Abstract:
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a high-speed wireless backbone connection, Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF), to create a wireless home network, which may consist of many short-range wired/wireless networks. BCF dynamically creates concurrent data pipelines to meet the data bandwidth demand to transfer packets from one short-range wired/wireless network to another. BCF employs the newly developed antenna technologies (ex. MIMO, SDMA) to minimize the transmit power, to reduce the interferences, and to support the real time communication. 
     BCF contains the BCF-PHY layer, the BCF-Data-Link-Layer, and the BCF-Network-Layer. The BCF-PHY layer consists of antenna array, a PHY Base Band controller, and a digital beam former. The BCF-Data-Link-Layer provides the MAC functionality. The BCF-Network-Layer assembles the packet, provides the source and destination address, and provides the BCF-PHY beam forming information. The BCF-Network-Layer is also responsible for parsing and assembling the packet payloads for the high-speed backbone connection.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is a continuation application of U.S. provisional patent application, Ser. No. US60/753,752, filed Dec. 22, 2005, by Hyun Lee, included by reference herein and for which benefit of the priority date is hereby claimed. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to the fields of wireless communication. Particularly, it focuses on the Wireless Home Area Network (WHAN) and the Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In general, homes contain various wired/wireless networks, such as DTV, RGB, Coaxial Cable, 1394, wired/wireless Ethernet, USB connection, etc. Most of these networks contain a limited number of devices that share the same communication protocol. In effort to consolidate these wired/wireless networks in a home, a number of UWB groups proposed various protocols (ex. WiMedia) to wirelessly connect these wired/wireless devices. However, these proposals limit the physical communication range of each wireless network, which can be defined as a ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster. Its operation range is about 10 meters or less, and each cluster operates independently to each other. In fact, the most home (or personal) networking protocols do not address the inter-operability of these clusters. 
   Furthermore, the current WHAN/WPAN protocols actually promote the privacy of each ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster so that each network is presented as a person&#39;s private network. 
   Thus, the currently proposed wireless network protocols are not capable of providing a seamless wireless home communication network since wireless devices located in a house can be more than 10 meters apart. This means that two or more ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters are required to cover the physical space of a home or a small office. 
   The WHAN/WPAN protocols also do not have provision for dynamically constructing data pipelines to support dynamically changing wireless network activities in home (ex. watching a movie while making a video copy). 
   There are three current proposals that are presented by working groups to address the aforementioned problems. 
   The first proposed solution is constructing a home network that is similar to the cell phone network. 
   In the cell phone network, the cell (cluster) base stations are stationary and permanent. Since theses base stations can easily connected with various methods, any wireless mobile device can communicate with each other via one or more base stations, which can be connected via wired or wireless medium. 
   The second proposal is employing the currently developed 802.11n protocol to connect various home networks. 
   Another suggestion is using the 802.15.3.c, which is the next generation high data rate UWB that operates in the frequency range of 57-64 GHz and the maximum data rate of 800 Mbps-2 Gbps. 
   However, these solutions do not work for the following reasons. 
   The cell phone network protocol could not be used to connect mobile devices in various wireless network clusters. 
   Since the cell phone network does not allow dynamically varying through-put rate and dynamically changing communication channel as the WHAN and WPAN protocols require, the concept of the cell phone network protocol would not directly apply to establish a practical home network that consists of a number of WHANs and WPANs. 
   The 802.11n protocol would be able to directly connect various WHAN of WPAN networks. However, the 802.11n protocol alone is not a viable candidate for connecting the home networks since it is only capable of supporting a data transfer rate of 100 Mbps, which is much slower than the data rate required to support the HDMI/HDPC protocol (6 Gbps). 
   The 802.15.3c data rate is enough to support the current home entertainment networks (HDTV requires ˜20 Mbps). However, it alone does not provide wide enough data pipeline to support the HDMI/HDPC protocol, which is definitely becoming the de-facto standard of home entertainment networks since the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) supports the HDMI/HDPC protocol. 
   It is therefore an object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that provides connection among any wireless devices, including mobile devices that may belong to different WHAN/WPAN clusters. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that provides connection among any wireless devices that are located outside of the communication range of each WHAN/WPAN cluster. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that provides a point-to-point connection between any two wireless devices regardless of the distance between them. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that supports high data rate transfers among any wireless devices either within the same cluster or spread out among many different clusters. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that supports high data rate transfer among any wireless devices regardless of the distance between them. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that supports simultaneous transfers of data between different pairs of wireless devices regardless of the distance between each pair of devices. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network system that supports broad-casting or multi-casting of data from a wireless device to the other wireless devices in the home network. 
   It is another object of the invention to produce a practical wireless home network that dynamically increases the data bandwidth by occupying unused communication channels. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a high-speed wireless backbone connection to create a home network, which consists of a number of ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters, such as WHAN and/or WPAN, which may or may not include wired connections, such as LAN, within the network. The high-speed wireless backbone connection, Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF), is based on a method of dynamically creating concurrent data pipelines for the purpose of meeting the dynamic data bandwidth demand in addition to providing a unified home network by linking a number of ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters. This invention utilizes some antenna technologies such as MIMO (multiple-In, multiple-out) and/or the SDMA (Spatial Division Multiple Access) to minimize the transmit power, to reduce the interferences with other wireless networks, and to support the real time communication such as streaming line video applications. 
   The Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF) is composed of the lowest three layers of the 7-layer OSI model, the BCF-PHY layer, the BCF-Data-Link-Layer, and the BCF-Network-Layer. Each individual small wired/wireless network cluster contains one BCF. 
   The BCF-PHY layer consists of antenna array, which may include MIMO and/or SDMA, along with a PHY Base Band controller that performs the beam-forming operation. The BCF-Data-Link-Layer provides the MAC functionality for the backbone wireless communication channel. The BCF-Network-Layer assembles the packet, provides the source and destination address, the target device address, and the BCF-PHY beam-forming information to the MAC. For example, the data packet format for the high-speed backbone connection can be the 802.15.3C packet format if the backbone is connected via 60 GHz channel. In this case, since each channel is capable of carrying 800 Mbps-2 Gbps, the BCF-Network-Layer may decide to use a multiple of 60 GHz channel to support the 6 Gbps HDMI/HDPC protocols. 
   In addition to the general network functions, the BCF-Network-Layer is also responsible for parsing and assembling the packet payloads for the high-speed backbone connection. The BCF-Network-Layer constructs the packet payload based on the data rate demand and the type of the communication requirements. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a detail view of a high data rate single packet being transferred as two slower rate backbone connection facilitator (bcf) packets; 
       FIG. 2  is a detail view of a two slower data rate packets are transferred as a single high data rate backbone connection facilitator (bcf) packet; 
       FIG. 3  is a detail view of a data generated by a low data rate source and a high data rate source are transferred as two high data backbone connection facilitator (bcf) packets; 
       FIG. 4  is a detail view of a direct wireless connection between two ‘short-range wireless network’ clusters within a home or a small office; 
       FIG. 5  is a detail view of a direct wireless connection among more than two ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters within home or a small office; 
       FIG. 6  is a detail view of a direct wireless connection with concurrent high-speed data pipeline between two ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters within a home or a small office; and 
       FIG. 7  is a detail view of an example state diagram of the backbone connection facilitator that connects ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters within a home or a small office. 
     For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the Figures. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   This patent presents a method of constructing a practical wireless home network using the newly developed adaptive antenna technology, such as MIMO (Multiple_In_Multiple_Out), SDMA Spatial Division Mulitple Access), and the newly defined IEEE (802) wireless protocols, such as 802.11n and 802.15.3. 
   The invention demonstrates how to construct a wireless home network that unifies the home entertainment network, the home data network, and the Mobile network. This invention provides seamless interface among these networks with a very high data generation/transfer rate (6 Gbps) to be able to support any future communication protocols including the HDMI/HDPC protocol. 
   Example of the Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF) Packet ayload Construction Criteria is given at below. 
   Criterion-1 case: High data transfer rate generated by a single source;
         The BCF-Network-Layer parses the original packet with the bit slicing technique to create multiple lower data rate packets (Refer to  FIG. 1 ), and the BCF-Data-Link-Layer sends these packets via concurrent data pipelines.       

   Criterion-2 case: High data transfer rate to handle the data generated by multiple of low data rate sources;
         The BCF-Network-Layer constructs the high-speed payload by merging a number of low data rate packets (Refer to  FIG. 2 ). The BCF-Network-Layer may merge the low data rate packets by bit-wise multiplexing, by byte-wire multiplexing, or by word-wise multiplexing.  FIG. 2  shows two examples where the BCF-Data-Link-Layer and the BCF-PHY-Layer transfer the bit-wise multiplexed data, and alternatively the byte-wire multiplexed data.       

   Criterion-3 case: High data transfer rate to handle a number of simultaneously generated low data rate packets and high data rate packets;
         The BCF-Network-Layer constructs evenly distributed high-speed BCF packets by merging a number of low data rate packets with high data rate packets (Refer to  FIG. 3 ).  FIG. 3  shows that the Backbone packet-A transfers bytes 0, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9 . . . (3n−1), 3n of the original packet-A. The Backbone packet-B transfers bytes 1, 4, 7, . . . (3n+1) of the original packet-A, and the original packet-B.       

   As theses 3 example cases show, the BCF-Network-Layer parses the original data packet, and assembles the high-speed backbone packets to optimize the power dissipation, and also the number of channels it occupies. 
   Example of Employing Smart/Adaptive Antenna Technology is shown at below. 
   This invention also incorporates the Smart/Adaptive antenna Technology to increase the communication distance and to reduce the power dissipation. The high-speed backbone connection may contain more than one PHY that is based on antenna technology such as -MIMO. The MAC controls the antennas to simultaneously connect multiple ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters. The MAC also controls the transmit power based on the range measurements. 
   Case 1: Direct Wireless Connection between two ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters;
           FIG. 4  shows the case when one ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster is connected to another ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster via Smart/Adaptive Antenna.       

   Case 2: Direct Wireless Connection among more than two ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters;
           FIG. 5  shows the case when one ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster is connected to multiple ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters via Smart/Adaptive Antenna. This configuration allows the one ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster to send broadcast information to other ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters.       

   Case 3: Direct Wireless Connection with Concurrent High-Speed Data Pipelines between more than two ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters;
           FIG. 6  shows an example of one ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster is connected to another ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster via concurrent high-speed data pipelines. This configuration allows the one ‘short-range wireless network’ cluster to transfer data via concurrent wireless channels.       

   The description of this application presents an example of the method to link various wired/wireless home networks. A dynamically sizable backbone high-speed data pipeline can be constructed with this method for the purpose of supporting such protocol as HDMI/HDPC, which requires up to 6 Gbps data transfer rate. 
   This invention requires at least one device that is capable of supporting the Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF) function. The BCF may be implemented in any wireless device with/without wired connection. The BCF function does not have to be an exclusive function in a device. Since any UWB wireless device needs to support the lowest 3 layers of the 7 Layer OSI model, a person trained in this art should be able to incorporate the BCF function in an existing wireless device design. 
   Example of Implementing a Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF) Based Wireless Network is given at below. 
   When a user wishes to link a new device (equipment) to an exiting home network, the user needs to register the device with the network. The registration process can be as simple as connecting the wire into a wired network, or going through the wireless device association process. Once the device is registered, the registration information is shared among all wired/wireless networks via the BCF, and the user can carry the device any place in his or her home without loosing the connection. If the mobile device is a WUSB device, all WUSB Hosts in various home networks (connected via BCF) support the connectivity by sharing the WUSB device&#39;s identification. Therefore, the user only needs to register the device once as long as the device stays within the BCF connected network. 
   After device registration, the BCF-Network-Layer, using the standard UWB (WiMedia) protocol or wired protocol, keeps track of the physical location of the device so that all BCF know in which of the ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters the device currently resides. If a BCF-Network-Layer determines that the device is within its ‘short-range wireless network’ cluster, the BCF-Data-Link-Layer is informed by the BCF-Network-Layer to service the device. Since a Data-Link-Layer normally rejects any packet that is not recognized as the destination address it serves, it is important for the BCF-Network-Layer to inform all other short range networks about the all device addresses in its network. Once the process is completed, the device is ready to communicate with any devices that are connected via the BCFs in the home network. 
   The shared knowledge among BCFs about the whereabouts of each device in the home network allows the BCF-Network-Layer to correctly determine if the packet transfers are intra ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster, or inter ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters. If the BCF makes a decision to transfer packets inter ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ clusters, the BCF performs the packet parse-assembly function to construct packets that satisfies the wireless protocol that the BCF is using. 
   For example, since the BCF uses a well-defined standard protocol such as 802.15.3C to provide high-speed data link, the BCF only needs to construct the 820.15.3C payload based upon the method discussed in this invention. 
   The BCF-Network-Layer that receives BCF packets parses the payload, and assembles short-range packets. Since the short-range packets were encapsulated as the payload(s) of the high-speed BCF packet, the receiving BCF-Network-Layer does not need to translate the packet protocol. It only needs to re-format the payload(s) based on the “Example of the Backbone Connection Facilitator (BCF) Packet Payload Construction Criteria” section prior to sending to the BCF-Data-Link-Layer (MAC). 
     FIG. 7  shows an example state diagram of the BCF operation that is described in this patent. 
     FIG. 7  consists of two independent state paths. The first path that follows “Packet Received ( 751 )” shows how the BCF transfers data from one ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster to another ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster via concurrent high-speed data pipeline. The second path that follows “Detect new device ( 752 )” shows how a new device is registered into the unified Wireless Home Area Network. 
   The BCF stays in the IDLE ( 701 ) state unless it receives a packet ( 751 ) or it detects a new device ( 752 ). When the BCF detects a new device, it goes through the registration state ( 709 ), where the BCF stores the address and the protocol type of the new device. After the registration ( 709 ), the BCF notifies ( 710 ) other BCFs in the home area network about the new device. When it completes the notification process ( 781 ), the BCF goes back to the IDLE state ( 701 ). 
   During normal data transfer operation; when the BCF receives a packet ( 751 ), which can be either from another BCF or from its own ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster, it moves to the next state where the BCF checks ( 702 ) the packet type. If the packet received is a BCF packet ( 754 ), it extracts the short-range network packet ( 704 ) from the BCF packet payload. After the packet check ( 702 ) process, the BCF goes into the destination address check state ( 703 ). In this state, if the BCF decides that the destination is not within the ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster ( 756 ), the BCF constructs a BCF packet, and forwards it ( 706 ) to the BCF that is in another ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster that contains the destination device. When the packet routing to another BCF is completed ( 782 ), it goes back to the IDLE state ( 701 ). If the destination device is within the its own ‘short-range wired/wireless network’ cluster ( 755 ), the BCF checks for the protocol types of the source and destination devices ( 705 ), If the source and destination shares the same protocol ( 757 ), the BCF does not need to take any further action, and goes back to the IDLE ( 701 ) state. However, if the source and destination use different protocols ( 758 ), the BCF converts the protocol ( 707 ), and routs to the destination ( 708 ), then goes back ( 759 ) to the IDLE state. 
   Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention. 
   Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.