Abstract:
A wireless local area network module including an input configured to receive a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates whether a vehicle is in a parked position. The wireless local area network module further includes a wireless local area network transceiver associated with the vehicle. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to i) receive data packets via a first wireless communication channel, and ii) in response to the control signal indicating that the vehicle is in a parked position, repeat the data packets over the first wireless communication channel.

Description:
The present disclosure is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/433,908, filed on May 12, 2006. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     Background 
     The Internet is an increasing part of our lives. It is used at home to perform research, send and receive electronic mail, to play games, telecommute, and other such applications. In an effort to increase Internet accessibility, some individuals, businesses and/or government entities have installed wireless access points (WAP) or “Internet hotspots” that allow people to access the Internet with a wireless station (STA). Examples of STAs include laptop computers, palmtop computers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held gaming devices, and/or other such devices that can be equipped with a wireless local area network (WLAN) interface that communicates with the WAP. 
     Some cities, such as San Francisco, Calif., are being outfitted with a plurality of WAPs so that Internet access is practically ubiquitous throughout the city. However, such an effort requires a significant investment in WAPs along with additional and ongoing maintenance expenses. WLAN signals may be absorbed by dense structures, have limited range and may be limited to line-of-sight applications. It therefore becomes exponentially more expensive to provide a city with truly ubiquitous wireless Internet access since WAPs would need to be located in many locations that are practically shielded from the UHF and SHF bands. These locations include underground parking structures, basements, subway systems, around land masses, and so forth. Current federal rules also limit the transmitter power of WLANs in the aforementioned portions of the UHF and SHF bands to a fairly low value. Even under ideal RF propagation conditions, a city would need a large number of WAPs for a STA to move between contiguous Internet hotspots. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a WLAN  10  includes a WAP  12  that communicates with a distributed communication system  14  such as the Internet via a communication link  16 . Communication link  16  can include a copper, fiber optic, wireless links, and/or the like. A STA  18  associates with WAP  12  via a wireless communication channel  20 . WAP  12  and communication link  16  then complete a communication path between STA  18  and the distributed communication system  14 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a functional block diagram is shown that illustrates some of the challenges presented in establishing ubiquitous wireless access over a geographic area. A plurality of masses  22  represents buildings, land masses, and/or other barriers to the wireless communication channels  20  between WAPs  12  and STAs  18 . A distance between the STA and the WAP also may present problems. A first WAP  12 - 1  communicates with distributed communication system  14  via a first communication link  16 - 1 . A second WAP  12 - 2  communicates with distributed communication system  14  via a second communication link  16 - 2 . A first STA  18 - 1  associates with a first WAP  12 - 1  via a wireless communication channel  20 - 1  that is unobstructed by one or more of masses  22 . A second STA  18 - 2  associates with second WAP  12 - 2  via a wireless communication channel  20 - 2  that is unobstructed by one of masses  22 . 
     A third STA  18 - 3  is unable to establish a wireless communication channel to nearby second WAP  12 - 2  since one of masses  22  lies in the way. Additional WAPs  12  such as a third WAP  12 - 3  would need to be installed within line-of-sight of third STA  18 - 3  to provide it with a link to distributed communication system  14 . More WAPs would need to be provided to further extend coverage. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in one aspect, this specification discloses a wireless local area network module including an input configured to receive a control signal, wherein the control signal indicates whether a vehicle is in a parked position. The wireless local area network module further includes a wireless local area network transceiver associated with the vehicle. The wireless local area network transceiver is configured to i) receive data packets via a first wireless communication channel, and ii) in response to the control signal indicating that the vehicle is in a parked position, repeat the data packets over the first wireless communication channel. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the disclosure, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a WLAN of the prior art; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of a geographical area that includes a WLAN of the prior art; 
         FIG. 3  is a functional block diagram of a geographical area populated with a plurality of combination WLAN access point/WLAN repeater (WRS) modules; 
         FIG. 4A  is a functional block diagram of a WRS module that includes a WLAN transceiver; 
         FIG. 4B  is a functional block diagram of a WRS module that includes a WLAN transceiver and a wireless telephone transceiver; 
         FIG. 5  is a WLAN protocol message used by a WRS module; 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart of a first method used by a WRS module to select an operating mode; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart of a second method used by a WRS module to select an operating mode; 
         FIG. 8A  is a functional block diagram of a vehicle control system; and 
         FIG. 8B  is a functional block diagram of a cellular phone. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same reference numbers will be used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As used herein, the term module, circuit and/or device refers to an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using a non-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within a method may be executed in different order without altering the principles of the present disclosure. 
     Mobile platforms such as automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and other vehicles tend to have a relatively high cost. Providing wireless Ethernet service to these vehicles will be a growing trend in the future. Access to a distributed communications system will be provided by wireless telephone systems and/or other large area wireless Ethernet services such as WiMax and the like. By incorporating additional network gear such as repeaters and access points in the mobile platforms, the mobile platforms can be used to extend wireless services to areas that are not already covered. The incremental cost added to the mobile platforms will be relatively low in relation to the overall price of the mobile platform. 
     For example, a first mobile platform may have a wireless telephone based data service and may periodically be within range of wireless hot spots. For example, the first mobile platform may be parked in a mall within range of a wireless hot spot. A second mobile platform may not have a wireless telephone based data service and may not be within range of the wireless hot spot. However, the second mobile platform may be within range of the first mobile platform. If the first mobile platform is not using the wireless links fully, the first mobile platform may act as either a repeater for the wireless hot spot or as an access point for the wireless telephone based service. Furthermore, since the wireless gear does not dissipate much power, it can be operated on battery power when the mobile platform is not operational. By using the first mobile platform in this manner, the second mobile platform will be provided wireless access that it would otherwise not have. 
     Furthermore, the second mobile platform may also act as a repeater for a third mobile platform. In such a scenario the second mobile platform repeats data packets that it receives from the first and third mobile platforms. The first mobile platform can be configured as a repeater if it is within range of the wireless hot spot. Alternatively, the first mobile platform can be configured as an access point that uses the wireless telephone based service to communicate with the Internet or other distributed communication system. The third mobile platform can then have wireless access via the first and second mobile platforms. 
     While the foregoing examples describe the first mobile platform in a parked position, the first, second and/or third mobile platforms can also be in motion. Furthermore, the availability of the wireless hot spots will come and go as the first mobile platform travels. Therefore, the first mobile platform may switch between using the telephone-based services and the wireless Ethernet-based services on an availability basis, a performance basis, a cost basis, and/or using any other criteria. As can be appreciated, as the number of mobile platforms with the network devices described above and below increases, the availability of wireless access will also increase. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , one of several embodiments of an improved WLAN system  200  is shown. WLAN system  200  is deployed over a geographic area that may include masses  201  which absorb and/or block RF communication channels and/or that may be too large to reasonably cover with a wireless network. Examples of masses  201  include buildings, land masses, and/or atmospheric components. First through fourth wireless STAs  202 - 1 , . . . ,  202 - 4  access a distributed communication system  204 , such as the Internet, through various communications paths that are described below in more detail. 
     A plurality of combination WLAN repeater/station (WRS) modules  206  are interspersed throughout the geographic area. Each WRS module  206  is associated with a mobile platform that includes a power supply such as a battery. Examples of mobile platforms include automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and/or the like. The mobile platform may selectively enable services to other mobile platforms depending upon a state of charge of a battery. For example, an automobile may provide access as long as the battery state of charge is above a threshold. 
     WRS modules  206  selectively operate in one of a STA mode and a repeater mode. In some implementations WRS modules  206  can include a wireless telephone transceiver that is used to access the distributed communication system  204  via an internet service provider (ISP). WRS modules  206  that include the wireless telephone transceivers can also operate in a WAP mode and provide access to distributed communication system  204  for other STAs  202  and WRS modules  206 . 
     A first WRS module  206 - 1  operates in the WAP mode and establishes a wireless link with distributed communication system  204  via a cellular telephone tower  208 . First WRS module  206 - 1  associates with first STA  202 - 1  and provides it with wireless access to distributed communication system  204  via a first communication channel  210 - 1 . First WRS module  206 - 1  and first STA  202 - 1  comprise a first WLAN subnetwork. 
     A second WRS module  206 - 2  operates in the repeater mode and bridges a second communication channel  210 - 2  around one of masses  201  to WAP  212 , which communicates with distributed communication system  204 . In some embodiments the repeater mode includes a transponder mode that uses different frequencies to transmit and receive RF signals in the bridged second communication channel  210 - 2 . In other embodiments the repeater mode includes a multiplexing mode that uses the same frequency at different times to transmit and receive in the bridged second communication channel  210 - 2 . 
     A second STA  202 - 2  accesses distributed communication system  204  via a WRS  206 - 2 , WAP  212  and bridged communication channel  210 - 2 . A third STA  202 - 3  accesses distributed communication system  204  via a third communication channel  210 - 3  that is bridged to second WRS module  206 - 2  via a third WRS module  206 - 3 . Third WRS module  206 - 3  is also operating in the repeater mode. Second WRS module  206 - 2 , second STA  202 - 2 , third STA  202 - 3 , and third WRS module  206 - 3  comprise a second WLAN subnetwork. 
     A fourth WRS module  206 - 4  operates in the WAP mode and establishes a wireless link with distributed communication system  204  via a satellite  216 . Fourth WRS module  206 - 4  is associated with fourth STA  202 - 4  and provides it with wireless access to distributed communication system  204  via a fourth communication channel  210 - 4 . Fourth WRS module  206 - 4  and fourth STA  202 - 4  comprise a third WLAN subnetwork. 
     Since the WRS modules  206  are associated with mobile platforms, they may continuously and/or periodically move about and provide WLAN access to geographical areas that would otherwise not have coverage. WRS modules  206  can be incorporated in a substantial percentage of mobile platforms. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4A , one of several embodiments of a WRS module  206  is shown. A control module  229  may have a central processing unit (CPU)  230  that communicates with memory  232 . A WLAN transceiver module  234  may include an antenna  237  that communicates over wireless communication channels  210  ( FIG. 3 ). In some embodiments WLAN transceiver module  234  is compliant with at least one of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standards 802.11, 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11h, 802.11n, 802.16, and 802.20, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. In some embodiments WLAN transceiver module  234  is compliant with a Bluetooth specification published by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Memory  232  includes computer instructions for the methods that are described below. CPU  230  executes the computer instructions to determine whether WRS module  206  operates in the repeater mode or the STA mode. CPU  230  communicates control signals over a control signal bus  240  to configure WLAN transceiver module  234  and wireless telephone transceiver  236  (shown in  FIG. 4B ) to operate in the determined mode. 
     CPU  230  receives a usage signal  242  that is generated by the mobile platform. Usage signal  242  indicates whether the mobile platform is being used by a user and/or whether devices associated with the mobile platform are transmitting or receiving packets. For example in a vehicle, usage signal  242  can be generated by a host device when the host needs to access the wireless network, a park/neutral switch associated with a drivetrain of the vehicle, a vehicle speed signal generated by a speedometer of the vehicle, and/or an ignition switch of the vehicle. When the mobile platform includes a portable electronic device such as a cellular telephone, laptop computer, PDA, and the like, usage signal  242  can be generated by an idle timer, a power switch, and the like. CPU  230  applies usage signal  242  to the methods described below. 
     WLAN transceiver module  234  includes a physical layer module (PHY)  250  that communicates with a media access controller (MAC) module  252 . MAC module  252  interfaces with CPU  230  via a data bus  238  and a control signal bus  240 . PHY  250  includes an RF module  248  that sends and receives WLAN packets via antenna  237 . The WLAN packets can include address information that is compliant with internet protocol IPv6. WRS module  206  uses the address information to route the WLAN packets to destination WLAN subnetworks. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4B , a WRS module  206  is shown that includes the components of  FIG. 4A  together with a wireless telephone transceiver  236 . Wireless telephone transceiver  236  can include a cellular telephone transceiver, a metropolitan area network transceiver, a satellite ground station transceiver, and/or the like. Wireless telephone transceiver  236  can also include a modem  259  that translates data between a digital format used by data bus  238  and a modulated RF carrier format that is used in wireless telephone systems. Wireless telephone transceiver  236  interfaces with CPU  230  via data bus  238  and control signal bus  240 . 
     Memory  232  includes additional computer instructions to determine whether WRS module  206  operates in one of a WAP mode, the repeater mode, or the STA mode. CPU  230  communicates control signals over a control signal bus  240  to configure WLAN transceiver module  234  and wireless telephone transceiver  236  to operate in the determined mode. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , one of several embodiments of protocol message fields are shown that are communicated by WLAN transceiver module  234 . The protocol message fields are included together or separately in a portion of the WLAN packets and indicate operating conditions of WRS module  206 . It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the protocol message fields can include various numbers of bits to provide desired degrees of resolution in each field. 
     A bandwidth (BW) quality field  254  may indicate, for example, a percentage of a maximum or minimum bandwidth that an associated WRS module  206  can provide. A signal strength field  256  indicates an RF signal strength received at antenna  237 . A hop count field  258  indicates a number of other WRS modules  206  and/or WAPs  212  in the communication channel  210  to distributed communication system  204  ( FIG. 3 ). A WAP/repeater mode (W/R) field  260  indicates whether WRS module  206  is operating in the WAP mode or repeater mode. Other WRS modules  206  operating in the STA mode or the repeater mode and STAs  202  can use the protocol message fields  254 - 260  to determine whether to associate with the WRS module  206  that generated the message fields. For example, WRS modules  206  operating in the STA mode or the repeater mode and STAs  202  can implement a method that requires signal strength field  256  and/or BW quality field  254  be below associated predetermined values before associating with a particular WRS module  206 . Such a method can provide a degree of load leveling and distribute the WLAN packets somewhat evenly across a mesh of WRS modules  206 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , one of several embodiments is shown of a method  300  that determines whether WRS module  206  operates in the WAP mode or the repeater mode. In some embodiments method  300  is only executed when usage signal  242  indicates that mobile platform is not being used. Method  300  can be implemented as computer instructions that are stored in memory  232  ( FIG. 4 ) and executed by CPU  230 . 
     Control enters at block  302  and immediately proceeds to decision block  304  to determine whether a WAP  212  is available via WLAN transceiver module  234 . If so then control proceeds to block  306  and attempts to associate with the available WAP  212 . Control then proceeds to decision block  308  and determines whether the attempted association from block  306  was successful. If so then control proceeds to decision block  310  and determines whether WRS module  206  may share its access to WAP  212  with other WRS modules  206  or STAs  202 . In some embodiments the determination can be based on whether the association with WAP  212  incurs more than a predetermined monetary expense and/or whether WRS module  206  has sufficient unused bandwidth available. If the result from decision block  310  is affirmative then control proceeds to block  312  and enters the repeater mode. Control then returns to other processes via return block  314 . On the other hand, if the result from decision block  310  is negative then control exits without entering the repeater mode. In some embodiments control can enter the host mode after exiting the negative branch of decision block  310 . 
     If the attempted association from block  306  was unsuccessful then control proceeds from decision block  308  to decision block  316 . In decision block  316  control determines whether wireless telephone transceiver  236  can access distributed communication system  204 . If WRS module  206  does not include wireless telephone transceiver  236  then control immediately exits. Control also exits when wireless telephone transceiver  236  is unable to access distributed communication system  204 . 
     If wireless telephone transceiver  236  is able to associate with distributed communication system  204 , then control braches from decision block  316  to decision block  318 . In decision block  318  control determines whether WRS module  206  may share its access to distributed communication system  204  with other WRS modules  206  or STAs  202 . In some embodiments the determination can be based on whether the wireless telephone connection to distributed communication system  204  incurs more than a predetermined monetary expense and/or whether WRS module  206  has sufficient unused bandwidth available. If the result from decision block  318  is affirmative then control proceeds to block  3320  and enters the WAP mode. Control then returns to other processes via return block  314 . On the other hand, if the result from decision block  318  is negative then control exits through block  314  without entering the WAP mode. 
     It should be appreciated that the branching in decision blocks  310  and  318  may be based on whether WRS module  206  has been configured to share its connection to distributed communications system  204 . WRS module  206  may also share its connection only if the requesting mobile platform also enables sharing with other mobile platforms. In other words, by sharing its own wireless network resources, the WRS module  206  will have access to wireless networks provided by other mobile platforms. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7  a second method  350  is shown that determines whether WRS module  206  should enter the STA mode. Method  350  can be implemented as computer instructions that are stored in memory  232  ( FIG. 4 ) and executed by CPU  230 . 
     Control enters block  352  and immediately proceeds to decision block  354 . Decision block  354  determines whether the mobile platform is in use based on usage signal  242  ( FIG. 4 ). If the mobile platform is not in use then control branches to block  356  and enters one of the WAP and repeater modes based on method  300 . Control then proceeds from block  356  to return block  358  and continues with other processes. 
     If control determines that the mobile platform is in use in decision block  354  then control branches to block  360  and enters the STA mode. Control then proceeds from block  360  to return block  358  and continues with other processes. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 8A and 8B , various exemplary implementations of WRS module  206  are shown. Referring now to  FIG. 8A , WRS module  206  may be implemented in a vehicle  430 . Vehicle  430  includes a powertrain control system  432  that receives inputs from one or more sensors  436  such as temperature sensors, pressure sensors, rotational sensors, airflow sensors and/or any other suitable sensors appropriate for generating usage signal  242  and/or one or more output control signals  438  such as engine operating parameters, transmission operating parameters, and/or other control signals. WRS module  206  communicates with powertrain control system  432  via a vehicle network  445 . Usage signal  242  can also be communicated to WRS module  206  via vehicle network  445 . 
     Vehicle network  445  can also communicate with another control system  440 . The control system  440  can receive signals from input sensors  442  and/or output control signals to one or more output devices  444 . In some implementations, the control system  440  may be part of a body control system, an anti-lock braking system (ABS), a navigation system, a telematics system, a vehicle telematics system, a lane departure system, an adaptive cruise control system, a vehicle entertainment system such as a stereo, DVD, compact disc and the like. Still other implementations are contemplated. 
     The powertrain control system  432  may be associated with memory  447  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. The powertrain control system  432  also may support connections with distributed communication system  204  via WRS module  206 . 
     The powertrain control system  432  may communicate with mass data storage  446  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner. The mass data storage  446  may include optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example hard disk drives (HDD), redundant array of independent disks (RAID), and/or DVDs and the like. The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. The vehicle  430  may include a power supply  433 , such as a battery, that provides at least a portion of the power to WRS module  206 , powertrain control system  432 , and control system  440 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8B , WRS module  206  can be integrated with a cellular phone  450 . CPU  230  can be included with other signal processing and/or control circuits, which are generally identified at  452 . In some implementations, the cellular phone  450  includes a microphone  456 , an audio output  458  such as a speaker and/or audio output jack, a display  460  and/or an input device  462  such as a keypad, pointing device, voice actuation and/or other input device. The signal processing and/or control circuits  452  and/or other circuits (not shown) in the cellular phone  450  may process data, perform coding and/or encryption, perform calculations, format data and/or perform other cellular phone functions. 
     The cellular phone  450  may communicate with mass data storage  464  that stores data in a nonvolatile manner such as optical and/or magnetic storage devices for example HDD, RAID, and/or DVDs and the like. The HDD may be a mini HDD that includes one or more platters having a diameter that is smaller than approximately 1.8″. The cellular phone  450  may be connected to memory  466  such as RAM, ROM, low latency nonvolatile memory such as flash memory and/or other suitable electronic data storage. Memory  232 , which is coupled to CPU  230 , can be implemented in a portion of memory  466 . The cellular phone  450  also may support connections with a WLAN communication channel via WLAN transceiver  234  and antenna  237 . The cellular phone  450  can access the distributed communication system  204  via a wireless telephone connection established through wireless telephone transceiver  236 . The cellular telephone  450  may include a power supply  453 , such as a battery. 
     Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification and the following claims.