Mesh wireless access points
AssigneeCable Television Laboratories, Inc.
InventorsJohn C. Bahr, David Daniel Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mesh wireless access point (WAP) includes a housing, a first radio assembly, a second radio assembly, and an internal communication link between the first and second radio assemblies. The housing is configured to be affixed to, or integrated with, a feature of a building. The first radio assembly is incorporated with the housing and configured to support a first wireless communication link, and the second radio assembly is incorporated with the housing and configured to support a second wireless communication link. The internal communication link is configured to transfer data packets between the first and second radio assemblies.
Claims7
A mesh wireless access point (WAP), comprising:
- a first radio assembly configured to support a first wireless communication link;
- a second radio assembly configured to support a second wireless communication link;
- an internal communication link between the first and second radio assemblies configured to transfer data packets between the first and second radio assemblies;
- an electrical interface configured to be electrically coupled with a lightbulb socket, such that the first and second radio assemblies may be at least partially powered from electrical power available via the lightbulb socket;
- and
- an energy storage subsystem configured to (a) store energy received from a lightbulb socket and (b) at least partially power at least one of the first radio assembly and the second radio assembly when electrical power is unavailable from the lightbulb socket.
A light fixture capable of serving as a mesh wireless access point (WAP), comprising:
- a housing configured to house a lighting element, the housing being configured to be recessed, in a first direction, within one or more of a ceiling and a wall of a building;
- a ring at least partially surrounding the housing, the ring including at least one first antenna element;
- and
- a first radio transceiver communicatively coupled to the at least one first antenna element, such that the first radio transceiver and the at least one first antenna element collectively form a first radio assembly configured to support a first wireless communication link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.