US 5,912,921 A · Concurrent multiple data rate communications in a wireless local area network

Abstract

A wireless local area network (WLAN) provides optimal data throughput by operating at multiple data rates simultaneously. The WLAN includes a network master communicating with a plurality of remote client transceiver nodes. The network master maintains a table of active client transceiver nodes. The table includes a current data rate for each of the active client transceiver nodes. Periodic high-speed and low-speed beacon signals are transmitted from the network master to the active client transceiver nodes. Each of the active client transceiver nodes receives and processes the beacon signals to determine an optimal data rate. Then, each of the active client transceiver nodes transmits a return signal to the network master which designates the determined optimal data rate. Thereafter, the network master updates the table to reflect the optimal data rate for each of the active client transceiver nodes. Subsequent messages from the network master to the active client transceiver nodes are thereby transmitted at the current data rate for each respective one of the active client transceiver nodes.

Claims33

Dependent claims

A method for operating a wireless local area network having a network master communicating with a plurality of remote client transceiver nodes at plural data rates comprising the steps of:

maintaining a table of active client transceiver nodes at said network master, said table including a current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes;
transmitting an expected number of first beacon signals and second beacon signals;
receiving and processing a received number of said first and second beacon signals at each of said active client transceiver nodes;
determining an optimal data rate based upon a difference between said expected number of first and second beacon signals and said received number of first and second beacon signals;
transmitting a return signal from each of said active client transceiver nodes to said network master designating said determined optimal data rate;
and
updating said table to reflect said optimal data rate as said current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes, wherein subsequent messages from said network master to said active client transceiver nodes are transmitted at said current data rate for each respective one of said active client transceiver nodes.

4 more elements

A wireless local area network operable at plural data rates comprising:

a network master having a table of active client transceiver nodes at said network master, said table including a current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes, said network master transmitting an expected number of first beacon signals and second beacon signals;
a plurality of client transceiver nodes adapted to receive and process a received number of said first and second beacon signals at each of said active client transceiver nodes, said client transceiver nodes determining an optimal data rate based upon a difference between said expected number of first and second beacon signals and said received number of first and second beacon signals, said client transceiver nodes transmitting a return signal to said network master designating said determined optimal data rate;
wherein, said network master updates said table to reflect said optimal data rate as said current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes, wherein subsequent messages from said network master to said active client transceiver nodes are transmitted at said current data rate for each respective one of said active client transceiver nodes.

A wireless local area network having a network master communicating with a plurality of remote client transceiver nodes at plural data rates comprises:

means for maintaining a table of active client transceiver nodes at said network master, said table including a current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes;
means for transmitting an expected number of first beacon signals and second beacon signals;
means for receiving and processing a received number of said first and second beacon signals at each of said active client transceiver nodes;
means for determining an optimal data rate based upon a difference between said expected number of first and second beacon signals and said received number of first and second beacon signals;
means for transmitting a return signal from each of said active client transceiver nodes to said network master designating said determined optimal data rate;
and
means for updating said table to reflect said optimal data rate as said current data rate for each of said active client transceiver nodes, wherein subsequent messages from said network master to said active client transceiver nodes are transmitted at said current data rate for each respective one of said active client transceiver nodes.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Concurrent multiple data rate communications in a wireless local area network

Life of this patent

Concurrent multiple data rate communications in a wireless local area network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims33