Patent ID: 6931659
Filing Date: 2005-08-16
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A cable modem comprising: a cable modem proper that is configured so as to be connected by way of a coaxial cable to a CATV network; an expansion unit being configured so as to have a wireless LAN function that permits communication with an information-processing terminal on a wireless basis; a connecting member that removably couples the cable modem proper and the expansion unit together by use of a plug and a connector; and wherein the cable modem proper is further configured so as to measure a BER (bit error rate) on the wireless network side, and to check whether or not a measured BER value is equal to or greater than a first threshold value, and if the measured BER value is less than the first threshold value, the cable modem proper feeds a signal to an output level adjuster of the expansion unit which signal instructs the output level adjuster of the expansion unit to decrease its output level through the connecting member and set its data transfer rate at a maximum value, then the cable modem proper restarts to measure the BER on the wireless network side; and if measured BER value is equal to or greater than the first threshold value, the cable modem proper compares the measured BER value with a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value, and if the measured BER value is smaller than the second threshold value, the cable modem proper ends its operation without changing the output level; and if the measured BER value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the cable modem proper checks whether or not the output level is at the maximum value; and if the output level is not at the maximum value, the cable modem proper feeds a signal to the output level adjuster of the expansion unit which signal instructs the output level adjuster of the expansion unit to increase its output level through the connecting member and set its data transfer rate at a maximum value, and then the cable modem proper restarts to measure the BER on the wireless network side; and if the output level is at the maximum value, the cable modem proper measures the BER on the wireless network side again, and compares the BER measured in such a manner with said second threshold value, and the cable modem proper ends its operation without changing the output level if the measured BER value is less than the second threshold value; and if the measured BER value is equal to or greater than the second threshold value, the cable modem proper checks whether or not a measured data transfer rate is at a minimum value, and the cable modem proper ends its operation if the measured data transfer rate is at the minimum value; and if the measured data transfer rate is not at the minimum value, the cable modem proper feeds a signal to an output level adjuster of the expansion unit which signal instructs the output level adjuster of the expansion unit to decrease its data transfer rate through connecting member, and measures the BER on the wireless network side again, so that an adjustment of the output level and the data transfer rate of the expansion unit is achieve.