Architecture for signal and power distribution in wireless data network

An access point apparatus comprising:

• a wireless local area network access point to produce an intermediate signal based on a wireless local area network signal received from equipment within a coverage area associated with the wireless local area network access point;
• and
• a modem unit to produce, based on the intermediate signal produced by the wireless local area network access point, a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over transport cabling;
• and
• a power supply adapted to receive power from the transport cabling and power at least a portion of at least one of the wireless local area network access point and the modem unit.

A method comprising:

• receiving a wireless local area network signal from equipment within a coverage area of a wireless local area network;
• producing a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over transport cabling, wherein the transport modulated format signal is derived from the wireless local area network compatible signal received within the coverage area;
• transmitting the transport modulated format signal on the transport cabling;
• receiving the transport modulated format signal from the transport cabling;
• producing a third signal for transmission to a second network, wherein the third signal is derived from the transport modulated format signal;
• and
• powering at least one component of at least one device in the wireless local area network using power received from the transport cabling.

A system comprising:

• a first access point communicatively coupled to an internetworking device;
• and
• at least one second access point communicatively coupled to the first access point via at least one transport communication medium;
• wherein the second access point produces a transport modulated format signal suitable for transmission over the transport communication medium;
• wherein the transport modulated format signal is derived from a wireless local area network signal received from equipment within a coverage area associated with the second access point;
• and
• wherein at least one component associated with the second access point is powered by power received from the transport communication medium.

A system comprising:

• an internetworking device operable to send and receive data in accordance with a first protocol;
• a wireless local area network device operable to send and receive the data in accordance with the first protocol and to wirelessly send and receive wireless local area network data;
• a first unit that is communicatively coupled to the internetworking device;
• and
• a second unit that is communicatively coupled to the first unit via transport cabling;
• wherein data is sent by the internetworking device in accordance with the first protocol and is communicated to the wireless local area networking device via the first unit and the second unit over the transport cabling using a second protocol compatible with the transport cabling;
• and
• wherein a component associated with at least one of the wireless local area network device and the second unit is powered by power received from the transport cabling.

A method comprising:

• receiving first data sent from an internetworking device in accordance with a first wired protocol;
• sending, over an available wired communication medium in accordance with a second wired protocol suitable for use on the available wired communication medium, at least a portion of the first data received from the internetworking device;
• and
• receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the first data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing at least a portion of the first data received from the available wired communication medium to a wireless local area network access point for radiating at least a portion thereof from the wireless local area network access point;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the available wired communication medium.

A method comprising:

• receiving first data at a wireless local area network access point in accordance with a wireless local area network protocol;
• sending, from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with a first wired protocol, at least a portion of the first data received at the wireless local area network access point;
• receiving at least a portion of the first data sent from the wireless local area network access point in accordance with the first wired protocol;
• sending, over an available wired communication medium in accordance with a second wired protocol suitable for use on the available wired communication medium, at least a portion of the first data received from the wireless local area network access point;
• receiving, from the available wired communication medium, the at least a portion of the first data sent over the available wired communication medium and providing, to an internetworking device, at least a portion of the first data received from the available wired communication medium;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the available wired communication medium.

A system comprising:

• a wireless access point operable to communicate wirelessly with a plurality of wireless devices;
• and
• an internetworking device;
• wherein available transport cabling is used to communicatively couple the wireless access point to the internetworking device;
• and
• wherein the wireless access point outputs a first signal compatible with a physical layer protocol other than a transport physical layer protocol suitable for use on the available transport cabling;
• wherein a second signal that is compatible with the transport physical layer protocol is produced from the first signal;
• wherein the second signal is communicated over the available transport cabling to the internetworking device;
• wherein the internetworking device receives a third signal having a physical layer protocol other than the transport physical layer protocol;
• wherein the second signal is received from the available transport cabling and used to produce the third signal;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of the wireless access point is powered from power received from the available transport cabling.

An access point system comprising:

• a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area;
• and
• a digital subscriber line modem communicatively coupled to the wireless access point;
• wherein the digital subscriber line modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to a public Internet via a digital subscriber communication link;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the digital subscriber line modem is powered at least in part from power received from the digital subscriber communication link.

An access point system comprising:

• a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area;
• and
• a digital subscriber line modem communicatively coupled to the wireless access point;
• wherein the digital subscriber line modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an internetworking device via a digital subscriber communication link;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the digital subscriber line modem is powered at least in part from power received from the digital subscriber communication link.

An access point system comprising:

• a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area;
• and
• a cable modem communicatively coupled to the wireless local area network access point;
• wherein the cable modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to a public Internet via a cable modem communication link;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the cable modem is powered at least in part from power received from the cable modem communication link.

An access point system comprising:

• a wireless access point to send and receive wireless local area network signals within a coverage area;
• and
• a cable modem communicatively coupled to the wireless local area network access point;
• wherein the cable modem is operable to communicatively couple the wireless access point to an internetworking device via a cable modem communication link;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the cable modem is powered at least in part from power received from the cable modem communication link.

A method comprising:

• communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless access point and equipment located within a coverage area;
• communicatively coupling the wireless access point to a public Internet using a digital subscriber line communication link;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless access point using power received from the digital subscriber line communication link.

A method comprising:

• communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless access point and equipment located within a coverage area;
• communicatively coupling the wireless access point to an internetworking device using a digital subscriber line communication link;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless access point using power received from the digital subscriber line communication link.

A method comprising:

• communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless local area network access point and equipment located within a coverage area;
• communicatively coupling the wireless local area network access point to a public Internet using a cable modem communication link;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the cable modem communication link.

A method comprising:

• communicating wireless local area network signals between a wireless local area network access point and equipment located within a coverage area;
• communicatively coupling the wireless local area network access point to an internetworking device using a cable modem communication link;
• and
• powering at least a portion of the wireless local area network access point using power received from the cable modem communication link.

A system comprising:

• a plurality of wireless local area network access points, wherein each of the plurality of wireless access points sends and receives respective wireless local area network signals within a respective coverage area;
• and
• an internetworking device;
• wherein each of the plurality of wireless local area network access points is communicatively coupled to the internetworking device using a respective at least one of a cable modem and a digital subscriber line modem;
• and
• wherein at least one of the plurality of wireless local area network access points is powered at least in part using power received from the respective at least one of the cable modem and the digital subscriber line modem.

A system comprising:

• a wireless network that comprises a wireless access point that communicates with a wireless device within a coverage area associated with the access point;
• a wired network that uses an Ethernet protocol to connect the wireless access point to a converter;
• and
• a transport network that connects the converter to a remote network;
• wherein the transport network transports signals over at least one of a POTS cable infrastructure, a CATV cable infrastructure, and a fiber optic cable infrastructure;
• wherein the converter converts a signal from the wired network to a signal adapted to communicate over the transport network;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter is powered at least in part from power received from the transport network.

A system for coupling a wireless device to a network, the system comprising:

• a wireless access point adapted for wireless local area network communication with a plurality of wireless devices within a coverage area associated with the wireless access point;
• and
• a converter located within the coverage area;
• wherein the wireless access point is communicatively coupled to the converter, the converter being adapted to communicate with the network;
• wherein the wireless access point communicates with the converter using a wired Ethernet signal;
• wherein the converter converts the wired Ethernet signal to a transport format for communication over distribution cabling out of the coverage area and to the network, the distribution cabling comprising at least one of POTS cabling, cable television cabling, and optical fiber cabling;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter are powered at least in part using power received from the distribution cabling.

An apparatus for communicatively coupling wireless devices to a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a wireless access point that receives a wireless local area network signal from at least one wireless device and that converts the wireless local area network signal to a wired local area network signal;
• and
• a converter that converts the wired local area network signal to a transport signal suitable for transmission to the network over at least one of POTS cabling, cable television cabling and optical fiber cabling;
• and
• wherein at least one of the wireless access point and the converter are powered at least in part from power received from the network.