Patent Publication Number: US-2010111055-A1

Title: Wireless access point, wireless network architecture, and method for establishing wireless network architecture

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a wireless access point, a wireless network architecture, and a method for establishing the wireless network architecture and, more particularly, to a wireless access point whose modes may be switched without a browser, a wireless network architecture including the wireless access point, and a method for establishing a wireless network architecture based on the wireless access point. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Since the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers published the IEEE 802.11 standard of wireless network in June, 1997, transmission speed and stability of wireless network are improved as related technology improves continuously and related equipment develops quickly. Furthermore, a wireless network is convenient to use without physical wiring. Therefore, it becomes popular and preferred network connection mean of users under considerations of cost, connection speed and convenience. 
     In short, wireless network architecture mainly includes a user terminal and a wireless access point. A wireless card is fixed on the user terminal and the wireless access point is connected to backbone network such as the Internet. The user terminal is connected to the wireless access point in a manner similar to radio communication via the wireless card, and then it may be connected to the backbone network via the wireless access point to use network resource. 
     Although the wireless network has an advantage of being online anytime anywhere, the strength of the signals of the wireless card and the wireless access point can be easily weaken under the interference of barriers. Therefore, if the wireless network needs to be used seamless in larger space, more than one wireless access point is always needed to be set. 
     Conventionally, when a user has two wireless access points to be connected in series, the first wireless access point is always set in a router mode, and the second wireless access point can be set in a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode or an adapter mode to achieve different effects. 
       FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C  are schematic diagrams of wireless network architecture in the prior art. As shown in  FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C , the wireless network architecture  7  in the prior art mainly includes the first wireless access point  70  and the second wireless access point  72 . The first wireless access point  70  is connected to the Internet  8 . The second wireless access point  72  is connected to a first electronic device  74  to make the first electronic device  74  connected to the Internet  8  via the second wireless access point  72  and the first wireless access point  70  in order. Furthermore, the second wireless access point  72  is usually connected to the second electronic device  76  via a network cable. Therefore, a user can set the second wireless access point  72  via the second electronic device  76 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1A , when a user wants to set the second wireless access point  72  in the wireless access point mode, he performs the following steps. First, he connects the second electronic device  76  to the second wireless access point  72  via the network cable. Second, he sets parameters such as an IP address, an account and a password of the second electronic device  76  and sets the second wireless access point  72  in the wireless access point mode in firmware. Third, he sets parameters of the second wireless access point  72  such as a SSID, an encryption mode and a password. At last, he connects the second wireless access point  72  with the first wireless access point  70  via a network cable to finish settings. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1B , when a user wants to set the second wireless access point  72  in the repeater mode, he performs the following steps. First, he connects the second electronic device  76  to the second wireless access point  72  via the network cable. Second, he sets parameters such as an IP address, an account and a password and sets the second wireless access point  72  in the repeater mode in firmware. Third, he sets the parameters of the second wireless access point  72  such as a SSID and a password as the same as the parameters of the first wireless access point  70  to finish settings. 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 1C , when the user wants to set the second wireless access point  72  in the adapter mode, he performs the following steps. First, he connects the second electronic device  76  to the second wireless access point  72  via the network cable. Second, he sets the parameters such as an IP address, an account and a password and sets the related parameters of the first wireless access point  70  in firmware. At last, he connects the second wireless access point  72  with the first electronic device  74  via the network cable to finish settings. 
     The modes of a conventional wireless access point may be switched as stated above to provide users with more selections for the network structure. However, the modes are changed by setting parameters in the firmware of the wireless access point via a browser, and it is inconvenient and a waste of time for users. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an aspect of the invention is to provide a method for establishing the wireless network architecture to solve the problems in prior art. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the method includes the following steps. 
     First, a first wireless access point and a second wireless access point are defined. Wherein the first wireless access point includes a first switch for switching a first function mode of the first wireless access point, and the second wireless access point includes a second switch for switching a second function mode of the second wireless access point. 
     Second, the first function mode is set to be a router mode via the first switch. 
     Third, the second function mode is set to be a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode or an adapter mode via the second switch. 
     Fourth, a communication connection between the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point is established to perform a data exchange procedure. 
     At last a plurality of operational parameters of the second wireless access point are set by the second wireless access point itself according to the second function mode to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide a wireless network architecture to solve the problems in prior art. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the wireless network architecture includes a first wireless access point, a second wireless access point and a user terminal. The first wireless access point is connected to the Internet and it includes a first switch for switching a first function mode of the first wireless access point to a router mode. A communication connection is established between the second wireless access point and the first wireless access point to perform a data exchange procedure. And the second wireless access point includes a second switch for switching a second function mode of the second wireless access point to a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode or an adapter mode. The user terminal is connected to the second wireless access point, and is connected to the Internet via the second wireless access point and the first wireless access point in order. 
     Another aspect of the invention is to provide a wireless access point to solve the problems in prior art. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention, the wireless access point includes a switch, a control element and a processor. The switch is used for switching a plurality of function modes of the wireless access point. The control element is used for generating a drive signal to control the wireless access point and the main wireless access point to perform a data exchange procedure when a communication connection is established between the wireless access point and a main wireless access point. The processor is used for setting a plurality of operational parameters of the wireless access point according to the function mode. Specially, the function modes include a router mode, a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode and an adapter mode. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  to  FIG. 1C  are schematic diagrams of wireless network architecture in the prior art; 
         FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of the wireless access point of the invention; 
         FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of the wireless access point of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of the embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention; and 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention provides a wireless access point whose modes may be switched without a browser, a wireless network architecture including the wireless access point, and a method for establishing a wireless network architecture based on the wireless access point. 
       FIG. 2A  is a schematic diagram of the wireless access point of the invention and  FIG. 2B  is a block diagram of the wireless access point of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the wireless access point  10  of the invention includes a switch  100 , a control element  102  and a processor  104 . 
     The switch  100  is used for switching a plurality of function modes of the wireless access point  10 . As shown in  FIG. 2A  and  FIG. 2B , the function modes can be a router mode, a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode and an adapter mode. 
     The control element  102  generates a drive signal to control the wireless access point  10  and a main wireless access point to perform a data exchange procedure when a communication connection is established between the wireless access point  10  and the main wireless access point (not shown). As shown in  FIG. 2A , the control element  102  is designed to be a button, but the control element  102  may be also designed to have other proper types in practice. Therefore, the invention is not limited thereto. 
     The processor  104  is used for setting a plurality of operational parameters of the wireless access point  10  according to the function mode. In actual application, the wireless access point  10  further includes the functional elements such as a calculation module, a storage module, a communication module and a power module. Since these elements are well known by persons having ordinary skill in the art, they are not described for a concise purpose. Furthermore, in actual application, the types of the switch  100  and the control element  102  and the positions thereof in the wireless access point  10  can be adjusted circumstantially, and the invention is not limited thereto. 
       FIG. 3  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the method of the invention mainly includes the following steps. 
     First, at step S 50 , a first wireless access point and a second wireless access point are defined. In actual application, the first wireless access point and the second wireless access point may be the wireless access points of the invention as stated above. However, the first wireless access point also may be other type of wireless access point in practice. 
     Second, at step S 52 , a first function mode of the first wireless access point is set to be the router mode. At step S 54 , a second function mode of the second wireless access point is set. The second function mode is a wireless access point mode, a repeater mode, an adapter mode or other proper mode. 
     Third, at step S 56 , a communication connection is established between the second wireless access point and the first wireless access point. At step S 58 , a data exchange procedure is performed between the second wireless access point and the first wireless access point. In actual application, the second wireless access point exchanges encryption modes or other proper data with the first wireless access point in the data exchange procedure. 
     At last, at step S 60 , a plurality of operational parameters of the second wireless access point are set by the second wireless access point itself according to the second function mode to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture. The operational parameters include a service set identifier, encrypted information or other proper parameters in practice. Furthermore, the second wireless access point can set the operational parameters by itself or use the operational parameters of the first wireless access point directly. It is determined according to the function mode. 
     The following embodiment is described by taking the wireless access point in  FIG. 2A  as the wireless network architecture, so that the switch and the control element are the same as the ones in  FIG. 2A . They are not described for a concise purpose. 
       FIG. 4A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 4B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the wireless network architecture  2  includes a first wireless access point  20  and a second wireless access point  22 . The first wireless access point  20  is connected to the Internet  8 , and the second wireless access point  22  is connected to a user terminal  24  to make the user terminal  24  connect to the Internet  8  via the second wireless access point  22  and the first wireless access point  20  in order. The first wireless access point  20  is set in the router mode (shown in the dotted-circle) and the second wireless access point  22  is set in the wireless access point mode (shown in the dotted-circle) via the switch  200  and the switch  220  respectively. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A  and  FIG. 4B , the method for establishing the wireless network architecture  2  of the embodiment includes the following steps. The first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  are connected via a network cable  90  at step S 620 . The first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  are set in the said function modes (shown in the dotted-circles) at step S 622 . The control element  202  of the first wireless access point  20  and the control element  222  of the second wireless access point  22  are pressed, respectively, (sequentially or at the same time) to exchange encryption modes between the first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  at step S 624 . A plurality of operational parameters of the second wireless access point  22  (that is the operational parameters related to the wireless access point mode) are set by the second wireless access point  22  itself to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture  2  at step  626 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 5B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the wireless network architecture  2  includes a first wireless access point  20  and a second wireless access point  22 . The first wireless access point  20  is connected to the Internet  8 , and the second wireless access point  22  is connected to a user terminal  24  to make the user terminal  24  connect to the Internet  8  via the second wireless access point  22  and the first wireless access point  20  in order. The first wireless access point  20  is set in the router mode (shown in the dotted-circle), and the second wireless access point  22  is set in the repeater mode (shown in the dotted-circle) via the switch  200  and switch  220 , respectively. 
     As shown in the  FIG. 5A  and  FIG. 5B , the method for establishing the wireless network architecture  2  of the embodiment includes the following steps. The first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  are set in the said function modes (shown in the dotted-circles) at step S 640 . The control element  202  of the first wireless access point  20  and the control element  222  of the second wireless access point  22  are pressed, respectively, (sequentially or at the same time) to exchange encryption modes between the first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  at step S 642 . The second wireless access point  22  copies and uses the operational parameters of the first wireless access point  20  (that is the operational parameters related to the repeater mode, such as a SSID, encrypted information, but it is not limited thereto.) to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture  2  at step S 644 . 
       FIG. 6A  is a flow chart of the method for establishing the wireless network architecture of an embodiment of the invention, and  FIG. 6B  is a schematic diagram of the wireless network architecture of the embodiment. 
     As shown in the  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the wireless network architecture  2  includes a first wireless access point  20  and a second wireless access point  22 . The first wireless access point  20  is connected to the Internet  8 , and the second wireless access point  22  is connected to a user terminal  24  to make the user terminal  24  connect to the Internet  8  via the second wireless access point  22  and the first wireless access point  20  in order. The first wireless access point  20  is set in the router mode (shown in the dotted-circle) and the second wireless access point  22  is set in the adapter mode (shown in the dotted-circle) via the switch  200  and switch  220 , respectively. 
     As shown in the  FIG. 6A  and  FIG. 6B , the method for establishing the wireless network architecture  2  of the embodiment includes the following steps. The first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  are set in the said function modes (shown in the dotted-circles) at step S 660 . The second wireless access point  22  is connected with the user terminal  24  via a network cable  90  at step S 662 . The control element  202  of the first wireless access point  20  and the control element  222  of the second wireless access point  22  are pressed, respectively, (sequentially or at the same time) to exchange encryption modes between the first wireless access point  20  and the second wireless access point  22  at step S 664 . The first wireless access point  20  is connected to the second wireless access point  22  automatically to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture  2  at step S 666 . 
     The wireless network architecture only having two wireless access points is taken as an example in the above embodiments. However, the wireless network architecture of the invention also may include a plurality of wireless access points in different function modes if necessary. 
     As stated above, the wireless access point of the invention includes a switch, a control element and a processor with improved functions. Therefore, a user switches the function mode of the wireless access point via the switch and synchronizes wireless access points via the control elements to finish the establishment of the wireless network architecture. Since it is unnecessary to connect the wireless access points via a computer and set a password, encrypted information, operational parameters and other firmware manually as in prior art, the method in the invention is simple. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.