Abstract:
A communication system, comprising a wireless communication device including a plurality of antennas communicatively coupled with a communication component, the communication component including a processor, a transmitter, and a receiver, the communication component configured to transmit a first data stream by simultaneously transmitting a first plurality of signal streams using the plurality of antennas, the first plurality of signal streams collectively representing the first data stream, the communication component configured to receive a second data stream by simultaneously receiving a second plurality of signal streams using the plurality of antennas and generating the second data stream from the second plurality of signal streams.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation and claims the priority benefit of U.S. patent application number 10/940,428 filed Sep. 13, 2004 and entitled “A Method and System to Interface Internet Protocol (IP) Based Wireless Devices and Wireless Networks with Optical and other Networks for Improved Flexibility, Performance and Data Transfer,” which is a continuation-in-part of application entitled INTELLIGENT KEYBOARD SYSTEM, Ser. No. 09/281,739, filed Jun. 4, 1999, which is a continuation-in-part application of a now abandoned application entitled A SYSTEM LEVEL SCHEME TO CONTROL INTELLIGENT APPLIANCES, Ser. No. 08/764,903 filed Dec. 16, 1996. The disclosures of each of the foregoing are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The typical cellular telephone/mobile device (CT/MD) today has a single antenna, which is directly connected to a single receiver. While spread spectrum techniques often used in the CT/MD use a broad band of frequencies, at any specific point in time, only a single frequency connected to one receiver is used. While spread spectrum techniques greatly increase the reliability and stability of the transmission, signal “fade” and communication disconnects are often encountered. Some communications systems may rely on two separate systems; one at a high frequency and preferably using spread spectrum transmissions for clarity and reliability, and another providing a different set of frequencies, such as lower frequencies. The secondary system is used when signal fade is a problem in the main system. These are two separate, complementary systems, each devoted to solving a separate, distinguishable problem. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is an object of the present invention to provide wireless enhancements to IP based cellular telephones/mobile wireless devices (CT/MD). The same enhancements are applied to IP based and locally based network switch boxes. 
         [0004]    The typical CT/MD has one transmitter and one receiver (T/R), with one antenna. An unfulfilled need exists for multiple T/R in a CT/MD, providing enhanced capabilities, and the multiple T/R capabilities will often be best met with multiple antennas. The present invention is possible due to advances in the art which allow the necessary components to be integrated, with the size shrunk to achieve the package, performance, and cost desired. The multiple T/R capability allows the single CT/MD to perform tasks in different environments—each T/R being specifically designed or configured for that specific purpose. 
         [0005]    Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0006]    The accompanying drawings, being incorporated in and forming a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  illustrates characteristics of a cellular telephone (CT/MD) of the prior art as opposed to a desired CT/MD of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for a communication system with data being transferred from computer to computer. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates characteristics of the prior art showing a computer to computer data path with one channel. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  illustrates a dual antenna, dual transmit/receive (T/R) unit CT/MD of the present invention in a dual band system. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a dual antenna, dual T/R unit in a CT/MD interfacing with a dual processor in the present invention in a dual band system. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a wide band network switch box system that is capable of operating in a number of network environments sequentially or simultaneously. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a wired interface system for wireless or non-wireless devices and including a wireless cradle adapter. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a CT/MD with multiple T/R units and multiple antennas in a communication system connecting to a Server C through a wireless connection. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the connection of multiple wireless signals to an optical network for connection to a wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) or to the Internet. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a multiple processing system. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a data system with three data streams. 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a data system with three data streams. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a Virtual Private Network (VPN). 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  is an embodiment of the present invention showing how Virtual Private Network or Networks (VPN) system may be provided. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0021]    Reference will now be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, with examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention is described in conjunction with the preferred embodiments, however, it will be understood that the preferred embodiments are not intended to limit the invention. The invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents included, now or later, within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
         [0022]    In the present invention, one or more antennas and T/R units in a CT/MD will provide better tuning and greater bandwidth for a given frequency/application. For example, consider an embodiment of a cell phone, CB radio, and wireless phone, all in a single CT/MD for improving the data rates of a wireless device/network: 
         [0023]    It is seen that the data rate of the CT/MD is increased. Currently the CT/MD data rates are very low and pose a severe limitation for high speed wireless data networking. 14.4 KBPS (kilobits per second) is probably the best reliable speed for a wireless network that is commercially available. The speed at which RF waves are transmitted from point A to point B is a physical property based on the frequency of transmission and reception in a given medium such as air. The signal speed is determined by the frequency and the signal strength is determined by the power, line of sight, interference, etc. In a given assigned frequency band, the data speed is fixed but the power may be varied. The rate at which data may be transmitted over a wireless network is also determined by the ability to encode and decode the signal at the T/R ends using the electronics and computing power resident at each end. 
         [0024]    Data transferred to a CT/MD over a wireless network comes in encoded form and must be decoded at the CT/MD after the data is received, such as by a receiver. The ability to encode and decode the data is a function of the number of encoders/decoders available and assigned to the task at the CT/MD or at a network switch box. It will be appreciated that while a CT/MD and a network switch box are very similar in many ways, they are completely different functional units, with the CT/MD providing personal services and the network switch box providing system services. The ability to encode and decode the data is also a function of the speed at which the encoder/decoder electronics operate at the T/R ends. Of course, each encoder/decoder must be associated with appropriate electronics to effect this task when more than one encoder/decoder is used. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  illustrates characteristics of a cellular telephone/mobile device (CT/MD)  100  of the prior art as opposed to a desired CT/MD of the present invention having multiple transmit/receive (T/R) units and multiple antennas. In  FIG. 1 , Cell phone  102 , CB Radio  104 , and Wireless  106  of the prior art all have a single transmit frequency and a single receive frequency. In contrast, the CT/MD  108  of this embodiment of the present invention has three transmit frequencies and three receive frequencies. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention for a communication system  200  with data being transferred from computer  202  to computer  204 . In  FIG. 2 , computer  202  communicates through a system of T/R units  206 , located within or in proximity to computer system  202 , with computer system  204  through T/R unit  208 . T/R  208  may be located within computer system  204  or in close proximity to computer system  204  to route the data to computer  204  or alternatively to a network server  204 , as required. The rate at which data from system  202  to system  204  is transferred is gated by the speed of the transmit and receive units is improved by the parallel paths provided by the present invention. The signal is sampled and may be multiplexed at each end, at a rate that assures accuracy. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  is an embodiment of the prior art showing a computer to computer data path with a single channel  300 . In  FIG. 3 , using a single antenna and a single T/R unit the signal is processed through the internal electronics of the CT/MD  302  in module  308 , which is shown separate from CT/MD  302  but is normally included within CT/MD  302 . Module  308  contains RF/IF  304  and A/D, D/A converter  306 , as well as processor  310 , memory  312 , control electronics  314 , and other electronics such as display electronics  316  and special interface circuitry  318 , such as for driving the output  320 . It should be clear that output  320  can also be an input/output for the CT/MD  302 . This is also true for a network switch box such as network switch box  552  with the functionality of CT/MD  302 . The module  308  and elements  310  through  318  are included within CT/MD  302  or network switch box  552 . All of these components or systems are normally contained within CT/MD  302 . Since there is only one path, however, it is clear that this system does not form an efficient, convenient interface. The transmission data rate is limited by antenna  322  of CT/MD  302 , which has only one antenna  322 . 
         [0028]    The antenna  322  is capable of receiving only a limited frequency band due to its design limitations, which are common to single antennas used for this purpose. 
         [0029]    Adding additional antennas gives the CT/MD (by extension the same is true for the network switch box) enhanced capabilities to differentiate between various signals or to combine multiple paths into a single communication channel. As an example, the design considerations for receiving cellular telephone frequencies may be totally different from those for streaming video or data signals, and with the present invention both can be combined into the CT/MD. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates a dual antenna, dual T/R unit CT/MD of the present invention in a dual band system  400 . In  FIG. 4 , this scheme with CT/MD  402  transmitting on the dual T/R unit  404  allows the internal processor  406  to independently process the two incoming signal streams separately and optimally, causing the appropriate output to be delivered on the desired output port. In  FIG. 4  the processor  406  is shown as a single processor, however, the processor  406  is not limited to only one processor and may contain multiple processors. Alternately, the single processor may have multiple channels for parallel processing of each data stream to process accurately two distinct signals  408  that were more optimally received by two dedicated antennas and two separate T/R units contained within the CT/MD to improve performance and quality of output. An example is a CT/MD  402  which is optimized for video and voice. 
         [0031]    Having more than one T/R unit gives a performance edge as each signal can be better processed and tuned to the specific frequency band of the signal. Thus better quality of output can be achieved for each type of signal and application. As an example, by having each of the data streams sampled at differing clock frequencies the performance can be better optimized. 
         [0032]      FIG. 5A  illustrates a dual antenna, dual T/R unit  504  in a CT/MD  502  interfacing with a dual processor  506  in the present invention in a dual band system  500 . In  FIG. 5A , in addition to multiple antennas  508  and multiple T/R units  504  the figure also shows multiple processors  506  in a process unit functional block in a CT/MD. The system may communicate through an output or outputs  510 . For example, these outputs may be fibre optic channel, ethernet, cable, telephone, or other. By extension the feature of multiple antennas, multiple T/R units and multiple processors is extendable to the network switch box or network switch boxes that form a local, wide area, Virtual private network or connect to the Internet. 
         [0033]    Server C controls the communication protocols in conjunction with the network switching box or other devices, such as CT/MD  502 . The multiple processors  506  allow for parallel and custom processing of each signal or data stream to achieve higher speed and better quality of output. This can also be done with a single processor that has the parallelism and pipeline capability built in for handling one or more data streams simultaneously. Processor  506  is the complete electronics inclusive of DSP, CPU, memory controller, and other elements essential to process various types of signals. These can be defined as, for example, either single chip or multichip solutions. The processor contained within the CT/MD  502  is further capable of delivering the required outputs to a number of different ports such as optical, USB, cable and others such as  1202  to  1210 . The CT/MD  502  is also capable of taking different inputs, as well as wireless, for the appropriate processing to be done on these signals within the CT/MD  502  and outputting the desired signal on a designated port or ports. Thus the CT/MD  502  has universal connectivity in addition to having a wide range of functionality made possible through the features of multiple antennas, multiple T/R units  504  and processors  506  in this invention. These features may also exist in a network switch box, such as network switch box  552 . 
         [0034]      FIG. 5B  illustrates a wide band network switch box system  550  that is capable of operating in a number of network environments sequentially or simultaneously. The network switch box is configured with multiple processors, multiple antennas and multiple T/R units that can be multiplexed to process incoming and outgoing wireless signals. In addition to wireless signals there is a need to process other types of input/output signals such as optical, cable, USB etc. to fully interface with other types of devices and networks. The network switch box is normally a fixed part of a network, whereas the CT/MD is portable. However, the network switch box may be portable and may be used in the wireless mode only in a wireless network or it may also be connected to one or more networks by wired and wireless means to fully leverage all the input/output ports. 
         [0035]    In  FIG. 5B , network switch box  552  that is limited in quality because of the limitations of wireless may fully leverage the networks, including fibre optic networks, such as by multiple antennas  554  and multiple I/O ports  556 . As an example, the ability to view streaming video on a network switch box  552  may be limited by the wireless signal quality due to the need for compression. This is due to transmissions that are inherently impaired in air as opposed to fibre optic cable. A prior art network switch box while in the mobile mode may receive video of poorer quality. The network switch box  552 , when at home or in the office, could be easily connected to the optical network directly or through I/O ports  556 , such as by a cradle adapter. In this mode the best data, video or audio quality can be received using the same unit. This provides the network switch box  552  single unit to have universal applications since it can sequentially or simultaneously communicate optimally with other systems and networks to deliver quality/performance and speed tailored for each application. 
         [0036]    The network switch box  552  as disclosed above executes substantially the same function as the CT/MD  502 . However, the network switch box  552  operates at a network system level capable of coordinating the operations of a number of mobile and other devices in one or more networks, while the CT/MD  502  performs at a personal level. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a wired interface system  600  for wireless or non-wireless devices. In  FIG. 6 , a wireless device, CT/MD  602  with I/O ports  610  and CT/MD  612  with the ability to interface through a cradle adapter  604  having both wireless and wired connections  606  interfacing with multiple input/output (I/O) ports  608  is shown. One, all, or some of the connections may be used simultaneously or sequentially for combining multiple data paths into a single path. Whether to combine all the paths into a single data channel or use separate data channels for simultaneous operations will be based on the needs of the application. Examples of inputs/outputs are, for example, standard telephone, coaxial cable, Ethernet, twisted pair, wireless, optical, and USB. In addition to the multiple I/O ports  610  shown on the CT/MD  602  and the ports  608  shown for connecting the CT/MD  612  to cradle adapter  604 , the present invention anticipates a universal port and a universal connector. By having the signal path selection done by user defined menu driven software and multiplexing the signals onto a universal input/output port as opposed to the multiple ports  608 ,  610  or wired connections  606 , the desired signals are delivered to the universal port. 
         [0038]    Note that the cradle adapter  604  connection also allows I/O contacts  608  between a non-wireless device (NWD)  612  and a wireless cradle adapter  604  or similar wireless enabling attachment. The enabling attachment can make any non-wireless device (NWD) unit wireless enabled while being plugged into the cradle adapter  604 , as shown for CT/MD  612 , to access a number of wired, optical or wireless communication paths through the ports  608 . The cradle adapter itself may have multiple antennas, multiple T/R units and multiple processors built-in to deliver full functionality. The cradle adapter  604  may also accommodate multiple wired or wireless devices to be plugged in at the same time. The cradle adapter may also contain power ports for the individual devices in addition to the I/O ports. The cradle adapter  604  may be a passive pass through connection enabling device or may have internal electronic smarts to perform certain server functions to control data traffic. Alternately, a Server C located on a LAN, WAN or the Internet can be the control vehicle. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a CT/MD  702  having multiple T/R units internally and with multiple antennas  710  in a communication system  700  connecting to a Server C  706  through a wireless connection  704 . Server C  706  then communicates with a network such as the Internet or other path to data such as a local WAN/LAN line, etc., through connection  708 . The multiple T/R units and antennas  710  allow multiple simultaneous communication paths over connection  704  between the CT/MD and the Server C such that the communication rate is increased. 
         [0040]      FIG. 8  is an embodiment of the present invention illustrating the connection of multiple wireless signals to an optical network for connection to a wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) or to the Internet. In  FIG. 8 , a CT/MD  802  communicates through internal electronic interfaces, such as an RF/IF module  804  and an AD/DA unit  806  in a T/R block  808  with a processor  810 . Processor  810  then provides an electrical signal generated by the T/R block  808  and processed by processor  810  to an optical converter (OC)  812 . OC  812  then delivers the optical signal to fibre optic cable  814  for delivery to, for example, a network such as a WAN/LAN or the Internet. 
         [0041]    This avoids delay in processing the signal and improves quality/performance. Similar conversions can be done by the processor for other input/output protocols or systems such as universal serial bus (USB) or Ethernet either locally or in conjunction with a server such as Server C  706  to receive/deliver input output signals as needed. By extension, the same features are possible for the network switch box such as network switch box  552 . 
         [0042]    Some unique features of the present invention, which apply to either a CT/MD such as CT/MD  802  or to a network switch box such as network switch box  552 , are: 
         [0043]    Multiple antennas for greater signal range and bandwidth. 
         [0044]    Multiple T/R units so that paths or tasks can be paralleled. 
         [0045]    Multiple internal signal processors, or one or more processors that execute in parallel. 
         [0046]    Multiple built in input/outputs for universal connectivity to different network environments. 
         [0047]    Capability to interface wired and wireless devices through a cradle adapter to achieve universal connectivity. 
         [0048]    Parallel processing of signals and data streams at a system level using hardware and software on a server such as Server C  706 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 9  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a multiple processing system  900 . In  FIG. 9 , computer  902  and computer  908  need to exchange data streams at very fast rates. Having a single channel for T/R with a single antenna or a single processor would cause a limitation in data transfer rates, so multiple channels  912  are provided. Server C  910  polls the tasks by communicating with computer  902  and computer  908 , and through computer  902  and computer  908  control the wireless units  904  and  906 , such as CT/MDs or wireless boxes, by optimally allocating channels and transfers of the data. Having multiple channels  912  enhances the data transfer rate compared to a single channel or communication path. Server C  910  oversees the allocation of data to the different channels and keeps the process under control. In addition the multiple channels  912  help overcome the RF to digital electronic conversion rate problem. The rate at which the sampling and conversion takes place is a function of, for example, the A/D and D/A  806  conversion rates and limitations in the other electronics components such as processor  810 . Consequently having the data partitioned by the Server C  910  and assigned to multiple channels  912  enables parallel processing of the communications, and having parallel processing of wireless data streams where the data streams coexist, as in the present invention, increases the data transfer rate. 
         [0050]      FIG. 10  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a data system  1000  with three data streams DS 1   1002 , DS 2   1004  and DS 3   1006 . In  FIG. 10 , three wireless T/R units  1008 ,  1010 , and  1012  are shown. The three data streams  1002 ,  1004 , and  1006  are processed by the three T/R units  1008 ,  1010  and  1012 , converted by converters  1014 ,  1016 , and  1018 , and presented to processors  1020 ,  1022 , and  1024  under the control of controller  1026 . The data streams may be interfaced separately with server C  1030  or combined into data stream  1028  and interfaced to Server C  1030 . The processor or CPU speed is seldom a limiting factor, so the improvement in speed by providing multiple data paths is fully realized by the present invention. Each subtask being processed can be assigned to a separate channel. The rate at which the data is acquired, processed and converted is dependent on the type of electronic components. Therefore, component limitations can be overcome in a straightforward and convenient way by parallel processing. In such cases, the processor speed is seldom a limitation, and conversion speed of RF to electrical and electrical to RF, becomes the primary bottleneck in data transfers for wireless systems. By providing, for example, a single chip, multichip, or hybrid converter for parallel conversions in accordance with the present invention under the supervision of the Server C  910 , this bottleneck is avoided. Each channel may be sampled and clocked individually as necessary to optimally process each data stream and combine the individual data packets. 
         [0051]      FIG. 11  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a data system  1100  with three data streams DS 1   1102 , DS 2   1104  and DS 3   1106 . In  FIG. 11 , three fibre optic channel units  1108 ,  1110 , and  1112  are shown. The three data streams  1102 ,  1104 , and  1106  are processed by the three fibre optic channel units  1108 ,  1110  and  1112 , converted by converters  1114 ,  1116 , and  1118 , and presented to processors  1120 ,  1122 , and  1124  under the control of controller  1126 . The data streams are combined into data stream  1128  and interfaced to Server C  1130 . The processor or CPU speed is seldom a limiting factor, and can be overcome by providing multiple processors as shown, including for Server C  1130 , so the improvement in speed is fully realized by the present invention. Each subtask being processed can be assigned to a separate optical fibre optic channel. The rate at which the data is acquired, processed and converted is limited by the components used for conversion of optical to electrical and electrical to optical signals. Therefore, component limitations can be overcome in a straightforward and convenient way by parallel processing. This can be especially important with fibre optic transmissions, where fibre optic to electrical and electrical to fibre optic conversions can create significant communications limitations. In such cases, the processor speed is seldom a limitation or can be overcome with parallel processors, and conversion speed becomes the primary bottleneck in data transfers for optical systems. As discussed before, by providing, for example, a single chip, multichip, or hybrid converter for parallel conversions in accordance with the present invention under the supervision of a Server C, such as Server C  1130 , the fibre optic channel conversion bottleneck is avoided. 
         [0052]      FIG. 12  is an embodiment of the present invention showing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) communication path  1200 . In  FIG. 12 , multiple communications channels such as USB  1202 , telephone  1204 , cable  1206 , fibre optic channel  1208 , and wireless  1210  are all employed to communicate data relating to tasks and subtasks from data path  1212 , such as from Server C  1130 , to data path  1214 . Data path  1214  may be connected to, for example, another Server C  1030  or similarly. The result is that multiple communication environments are enabled by the data paths  1200 , the environments having, for example, devices such as multiple CT/MDs, network switch boxes, and combinations for forming a VPN, such as VPN  1302 . This is true even where the individual units belong to another VPN. The VPN, such as VPN  1302 , or several VPNs, such as VPNs  1300 , can be under the control of a single or multiple Server C, such as Server C  1130 , machines. Each device in a VPN such as VPN  1300  may operate wireless or wired devices such as the devices in VPN  1302  connected to other wired or wireless networks, including fibre optic channel networks. The devices in a VPN, such as VPN  1302  of the present invention can be multiplexed or multitasked by a Server C, such as Server C  1130 . This allows many such devices to be under the supervision and control of a Server C  1130  or multiple Server C machines such as Server C  1030 ,  1130 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 13  is an embodiment of the present invention showing how Virtual Private Network or Networks (VPN) system  1300  may be provided. In  FIG. 13 , VPN  1302 ,  1306 , and  1310  are connected through a wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) to wireless network  1304 , optical network, such as a fibre optic channel  1308 , and cable network  1312 . Other networks could be used as well, the embodiment is not intended to restrict the present invention. All the VPNs such as VPN  1302  and optionally the connections may be under the supervision of a Server C  1314  or many servers. VPN  1302  is shown with a network switch box  1316 , server  1318 , and a CT/MD  1320 , which allows multipath communication through the network switch box  1316  to server  1318 . This allows communication from/to the network switch box or from/to an outside source, such as a CT/MD service provider, to CT/MD  1320 . The CT/MD  1320  can communicate simultaneously with the network switch box  1316  and an outside source as well. 
         [0054]    VPN  1306  shows network switch box  1322  communicating with a server  1324  and optionally with CT/MD  1326 . As shown, the VPN  1302  and the VPN  1306  operate in parallel, and may both be under the supervision and control of server  1314 , which acts as a sort of executive level supervisor. 
         [0055]    VPN  1310  shows network switch box  1328  and server  1330 , with both CT/MD  1332  and CT/MD  1334  in the VPN  1310 . Network box  1328  may communicate with either or both CT/MD  1332  and  1334 , and CT/MD  1332  and CT/MD  1334  may intercommunicate as well. VPN  1310  may also be under the supervision and control of server  1314 . The server  1314  may also control and supervise VPN  1302  and  1306 . 
         [0056]    The present invention includes the following features: 
         [0057]    (1) A cellular telephone/mobile device (CT/MD) with two or more antennas as opposed to the current state of the art in a single antenna system. Each antenna may be specifically designed for a specific frequency or application or may be multiplexed for different uses. 
         [0058]    (2) A CT/MD with two or more transmit/receive (T/R) units as opposed to the prior art single T/R unit. Each T/R unit in the CT/MD may be designed for a specific frequency or application or may be multiplexed for different uses. 
         [0059]    (3) A CT/MD with two or more processor units (or a single processor unit with built in parallelism to execute same, different and or custom applications) as opposed to the prior art of a single processor unit. Each processor unit in the CT/MD may be designed for a specific application or may be multiplexed for different uses. As an example one processor may be specifically designed to handle voice, another for data, another for high quality audio and yet another for streaming video. 
         [0060]    (4) A CT/MD that has multiple input/output ports as opposed to a single input/output (I/O) port as in the prior art. The CT/MD may have a universal serial bus (USB) port, a coaxial cable port, a standard telephone (POTS) port, a twisted pair port, Ethernet port, and most importantly an optical port. The CT/MD thus can fully interface and interact with different environments sequentially or simultaneously. The feature is more than one port being available with variations in the number of ports (I/O) from one to N. 
         [0061]    (5) A network switch box with two or more antennas as opposed to the prior art of a single antenna system. Each antenna may be specifically designed for an assigned frequency or application or may be multiplexed for different uses. 
         [0062]    (6) A network switch box with two or more T/R units within it as opposed to the prior art of a single T/R unit. Each T/R unit may be designed for an assigned frequency or application or may be multiplexed for different uses. 
         [0063]    (7) A network switch box with two or more processor units (or a single processor unit with built in parallelism to execute same, different and or custom applications) as opposed to the prior art of a single processor unit. Each processor unit in the network box may be designed for a specific application or may be multiplexed for different uses. As an example one processor may be specifically designed to handle voice, another for data, another for high quality audio and yet another for streaming video. 
         [0064]    (8) A network switch box has multiple input/output ports as opposed to a single input/output (I/O) port as in the prior art. The CT/MD may have a universal serial bus (USB) port, a coaxial cable port, a standard telephone (POTS) port, a twisted pair port, Ethernet port, and most importantly an optical port. The CT/MD thus can fully interface and interact with different environments sequentially or simultaneously. The feature is more than one port being available with variations in the number of ports (I/O) from one to N. 
         [0065]    (9) The ability to use the same CT/MD in different environments and applications and the ability to quickly interface to various inputs and outputs by a quick and easy plug in method into a receptacle or socket or by wired or wireless means such as a docking station. 
         [0066]    (10) The ability to use the same network switch box in different environments and applications and the ability to quickly interface to various inputs and outputs by a quick and easy plug in method into a receptacle or socket or by wired or wireless means such as a docking station. 
         [0067]    (11) The CT/MD and the network switch box may be used for communication, control, command, compute, entertainment, gaming, or other applications that may be defined in the future for both wireless and wired equipment. 
         [0068]    (12) The unique feature that allows one or more antennas, one or more T/R units, one or more processors and one or more input/outputs to coexist in totality or as subsets of any combination of the above in one single CT/MD or a network switch box. 
         [0069]    (13) The feature described in item  10  above and this invention allows parallel processing of the signals and data streams through the antennas, through the T/R units, through the multiple processors and through the I/O. This allows the present invention to achieve faster data rates with flexible connections for making multiple applications sequentially or simultaneously available using the same CT/MD or network switch box. As an example, video, audio and other uses can be accessed simultaneously with performance optimized for each through dedicated or multiplexed antenna paths, T/R paths, through multiple processors and I/O paths. 
         [0070]    (14) The internal electronics of a CT/MD or a network switch box other than the antenna, T/R and I/O may be shared or separate. For example, the processor, memory, etc. may be common or may be separate as defined by the application, cost, and site, etc. 
         [0071]    (15) The ability to have an internal IP based web server function within the CT/MD and the network switch box or an external server C connected by wired or wireless means to keep track of all the communication protocols within the unit and with the outside world and other units. 
         [0072]    (16) The electronics that converts wireless to optical signals directly, to efficiently interface wireless and optical signals and systems without intermediate transport. 
         [0073]    (17) The ability to process in parallel signals derived from optical signals such as at a much higher frequency. 
         [0074]    (18) The attachment that makes a non-wireless device fully wireless (see  FIG. 6 ). 
         [0075]    (19) The ability to form many concentric/overlaying networks and have the CT/MD exist in one or more wired or wireless networks simultaneously. Thus one single CT/MD can, at the same time, be part of one or more wired or wireless VPN (virtual private networks) or of a public network. Thus a mixed network, a mixed VPN, is dynamically made possible under the supervision of server C. In this mixed VPN one or more network boxes from different networks, different CT/MDs and base stations coexist in a new virtual network. All of these VPNs, mixed VPNs and public networks being accessible by the CT/MD through the supervision of the central server C located on a LAN, WAN, or the Internet. 
         [0076]    (20) The ability for a CT/MD to communicate with one or more CT/MDs and other wired or wireless devices in one or more VPNs and public networks directly allowing for paging and data transmission and communication between one or more CT/MDs. This is accomplished with all the VPNs being under the control of Server C located on a LAN, WAN or the Internet. 
         [0077]    (21) The network box may also operate as a wireless base station, with the characteristics enumerated for the network box, such as multiple antennas, multiple T/R units, multiple processors and multiple I/O ports. The base station may receive inputs from one type of network and transmit to another type of network seamlessly. For example, an optical network input may be transmitted as a wireless RF output over the wireless network. In reverse the wireless input to base station may be seamlessly converted into optical output for transmission over an optical network. 
         [0078]    (22) In either the base station configuration or the network box configuration, the units have the ability to take optical data and multiplex the data for wireless transmission over one or more channels, at one or more frequencies and power levels. The base station, the network box or the CT/MD may use one or more transmission protocols as deemed optimal and appropriate by the local server C or the super server C located in a LAN, WAN or the Internet. Thus the base station unit, the network box and the CT/MD determines the required frequency spectrum, other wireless parameters such as power and signal to noise ratio to optimally transmit the data. In addition the units have the ability to multiplex between one or more transmission protocols such as CDMA, TDMA to ensure that the fast data rates of the optical network or matched closely in a wireless network to minimize the potential data transmission speed degradation of a wireless network. As an example, the data path between two optical networks may involve a wireless hop due to physical constraints. In such a case the wireless hop transmission speed is likely to be a bottleneck. The base station or the network box, configured as described in the present invention at the hardware level offers universal functionality. In addition the software capability that is resident internally to the unit, at the local server C level or network server C level, is capable of dynamically determining a number of factors for best data transfer. As an example, the unit can determine the best transmission frequencies and protocols, determine the best error correction and channel coding algorithms and multiplexes the transmission paths and tasks. Thus it is possible that various optical and wireless protocols can co-exist in a network. 
         [0079]    (23) The network box or network boxes may also be used to configure a predominantly optical network that has wireless capability as an adjunct or a predominantly wireless network that has optical capability as an adjunct. Other combinations are possible by extension with or without multiplexing. The optical to wireless multiplexer, can be part of a wireless ethernet or optical ethernet. Similarly other types of conversion and transmission multiplexers could be defined to be incorporated into the CT/MD, the network box or the base station to optimally and seamlessly transfer data between networks or within a network. 
         [0080]    The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and it should be understood that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments, with various modifications, as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the Claims appended hereto and their equivalents.