Access point in a wireless lan
AssigneeXirrus, Inc.
InventorsSteve Smith, Dirk Ion Gates, Ian Laity, Michael R. Conley, Michael De La Garrigue, Kurt Sauter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.
Claims48
A wireless access device comprising:
- a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device;
- a network interface to a data network;
- and
- an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.
A method for providing wireless access to a plurality of stations comprising:
- generating a plurality of sectors of coverage area using a plurality of transceivers, each sector generated using a directional antenna on a corresponding one of the plurality of transceivers;
- communicating signals with at least one station in at least one of the sectors;
- and
- managing communication of signals between the at least one station and a data network.
A system for providing access to data network services comprising:
- at least one wireless access device having a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device;
- and
- a wired network connected to the at least one wireless access device, the wired network having an interface to at least one data network service;
- where the at least one wireless access device communicates with stations within the coverage area and forms a communications path between the wireless stations and the wired network.
A wireless service access area comprising:
- a plurality of coverage sectors, each coverage sector defining a space within which a client station may associate with a corresponding one of a plurality of radios mounted in a wireless access device;
- where the wireless access device includes an interface to a data network such that stations that associate with the radios access data network services.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.