Plug-in network device
AssigneeExtreme Networks, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Gang Chen, Edward Chee, Gururaj Govindasamy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A plug-in network device is disclosed. The plug-in network device can be used in association with a network management system and an infrastructure network device. The plug-in network device includes two antenna arrays, one of which is up-facing and one of which is front-facing. The plug-in network device can achieve wireless communication with the infrastructure network device via the up-facing antenna array and provide network services to wireless stations through the front-facing antenna array. The network management system can manage both the infrastructure network device and the plug-in network device.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a network management system that includes hardware configured to manage a wireless local area network (WLAN) at a physical location;
- an infrastructure network device on the WLAN at the physical location coupled to the network management system;
- and
- a plug-in network device, coupled to the infrastructure network device via a wireless medium, that includes:
- an up-facing antenna array;
- an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
- a front-facing antenna array;
- a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array;
- and
- a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface, wherein the network management system is configured to allow the plug-in network device access to network services via the infrastructure network device.
A plug-in network device, comprising:
- an up-facing antenna array;
- an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
- a front-facing antenna array;
- a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array;
- a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface;
- and
- an antenna signal shield disposed between the up-facing antenna array and the front-facing antenna array.
A plug-in network device, comprising:
- an up-facing antenna array;
- an infrastructure network device wireless communication interface coupled to the up-facing antenna array;
- a front-facing antenna array;
- a non-access point (AP) station wireless communication interface coupled to the front-facing antenna array;
- a backbone communication interface coupled to the infrastructure network device wireless communication interface and the non-AP station wireless communication interface;
- a plug-in network device housing;
- and
- secure coupling brackets operationally connected to the plug-in network device housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.