Multiprotocol WLAN access point devices

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/334,747, filed Dec. 31, 2002. This prior patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0002] The present invention generally relates to the field of computer networking. More particularly, the present invention relates to the field of wireless networking communications between computing devices.

[0003] Various communications systems are used to allow electronic devices such as computers to communicate and exchange data and other types of information. For example, various systems such as Local Area Networks (LANs), the Internet and conventional telephone networks often link computers. A particularly effective method to allow mobile computers to communicate is with a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). A very popular and pervasive WLAN system is that specified by the IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard, an industry protocol that has successfully resolved many interoperability issues among the manufacturers of WLAN equipment. The IEEE 802.11 standard specifies several distinct OSI Physical (PHY) Layer radio transmission mechanisms whereby signals may be transmitted over the wireless medium, as well as a single Medium Access Control (MAC) layer that organizes and controls the exchange of data packets or datagrams between the communicating stations. This (IEEE 802.11-1997) MAC also supports mechanisms whereby special 802.11 stations referred to as Access Points (APs) also connect to a wired LAN, to then in many occasions traverse said LAN and access the broader Internet. Mobile computers connect to the Access Points wirelessly using 802.11 WLAN Network Interface Cards (NICs) that plug in to their standard computer I/O connections (such as USB, PCI or CardBus).

[0004] Two specific IEEE 802.11 PHY standards (called 802.11a and 802.11b, respectively) have gained overwhelming worldwide acceptance. The 11 Mbps 802.11b PHY, operating at 2.4 GHz and employing Complementary Code Keying (CCK) single carrier QPSK modulation, has been shipped in millions of NICs and APs since 1999. The 54 Mbps 802.11a PHY, operating in the 5 GHz band and based on multiple carrier Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM) signaling, is, on the other hand, rapidly gaining wide acceptance for large company WLAN deployments. To complicate matters further, the IEEE is standardizing a combined CCK and OFDM-based extension to the 2.4 GHz 802.11b PHY called 802.11g, and corresponding 802.11b/g IC and software technology has begun to ship.

[0005] The evolution from 2.4 GHz CCK-based 802.11b technology to 5 GHz OFDM 802.11a-based equipment, therefore, involves serious interoperability and legacy support issues, and both WLAN equipment manufacturers and systems deployers are still grappling with how best to resolve them.

[0006] One emerging, popular approach is to use dual band, multiple protocol WLAN equipment. Some IC vendors have begun to ship IEEE 802.11abg chipsets and associated software that enable wireless stations to transmit and receive using either 802.11a or 802.11b/g on a datagram by datagram basis. This technology is presently being used to manufacture Multiprotocol NICs (MPNICs) that can auto-negotiate and communicate with an AP using either 802.11b, 802.11g or 802.11a at any given time. As an important note, these new multilingual NICs also incorporate the exact IEEE 802.11-1997 MAC protocols in order to not confuse any legacy devices with which they would communicate.

[0007] Legacy (single band, single protocol) APs, are nearly 100% 802.11b-based and can only communicate using CCK at 2.4 GHz. Dual Single Protocol APs (DSPAPs, consisting of two individual 802.11a and 802.11b APs in one enclosure sharing a common Ethernet connection to the LAN distribution system) however, are now being manufactured that can, effectively, simultaneously talk CCK at 2.4 GHz and OFDM at 5 GHz, again using the common 802.11-1997 MAC.

[0008] In the above fashion, the new MPNICs can communicate with the common legacy 802.11b-only APs, the newer (and very rare) 802.11a-only APs or the increasingly popular 802.11a and b/g dual protocol DSPAPs. Similarly, these DSPAPs can communicate with the overwhelmingly predominant 802.11b-only legacy NICs, the (relatively rare) newer 802.11a-only NICs and the 802.11a, b or g MPNICs.

[0009] While the above solution works acceptably well, it is a very costly disadvantage to require incorporation of two independent single protocol APs (incorporating separate 802.11a and 802.11b radios and MAC processors, and incurring much duplication of costly support circuitry) in order to produce a single dual protocol AP. It would be much more cost-effective to utilize a single 802.11abg-capable radio device for these new 802.11a and 802.11b (and 802.11g) APs as well. And of course, it is essential that any such devices incorporate the IEEE 802.11-1997 MAC unchanged. The present invention accomplishes all these objectives.

[0010] Once such a single 802.11abg radio, same 802.11 MAC Multiprotocol Access Point (MPAP) proves feasible, a new type of AP-like device that takes advantage of both the frequency agility and the multiprotocol capabilities of the MPAP technology also becomes viable, if not compelling. This new device, a Multiprotocol Repeater (MPR) replaces the MPAP's wired LAN connection with an(other) 802.11a or b/g link that would, in turn, communicate with an upstream MPAP provisioned with the actual connection to the wired LAN or Internet. Multiple protocol repeaters could be implemented using three () distinct legacy single protocol 802.11a and 802.11b/g APs, but the invention documented herein provides for implementation of MPR devices that specifically make use of 802.11abg radio technology to provide significantly reduced cost and complexity.

[0011] The invention described herein provides a structure, method and system to effectively utilize dual (2.4 and 5 GHz) band, multiple (CCK and OFDM) protocol IEEE 802.11abg radio technology to implement reduced cost and complexity, simultaneous IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g Access Points and related devices (collectively, Multiprotocol Devices or MPDs). The invention combines a framework and mechanism that specifically allows for production of three distinct types of MPDs: a Multiprotocol AP, a Multiprotocol Repeater and a High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater.

[0012] The invention consists of two distinct, intimately related and ultimately inseparable component elements: 1) a novel and unique Datagram Flow Structure, whereby WLAN data packets transmitted and received by an MPD are internally organized and routed, and 2) a novel and unique MAC Methodology, whereby said data packets are then externally wirelessly exchanged between the MPD and other IEEE 802.11-compliant devices.

[0013] A Multiprotocol Access Point (MPAP), the first principal claimed embodiment of this invention, provides concurrent IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g AP services to multiple distinct 802.11a or 802.11b/g capable WLAN stations while only employing a single IEEE 802.11abg radio and a wired connection to the infrastructure Distribution System (DS). In addition, the MPAP provides virtual DS connectivity to other associated downstream MPD Repeater devices with which it shares a dedicated portion of its wireless traffic.

[0014] A Multiprotocol Repeater (MPR), another key embodiment of this invention, is an MPD that also provides simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g Access Point functionality to any and all associated single protocol WLAN stations, but with its wired DS port replaced by a virtual DS wireless link to another upstream MPD. An MPR also uses a single IEEE 802.11abg radio, and, like the MPAP, provides virtual DS connectivity to further downstream MPD Repeater devices.

[0015] A High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater (HCMPR), another claimed embodiment of this invention, is an MPR variant that uses two actual 802.11abg radios to provide the three virtual MPR wireless links: the upstream virtual DS plus the downstream 802.11a and 802.11b/g AP services to the associated distinct protocol stations (as well the virtual DS wireless daisy chain link to other downstream MPDs). The simultaneous operation of two actual radios allows the HCMPR to support a greater volume of wireless traffic than can the single radio MPR.

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into and form part of this specification, illustrate key elements of the Multiprotocol Core invention as well as the three claimed embodiments of the same. These drawings, together with the detailed description following serve to fully explain the principles of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a representative WLAN deployment featuring a LAN infrastructure, legacy single-protocol NICs, single protocol-based APs and Repeaters, Multiprotocol APs and Multiprotocol Repeaters (both MPR and HCMPR versions).

[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the Multiprotocol Core Datagram Flow Structure (MPCDFS), itself incorporating the transmitted and received, wired and wireless data packet flow into, within and out from the data portals of a WLAN device incorporating the Multiprotocol Core invention.

[0019] FIG. 3 presents a set of specific, distinct instantiations of the general MPCDFS presented in FIG. 2. FIG. 3A presents the MPCDFS for a representative (unclaimed) Dual Single Protocol Access Point device consisting of two independent single protocol APs. FIG. 3B illustrates the MPCDFS for a representative (also unclaimed) Triple Single Protocol AP Repeater consisting of three single protocol APs. FIG. 3C shows the MPCDFS for a claimed Multiprotocol AP (MPAP). FIG. 3D presents the MPCDFS for a claimed Multiprotocol Repeater (MPR) and FIG. 3E presents a general MPCDFS for a claimed High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater (HCMPR).

[0020] FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of the Multiprotocol Core Wireless Access Protocol. It illustrates management and control datagrams transmitted by different types of Access Point devices, including a legacy single-protocol AP, the claimed MPAP, the claimed MPR and the claimed HCMPR.

[0021] Detailed reference will now be made to the specifics of the Multiprotocol Core invention as well as to its claimed embodiments. While the invention will be described together with the embodiments, it needs be understood that said embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way. On the contrary, the intention is to cover any and all alternatives, modifications and equivalents that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0022] Within the following detailed description of the invention numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the same. However, it will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be understood and practiced without taking recourse to these specific details. In other instances, well-known and understood methods, procedures, references, standards, protocols, systems and components have not been described in detail so not to unnecessarily obscure salient aspects of the invention.

[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a representative Local Area Network (LAN) 100 as deployed in many present-day large and medium sized businesses. The LAN Switch 101 is a piece of computer networking equipment that routes data packets (or datagrams) between other high capacity networking equipment (indicated by the unconsummated connection 116) and computing or other networking devices connected to its ports (indicated by the consummated connections to devices 102, 109, 117 and 120 and by the unconsummated connections 118, 119, 121 and 122).

[0024] Device 102 is a representative Dual Single Protocol Access Point (DSPAP) intended to provide simultaneous IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b AP functionality. DSPAP 102 consists of two independent, distinct, single-protocol Access Points 103 and 104, respectively. AP 103 within DSPAP 102 serves to bridge or route wirelessly transmitted datagrams conforming to the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard between appropriately capable wireless stations (802.11b NICs, such as devices 110 and 114) and Switch 101. Similarly, AP 104 within DSPAP 102 serves to route wirelessly transmitted datagrams conforming to the IEEE 802.11a WLAN standard between appropriately capable wireless stations (802.11a NICs, such as devices 113 and 116) and Switch 101. DSPAP 102 is representative of the (excessive) cost and complexity involved when utilizing single protocol technology to implement multiple protocol APs.

[0025] Device 105 is a representative Triple Single Protocol AP Repeater (TSPAPR) intended to provide simultaneous IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b AP functionality while incorporating a wireless (802.11a) connection back to the Distribution System. TSPAPR 105 consists of three independent, distinct, single-protocol Access Points 106, 107 and 108, respectively. 802.11b AP 106 within TSPAPR 105 serves to bridge datagrams between associated 802.11b STAs and the DS port of the contained 802.11a AP 108. Similarly, 802.11a AP 107 within TSPAPR 105 serves to bridge datagrams between associated 802.11a STAs and AP 108's DS port. 802.11a AP 108 within TSPAPR 105 then serves to bridge datagrams between its DS port and an associated upstream 802.11a-compliant AP device actually connected to the infrastructure Distribution System. TSPAPR 105 is representative of the (unnecessarily extreme) cost and complexity involved when utilizing single protocol technology to implement multiple protocol repeater devices.

[0026] Devices 117 and 120 are networking-capable computing devices, connected directly to Switch 101 via fixed wiring or cable. The networking protocol used by devices 105 and 106 (as well as Switch 101) is IEEE 802.3 10/100 Base T Ethernet, and said devices are hereafter referred to as 802.3 STAs. Devices 117 and 120 serve merely to illustrate the non-wireless networking functionality supported by Switch 101.

[0027] Devices 110 and 114 are computing devices incorporating wireless stations (STAs) conforming to the IEEE 802.11b WLAN standard. These devices are capable of networking wirelessly with single protocol 802.11b devices such as AP 103 (of DSPAP 102) and AP 106 (of TSPAPR 105) and with Multiprotocol Devices such as MPAP 109, MPRs 111 and 112 and HCMPR 115. Devices 113 and 116 are computing devices incorporating wireless STAs conforming to the IEEE 802.11a WLAN standard. These devices are capable of networking wirelessly with single protocol 802.11a devices such as AP 104 (of DSPAP 102) and AP 107 (of TSPAPR 105) and with Multiprotocol Devices such as MPAP 109, MPRs 111 and 112 and HCMPR 115.

[0028] Multiprotocol (MP) Devices 109,111, 112 and 115 represent the distinct claimed embodiments of the present Multiprotocol Core invention. MP Device 109, representative of the first embodiment, is a Multiprotocol Access Point (MPAP) capable of networking wirelessly with 802.11a and 802.11b or 802.11b/g STAs simultaneously. An MPAP provides the functionality of DSPAP 102 while using a single frequency-band agile (i.e., tunable to channels in both the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands), IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b/g capable (i.e., containing independently operating CCK and OFDM modems) radio device (hereafter, an 802.11abg radio) instead of dual single protocol APs.

[0029] MP Devices 111 and 112 are Multiprotocol Repeaters (MPRs), another Multiprotocol Core invention embodiment. These MPRs are capable of simultaneous wireless networking with associated 802.11a and 802.11b/g STAs and thereafter bridging said traffic wirelessly (using 802.11a or 802.11b/g) to another MP Device actually connected to the DS, in the fashion of TSPAPR 105. MPRs 111 and 112 each utilize a single 802.11abg radio to perform all their wireless networking functions.

[0030] MP Device 115, a different type of Multiprotocol Repeater, uses two distinct 802.11abg radios to implement the three distinct, concurrent MPR wireless links: the upstream virtual DS connection and the downstream 802.11a and 802.11b/g wireless networks that service its associated stations. MP Device 115 is hereafter referred to as a High Capacity MPR (HCMPR).

[0031] Detailed descriptions will now be made regarding the specifics of the Multiprotocol Core invention, that is, precisely how the innovations contained in the appended claims enable a Multiprotocol Access Point (MPAP 109), a Multiprotocol Repeater (MPR 111 or MPR 112) or a High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater (HCMPR 115), each incorporating an 802.11abg radio and the Multiprotocol Core invention, to reproduce the functionality provided by multiple distinct 802.11a and 802.11b/g Access Points such as contained in DSPAP 102 and TSPAPR 105. It will be shown that such multiprotocol functionality is enabled by incorporation of the two key Multiprotocol Core invention elements, the Multiprotocol Core Datagram Flow Structure (MPCDFS) and the Multiprotocol Core Wireless Access Protocol (MPCWAP).

[0032] As defined by IEEE 802.11, an Access Point (AP) is any device containing an 802.11-conformant medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) interface to the wireless medium that provides wirelessly associated 802.11-compliant stations with access to the infrastructure Distribution System. Stated differently, an AP is a device incorporating one or more wireless portals and one (wired) Distribution System (DS) portal whose function is to route externally originating data packets between any of its wireless portals and its DS portal. Any 802.11-compliant AP, then, incorporates some manner of datagram flow structure. The present invention covers devices that specifically incorporate the MPCDFS, or any claimed structure reduced and/or derived therefrom, to enable simultaneous, multiple protocol 802.11 AP functionality as described in the paragraphs below.

[0033] An Access Point also actively manages the wireless traffic between all the 802.11 stations with which it is associated. This is accomplished using standard 802.11-1997 MAC management and control wireless packet exchanges between the AP and the stations. The collection of specific packet exchange sequences that provide for stations to identify themselves as valid network participants, to join or leave the network, to set up and tear down individual wireless sessions and to manage the flow of individual packet transmissions between stations is generically referred to as a wireless access protocol or WAP. IEEE 802.11-1997 describes a WAP between (single protocol) APs and stations. The Multiprotocol Core invention described herein incorporates a set of innovative extensions to the 802.11 WAP (the MPCWAP) that defines the wireless access between MPCDFS-provisioned Multiprotocol Devices and single protocol stations, multiple protocol stations and/or other Multiprotocol Devices.

[0034] FIG. 2 presents a diagram of the MPCDFS structure illustrating the data packet routing within a generalized Multiprotocol Device. Note that this MPCDFS, in addition to supporting its three specific claimed MP Device embodiments, is also readily reducible to a data flow structure characteristic of an unclaimed single protocol legacy IEEE 802.11-1997 AP. This Multiprotocol Core structure 200 of FIG. 2 consists of four distinct bi-directional portals, the DS portal 201, IT portal 204, D1OT portal 207 and the D2 portal 210.

[0035] The function of the DS portal is to service all traffic between the Multiprotocol Core 200 and the wired (LAN or otherwise) Infrastructure Distribution System (IDS). The bi-directional DS portal 201 consists of two unidirectional components, the receive buffer DS R 202 that accepts datagrams originating at the IDS and the transmit queue DS TQ 203 that buffers datagrams destined for the same.

[0036] The function of the IT portal is to service all traffic between the Multiprotocol Core 200 and a remote, wirelessly accessed IDS portal, specifically belonging to another Multiprotocol Device. The bi-directional IT portal 204 consists of two unidirectional components, the receive buffer IT R 205 that accepts datagrams from the remote Multiprotocol Device and the transmit queue IT TQ 206 that buffers datagrams destined for the same.

[0037] The function of the D1OT portal is to service all traffic between the Multiprotocol Core 200 and all its associated 802.11a-compliant stations, including, specifically, any downstream Multiprotocol Repeater devices that should incorporate 802.11a-provisioned IT portals. The bi-directional D1OT portal 207 consists of two unidirectional components, the receive buffer D1OT R 208 that accepts datagrams originating at the associated 802.11a stations and the transmit queue D1OT TQ 209 that buffers datagrams destined for the same.

[0038] The function of the D2 portal is to service all traffic between the Multiprotocol Core 200 and all its associated 802.11b/g-compliant stations, including, specifically, any downstream Multiprotocol Repeater devices that should incorporate 802.11b/g-provisioned IT portals. The bi-directional D2 portal 210 consists of two unidirectional components, the receive buffer D2 R 211 that accepts datagrams from the associated 802.11b/g stations and the transmit queue D2 TQ 212 that buffers datagrams destined for the same.

[0039] FIG. 2 also illustrates the permissible internal datagram routing between the four possible Multiprotocol Core 200 portals. Note that datagrams originating at any portal's receive buffer may be routed to any one other portal's transmit queue. The fundamental defining characteristic of the Multiprotocol Core structure 200 is that it supports the operational functionality of any 802.11 AP device, single protocol or multiple protocol, by judiciously routing datagrams between its appropriately enabled portals. Specifically, legacy IEEE 802.11-1997-compliant 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11b/g Access Points as well as all the claimed MP Device embodiments can be modeled as specific reduced-complexity instantiations of the general MPCDFS.

[0040] For example, the Multiprotocol Core 200 supports 802.11b single protocol AP (SPAP) functionality (for a physical device featuring an 802.11b-capable radio) by enabling only its DS and D2 portals. IDS-originating packets appearing at DS R 202 are routed only to D2 TQ 212, and packets from associated 802.11b stations appearing at D2 R 211 are routed solely to DS TQ 203. Similarly, the Multiprotocol Core 200 supports 802.11a SPAP functionality by enabling only its DS and D1OT portals. In this fashion, IDS-originating packets appearing at DS R 202 are routed exclusively to D1OT TQ 209, and packets from associated 802.11a stations appearing at D1OT R 208 are correspondingly routed to DS TQ 203.

[0041] FIG. 3A illustrates the datagram flow structure for a representative Dual Single Protocol Access Point, DSPAP 300, applicable to a device such as Dual SPAP 102 of FIG. 1. DSPAP 300 consists of an 802.11a SPAP 301 and an 802.11b SPAP 302, interconnected at their DS ports.

[0042] FIG. 3B illustrates the datagram flow structure for a representative Triple Single Protocol Access Point Repeater, TSPAPR 310, applicable to a device such as Triple SPAR 105 of FIG. 1. TSPAPR 310 consists of three independent single protocol APs: an 802.11a SPAP 311, another 802.11a SPAP 312 and an 802.11b SPAP 313.

[0043] Specific to one embodiment of this invention, the Multiprotocol Core 200 structure supports Multiprotocol Access Point (MPAP) functionality by enabling only its DS, D1OT and D2 portals. In this fashion, IDS-originating packets appearing at DS R 202 are routed to the appropriate D1OT TQ 209 or D2 TQ 212 portals, depending if they correspond to associated 802.11a or 802.11b/g station traffic, respectively. Similarly, datagrams originating at associated 802.11a stations appearing at D1OT R 208 are routed to either to DS TQ 203 or to D2 TQ 212, as appropriate, and datagrams from associated 802.11b/g stations appearing at D2 R 211 are correspondingly routed to DS TQ 203 or to D1OT TQ 209. FIG. 3C illustrates the datagram flow structure for a representative MPAP 320.

[0044] Specific to another embodiment of this invention, the Multiprotocol Core 200 supports Multiprotocol Repeater (MPR) functionality by enabling its IT, D1OT and D2 portals. In this fashion, IT packets originating at the upstream MP Device appearing at IT R 205 are routed to the appropriate D1OT TQ 209 or D2 TQ 212, depending if they correspond to associated 802.11a or 802.11b/g station traffic, respectively. Datagrams from associated 802.11a stations appearing at D1OT R 208 are routed to IT TQ 206 or to D2 TQ 212, as appropriate, and datagrams from associated 802.11b/g stations appearing at D2 R 211 are correspondingly routed to IT TQ 206 or to D1OT TQ 209. FIG. 3D illustrates the datagram flow structure for a representative MPR 330.

[0045] Specific to another embodiment of this invention, the Multiprotocol Core 200 supports High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater (HCMPR) functionality by conjoining two independent Multiprotocol Core 200-based structures, an MPAP as described above plus a Slave SPAP, at their DS ports and selectively enabling wireless portals within each structure as described below.

[0046] The HCMPR Slave SPAP (SSPAP) is a single protocol MPCDFS implementation, illustrated in FIG. 3E as SSPAP 342, that serves to route datagrams between its P3 portal and its DS portal. The P3 portal may be configured as desired for IT, D1OT or D2 functionality. Referring back to FIG. 2, the SSPAP is an MPCDFS with only its DS and P3 (IT, D1OT or D2, as configured) portals enabled, such that incoming traffic at DS R 202 is routed to the P3 TQ port and incoming traffic at the P3 R port is routed to DS TQ 203.

[0047] The HCMPR MPAP is identically the MPCDFS Multiprotocol Access Point instantiation as described in the paragraphs above, and illustrated in FIG. 3E as MPAP 341, save that the P1 and P2 portals may be configured as desired for IT, D1OT and D2 functionality, consistent with the SSPAP P3 portal assignment.

[0048] FIG. 3E illustrates the combination of the SSPAP 342 and MPAP 341 datagram flow structures to produce a representative High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater HCMPR 340. For illustrative purposes the P1, P2 and P3 portals are assigned as described forthwith, but it is important to emphasize that distinct alternative portal assignments are possible and may be altogether preferable depending on the actual application. In this case, packets originating at the upstream MP device appearing at the MPAP 341 P1 (IT) receive buffer are routed either to its DS or P2 (D1OT) transmit queue. Packets at the MPAP DS portal are forwarded directly to the conjoined SSPAP's DS receive buffer for immediate routing to its P3 (D2) transmit queue. Correspondingly, datagrams from associated stations appearing at the HCMPR's MPAP P2 (D1OT) or SSPAP P3 (D2) wireless portals are ultimately routed to the MPAP P1 (IT) portal for transmission to the upstream Multiprotocol Device.

[0049] The following is a description of the wireless access protocol used by a generalized Multiprotocol Device. Specific MPCWAP instantiation descriptions then follow for each of the claimed Multiprotocol Device embodiments.

[0050] By virtue of the MPCDFS, any given Multiprotocol Device may have datagrams queued and ready to transmit at any of its wireless portals at any given instant in time. As each wireless portal is assigned a distinct frequency channel of operation (within either the 2.4 or 5 GHz bands) a single frequency-band-agile-radio Multiprotocol Device sequences between its wireless portal channels in order to appropriately transmit its queued datagrams as well as receive any incoming packets.

[0051] Specifically, the MP device initially tunes its frequency band agile radio to a selected portal's RF channel assignment. The radio remains tuned to that channel long enough for the MP device to enable on-channel traffic by transmitting an appropriate 802.11 management/control frame, transmit the contents of the portal's transmit queue, dwell further to allow for receipt of any incoming datagrams or for transmission of late-arriving queued packets, and then finally suspend on-channel traffic by transmitting another appropriate management/control frame. The MP device then tunes the radio to the RF channel assigned to the next portal, where the wireless datagram enabling, traffic exchange and suspension takes place once again.

[0052] In this fashion, MPAP devices alternate wireless communications between their D1OT and D2 channels, MPRs alternate between their IT, D1OT and D2 channels, and HCMPRs alternate between their (MPAP) selectable P1 and P2 channels, as the (SSPAP) selectable P3 radio always remains fixed-tuned to its assigned channel.

[0053] This cycling between the portal channels is defined, by convention, over a global Beacon Interval consisting of sequential, distinct wireless portal-specific Access Intervals (AIs) plus non-zero-time radio Tuning Periods. The Beacon Interval cycling continues for as long as the MP Device remains operational, as 802.11a (including other MP devices) and 802.11b/g stations may independently join and/or leave the MP device-managed wireless network as well as begin, conduct and end individual wireless sessions in this multiprotocol environment just as they could in any legacy single protocol environment.

[0054] The 802.11-1997 MAC Wireless Access Protocol defines a set of specific management/control frame exchanges between an AP and a Station that provide for network access, session setup and datagram traffic control. These wireless datagrams include network access frames such as Authentication Request, Authentication Response and Deauthentication packets, session setup frames such as Probe Request, Probe Response, Association Request, Association Response, and Disassociation packets and traffic control frames such as Beacon, Request to Send, Clear to Send, Contention-Free End, and ACK packets. Of particular relevance to the Multiprotocol Core invention, and fundamental to the Multiprotocol Core Wireless Access Protocol MPCWAP are two specific 802.11-1997 MAC frames that can be innovatively used to start and suspend all wireless activity as needed on a specific radio channel, the Beacon management frame and the Contention-Free End control frame.

[0055] FIG. 4 presents a set of timing diagrams that illustrate details of the MPCWAP operation as applicable to the MPAP, MPR and HCMPR embodiments. In addition, a timing diagram for a representative legacy single protocol AP device is included, and it is instructive to begin any detailed description of MPCWAP with precisely the operation of a (legacy) single protocol AP.

[0056] As has been noted previously, the operation of a legacy IEEE 802.11-1997-defined single protocol AP may be viewed as a special case of Multiprotocol Device operation. Specifically, the SPAP Beacon Interval consists of one AI associated with its single wireless (802.11a D1OT or 802.11b/g D2) portal. Also, as a single protocol device by definition always operates on the same channel, no radio retuning is necessary and therefore the Tuning Period is identically zero. The resulting timing diagram SPAP0 410 of FIG. 4 applies to such an SPAP device, for example 802.11b/g AP 103 (SPAP0) within Dual SPAP 102 in FIG. 1. Note in timing diagram SPAP0 410 of FIG. 4 that the Beacon Interval corresponds to a single D2 AI, the beginning and end of which is delimited by a standard IEEE 802.11-1997 MAC management frame of subtype Beacon. This Beacon frame is, in turn, further specified as signaling Distributed Coordination Function operation, will be hereafter referred to as a DCFB frame, and is represented in FIG. 4 SPAP0 410 by DCFB 411 and DCFB 412.

[0057] Since the SPAP0 D2 AI duty cycle is practically 100%, any datagrams (including all management, control and data frames) internally routed to AP 103's D2 transmit queue are made immediately available for transmission, and, correspondingly, any associated (802.11b) wireless station is cleared to transmit (management, control and data) frames to SPAP0 at any time. The wireless access protocol for an 802.11b/g SPAP is, therefore, fully represented by the timing diagram SPAP 410 of FIG. 4.

[0058] Timing diagram MPAP0 420 of FIG. 4 illustrates the MPCWAP operation of a representative Multiprotocol AP such as MPAP 109 of FIG. 1 (also designated hereafter as MPAP0). Being a Multiprotocol Access Point, its forever-repeating Beacon Interval consists of two distinct Access Intervals, a D1OT AI plus a D2 AI, separated by identical non-zero Tuning Periods (TP 415, TP 416 and TP 417).

[0059] Key to the MPCWAP, the beginning and end of each Access Interval are signaled by distinct, existing, standard IEEE 802.11-1997 management/control frames, innovatively invoked in a fashion that strictly limits transmissions from the associated (D1OT 802.11a or D2 802.11b/g) wireless stations to their corresponding (D1OT or D2) AIs, and effectively prohibits transmissions at all other times. These frames must be unambiguously interpreted as Start Traffic and Stop Traffic commands, respectively, by any and all 802.11 stations, including legacy devices already deployed, operating and presently in use.

[0060] Notwithstanding the fact that they were not expressly designed to provide such functionality, two standard, existing 802.11 MAC management and control frames can indeed be used as the above Start Traffic and Stop Traffic commands. Per IEEE 802.11-1997, upon AP transmission of an IEEE 802.11-1997 MAC management frame of subtype Beacon, where said Beacon frame (hereafter referred to as a PCFB frame) appropriately asserts its contained Capabilities and CF Parameter Set Information Elements to signal Point Coordination Function operation with no polling, any and all stations associated with said AP must defer any and all independently originating transmissions until after receipt of an appropriate, subsequent Contention-Free End (CFE) frame from said AP. Therefore, by convention, the MPCWAP signals the start of any MP Device wireless portal AI by a transmission of a CFE frame, and correspondingly signals the end of the same AI by transmission of a PCFB frame.

[0061] Referring back to timing diagram MPAP0 420 of FIG. 4, the first D1OT AI (corresponding to transmissions on its assigned 802.11a 5 GHz band channel) is delimited by a start-traffic frame D1OT CFE 423 and a stop-traffic frame D1OT PCFB 424. During the D1OT AI the D1OT transmit queue is emptied of all buffered packets, which are transmitted to associated 802.11a stations and any downstream MP Repeaters. In addition, any traffic originating from the associated stations and/or downstream Multiprotocol Repeaters is accepted at the D1OT receive buffer and forwarded to MPAP0's DS portal.

[0062] After a Tuning Period TP 416 (during which the device tunes from the 5 GHz band D1OT channel to its assigned 802.11b/g 2.4 GHz band D2 channel) MPAP0 transmits a D2 CFE 425 to signal the beginning of the D2 AI. D2 traffic enabled, the D2 transmit queue is flushed of all buffered packets, which are appropriately transmitted to the associated 802.11b/g stations, and any incoming datagrams from the 802.11b/g stations are received and processed at the D2 receive buffer. The D2 AI is then appropriately terminated upon MPAP0 transmission of D2 PCFB 426.

[0063] After another Tuning Period TP 417 (wherein MPAP0 tunes back to the 5 GHz D1OT channel) the next D1OT AI begins with a D1OT CFE 427, and 802.11a 5 GHz D1OT traffic suspended by the previous D1OT PCFB 424 is permitted to resume. Any D1OT packets queued since the end of the previous D1OT AI are transmitted and any incoming 802.11a packets are correspondingly received and forwarded to the IDS.

[0064] Incorporating MPCWAP as described above and correspondingly depicted in timing diagram MPAP0 420, in conjunction with the MPAP MPCDFS structure, a device such as MPAP0 plainly enables and supports simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g Access Point operation using a single 802.11abg radio.

[0065] The MPCWAP algorithm presented above readily extends and applies to the Multiprotocol Repeater. The principal discriminating characteristic between an MPR and an MPAP is the Multiprotocol Repeater's wireless connection (using an MPCDFS IT wireless portal) to a virtual IDS that in fact consists of another MP Device (either an MPAP or another MPR). An MPR's Beacon Interval, therefore, consists of three distinct wireless portal Access Intervals, an IT AI, a D1OT AI and a D2 AI, each separated by non-zero Tuning Periods.

[0066] By convention, the upstream MP Device dedicates either its D1OT or its D2 portal to the wireless connection with the MPR's IT portal (therefore set to operate, via configuration, on the identical D1OT or D2 RF channel). Also by convention, the MPR's IT AI is determined by and set identically to the upstream MP Device's D1OT or D2 AI, or, equivalently stated, the MPR's IT AI delimiters IT CFE and IT PCFB identically correspond to the upstream MP Device's D1OT or D2 CFE and D1OT or D2 PCFB. By convention, therefore, an MPR does not actually transmit IT AI delimiters. It instead designates the D1OT or D2 CFE and D1OT or D2 PCFB frames received from the upstream MP device as its own equivalent IT CFE and IT PCFB packets, respectively.

[0067] Timing diagram MPR1 430 of FIG. 4 illustrates the MPCWAP operation of a representative Multiprotocol Repeater such as MPR 111 of FIG. 1 (also designated hereafter as MPR1). Note that the MPR1 IT AI (delimited by the dashed IT CFE 432 and IT PCFB 433) corresponds exactly to the D1OT AI of MPAP0 420. This illustrates the linkage between an MPR and its upstream MP Device, in this case an MPAP using its D1OT portal for the MPR upstream link.

[0068] During MPAP0's D1OT AI (equivalently MPR1's IT AI) the devices exchange the contents of their D1OT and IT transmit queues, respectively, and emulate (albeit with added latency) a direct connection between MPR1's wireless portals and MPAP0's DS portal. Specifically, during MPR1's IT AI any packets (originating at MPAP0's D1OT portal) appearing at MPR1's IT receive buffer are routed to its D1OT or D2 transmit queues, as appropriate, for subsequent transmission during the next corresponding D1OT or D2 access intervals. Correspondingly, any packets buffered at MPR1's transmit queue are flushed and transmitted directly to MPAP0. MPR1's IT AI ends upon MPAP0's transmission of D1OT PCB 424 (equivalently, MPR1 IT PCFB 433). MPR1 then tunes within a Tuning Interval (left undesignated for simplicity) from the 5 GHz 802.11a or 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g IT channel to the distinct 5 GHz 802.11a D1OT channel.

[0069] Settled upon the new channel, MPR1 transmits D1OT CFE 434 to enable D1OT exchanges with its associated 802.11a stations, including any downstream MPRs provisioned with 802.11a IT portals (and particularly, as will be discussed below, with MPR2). Specifically, during MPR1's D1OT AI any packets buffered at its D1OT transmit queue are flushed and transmitted to the appropriate 802.11a client stations, and any packets from an associated 802.11a station appearing at MPR1's D1OT receive buffer are routed to its IT transmit queue for subsequent transmission to the upstream device during the next IT AI. MPR1 ends the D1OT AI upon transmitting D1OT PCFB 435, and then tunes to its assigned 2.4 GHz 802.11b/g D2 channel.

[0070] Tuning period elapsed and MPR1 settled on the 2.4 GHz channel, MPR1 then transmits D2 CFE 436 to enable D2 AI traffic with its associated 802.11b/g stations, including any downstream MPRs provisioned with 802.11b/g IT portals. Specifically, during MPR1's D2 AI any packets buffered at its D2 transmit queue are flushed and transmitted to the appropriate 802.11b/g client stations, and any packets from an associated 802.11b/g station appearing at MPR1's D2 receive buffer are routed to its IT transmit queue for subsequent transmission back upstream during the next IT AI. MPR1 ends the D2 AI by transmitting D2 PCFB 437. MPR1 then tunes once again to its 5 GHz IT channel to listen for MPAP0's D1OT CFE 427 transmission and thereupon begin its MPCWAP cycle once again.

[0071] Timing diagram MPR2 440 illustrates the operation of another Multiprotocol Repeater MPR2 associated with and downstream to MPR1. Note that MPR2's IT CFE 444 and IT PCFB 445 correspond exactly to MPR1's D1OT CFE 434 and D1OT PCFB 435, respectively, demonstrating the master-slave wireless linkage between the upstream MPR1 and the downstream MPR2. MPR2's MPCWAP operation is otherwise identical to that of MPR1. Further examination of and reflection upon timing diagrams MPR1 430 and MPR2 440 show that MPRs may be daisy-chained indefinitely in this fashion to provide appropriate, location-distributed Access Point functionality to their particularly associated 802.11a and 802.11b/g stations, limited only by the aggregate bandwidth demands of the collective associated stations.

[0072] Incorporating MPCWAP as described above and depicted in Timing Diagrams MPR1 430 and MPR2 440, respectively, in conjunction with the MPR MPCDFS structure, then, devices such as MPR1 and MPR2, each using a single 802.11abg radio, plainly enable and support simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g Repeater operation.

[0073] A High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater such as HCMPR 115 of FIG. 1 (hereafter also designated as HCMPR3) incorporates the MPCWAP algorithm in a different fashion than does an MPR. Specifically, since an HCMPR's MPCDFS is modeled as a distinct Slave SPAP structure interconnected with a separate MPAP structure, and whose combined three wireless portals may be arbitrarily assigned the IT, D1OT and D2 functions, the HCMPR MPCWAP may also be modeled as an SSPAP MPCWAP operating in parallel with the above-described MPAP MPCWAP.

[0074] As a specific example, HCMPR 115 (hereafter, HCMPR3) of FIG. 1 is shown associated downstream to MPAP 109 (MPAP0). FIG. 3E shows HCMPR3's composite MPCDFS structure 340 incorporating structures SSPAP 341 and MPAP 342, which for purposes of this example have the P1, P2 and P3 portals assigned to IT, D1OT and D2 operation, respectively. Timing Diagram HCMPR3 450 of FIG. 4 shows the composite HCMPR3 MPCWAP resulting from the corresponding combination of the SSPAP and MPAP wireless access protocols.

[0075] Timing diagram HCMPR3 450 is best interpreted as a superimposition of the device's SSPAP MPCWAP over its MPAP MPCWAP. Specifically, the HCMPR3 MPAP provides the IT and D1OT wireless portals and is therefore responsible for the IT and D1OT wireless access protocols. Correspondingly, the HCMPR3 SSPAP provides the D2 wireless portal and therefore manages the D2 WAP.

[0076] As in the case of the MPR1 and MPR2, HCMPR3's IT wireless portal operation is slaved to the D1OT operation of an upstream MP Device MPAP0, that is, its IT CFE and IT PCFB delimiters actually correspond to the D1OT CFE and D1OT PCFB transmissions from MPAP0. Note in FIG. 4 that the IT CFE 451 and IT PCFB 453 of timing diagram HCMPR3 450 correspond exactly to MPAP0 420's D1OT CFE 423 and D1OT PCFB 424, respectively.

[0077] HCMPR3's MPAP operation, therefore, consists of appropriately interpreting MPAP0's D1OT CFE 423 and D1OT PCFB 424 transmissions as its own IT CFE 451 and IT PCFB 453 AI delimiters, and supporting wireless datagram exchanges exclusively with MPAP0 during that interval. Specifically, incoming HCMPR3 IT traffic appearing at the MPAP IT receive buffer is routed either to its DS portal (and passed on to the SSPAP DS portal and thereafter to its D2 portal for immediate transmission) or directly to its MPAP D1OT portal transmit queue. Correspondingly, any datagrams received at the MPAP D1OT portal or the SSPAP D2 portal are ultimately routed back to the MPAP IT transmit queue for transmission, if possible, during the same HCMPR3 IT AI. IT AI terminated by MPAP0 PCFB 424, HCMPR3 then tunes the MPAP 802.11abg radio to the D1OT channel and issues D1OT CFE 454 to begin the D1OT AI. During the D1OT AI HCMPR3 exchanges wireless datagrams with its associated 802.11a stations, including any other associated downstream MP Repeaters provisioned with 802.11a IT portals. Any datagrams appearing at HCMPR3's MPAP D1OT receive buffer are routed to either to its DS portal (for transfer to the SSPAP DS portal and subsequent immediate D2 transmission) or to its IT transmit queue. D1OT AI complete, the HCMPR issues D1OT PCFB 455 and then tunes back to the IT channel to begin IT processing once again.

[0078] HCMPR3's SSPAP operation occurs concurrently (in parallel) with the above MPAP actions, as also illustrated in timing diagram HCMPR3 450 of FIG. 4. Note that the SSPAP radio is fixed tuned to the 2.4 GHz D2 channel and will support only D2 operation at any time. Consequently its operation corresponds precisely to that of a Single Protocol AP such as SPAP0 410, and features a single 100% duty cycle D2 AI. Instead of transmitting alternating CFE and PCFB frames, then, the SPAP merely issues periodic DCF Beacons (DCFB 452 and DCFB 453, respectively) to comprehensively manage the D2 traffic. During this D2 AI, the HCMPR3 SSPAP exchanges wireless datagrams with its associated 802.11b/g stations, including any other associated downstream MP Repeaters provisioned with 802.11b/g IT portals.

[0079] Note from Timing Diagram HCMPR3 450 that the SSPAP D2 AI runs concurrently and in parallel with the sequential MPAP IT and D1OT AIs. During the MPAP IT AI segment any datagrams received at the SSPAP DS portal from the MPAP IT portal are immediately queued for D2 transmission. Correspondingly, any datagrams appearing at the SSPAP D2 portal during the MPAP IT AI are routed to its DS portal and then to either the MPAP IT portal for immediate transmission or the MPAP D1OT transmit queue for later transmission. During the MPAP D1OT AI segment any datagrams received at the SSPAP DS portal from the MPAP D1OT portal are immediately queued for SSPAP D2 transmission. And correspondingly, any datagrams appearing at the SSPAP D2 portal during the D1OT AI are routed to its DS portal and then to either the MPAP D1OT transmit queue for immediate transmission or the MPAP IT transmit queue for transmission during the next MPAP IT AI.

[0080] HCMPR3's composite, dual 802.11abg radio SSPAP and MPAP MPCDFS structure, coupled with the time-overlapping IT and D1OT/D2 Access Intervals provided by the parallel SSPAP and MPAP MPCWAPs provide an HCMPR MP device with more air time for IT, D1OT and D2 wireless exchanges than is available to a single radio MPR. The HCMPR device therefore supports a higher volume of 802.11 transmissions than can the MPR, and, ergo, therefrom derives its name.

[0081] Incorporating the MPCWAP operation as described in the paragraphs above and depicted in timing diagram HCMPR3 450, then, a multiprotocol device such as HCMPR3, featuring two distinct 802.11abg radios and appropriate, corresponding SSPAP and MPAP MPCDFS implementations, plainly enables and supports simultaneous 802.11a and 802.11b/g Repeater operation.

[0082] The above descriptions of a general Multiprotocol Core construct consisting of a Multiprotocol Core Datagram Flow Structure and a Multiprotocol Core Wireless Access Protocol, and the subsequent incorporation and application of the same into three specific Multiprotocol Core device embodiments (the Multiprotocol Access point, the Multiprotocol Repeater and the High Capacity Multiprotocol Repeater) provide all the necessary and sufficient information to define the present invention.

[0083] Throughout the description and drawings, example embodiments are given with reference to specific configurations. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms. Those of ordinary skill in the art would be able to practice such other embodiments without undue experimentation. The scope of the present invention, for the purpose of the present patent document, is not limited merely to the specific example embodiments of the foregoing description, but rather is indicated by the appended claims. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents within the claims are intended to be considered as being embraced within the spirit and scope of the claims.