operating characteristics.

17. The communication circuitry of claim 12, comprising a wired transceiver that operates on a wired link, and wherein:

the interface system comprises a PCMCIA interface capable of modularly receiving a plurality of wireless transceivers for operating on independent wireless communication channels;

the interface circuit comprises interface circuitry operable to communicate with wireless transceivers modularly received via the PCMCIA interface and with the wired transceiver; and

the processing circuit comprises processing circuitry coupled to the interface circuit to control communications by wireless transceivers modularly received via the PCMCIA interface and by the wired transceiver.

18. The communication circuitry of claim 17, where said communication circuitry is adapted for coupling to computer interface circuitry.

19. The communication circuitry of claim 17, where said communication circuitry is disposed on a module adapted for insertion into a computing device.

20. The communication circuitry of claim 17, wherein the interface circuit comprises a PCI bus interface for communicating with wireless transceivers modularly received via the PCMCIA interface and with the wired transceiver according to PCI bus standards.

21. The communication circuitry of claim 17, wherein the processing circuit is programmed with a network configuration to selectively route data through the interface circuit to the plurality of wireless transceivers and the wired link.

22. The communication circuitry of claim 17, where the plurality of wireless transceivers operate independently to form a plurality of communication cells.

23. The communication circuitry of claim 22, where the plurality of communication cells are formed by the plurality of wireless transceivers operating at different data rates.

24. The communication circuitry of claim 22, where the plurality of communication cells are formed by the plurality of wireless transceivers operating at different power levels.

45. The communication circuitry of claim 12, where the communication device is an access device.

25. Communication circuitry for controlling operation of a communication device having at least a wired transmitter, a wired receiver, a plurality of wireless transmitters and a plurality of wireless receivers, the communication circuitry comprising:

at least a first circuit operable to;

receive data from at least a second circuit according to a first protocol;

send data to the plurality of wireless transmitters, each operating on a respective independent wireless communication channel, according to at least a second protocol independent of the first protocol;

send data to the wired transmitter, according to a third protocol independent of the first and second protocols;

receive data from the plurality of wireless receivers according to at least the second protocol independent of the first protocol;

receive data from the wired receiver according to the third protocol independent of the first and second protocols; and

send data to the at least a second circuit according to the first protocol.

26. The communication circuitry of claim 25, wherein the at least a first circuit comprises an interface circuit.

27. The communication circuitry of claim 26, wherein the at least a second circuit comprises a processing circuit.

28. The communication circuitry of claim 27, comprising the processing circuit.

29. The communication circuitry of claim 25, wherein the at least a first circuit comprises a processing circuit.

30. The communication circuitry of claim 29, wherein the at least a second circuit comprises an interface circuit.

31. The communication circuitry of claim 30, comprising the interface circuit.

32. The communication circuitry of claim 25, comprising a plurality of wireless transceivers.

33. The communication circuitry of claim 32, wherein the plurality of wireless transceivers comprises the plurality of wireless transmitters and the plurality of wireless receivers.

34. The communication circuitry of claim 25, comprising a wired transceiver.

35. The communication circuitry of claim 34, where the wired transceiver comprises the wired transmitter and the wired receiver.

36. The communication circuitry of claim 25, where the second and third protocols are the same.

37. The communication circuitry of claim 25, where the at least a second circuit is programmed with a network configuration to selectively route data through the at least a first circuit to the plurality of wireless transmitters and the wired transmitter.

38. The communication circuitry of claim 25, where the plurality of wireless transmitters operate independently to form a plurality of communication cells.

39. The communication circuitry of claim 38, where the plurality of communication cells are substantially overlapping.

40. The communication circuitry of claim 25, where the independent wireless communication channels are differentiated by at least one characteristic selected from the group consisting of frequencies, modulation schemes and code spreading schemes.

46. The communication circuitry of claim 25, where the communication device is an access device.

41. Communication circuitry for controlling operation of a communication device having at least a wired transceiver and a plurality of wireless transceivers, the communication circuitry comprising:

in a communication device;

at least one interface circuit operable to communicate with the plurality of wireless transceivers received via an interface system; and

at least one processing circuit communicatively coupled to the at least one interface circuit to control communications effected by the plurality of wireless transceivers received via the interface system the at least one processing circuit operable to send and receive data according to a first protocol,

wherein the at least one interface circuit is operable to;

receive data from the at least one processing circuit according to the first protocol;

send data to the plurality of wireless transceivers, each operating on a respective independent wireless communication channel, according to at least a second protocol independent of the first protocol;

send data to the wired transceiver operating on a wired link, according to a third protocol independent of the first and second protocols;

receive data from the plurality of wireless transceivers according to at least the second protocol independent of the first protocol;

receive data from the wired transceiver according to the third protocol independent of the first and second protocols; and

send data to the at least one processing circuit according to the first protocol.

42. The communication circuitry of claim 41, comprising the interface system, wherein the interface system operates to modularly receive a plurality of wireless transceivers for operating on independent wireless communication channels.

43. The communication circuitry of claim 41, comprising a wired transceiver that operates on a wired link, and where:

the interface system comprises a PCMCIA interface capable of modularly receiving a plurality of wireless transceivers for operating on independent wireless communication channels;

the at least one interface circuit comprises interface circuitry operable to communicate with wireless transceivers modularly received via the PCMCIA interface and with the wired transceiver; and

the at least one processing circuit comprises processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the at least one interface circuit and operable to control communications by wireless transceivers modularly received via the PCMCIA interface and by the wired transceiver.

47. The communication circuitry of claim 41, where the communication device is an access device.