Patent Publication Number: US-2021176648-A1

Title: Scalable network architecture

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     A large and growing population of users is enjoying entertainment through the consumption of digital media items, such as music, movies, images, electronic books, and so on. The users employ various electronic devices to consume such media items. Among these electronic devices (referred to herein as endpoint devices, user devices, clients, client devices, or user equipment) are electronic book readers, cellular telephones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), portable media players, tablet computers, netbooks, laptops, and the like. These electronic devices wirelessly communicate with a communications infrastructure to enable the consumption of the digital media items. In order to communicate with other devices wirelessly, these electronic devices include one or more antennas. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present inventions will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to limit the present invention to the specific embodiments, but are for explanation and understanding only. 
         FIG. 1  is a network diagram of a wireless network that is logically organized into the following hierarchical units: cells, nodes, and devices according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network that is logically organized into the following hierarchical units: cells, nodes, and devices according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network with multi-dwelling units (MDUs) as a first housing society type according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network in with multiple single dwelling units (SDUs) as a second housing society type according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5A  is a network diagram of a wireless network with the three nodes types in a star topology according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5B  is a network diagram of network devices deployed at a MDU according to another embodiment. 
         FIG. 5C  illustrates a housing with a multiple devices of a base station node (BSN) according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6A  illustrates a single pico-cell unit with either multiple SDUs or a single MDU according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6B  illustrates a single nano-cell unit with either multiple SDUs or multiple MDUs according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 6C  illustrates a single micro-cell unit with either SDUs or MDUs according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates pico-cell sectorization of multiple pico-cell units of a nano-cell unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates nano-cell sectorization of multiple nano-cell units of a micro-cell unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9A  illustrates an exemplary node configuration of a wireless network according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9B  illustrates sector coverages of a nano-cell unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 9C  illustrates sector coverage of a multi-building pico-cell unit according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a MDU with a first installation of a base station or relay device (BS/RL device), a second installation of a gateway device, and a third installation of a customer station according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a network device that can be configured to operate as a device role and a node of a cascaded star topology according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 12  is a block diagram of an electronic device that can be configured to operate as a device role and a node of a cascaded star topology according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Technologies directed to a wireless network with a cascaded star topology with multiple devices at multiples nodes are described. The 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) radio bands allow unlicensed wireless communications. Due to its unlicensed nature, many short ranged, low power wireless communication systems operate in these frequency bands. As such, there is a limited de-license spectrum in various locations, including India (e.g., 2.4 GHz ISM and 5 GHz U-NII bands). Various devices are described herein that include wireless local area network (WLAN) radios operate in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz U-NII-1 bands and utilize various WLAN protocols, such as the Wi-Fi® protocols (e.g., 802.11n, 802.11ac, or the like). The radios can utilize 2×2 spatial multiplexing MIMO and channel bandwidths from 20 MHz to 40 MHz. The radios can see all 5.x GHz channels, including Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) channels and can operates at an Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) up to 36 dBmi, depending on the channel. The devices described herein can be deployed in a wireless network having a hierarchical topology between an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ingress to a subscriber. In various embodiments, the wireless network is logically organized as a cascaded star topology as described in more detail below. 
     The network architecture described herein is capable of providing Video on Demand (VoD) and Internet services to customers at scale. The network architecture described herein can be deployed in areas with limited, traditional ISP infrastructure, such as in India, for example. These services can be enabled by a combination of wired ingress, wireless connectivity, and tiered content caching in the network architecture described herein. At a high level, the network architecture of the wireless networks described herein are logically organized into hierarchical units, referred to herein as cell units, nodes, and devices, such as described and illustrated with respect to  FIG. 1 . 
     The embodiments described herein relate to a network architecture to deliver both video on demand (VoD) and internet to customers in locations with limited internet infrastructure. The network architecture includes technology for distribution of VoD and Internet services to the customers using wired and wireless links. The network devices are organized into three logical units known as nodes: base station nodes (BSNs), relay nodes (RLNs), and customer premises equipment (CPE) nodes (also referred to as Home access node (HAN)). Each node supports a unique set of network functions. The CPE node provides connectivity for in-home customer devices (FireTV, laptop) to the outdoor wireless access network. RLN aggregate the wireless access traffic from the CPEs and pass this data back to a central BSN over a wireless distribution network. The BSN aggregates both the RLN wireless distribution and local wireless access traffic to a fiber ingress point. The devices at the nodes can be manufactured as a common device type and programmed according to any of the following device roles: a router (RT) role, a base station (BS) role, a gateway (GW) role, a relay (RL) role, or a customer station (STA) role. That is, the devices can each include identical hardware and can each be programmed to operate as a one of a RT, a BS, a GW, a RL, a customer STA, a NAS, or the like. 
       FIG. 1  is a network diagram of a wireless network  100  that is logically organized into the following hierarchical units: cells, nodes, and devices according to one embodiment. A “cell unit”  102  is a collection of wired connections and wireless connections arranged in a cellular structure. It should be noted that cell unit  102  is not a cell of a cellular wireless network. The cell unit  102  is made up of smaller cell units  104 , called pico-cell units, nano-cell units, and micro-cell units. As described herein, a pico-cell unit is a cell unit that includes customer premise equipment at customer premises (e.g., buildings, houses, or the like). The pico-cell unit is served by gateway devices from a single base station node or a relay node. A nano-cell unit is a cell unit that includes one or more pico-cell units. The nano-cell unit is served by base station devices from a single base station node. A micro-cell unit is a cell unit that includes one or more nano-cell units. The nano-cell units of the micro-cell are is connected via a wireless network. 
     A “node” is a logical network building block that is sub-divided into “infrastructure” (e.g., base station nodes, relay nodes, or the like) and “customer premises equipment (CPE).” The wireless network  100  can include the following “nodes:” a base station node (BSN)  106 , a relay node (RLN)  108 , a storage (NAS) node (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), and a CPE node  110  (also referred to as a home access node (HAN). A BSN  106  connects to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ingress via a router device, provides a first coverage (e.g., BS coverage) to the RLN  108 , and provides a second coverage (e.g., gateway coverage) to a first CPE node, such as CPE node  110 . The RLN  108  connects to the BSN  106  through a relay device and provides a third coverage (e.g., gateway coverage) to a second CPE node (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The CPE node  110  can include one or more customer stations that provide one or more access points for one or more endpoint devices at the customer premises. The first coverage can be a first wireless service the second coverage can be a second wireless service, and the third coverage can be a third wireless service. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the BSN  106 , the RLN  108 , and the CPE node  110  are organized logically in a cascaded star topology. In the cascaded star topology, the BSN  106  can be a first-tier hub with respect to the RLN  108  and the first CPE node  110 . In addition, in the cascaded star topology, the RLN  108  can be a second-tier hub with respect to the second CPE node (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). It should be noted that the RLN  108  could be considered a third-tier hub if there were an intervening RLN between RLN  108  and the BSN  106 . That is, the RLN  108  can establish another wireless link between one or more RLNs back to the BSN  106 . The cascaded star topology is a configuration of a star network that can use hubs on spokes of the star network to expand or cascade the network into additional star networks. Alternatively, the BSN  106 , the RLN  108 , and the CPE node(s)  110  can be organized in other multi-star networks or other chained interface configurations. 
     The network architecture of the wireless network  100  is itself device agnostic, although various embodiments described herein can utilize wireless network devices that are each manufactured as a common device type (e.g., single SKU product) and programmed to operate as a “device role.” A “device role” is a set of specific network functions associated with one or more network devices, such as a primary wireless network device (also referred to herein as “wireless device,” “network device,” or “D2”) that is configured according to a device role (e.g., a gateway device, a customer station, or the like). For example, a wireless device that is configured according to the gateway role operates as a gateway (GW). In various embodiments, the common device type can be programmed to operate according to one of the following device roles: a router (RT) role, a base station (BS) role, a relay (RL) role, a gateway (GW) role, a customer station (STA) role, or a storage (NAS) role. It should be noted that the nodes of the wireless network  100  are logically organized, whereas the devices of a particular node are physically organized at a location of a customer premise, such as a single dwelling unit (SDU), a multi-dwelling unit (MDU), or at other buildings or structures as described below. 
     The BSN  106  can include a network switch  112  and multiple wireless devices of the common device type. The multiple wireless devices of the BSN  106  can include a base station device  114 , a gateway device  116 , and a storage device  118 . The base station device  114  is a wireless network device that is programmed to operate as the BS. The gateway device  116  is a wireless network device that is programmed to operate according to the GW role. The storage device  118  is a wireless network device that includes one or more attached storage mediums, such as USB connected storage media (e.g., HDD, SSD, or the like), is programmed to operate according to the NAS role. That is, the storage device  118  can be programmed to operate as a storage controller to the attached storage mediums. 
     The RLN  108  can include a network switch  120  and multiple wireless devices of the common device type. The multiple wireless devices of the RLN  108  can include a relay device  122 , a gateway device  124 , and an optional storage device  126 . The relay device  122  is a wireless network device that is programmed to operate as the RL. The gateway device  124  is a wireless network device that is programmed to operate as the GW. The optional storage device  126  is a wireless network device that includes one or more attached storage mediums, such as USB connected storage media (e.g., HDD, SSD, or the like), is programmed to operate as the NAS. That is, the optional storage device  126  can be programmed to operate as a storage controller to the attached storage mediums. By using common device types for these devices, flexible multi-use capability across the wireless network  100  can be achieved with relatively low cost and ease of software development. It should also be noted that the common device type can be used for a router device (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ), as well as the content storage functions. Alternatively, other types of devices can be used for the routing and storage functions of the wireless network  100 . 
     The CPE node  110  can include one or more devices (referred to herein as customer premises equipment), including one or more customer stations  128  and one or more endpoint devices  130 . For example, the customer station  128  can be the wireless network device that is manufactured according to the common device type and programmed to operate as the customer STA. The one or more endpoint devices  130  can be various types of wireless devices, such as mobile devices, smart TVs, TV dongles, watches, IoT devices, thermostats, home automation equipment, laptops, computers, entertainment consoles, gaming consoles, voice-controlled devices, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, the base station device (i.e., BS role) can use one or more radios to provide a first multi-sector, point-to-multi-point (PtMP) coverage to one or more relay devices up to a first distance, the first distance being approximately 100 meters, for example. The base station device can use the one or more radios to provide the first wireless service to the relay node and any other relay nodes that are located within the first distance from the base station device The relay device can use one or more radios to provide a single sector, point-to-point (PtP) connectivity to the base station device up to a second distance, the second distance being approximately 100 meters, for example. The relay device can use the one or more radios to connect with the base station device via the first wireless service and provide the third wireless service to the first CPE node and any other CPE nodes that are located within the second distance from the relay device. A first gateway device (at the BSN  106 ) can use one or more radios to provide a second multi-sector, PtMP coverage to one or more customer stations up to a third distance, the third distance being approximately 30 meters, for example. The first gateway device can use the one or more radios to provide the second wireless service to the second CPE node and any other CPE nodes that are located within the third distance from the first gateway device. A second gateway device (at the RLN  108 ) can use one or more radios to provide a third multi-sector, PtMP coverage to one or more additional customer stations up to a fourth distance, the fourth distance being approximately 30 meters, for example. The second gateway device can use the one or more radios to provide the third wireless service to the first CPE node and any other CPE nodes that are located within a fourth distance from the second gateway device. As noted above, one or more external storage mediums (at the BSN  106 ) can be coupled to the storage device  118  and the storage device  118  operates as a first storage controller to the one or more external storage mediums. Similarly, one or more additional external storage mediums are coupled to the optional storage device  126  at the RLN  108  and the second storage device operates as a second storage controller to the one or more external storage mediums. 
     In one embodiment, the radios of the wireless network  100  can utilize wireless protocols, such as IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, or the like, such as set forth in Table 1. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
            
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 802.11n 
                 802.11ac 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Proposed 
                   
                 Proposed 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Item 
                 IEEE 
                 Network 
                 IEEE 
                 Network 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Release 
                 October 2009 
                 January 2014 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Application 
                 Household device connectivity 
                   
                 Infrastructure connectivity (N1 mesh, 
                   
               
               
                   
                 (e.g., VOD service, phone, 
                   
                 N2 star) 
               
               
                   
                 tablets) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Channel 
                 20/40 
                 MHz 
                 20 
                 MHz 
                 20/40/80/160 
                 MHz 
                 20/40 
                 MHz 
               
               
                 Max Phy 
                 600 
                 Mbps 
                 140 
                 Mbps 
                 1 
                 Gbps 
                 400 
                 Mbps 
               
               
                 Rate 
               
               
                 Max TCP 
                 ~400 
                 Mbps 
                 1000 
                 Mbps 
                 ~800 
                 Mbps 
                 300 
                 Mbps 
               
               
                 Rate 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 MIMO Type 
                 Single user 
                 Single user, Multi-user 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 MIMO 
                 4 × 4 
                 2 × 2 
                 8 × 8 
                 2 × 2 
               
               
                 Stream 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 MAC 
                 Frame aggregation (A-MSDU and 
                 Enhanced Frame Aggregation (large 
               
               
                 Mechanism 
                 A-MPDU), Block Ack, Reverse 
                 sizes) 
               
               
                   
                 direction (RD) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 PHY Layer 
                 BPSK/QSK/16QAM/64QAM 
                   
                 BPSK/QSK/16QAM/64QAM/256QAM 
               
               
                 (modulation) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 2.4/5.x 
                 2.4 
                   
                 5.x 
                 5.x 
               
               
                 Band 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 High Throughput 
                 Very High Throughput 
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Number of 
                   
                   
                 3 × 20 
                 MHz 
                   
                   
                 5 × 40 
                 MHz 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Channels 
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 (non-DFS) + 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 8 × 40 
                 MHz 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                   
                 (DFS) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 CSMA-CA 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As described herein, the wireless network  100  is scalable according to the defined cell units, nodes, and device roles. In one embodiment, the wireless network  100  includes: a first pico-cell unit that includes a first dwelling unit served by the gateway device  116  of the BSN  106 ; a second pico-cell unit that includes a second dwelling unit served by the gateway device  124  of the RLN  108 ; a first nano-cell unit that includes the first pico-cell unit and the second pico-cell unit, which are both served by the base station device  114  of the BSN  106 . The wireless network  100  can further include a second nano-cell unit that is coupled to the first nano-cell unit via a link. The second nano-cell unit can include at least a third pico-cell unit having a third dwelling unit served by a third gateway device of a second base station node (not illustrated in  FIG. 1 ). The wireless network  100  further includes a micro-cell unit that includes the first nano-cell unit and the second nano-cell unit. 
     Aspects of the present disclosure can provide scalability of the wireless network  100  by adding cell units according to the hierarchical architectures described herein, including pico-cell units, nano-cell units, and micro-cell units, and by deploying the wireless devices at the various nodes and programmed according to the device roles. It should also be noted that using the primary wireless network device that is manufactured according to a common device type, can reduce the cost and ease of software development, flexibility in the deployment layout, and the ability to repurpose the wireless network device within the wireless network over time. In some embodiments, a set of well-defined nodes and device roles can allow any wireless network device to self-recognize, self-reconfigure and automatic form complex network topologies, such as the wireless network  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 , without any manual intervention or configuration. Alternatively, an operator can manually define, configure, and provide the wireless network devices according to the set of well-defined nodes and device roles. It should also be noted that the network devices could be repurposed to other roles to maximize reusability and reduce cost of the deployment. For example, one of the network devices that is initially used as a gateway device at a Base Station Node can be deployed in other parts of the wireless network  100  or another network, and the network device can be repurposed according to another device role, such as BS role at a BSN, a NAS role at a BSN or RLN, a RL role at a RLN, a customer STA role at a CPE node, or the like. 
       FIG. 2  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network  200  that is logically organized into the following hierarchical units: cells, nodes, and devices according to one embodiment. The portion of the wireless network  200  includes a first nano-cell unit  202 , having a first pico-cell unit  204 , a second pico-cell unit  206 , and a third pico-cell unit  208 . The first nano-cell unit  202  includes a BSN  210 , a first RLN  212 , a second RLN  218 , and multiple HANs. The BSN  210  is a first-tier hub of a cascaded star topology. The BSN  210  includes a base station device  230 , a gateway device  232 , and a first network switch  231  coupled between the base station device  230  and the gateway device  232 . The base station device  230 , the gateway device  232 , and the first network switch  231  are physically organized at a same location, such as on a first dwelling unit. The first RLN  212  is a second-tier hub of the cascaded star topology. The first RLN  212  includes a relay device  234 , a gateway device  236 , and a second network switch  233  coupled between the relay device  234  and the gateway device  236 . The first RLN  212  is part of the first pico-cell unit  204 . The relay device  234 , gateway device  236 , and second network switch  233  are physically organized at a same location, such as on a second dwelling unit. The first RLN  212  is part of the first pico-cell unit  204 , whereas the BSN  210  is part of the second pico-cell unit  206 . In addition, the first pico-cell unit  204  includes HAN  214  (also referred to as CPE node) and the second pico-cell unit  206  includes HAN  216 . The HAN  214  includes a customer station  237 . The HAN  214  is a first client of the second-tier hub (e.g., first RLN  212 ). The HAN  216  includes a customer station  238 . The HAN  216  is a first client of the first-tier hub (e.g., BSN  210 ), whereas the RLN  212  is a second client of the first-tier hub). In one embodiment, the base station device  230 , the gateway device  232 , the relay device  234 , the gateway device  236 , the customer station  237 , and the customer station  238  are manufactured as a common device type. The base station device  230  is configured to operate as a BS and communicate with (e.g., send data to and receive data from) the relay device  234  over a first wireless link  235 . The gateway device  232  is configured to operate as a GW and communicate with the customer station  238  over a second wireless link  237 . The relay device  234  is configured to operate as a RL and communicate with the base station device  230  over the first wireless link  235 . The gateway device  236  is configured to operate as the GW and communicate with the customer station  237  over a third wireless link  239 . The customer station  237  is configured to operate as a customer STA and communicate with the gateway device  236  over the third wireless link  239 . The customer station  238  is configured to operate as the customer STA and communicate with gateway device  232  over the second wireless link  237 . 
     The second RLN  218  includes a relay device  240 , a gateway device  242 , and a third network switch  241  coupled between the relay device  240  and the gateway device  242 . The second RLN  218  can be another second-tier hub of the cascaded star topology and the second RLN  218  can be a third client of the first-tier hub (e.g., BSN  210 ). HAN  220  includes a customer station  244 . The HAN  220  is a first client of the other second-tier hub (e.g., RLN  218 ). The second RLN  218  is a third client of the first-tier hub (e.g., BSN  210 ). In one embodiment, the relay device  240 , the gateway device  242 , and the customer station  244  are manufactured as the common device type (i.e., include the identical hardware). The relay device  240  is configured to operate as the relay and communicate with the base station device  230  over a fourth wireless link  243 . The gateway device  242  is configured to operate as the GW and communicate with the customer station  244  over a fifth wireless link  245 . The customer station  244  is configured to operate as the customer STA and communicate with the gateway device  242  over the fifth wireless link  245 . 
     It should be noted that the RLN  218  could be considered a second-tier hub if there were an intervening RLN between RLN  218  and the BSN  210 . That is, the RLN  218  can establish another wireless link between one or more RLNs back to the BSN  210 . For example, the RLN  218  can establish a wireless link  255  with the RLN  212  to connect to the BSN  210 , instead of over the fourth wireless link  243 . Also, the RLN  218  (or the RLN  212 ) can be third-tier hubs if there were more than one intervening RLNs between the respective RLN and the BSN  210 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the BSN  210  and the HAN  216  are physically organized as part of the second pico-cell unit  206  and the first RLN  212 , the HAN  214  are physically organized as part of the first pico-cell unit  204 , and the second RLN  218  and the HAN  220  are physically organized as part of the third pico-cell unit  208 . The first pico-cell unit  204 , the second pico-cell unit  206 , and the third pico-cell unit  208  are physically organized as part of the first nano-cell unit  202 . The pico-cell units can include additional HANs. For example, the second pico-cell unit  206  includes HAN  222 , which includes a customer station  246 . The customer station  246  is a fourth client of the first-tier hub. The customer station  246  can be manufactured as the common device type and be configured to operate as the customer STA role and communicate with the gateway device  232  over a sixth wireless link  247 . For another example, the first pico-cell unit  204  includes HAN  224 , which includes a customer station  248 . The customer station  248  is a second client of the second-tier hub (e.g., first RLN  212 ). The customer station  248  can be manufactured as the common device type and can be configured to operate as the customer STA role and communicate with the gateway device  236  over a seventh wireless link  249 . Similarly, the third pico-cell unit  208  can include an additional HAN as additional clients of the second RLN  218 . 
     Although not illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the wireless network  200  can include a ninth node with a twelfth device, a thirteenth device, and a fourth network switch coupled between the twelfth device and the thirteenth device. The ninth node can be another first-tier hub of the cascaded star topology. The twelfth device and the thirteenth device can be manufactured as the common device type. The twelfth device can be configured to operate as the BS and communicate with the base station device  230  over a wired or wireless link  251 . In addition, the twelfth device can be configured to communicate with one or more additional RLNs over one or more wireless links. The thirteenth device can be configured to operate as the GW and communicate with one or more customer stations over an additional wireless link. The ninth node, the one or more additional RLNs, and one or more customer station can be part of a second nano-cell unit (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ) that is coupled to the first nano-cell unit  202  via the wireless link  251 . The second nano-cell unit and the first nano-cell unit  202  can be physically organized as part of a micro-cell unit. The base station device  230  is also configured to connect to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ingress  253  via a router device (not illustrated in  FIG. 2 ). The router device can be located at the same location as the BSN  210  and can be considered part of the BSN  210 . The router device can connect to the base station device  230  via the first network switch  231 . Alternatively, the base station device  230  can be connected to the router device in other manners and the router device can be located at a different location than the BSN  210 . 
     In one embodiment, all devices of the first pico-cell unit  204  can be disposed on or within a first multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and all devices of the second pico-cell unit  206  are disposed on or within a second MDU. Similarly, all devices of the third pico-cell unit  208  can be disposed on or within a third MDU. The first nano-cell unit  202  can include seven MDUs, including the first MDU, the second MDU, and the third MDU. Each pico-cell unit of the first nano-cell unit  202  can service multiple customers (e.g., 28 customers) of a single building (e.g., 10-floor building). The first nano-cell unit  202  can service various customers at multiple customer premises with multiple MDUs, for example, approximately 196 customers within 7 buildings within a 100 m radius. It should be noted that other embodiments, more or less than seven MDUs can be used. However, seven buildings per MDU-based nano-cell unit can support 200-300 customers within 600 Mbps capacity and 100 m radius, depending on service type (VoD, ISP) and contention ratios. 
     In another embodiment, all devices of the BSN  210  are disposed on a first structure and all devices of the HAN  216  are disposed on or within a first single dwelling unit (SDU). All devices of the HAN  222  can be disposed on or within a second SDU. The second pico-cell unit  206  can include multiple SDUs within a specified radius (e.g., 75 m radius) to service multiple customers (e.g., 68 customers). The first nano-cell unit  202  can service various customers at multiple customer premises (SDUs), for example, approximately 476 customers within 7 buildings (SDU) within a 150 m radius. In one embodiment, the BSN  210  is disposed on a first structure that is higher than the SDUs, such as a tower or a building. The first RLN  212  can also be disposed on a second structure that is higher than surrounding SDUs. Similarly, the second RLN  218  can be disposed on a third structure that is higher than surrounding SDUs. Alternatively, the RLNs can be disposed on one of the SDUs and serve surrounding HANs on the respective SDUs. 
     In another embodiment, the first device, the second device, and the first network switch of the first node are disposed on a roof of a first building and the sixth device of the fourth node is disposed on or within a first SDU that is in proximity to the first building. The third device, the fourth device, and the second network switch of the second node are disposed on a roof of a second building and the fifth device of the third node is disposed on or within a second SDU that is in proximity to the second building. The twelfth device, the thirteenth device, and the fourth network switch of the ninth node are disposed on a roof of a third building. In one embodiment, the first nano-cell unit includes the first building and the second building and the first pico-cell unit includes a first set of SDUs, including the first SDU, the first set of SDUs being in proximity to the first building. The second pico-cell unit includes a second set of SDUs, including the second SDU, the second set of SDUs being in proximity to the second building. 
     In another embodiment, the first device, the second device, and the first network switch of the first node are disposed on a roof of a first building and the sixth device of the fourth node is disposed on or within a second building that is in proximity to the first building. The third device, the fourth device, and the second network switch of the second node are disposed on a roof of a third building and the fifth device of the third node is disposed on or within a fourth building that is in proximity to the third building. The twelfth device, the thirteenth device, and the fourth network switch of the ninth node are disposed on a roof of a fourth building. In one embodiment, the first nano-cell unit includes the first building and the third building and the first pico-cell unit includes a first set of buildings, including the second building, the first set of buildings being in proximity to the first building. The second pico-cell unit includes a second set of buildings, including the fourth building, the second set of buildings being in proximity to the fourth building. Additional details regarding the MDUs and SDUs are set forth below with respect to  FIGS. 3-6C . 
       FIG. 3  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network  300  with multi-dwelling units (MDUs)  302  as a first housing society type according to one embodiment. Each MDU can include four or more dwellings per building. Each MDU  302  can be part of a single pico-cell unit  304 . Some of the MDUs  302  can be part of a first nano-cell unit  306  and other MDUs  302  can be part of one or more additional nano-cell units  308  within a micro-cell unit  310 , as described herein. A first BSN  312  is disposed on a first MDU, a first RLN  314  is disposed on a second MDU, and a second RLN  316  is disposed on a third MDU. A second BSN  318  can be disposed on another MDU in another nano-cell unit  308  within the micro-cell unit  310 . The first BSN  312  is coupled to a fiber ingress of the ISP. The first BSN  312  is communicatively coupled to the second BSN  318  via a first link  301 . The second BSN  318  can be coupled to another fiber ingress of the ISP. The first BSN  312  is communicatively coupled to the first RLN  314  via a second link  303 . The first RLN  314  is communicatively coupled to a first HAN  320  via a third link  305 . The first RLN  314  can be communicatively coupled to other HANs in the pico-cell unit  304 . The first BSN  312  is also communicatively coupled to the second RLN  316  via a fourth link. The second RLN  316  is communicatively coupled to one or more HANs in the respective pico-cell unit  304 . 
       FIG. 4  is a network diagram of a portion of a wireless network  400  in with multiple single dwelling units (SDUs)  402  as a second housing society type according to one embodiment. Multiple SDUs  402  can be part of a single pico-cell unit  404 . Some of the SDUs  402  can be part of a first nano-cell unit  406  and other SDUs  402  can be part of one or more additional nano-cell units  408  within a micro-cell unit  410 , as described herein. A first BSN  412  is disposed on a first structure within a first pico-cell unit  404  and a first RLN  414  is disposed on a second structure within a second pico-cell unit  404 . A second BSN  418  can be disposed on a third structure within another pico-cell unit  404  of another nano-cell unit  408  within the micro-cell unit  410 . The first BSN  412  is coupled to a fiber ingress of the ISP. The first BSN  412  is communicatively coupled to the second BSN  418  via a first link  401 . The second BSN  418  can be coupled to another fiber ingress of the ISP. The first BSN  412  is communicatively coupled to the first RLN  414  via a second link  403 . The first RLN  414  is communicatively coupled to a first HAN  420  via a third link  405 . The first RLN  414  can be communicatively coupled to other HANs in the pico-cell unit  404 . The first BSN  412  can also communicatively coupled to other RLNs that are each communicatively coupled to one or more HANs in the respective pico-cell unit  304  of the respective RLN. 
       FIG. 5A  is a network diagram of a wireless network  500  with the three nodes types in a star topology according to one embodiment. The wireless network  500  is a network architecture to deliver both video on demand (VoD) and internet to customers in limited-infrastructure regions, such as India. An ingress  501  can be a high capacity ingress (typically fiber exchange) and a means of distribution to the customer using wired and wireless links. The network devices within the network are organized into three logical units known as nodes: BSNs, RLNs, and HANs. Wireless network  500  includes a BSN  502  that has a fiber ingress  501  and uses outdoor distribution links  503  to communicate with RLNs  504 ,  506 ,  508 . The BSN  502  also uses outdoor access links  505  to communicate with HANs  510 ,  512 ,  514 . The RLNs  504 ,  506 ,  508  use outdoor access links  505  to communicate with HANs  516 - 532 . The HANs  510 - 532  use in-home connectivity  507  to communicate with devices  534 - 556 . Each node supports a unique set of network functions. The HAN provides connectivity for in-home customer devices (e.g., Fire TV, laptop, or the like) to the outdoor wireless access network (e.g.,  505 ). RLNs aggregate the HAN wireless access traffic and pass this data back to a central BSN  502  over a wireless distribution network (e.g.,  503 ). BSNs aggregate both the RLN wireless distribution and local wireless access traffic. The BSN  502  can also include a fiber ingress point (e.g., ingress  501 ). 
     Table 2 includes some example parameters of the settings for different device roles within the BSN. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Base Station Node (BSN) 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Base Station (BS) 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 3 
                 Number of radios per device. This can be 
               
               
                 device 
                   
                   
                   
                 implemented in different ways (i.e. 2 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 versus 3). 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 5.x 
                 GHz 
                 5.x GHz high band operation (U-NII-3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ext) with filter. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 200 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n/ac 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO using 20/40 MHz channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bandwidths. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                 3 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting V/H polarization 
               
               
                   
                   
                 modes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 90 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 10 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 13 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to same radio. 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 60 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to different radios. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Gateway (GW) 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 2 
                 Minimum number of GW radios needed to 
               
               
                 device 
                   
                   
                   
                 provide wireless access to HAN STA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 radios. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 5.x 
                 GHz 
                 5.x GHz low band operation (U-NII-3, ext) 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with filter. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 200 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n/ac 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO using 20/40 MHz channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bandwidths. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                   
                 2 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting V/H polarization 
               
               
                   
                   
                 modes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 120 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −6 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 10 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 13 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to MIMO ports on the same 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 radio. 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 60 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to collocated radios. 
               
               
                 BS/GW 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 25 
                 dB 
                 Antenna port to port isolation between BS 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 and GW devices 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Storage 
                 NAS Drive 
                 Minimum storage size/Minimum storage 
               
               
                   
                   
                 data transfer speed 
               
               
                 Power Supply 
                 PoE 
                 25.5 W - Power over Ethernet for all 
               
               
                   
                   
                 BS/GW devices 
               
               
                 Fiber Ingress 
                 Connector 
                 SFP - small form factor pluggable (SFP) 
               
               
                   
                 Type 
                 optical fiber port for fiber ingress 
               
               
                   
                 Speed 
                 1 Gbps - minimum ingress capacity 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 3 includes some example parameters of the settings for different device roles within the RLN. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Relay Node (RLN) 
               
               
                 RLN 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Relay (RL) 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 1 
                 Number of radios per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 5.x 
                 GHz 
                 5.x GHz high band operation (U-NII-3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ext) with filter. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 200 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n/ac 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO using 20/40 MHz channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bandwidths. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                   
                 1 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting V/H 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polarization modes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 10 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 90 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 13 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to same radio. 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 60 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to different radios. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Gateway 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 2 
                 Minimum number of GW radios needed 
               
               
                 (GW) device 
                   
                   
                   
                 to provide wireless access to HAN STA 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 radios. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 5.x 
                 GHz 
                 5.x GHz low band operation (U-NII-3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ext) with filter. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 200 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n/ac 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO using 20/40 MHz channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bandwidths. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                 2 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting V/H 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polarization modes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 120 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −6 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 10 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 13 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to MIMO ports on the same 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 radio. 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 60 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to collocated radios. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Table 4 includes some example parameters of the settings for different device roles within the HAN. 
     
       
         
           
               
             
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Home Access Node (HAN) 
               
               
                 HAN 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Station (STA) 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 1 
                 Number of radios per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 5.x 
                 GHz 
                 5.x GHz high band operation (U-NII-3, 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 ext) with filter. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 20 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n/ac 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO using 20/40 MHz channel 
               
               
                   
                   
                 bandwidths. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                 1 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting V/H 
               
               
                   
                   
                 polarization modes. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 90 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 20 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 10 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to same radio. 
               
               
                 Inter-Isolation 
                 60 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to different radios. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Indoor AP 
                 Radios 
                 Number 
                 1 
                 Minimum number of radios needed to 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 connect to support in-home devices (i.e. 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                   
                 Fire TV Stick) 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Frequency 
                 2.4 
                 GHz 
                 ISM band operation. 
               
               
                 Capacity 
                 20 
                 Mbps 
                 Maximum TCP capacity per sector. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Protocol 
                 802.11n 
                 CSMA-CA or TDMA capable of 2X2 
               
               
                   
                   
                 MIMO. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Antenna 
                 Number 
                 1 
                 Number of antenna sectors per device. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                 Type 
                 Dual-pol 
                 2-port antenna supporting 2X2 MIMO. 
               
               
                   
                 omni 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 AZ Beamwidth 
                 360 
                 deg 
                 Azimuthal beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 EL Beamwidth 
                 20 
                 deg 
                 Elevation beamwidth per sector at −3 dB 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 with respect to the beam peak. 
               
               
                 Antenna Gain 
                 5 
                 dBi 
                 Minimum BS sector antenna gain 
               
               
                 Intra-Isolation 
                 15 
                 dB 
                 Port to port isolation between antennas 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 connected to MIMO ports on the same 
               
               
                   
                   
                   
                 radio. 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Power Supply 
                 Brick 
                 Power 
                   
                 36 W 
                 Three pin power brick with 1 ft AC cable 
               
               
                   
                   
                 Supplied 
                   
                   
                 and 6 ft DC cable. 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     As described above, the wireless network  500  can be logically organized according to the hierarchy illustrated in  FIG. 5A . Devices at different portions of the wireless network  500  are organized physically in different building types, such as illustrated in  FIGS. 5B-5C . 
       FIG. 5B  is a network diagram of network devices deployed at a MDU  560  according to one embodiment. At the MDU  560 , there is either a base station (BS) device or a relay (RL) device, hereinafter referred to as a BS/RL device  561 , disposed on a roof of the MDU  560 . The BS/RL device  561  is coupled to wired networking  562 . The wired networking  562  can include a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) switch, a NAS storage device, or the like. The BS/RL connectivity can be through the connectivity of a nano-cell unit, and the devices below the BS/RL device  561  are part of a pico-cell unit. The pico-cell unit can be sub-divided by customer device connectivity (GW-STA, or GW-endpoint). The wired networking  562  can extend along the roof of the MDU  560 , as well as in common areas  563  of the MDU  560 . The wired networking  562  can connect the BS/RL device  561  to one or more gateway devices  564  in the common areas  563 , as well as one or more gateway devices  564  on the roof. The gateway devices  564  can be connected to one another via wired or wireless connections. The gateway devices  564  can connect to CPE within a customer&#39;s home over wired connections or wireless connections (e.g., 5.x GHz) in various manners, referred to herein as MDU options: N1-N4. For example, the gateway device  564  on the roof can wireless connect to a customer station  565  along a surface of the MDU  560  (referred to as N2 network (surface)). The customer station  565  can operate as an access point to other endpoint devices within the customer premises, such as a tablet, a phone, an entertainment device, or the like. The access point can communicate with these devices over the 2.4 GHz frequency band. The customer station  565  can include an antenna (e.g., a surface antenna or external directional antenna) that is mounted external to the customer premises to communicate with the gateway device  564  on the roof along a surface of the MDU  560 . The gateway device  564  can include a surface antenna (or external directional antenna) through which it communicates with the customer station  565  along the surface of the MDU  560 . A gateway device  564  in the common area  563  can wirelessly connect to an endpoint device  566  (e.g., FireTV device) (referred to herein as N1/N4 network (WLTH)). Another gateway device  564  in the common area  563  can connect to a customer station  567  over a wired connection within the MDU  560  (referred to herein as N3 network (WTH)). 
       FIG. 5C  illustrates a housing  570  with a multiple devices of a base station node (BSN) according to one embodiment. The housing  570  include a PoE network switch  572 , a router device  574  (RT) that serves as ingress into a pico-cell unit, and a storage device  576  (NAS) coupled to one or more storage mediums (e.g., HDD, SSD)  578 . The PoE network switch  572  coupled the router device  574  and the storage device  576  to operate as the BSN. The router device  574  can provide layer 3 (L3) routing functions for communications within a nano-cell unit. The router device  574  can provide a network address translation (NAT) service for devices in the pico-cell unit. The router device  574  (or a separate device) can also be configured as a base station device that can provide a multi-sector, 360-degree PtMP coverage to relay devices up to 100 m range. The housing  570  can be disposed on a MDU or other structure, such as on a roof of a building. It should be noted that a RLN includes a similar housing with the PoE network switch, a relay device, a gateway device, and an optional storage device. The housing of the RLN can also be disposed on a separate MDU or other structure. In another embodiment, the router device  574  can be connected to one or more devices  578  via the PoE network switch  572 . The one or more more devices  578  can be a base station device, a relay device, a gateway device, or any combination thereof. The one or more devices  578  can be disposed on the same roof or a different roof than the housing  570 . These one or more devices can also be disposed in a single or multiple housings or enclosures. 
       FIG. 6A  illustrates a single pico-cell unit  600  with either multiple SDUs  602  or a single MDU  604  according to one embodiment. The single pico-cell unit  600  can be one of multiple pico-cell units of a nano-cell unit  620  (illustrated in  FIG. 6B ). In one implementation, all devices of the single pico-cell unit  600  can be disposed over multiple SDUs  602 . For example, the BSN can be disposed on a first structure and the HANs can be disposed on the individual SDUs. RLN can also be disposed on other structures within the single pico-cell unit  600 . In another implementation, all devices of the single pico-cell unit  600  can be disposed on or within the single MDU  604 . The single pico-cell unit  600  can include multiple SDUs within a specified radius (e.g., 75 m radius) to service multiple customers (e.g., 68 customers). The single pico-cell unit  600  with one single MDU can service multiple customers (e.g., 28 customers). 
       FIG. 6B  illustrates a single nano-cell unit  620  with either multiple SDUs  622  or multiple MDUs  624  according to one embodiment. The single nano-cell unit  620  can be one of multiple nano-cell units of a micro-cell unit (illustrated in  FIG. 6C ). In one implementation, all devices of the single nano-cell unit  620  can be disposed over multiple sets, each set having multiple SDUs  622 . For example, seven buildings can be used within the single nano-cell unit  620  to service customers (e.g., 476 customers) up to 150 m radius. Each pico-cell of the single nano-cell unit  620  can include a BSN and one or more RLNs disposed on structures, whereas the HANs can be disposed on the individual SDUs  622 . In another implementation, all devices of the single nano-cell unit  620  can be disposed on or within multiple MDU  624 . The single nano-cell unit  620  can include multiple MDUs within a specified radius (e.g., 100 m radius) to service multiple customers (e.g., 196 customers). 
       FIG. 6C  illustrates a single micro-cell unit  640  with either SDUs or MDUs according to one embodiment. The single micro-cell unit  640  includes the nano-cell unit  620  of  FIG. 6B , as well as a second nano-cell unit  650  and a third nano-cell unit  660 . The single micro-cell unit  640  can include additional nano-cell units. Each of the nano-cell units of the single micro-cell unit  640  can include SDUs or MDUs as described above with respect to  FIGS. 6A-6B . 
     Each cell type can be further sectorized in order to increase network capacity while managing in-network interface. When there is no ability to synchronize transmission and reception windows in the wireless network, such as for Wi-Fi® based networks using Carrier-sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA-CA), sectorization of the pico-cell and nano-cell units can increase network capacity and manage in-network interference, such as set forth in the pico-cell sectorization illustrated and described with respect to  FIG. 7  and the nano-cell sectorization illustrated and described with respect to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates pico-cell sectorization  700  of multiple pico-cell units  702 - 706  of a nano-cell unit  707  according to one embodiment. As illustrated, the second pico-cell unit  704  is a sectorized pico-cell unit in which non-adjacent channels of a first frequency band are assigned to four geographical sectors in an alternating configuration (e.g., ABAB configuration). In particular, a first geographical sector  708  and a second geographical sector  710  of the second pico-cell unit  704  are assigned a first channel  701  of a first frequency band (e.g., U-NII-1 (low band) of the 5 GHz band). That is, the first channel  701  is assigned to devices located in the first geographical sector  708  and the first channel  701  is reused between opposite building faces. That is, the first channel  701  is also assigned to devices located in the second geographical sector  710 . In addition, a third geographical sector  712  and a fourth geographical sector  714  of the second pico-cell unit  704  are assigned a second channel  703  of the first frequency band. That is, the second channel  703  is assigned to devices located in the third geographical sector  712  and the second channel  703  is reused between opposite building faces. That is, the second channel  703  is also assigned to devices located in the fourth geographical sector  714 . The first channel  701  and the second channel  703  are non-adjacent channels in the first frequency band. The first geographical sector  708  and the third geographical sector  712  are physically adjacent and the second geographical sector  710  and the fourth geographical sector  714  are physically adjacent. The first pico-cell unit  702  is also a sectorized pico-cell unit that is physically adjacent to the second pico-cell unit  704 . The first pico-cell unit  702  is assigned a third channel  705  and a fourth channel  707  of the first frequency band in a similar fashion as the second pico-cell unit  704 . The third pico-cell unit  706  is assigned a fifth channel  709  and a sixth channel  711  of the first frequency band in a similar fashion as the second pico-cell unit  704 . The third channel  705  and the fourth channel  707  are non-adjacent channels and the fifth channel  709  and the sixth channel  711  are non-adjacent channels. The first channel  701  can be adjacent to the third channel  705 . 
     In another implementation, the non-adjacent channels of a first frequency band are assigned to a first set of channels and a second set of channels in an alternating configuration for alternative adjacent channel interference (AACI). The first set of channels can be assigned to the devices located in a first geographical sector of the first pico-cell (e.g., the gateway and customer STAs (low-band GW-STA). The second set of channels can be assigned to the devices located in a second geographical sector of the first pico-cell, the first and geographical sectors being physically adjacent geographical sectors. The first set of channels is assigned to the devices located in a third geographical sector of the first pico-cell and the second set of channels is assigned to the devices located in a fourth geographical sector of the first pico-cell, the third geographical sector and the fourth geographical sector being physically adjacent geographical sectors. The first and third geographical sectors can be opposing sectors. 
     The first frequency band can be the low-band of the 5 GHz frequency band. The low-band can be used to isolate the gateway-to-customer-station (GW-STA) connectivity from the base-station-to-relay (BS-RL) connectivity, acting as a sub-band filter. The channels can be organized as three channel groups (G1, G2, G3) and can maximize frequency re-use and building and building-to-building connectivity is adjacent channel (ACI) as set forth below in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates nano-cell sectorization  800  of multiple nano-cell units  802 - 806  of a micro-cell unit according to one embodiment. As illustrated, each of the nano-cell units  802 - 806  are sectorized nano-cell units in which adjacent channels of a second frequency band (e.g., U-NII-2 or U-NII-3 or U-NII-ext (High Band) of the 5 GHz frequency band) are assigned to three geographical sectors in a sequential configuration (e.g., ABC configuration). In particular, the first nano-cell unit  802  is a sectorized nano-cell unit in which adjacent channels of the second frequency band are assigned to three geographical sectors in a sequential configuration. That is, a first channel  801  of the second frequency band is assigned to devices located in a first geographical sector  808  of the first nano-cell unit  802 , a second channel  803  of the second frequency band is assigned to the devices located in a second geographical sector  810  of the first nano-cell unit  802 , and a third channel  805  of the second frequency band is assigned to the devices located in a third geographical sector  812  of the first nano-cell unit  802 . The first, second, and third channels  801 - 805  are adjacent channels. The second nano-cell unit  804  is also a sectorized nano-cell unit that is physically adjacent to the first nano-cell unit  802  and assigned a fourth channel  807 , a fifth channel  809 , and a sixth channel  811  of the second frequency band. The fourth, fifth, and sixth channels  807 - 8011  are adjacent channels. The third channel  805  and the fourth channel  807  are adjacent channels. The third nano-cell unit  806  is also a sectorized nano-cell unit that is physically adjacent to the first nano-cell unit  802  and the second nano-cell unit  804  and assigned a seventh channel  813 , an eighth channel  815 , and a ninth channel  817  of the second frequency band. The seventh, eighth, and ninth channels  813 - 817  are adjacent channels. The sixth channel  811  and the seventh channel  813  are adjacent channels. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the adjacent (ACI) channels are organized in an ABC configuration and radios on the same device use channels A and C (AACI). The second frequency band can be the high-band of the 5 GHz frequency band. The high-band can be used to isolate the BS-RL connectivity from the GW-STA connectivity, acting as a sub-band filter. The channels can be organized as three channel groups (G1, G2, G3), depending on out-of-network channel usage, interference, and DFS activity. 
       FIG. 9A  illustrates an exemplary node configuration  900  of a wireless network according to one embodiment. In the node configuration  900 , there can be multiple nodes, one node per building. As illustrated, a first building includes a BSN  902 , including two base station devices  904  and two gateway devices  906 . The five other buildings include a RLN  908 , each including at least one relay device  910  and multiple gateway devices  912 . As described above, the nano-cell units and the pico-cell units can be sectorized. An example of the nano-cell sector coverages is illustrated in  FIG. 9B  and an example of the pico-cell sector coverages is illustrated in  FIG. 9C . It should be noted that the pico-cell sector coverage is shown only for the BSN node. It should also be noted that it is possible to cover multiple buildings from a single BSN or RLN (referred to as multi-building pico-cell unit). 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a MDU  1000  with a first installation  1002  of a base station or relay device (BS/RL device)  1004 , a second installation  1006  of a gateway device  1008 , and a third installation  1010  of a customer station  1012  according to one embodiment. The first installation  1002  can be on a roof of the MDU  1000 . For example, the BS/RL device  1004  can be mounted to a pole on the roof of the MDU  1000 . The BS/RL device  1004  can be coupled to a nano-cell sector antenna  1005  that is also mounted on the pole. The second installation  1006  can also be on a roof of the MDU  1000 . The first installation  1002  and the second installation  1006  can be at the same location or at different locations on the MDU  1000 . For example, the gateway device  1008  can be mounted to a second pole on the roof of the MDU  1000 . The gateway device  1008  can be coupled to one or more surface antennas  1009  that can also be mounted on a pole that extends out from the MDU  1000 . The third installation  1010  can be in a customer&#39;s home within the MDU  1000 . For example, the customer station  1012  can be placed within the customer&#39;s home, such as on a table, on a floor, or the like. The customer station  1012  can be coupled to one or more surface antennas  1011  that can also be mounted on a pole that extends out from the MDU  1000 . Additional installations can be at other customer&#39;s homes within the MDU  1000 . 
       FIG. 11  is a block diagram of a network device  1100  that can be configured to operate according to a device role and a node of a cascaded star topology according to one embodiment. In  FIG. 11 , the network device  1100  includes one or more processors  1102  (hereinafter referred to as “processor”), one or more memory devices  1104  (hereinafter referred to as “memory device”), one or more wired interfaces  1106 , and one or more wireless interfaces  1108 . For the one or more wired interfaces  1106 , the network device  1100  can include one or more hardware ports (not illustrated in  FIG. 11 ). For the one or more wireless interfaces  1108 , the network device  1100  can include one or more radios (not illustrated in  FIG. 11 ) and one or more antennas  1116 . 
     The processor  1102  can be various type of processing devices, such as one or more Central Processing Units (CPUs), microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays, or other types of processors or processing devices. The processor  1102  can implement processing logic  1110  that comprises hardware (e.g., circuitry, dedicated logic, programmable logic, microcode, etc.), software, firmware, or a combination thereof. The processing logic  1110  can configure the network device  1100  to operate according to a device role using the device role information  1118  and according to a node of a cascaded start topology using the node configuration information  1120  as described herein. The memory device  1104  can be any type of memory or storage device and can store instructions that implement the processing logic  1110 , the device role information  1118 , and the node configuration information  1120 . The processor  1102  can communicate with other devices over the wired interfaces  1106  and wireless interfaces  1108 . The wireless interfaces  1108  can implement one or more types of radio technologies, such as, for example, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technologies, Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) technologies, cellular technologies, Long Range (LoRa) technologies, Body Area Network (BAN) technologies, Near-Me (NAN) technologies, or the like. 
     In one embodiment, the one or more memory devices  1104  store device role information  1118  and node configuration information  1120 . The device role information  1118  can include device settings for each of the following device roles: a RT role, a BS role, a RL role, a GW role, a customer STA role, a NAS role, or the like. The node configuration information  1120  can include node settings for each of the device roles within each of the following node types: BSN, RLN, or CPE node. The node configuration information  1120  can also include information about the hardware available at the network device  1100 , including hardware that is plugged into the hardware ports of the network device  1100 . For example, the node configuration information  1120  can be determined during a boot-up process, such as by the Basic Input/output System (BIOS). The device role information  1118  and the node configuration information  1120  can be stored in memory, registers, a specified file, or the like. The node configuration information  1120  can also include an indication of whether a storage device is attached to a hardware port of the network device  1100 . The device role information  1118  can be used to allow the network device  1100  to be configured as one of the types of devices described herein. The node configuration information  1120  can include information about the connections of the network device  1100 . For example, the node configuration information  1120  can list each of the external connections to other devices, such as over wired interfaces or wireless interfaces. In one embodiment, the node configuration information  1120  includes an IP address for a WAN port. In other embodiments, the node configuration information  1120  includes IP addresses of a private subnet. As described herein, the node configuration information  1120  can be used by the network device  1100  to be configured according to a specific role for the network device  1100 , depending on where the network device  1100  is disposed in the cascaded star topology. 
     During operation and after a power-up event, the processor  1102  can configure the device role and node configuration using the device role information  1118  and the node configuration information  1120 . The operations to perform the device role process can be done by the processing logic  1110 . The processing logic  1110  can receive a first command identifying a first node of a wireless network, the first node being a first node type. The first node is one node in a cascaded star topology of the wireless network. Responsive to the first command, the processing logic  1110  configures the network device  1100  to be part of a first set of devices at the first node using the node configuration information  1120 . The processing logic  1110  receives a second command identifying a first device role for the network device  1100 . Responsive to the second command, the processing logic  1110  configures the network device  1100  to operate as the first device role using the device role information  1118 , establish a wired connection with a second device (e.g., second network device  113 ) in the first set of devices at the first node, and configures the first radio of the wireless interface  1108  to communicate with a third device (e.g., third network device  1132 ) in a second node over a first wireless link. The processing device, responsive to the second command, configures the second radio of the wireless interface  1108  to communicate with a fourth device in a third node over a second wireless link. 
     In a further embodiment, the processing logic  1110 , after the first command and the second command, receives a third command identifying a third node of the wireless network, the third node being a second node type that is different than the first node type. The third command can be initiated as part of a repurposing process that repurposes the network device  1100  as a different device type or as a different node type. Responsive to the third command, the processing logic  1110  configures the network device  1100  to be part of a second set of devices at the third node using the node configuration information  1120 . After the first command and the second command, the processing logic  1110  receives a fourth command identifying a second device role for the network device  1100 . Responsive to the fourth command, the processing logic  1110  configures the network device  1100  to operate as the second device role using the device role information  1118 , establish a wired connection with a fourth device in the second set of devices at the third node, and configure at least one of the radios of the wireless interface  1108  to communicate with a fifth device in a fourth node over a wireless link. 
     In other embodiments, the network device  1100  includes other components, such as peripheral ports, wired interface ports (e.g., Ethernet ports), directional antennas, omnidirectional antennas, serial interfaces (e.g., USB, PCIe, PSGMII), card readers, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), general purpose input-output terminals, integrated radios with or without dedicated CPU cores, multilayer switch/router, pin connectors to allow external antennas to be coupled to the network device  1100 , RF modules, or the like. 
       FIG. 12  is a block diagram of an electronic device  1200  that can be configured to operate according to a device role and a node of a cascaded star topology according to one embodiment. The electronic device  1200  may correspond to the electronic devices described above with respect to  FIGS. 1-10 . Alternatively, the electronic device  1200  may be other electronic devices, as described herein. 
     The electronic device  1200  includes one or more processor(s)  1230 , such as one or more CPUs, microcontrollers, field programmable gate arrays, or other types of processors. The electronic device  1200  also includes system memory  1206 , which may correspond to any combination of volatile and/or non-volatile storage mechanisms. The system memory  1206  stores information that provides operating system component  1208 , various program modules  1210 , program data  1212 , and/or other components. In one embodiment, the system memory  1206  stores instructions of methods to control operation of the electronic device  1200 . The electronic device  1200  performs functions by using the processor(s)  1230  to execute instructions provided by the system memory  1206 . In one embodiment, the program modules  1210  may include processing logic  1110 . The processing logic  1110  may perform some or all of the operations descried herein. 
     The electronic device  1200  also includes a data storage device  1214  that may be composed of one or more types of removable storage and/or one or more types of non-removable storage. The data storage device  1214  includes a computer-readable storage medium  1216  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions embodying any of the methodologies or functions described herein. Instructions for the program modules  1210  (e.g., processing logic  1110 ) may reside, completely or at least partially, within the computer-readable storage medium  1216 , system memory  1206  and/or within the processor(s)  1230  during execution thereof by the electronic device  1200 , the system memory  1206  and the processor(s)  1230  also constituting computer-readable media. The electronic device  1200  may also include one or more input devices  1218  (keyboard, mouse device, specialized selection keys, etc.) and one or more output devices  1220  (displays, printers, audio output mechanisms, etc.). 
     The electronic device  1200  further includes a modem  1222  to allow the electronic device  1200  to communicate via a wireless connections (e.g., such as provided by the wireless communication system) with other computing devices, such as remote computers, an item providing system, and so forth. The modem  1222  can be connected to one or more radio frequency (RF) modules  1286 . The RF modules  1286  may be a WLAN module, a WAN module, WPAN module, Global Positioning System (GPS) module, or the like. The antenna structures (antenna(s)  1284 ,  1285 ,  1287 ) are coupled to the front-end circuitry  1290 , which is coupled to the modem  1022 . The front-end circuitry  1290  may include radio front-end circuitry, antenna switching circuitry, impedance matching circuitry, or the like. The antennas  1284  may be GPS antennas, Near-Field Communication (NFC) antennas, other WAN antennas, WLAN or PAN antennas, or the like. The modem  1222  allows the electronic device  1200  to handle both voice and non-voice communications (such as communications for text messages, multimedia messages, media downloads, web browsing, etc.) with a wireless communication system. The modem  1222  may provide network connectivity using any type of mobile network technology including, for example, Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), EDGE, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Single-Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evaluation Data Optimized (EVDO), High-Speed Down-Link Packet Access (HSDPA), Wi-Fi®, Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE Advanced (sometimes generally referred to as 4G), etc. 
     The modem  1222  may generate signals and send these signals to antenna(s)  1284  of a first type (e.g., WLAN 5 GHz), antenna(s)  1285  of a second type (e.g., WLAN 2.4 GHz), and/or antenna(s)  1287  of a third type (e.g., WAN), via front-end circuitry  1290 , and RF module(s)  1286  as descried herein. Antennas  1284 ,  1285 ,  1287  may be configured to transmit in different frequency bands and/or using different wireless communication protocols. The antennas  1284 ,  1285 ,  1287  may be directional, omnidirectional, or non-directional antennas. In addition to sending data, antennas  1284 ,  1285 ,  1287  may also receive data, which is sent to appropriate RF modules connected to the antennas. One of the antennas  1284 ,  1285 ,  1287  may be any combination of the antenna structures described herein. 
     In one embodiment, the electronic device  1200  establishes a first connection using a first wireless communication protocol, and a second connection using a different wireless communication protocol. The first wireless connection and second wireless connection may be active concurrently, for example, if an electronic device is receiving a media item from another electronic device via the first connection) and transferring a file to another electronic device (e.g., via the second connection) at the same time. Alternatively, the two connections may be active concurrently during wireless communications with multiple devices. In one embodiment, the first wireless connection is associated with a first resonant mode of an antenna structure that operates at a first frequency band and the second wireless connection is associated with a second resonant mode of the antenna structure that operates at a second frequency band. In another embodiment, the first wireless connection is associated with a first antenna structure and the second wireless connection is associated with a second antenna. 
     Though a modem  1222  is shown to control transmission and reception via antenna ( 1284 ,  1285 ,  1287 ), the electronic device  1200  may alternatively include multiple modems, each of which is configured to transmit/receive data via a different antenna and/or wireless transmission protocol. 
     In the above description, numerous details are set forth. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of this disclosure, that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring the description. 
     Some portions of the detailed description are presented in terms of algorithms and symbolic representations of operations on data bits within a computer memory. These algorithmic descriptions and representations are the means used by those skilled in the data processing arts to convey the substance of their work most effectively to others skilled in the art. An algorithm is used herein, and generally, conceived to be a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. 
     It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the above discussion, it is appreciated that throughout the description, discussions utilizing terms such as “inducing,” “parasitically inducing,” “radiating,” “detecting,” determining,” “generating,” “communicating,” “receiving,” “disabling,” or the like, refer to the actions and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     Embodiments also relate to an apparatus for performing the operations herein. This apparatus may be specially constructed for the required purposes, or it may comprise a general-purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer. Such a computer program may be stored in a computer readable storage medium, such as, but not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical disks, Read-Only Memories (ROMs), compact disc ROMs (CD-ROMs) and magnetic-optical disks, Random Access Memories (RAMs), EPROMs, EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, or any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions. 
     The algorithms and displays presented herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus. Various general-purpose systems may be used with programs in accordance with the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct a more specialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The required structure for a variety of these systems will appear from the description below. In addition, the present embodiments are not described with reference to any particular programming language. It will be appreciated that a variety of programming languages may be used to implement the teachings of the present embodiments as described herein. It should also be noted that the terms “when” or the phrase “in response to,” as used herein, should be understood to indicate that there may be intervening time, intervening events, or both before the identified operation is performed. 
     It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. The scope of the present embodiments should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.