Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8160036?dq=6,548,982
Timestamp: 2017-04-25 23:44:28
Document Index: 431894967

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11']

Patent US8160036 - Access point in a wireless LAN - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inPatentsA wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage...http://www.google.com/patents/US8160036?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8160036 - Access point in a wireless LANAdvanced Patent SearchTry the new Google Patents, with machine-classified Google Scholar results, and Japanese and South Korean patents.Publication numberUS8160036 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/816,003PCT numberPCT/US2006/008743Publication dateApr 17, 2012Filing dateMar 9, 2006Priority dateMar 9, 2005Fee statusPaidAlso published asUS8184062, US8299978, US8519902, US8665850, US8665851, US8831659, US8934416, US8963792, US20080267151, US20080268778, US20090022114, US20090028098, US20100061349, US20120230307, US20120293386, US20120299791, US20130121327, US20130121328, US20150063153Publication number11816003, 816003, PCT/2006/8743, PCT/US/2006/008743, PCT/US/2006/08743, PCT/US/6/008743, PCT/US/6/08743, PCT/US2006/008743, PCT/US2006/08743, PCT/US2006008743, PCT/US200608743, PCT/US6/008743, PCT/US6/08743, PCT/US6008743, PCT/US608743, US 8160036 B2, US 8160036B2, US-B2-8160036, US8160036 B2, US8160036B2InventorsSteve Smith, Dirk Ion Gates, Ian Laity, Michael R. Conley, Michael de la Garrigue, Kurt SauterOriginal AssigneeXirrus, Inc.Export CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (89), Referenced by (8), Classifications (18), Legal Events (11) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetAccess point in a wireless LAN
US 8160036 B2Abstract
1. General implementation IEEE 802.11 Access Point functionality. 2. Non-blocking packet processing from/to any radio interface. In typical wireless access devices that employ a single, omni-directional radio, a packet that is being transmitted may block other packets from access to the medium. This may occur in either direction. Stations typically transmit packets to an access point when the medium is not busy. If the medium is busy with packets from other stations, for example, the packet is blocked. Similarly, the access point may be attempting to send a packet to a station. If other packets are being sent to another station, the original packet is blocked from access to the medium. In the wireless access device 100, when a station is blocked from communicating a packet to one radio, it may switch to another radio that is not blocked. If the wireless access device 100 is blocked from sending a packet via one radio, it may switch to another radio. 3. Dynamic automatic channel assignment. The array controller 300 implements algorithms and/or other schemes for assigning channels of the 802.11 standards to the multiple radios. Channels are allocated to radios in a manner that reduces adjacent channel interference (ACI). 4. Directional awareness of where a wireless station is in geographic relationship to the wireless access device 100. The array controller 300 receives information such as signal strength, and for each station, may keep track of how the signal strength changes over time. In addition, even if one radio is locked in and “connected” to a station, another radio may receive signals and thus, “listen” to the station. The signal strength in relation to the specific radios gathering signal information provide the array controller with sufficient information to create a directional awareness of the location of the wireless station. 5. Station mobility services whereby a station can instantly roam from one sector to another without requiring re-authentication of the station. As a wireless station moves in the coverage area space of the wireless access device, the signal strength sensed by the array controller changes. As the signal strength of the station becomes weaker, the radio associated with the adjacent sector locks in and “connects” with the station without requiring re-authentication. 6. Wireless quality of service. 7. Enhanced load balancing of wireless stations. 8. Constant RF monitoring of channel conditions and security threats 9. Wireless Security processing 10. Internal Authentication Server. Typically, authentication takes place at a server or router that is wired to the access points. In the wireless access device 100, authentication may be done by the array controller 300. 11. Wired Networking protocol support. 12. System failover handling and error handling. Because sectors overlap, when a radio fails, the adjacent radios may lock in with stations being handled by the failed radio. In some examples of the wireless access device 100, the array controller 300 may increase power to adjacent sectors to ensure coverage in any area covered by the failed sector. In addition, when multiple access devices are deployed, one wireless access device may increase power and expand a sector to cover area left without service when a radio fails in an adjacent wireless access device. 13. System management functions. As discussed above, examples of wireless access devices and systems that employ wireless access devices described in this specification (without limitation) operate in the wireless LAN environment established by the IEEE 802.11 standardization body. The IEEE 802.11 standards including (without limitation):
IEEE 802.11, 1999 Edition (ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999) IEEE Standards for Information Technology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange between Systems—Local and Metropolitan Area Network—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications IEEE 802.11a-1999 (8802-11:1999/Amd 1:2000(E)), IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 1: High-speed Physical Layer in the 5 GHz band IEEE 802.11b-1999 Supplement to 802.11-1999, Wireless LAN MAC and PHY specifications: Higher speed Physical Layer (PHY) extension in the 2.4 GHz band 802.11b-1999/Cor1-2001, IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks-Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 2: Higher-speed Physical Layer (PHY) extension in the 2.4 GHz band—Corrigendum1 IEEE 802.11d-2001 Amendment to IEEE 802.11-1999, (ISO/IEC 8802-11) Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications: Specification for Operation in Additional Regulatory Domains IEEE 802.11F-2003 IEEE Recommended Practice for Multi-Vendor Access Point Interoperability via an Inter-Access Point Protocol Across Distribution Systems Supporting IEEE 802.11 Operation IEEE 802.11g-2003 IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 4: Further Higher-Speed Physical Layer Extension in the 2.4 GHz Band IEEE 802.11h-2003 IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems—LAN/MAN Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications: Spectrum and Transmit Power Management Extensions in the 5 GHz band in Europe IEEE 802.11i-2004 Amendment to IEEE Std 802.11, 1999 Edition (Reaff 2003). IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between system—Local and metropolitan area networks Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 6: Medium Access Control (MAC) Security Enhancements IEEE 802.11j-2004 IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunications and information exchange between systems—Local and metropolitan area networks—Specific requirements—Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) specifications—Amendment 7: 4.9 GHz-5 GHz Operation in Japan
If the radio to which station 720 a fails, or is otherwise unable to provide service to station 720 a, the array controller is able to switch the connection to station 720 a over to one of the adjacent radios. The IEEE 802.11a, b, and g protocols permit radios to “listen” to signals being communicated with stations that are connected to another radio. The array controller may obtain data such as signal strength and directional awareness and other factors that allow it to determine which radio is best suited to continue communicating with the station 720 a. The wireless access device 700 is connected to a Gigabit Ethernet port 780, which provides a direct connection to the user's network.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4042935Oct 8, 1975Aug 16, 1977Hughes Aircraft CompanyWideband multiplexing antenna feed employing cavity backed wing dipolesUS4649391Feb 1, 1984Mar 10, 1987Hughes Aircraft CompanyMonopulse cavity-backed multipole antenna systemUS4726050Jul 13, 1987Feb 16, 1988Motorola, Inc.Scanning receiver allocation method and apparatus for cellular radiotelephone systemsUS5389941Feb 28, 1992Feb 14, 1995Hughes Aircraft CompanyData link antenna systemUS5952983May 14, 1997Sep 14, 1999Andrew CorporationHigh isolation dual polarized antenna system using dipole radiating elementsUS6140972Dec 28, 1998Oct 31, 2000Telecommunications Research LaboratoriesMultiport antennaUS6157811Feb 16, 1996Dec 5, 2000Ericsson Inc.Cellular/satellite communications system with improved frequency re-useUS6326926May 18, 2000Dec 4, 2001Telxon CorporationMethod of operating a wireless and a short-range wireless connection in the same frequencyUS6329954Apr 14, 2000Dec 11, 2001Receptec L.L.C.Dual-antenna system for single-frequency bandUS6374078May 31, 2000Apr 16, 2002Direct Wireless CorporationWireless communication system with multiple external communication linksUS6452565Oct 29, 1999Sep 17, 2002Antenova LimitedSteerable-beam multiple-feed dielectric resonator antennaUS6539204Sep 29, 2000Mar 25, 2003Mobilian CorporationAnalog active cancellation of a wireless coupled transmit signalUS6544173May 18, 2001Apr 8, 2003Welch Allyn Protocol, Inc.Patient monitoring systemUS6606059Aug 28, 2000Aug 12, 2003Intel CorporationAntenna for nomadic wireless modemsUS6646611Mar 5, 2002Nov 11, 2003AlcatelMultiband telecommunication antennaUS6888504Jan 31, 2003May 3, 2005Ipr Licensing, Inc.Aperiodic array antennaUS6903703Nov 6, 2003Jun 7, 2005Harris CorporationMultiband radially distributed phased array antenna with a sloping ground plane and associated methodsUS6933909Mar 18, 2003Aug 23, 2005Cisco Technology, Inc.Multichannel access point with collocated isolated antennasUS6963305Oct 2, 2002Nov 8, 2005Guenther KnappElectromagnetic coupler systemUS7057566Jan 20, 2004Jun 6, 2006Cisco Technology, Inc.Flexible multichannel WLAN access point architectureUS7103386Jun 17, 2004Sep 5, 2006Ipr Licensing, Inc.Antenna steering and hidden node recognition for an access pointUS7119744Jan 20, 2004Oct 10, 2006Cisco Technology, Inc.Configurable antenna for a wireless access pointUS7136655Jun 16, 2004Nov 14, 2006Bandspeed, Inc.Method and apparatus for coverage and throughput enhancement in a wireless communication systemUS7193562Dec 23, 2004Mar 20, 2007Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Circuit board having a peripheral antenna apparatus with selectable antenna elementsUS7202824Oct 15, 2003Apr 10, 2007Cisco Technology, Inc.Dual hemisphere antennaUS7253783Apr 8, 2005Aug 7, 2007Ipr Licensing, Inc.Low cost multiple pattern antenna for use with multiple receiver systemsUS7274944Jun 28, 2005Sep 25, 2007Rotani, Inc.Method and apparatus for high throughput multiple radio sectorized wireless cellUS7292198Dec 9, 2004Nov 6, 2007Ruckus Wireless, Inc.System and method for an omnidirectional planar antenna apparatus with selectable elementsUS7358912Apr 28, 2006Apr 15, 2008Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Coverage antenna apparatus with selectable horizontal and vertical polarization elementsUS7362280Jan 21, 2005Apr 22, 2008Ruckus Wireless, Inc.System and method for a minimized antenna apparatus with selectable elementsUS7498996Dec 26, 2006Mar 3, 2009Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Antennas with polarization diversityUS7498999Nov 1, 2005Mar 3, 2009Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Circuit board having a peripheral antenna apparatus with selectable antenna elements and selectable phase shiftingUS7505447Sep 20, 2005Mar 17, 2009Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Systems and methods for improved data throughput in communications networksUS7511680Oct 25, 2007Mar 31, 2009Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Minimized antenna apparatus with selectable elementsUS7525486Mar 5, 2007Apr 28, 2009Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Increased wireless coverage patternsUS7567213May 2, 2006Jul 28, 2009Accton Technology CorporationArray structure for the application to wireless switch of WLAN and WMANUS7646343Nov 9, 2007Jan 12, 2010Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Multiple-input multiple-output wireless antennasUS7652632Apr 28, 2006Jan 26, 2010Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Multiband omnidirectional planar antenna apparatus with selectable elementsUS7675474Jan 24, 2008Mar 9, 2010Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Horizontal multiple-input multiple-output wireless antennasUS7696946Apr 30, 2007Apr 13, 2010Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Reducing stray capacitance in antenna element switchingUS7787436Nov 16, 2007Aug 31, 2010Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Communications throughput with multiple physical data rate transmission determinationsUS7864119Aug 5, 2010Jan 4, 2011Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Antenna arrayUS20010033600Dec 6, 2000Oct 25, 2001Golden Bridge Technology Inc.Sectorized smart antenna system and methodUS20020039082Jan 31, 2001Apr 4, 2002Cordell FoxPassive anti-jamming antenna systemUS20020163933Nov 2, 2001Nov 7, 2002Mathilde BenvenisteTiered contention multiple access (TCMA): a method for priority-based shared channel accessUS20030040319Dec 3, 2001Feb 27, 2003Hansen Christopher J.Dynamic frequency selection in a wireless communication networkUS20040001429Apr 4, 2003Jan 1, 2004Jianglei MaDual-mode shared OFDM methods/transmitters, receivers and systemsUS20040005227Apr 29, 2003Jan 8, 2004Hugues CremerProcess for assembly of an electric pump, and a vibration damper for such a pumpUS20040052227Sep 16, 2002Mar 18, 2004Andrew CorporationMulti-band wireless access pointUS20040066326Oct 2, 2002Apr 8, 2004Guenther KnappElectromagnetic coupler systemUS20040102222Jul 7, 2003May 27, 2004Efstratios SkafidasMultiple access wireless communications architectureUS20040105412Dec 2, 2002Jun 3, 2004Docomo Communications Laboratories Usa, Inc.Point coordinator control passing scheme using a scheduling information parameter set for an IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networkUS20040143681Dec 9, 2003Jul 22, 2004Mathilde BenvenisteDistributed architecture for deploying multiple wireless local-area networkUS20040157551Jun 20, 2003Aug 12, 2004Tantivy Communications, IncRepeater for extending range of time division duplex communication systemUS20040196813 *Mar 31, 2004Oct 7, 2004Yoram OfekMulti-sector antenna apparatusUS20040203347Feb 24, 2003Oct 14, 2004Hung NguyenSelecting a set of antennas for use in a wireless communication systemUS20040224637 *Nov 3, 2003Nov 11, 2004Silva Marcus DaDirected wireless communicationUS20040240424Mar 5, 2004Dec 2, 2004Mo-Han FongReverse link enhancement for CDMA 2000 release DUS20040242274 *May 30, 2003Dec 2, 2004Corbett Christopher J.Using directional antennas to mitigate the effects of interference in wireless networksUS20040259558Jun 16, 2004Dec 23, 2004Efstratios SkafidasMethod and apparatus for coverage and throughput enhancement in a wireless communication systemUS20040259563Jun 1, 2004Dec 23, 2004Morton John JackMethod and apparatus for sector channelization and polarization for reduced interference in wireless networksUS20050020299Jun 23, 2004Jan 27, 2005Quorum Systems, Inc.Time interleaved multiple standard single radio system apparatus and methodUS20050025254Jul 29, 2004Feb 3, 2005Awad Yassin AdenAdaptive modulation and codingUS20050035919Aug 15, 2003Feb 17, 2005Fan YangMulti-band printed dipole antennaUS20050058097Sep 15, 2004Mar 17, 2005Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.System and method for dynamic channel allocation in a communication system using an orthogonal frequency division multiple access networkUS20050058111Sep 15, 2003Mar 17, 2005Pai-Fu HungWLAN device having smart antenna systemUS20050237258Apr 12, 2005Oct 27, 2005Abramov Oleg YSwitched multi-beam antennaUS20050254470 *Mar 9, 2005Nov 17, 2005Haim YasharWireless packet communications system and methodUS20050255892 *Apr 28, 2004Nov 17, 2005Hong Kong Applied Science And Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd.Systems and methods for wireless network range extensionUS20060038738Jul 26, 2005Feb 23, 2006Video54 Technologies, Inc.Wireless system having multiple antennas and multiple radiosUS20060098616Nov 4, 2005May 11, 2006Ruckus Wireless, Inc.Throughput enhancement by acknowledgement suppressionUS20060109799Dec 29, 2004May 25, 2006Institute For Information IndustryMethods and systems of dynamic channel allocation for access points in wireless networksUS20060233280Apr 19, 2005Oct 19, 2006Telefonaktiebolaget L M EricssonSelection of channel coding and multidimensional interleaving schemes for improved performanceUS20070066234 *Oct 31, 2006Mar 22, 2007Rotani, Inc.Method and apparatus for high throughput multiple radio sectorized wireless cellUS20070178927May 25, 2006Aug 2, 2007Fernandez-Corbaton Ivan JCentralized medium access control algorithm for CDMA reverse linkUS20070293178May 23, 2007Dec 20, 2007Darin MiltonAntenna ControlUS20080136715Oct 23, 2007Jun 12, 2008Victor ShtromAntenna with Selectable Elements for Use in Wireless CommunicationsUS20080137681Nov 16, 2007Jun 12, 2008Kish William SCommunications throughput with unicast packet transmission alternativeUS20080221918Mar 7, 2007Sep 11, 2008Welch Allyn, Inc.Network performance monitorUS20080225814 *May 27, 2008Sep 18, 2008Broadcom CorporationWireless access point service coverage area managementUS20080268778Mar 9, 2006Oct 30, 2008De La Garrigue MichaelMedia Access Controller for Use in a Multi-Sector Access Point ArrayUS20080274748 *Jun 5, 2008Nov 6, 2008Rotani, Inc.Methods and Apparatus for Channel AssignmentUS20080291098Apr 7, 2008Nov 27, 2008William KishCoverage antenna apparatus with selectable horizontal and vertical polarization elementsUS20090028095Jul 28, 2008Jan 29, 2009Kish William SWireless Network Throughput Enhancement Through Channel Aware SchedulingUS20090075606Sep 18, 2008Mar 19, 2009Victor ShtromVertical multiple-input multiple-output wireless antennasUS20100053010Mar 2, 2009Mar 4, 2010Victor ShtromAntennas with Polarization DiversityUS20100053023Apr 16, 2009Mar 4, 2010Victor ShtromAntenna ArrayUS20100103065Oct 23, 2009Apr 29, 2010Victor ShtromDual Polarization Antenna with Increased Wireless CoverageUS20100103066Oct 23, 2009Apr 29, 2010Victor ShtromDual Band Dual Polarization Antenna Array* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS8665850 *Dec 31, 2012Mar 4, 2014Xirrus, Inc.Wireless LAN arrayUS8665851 *Dec 31, 2012Mar 4, 2014Xirrus, Inc.Wireless access point arrayUS9031020Sep 26, 2012May 12, 2015Cisco Technology, Inc.Using multiple radios to provide service on the same channel to support a new standard while maintaining compatibility with legacy devicesUS9306294 *May 5, 2014Apr 5, 2016Ventus Networks LlcSmart antennaUS20120230307 *Nov 15, 2011Sep 13, 2012Steve SmithAccess point in a wireless lanUS20130121327 *Dec 31, 2012May 16, 2013Xirus, Inc.Wireless lan arrayUS20130121328 *Dec 31, 2012May 16, 2013Xirrus, Inc.Wireless access point arrayUS20140329458 *May 5, 2014Nov 6, 2014Ventus Networks LlcSmart antenna* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification370/338, 455/517, 455/560International ClassificationH04W4/00Cooperative ClassificationH04W80/00, H04W80/02, H04W24/08, H04W72/082, H04W88/085, H04W84/12, H01Q9/285, H01Q21/205, H01Q1/007, H01Q19/106European ClassificationH01Q9/28B, H01Q21/20B, H01Q19/10D, H01Q1/00ELegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMar 14, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: XIRRUS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SMITH, STEVE;GATES, DIRK ION;LAITY, IAN;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:020652/0371;SIGNING DATES FROM 20061125 TO 20061204Owner name: XIRRUS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SMITH, STEVE;GATES, DIRK ION;LAITY, IAN;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20061125 TO 20061204;REEL/FRAME:020652/0371Apr 2, 2008ASAssignmentOwner name: XIRRUS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:CONLEY, MICHAEL R.;REEL/FRAME:020743/0394Effective date: 20080329May 31, 2012ASAssignmentOwner name: SILICON VALLEY BANK, CALIFORNIAFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:XIRRUS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:028307/0162Effective date: 20120530Mar 5, 2013ASAssignmentOwner name: CARR & FERRELL, LLP, CALIFORNIAFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:XIRRUS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:029923/0752Effective date: 20130208Dec 23, 2013ASAssignmentOwner name: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC, CALIFORNIAFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:XIRRUS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:031867/0745Effective date: 20131220Mar 3, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: CARR & FERRELL LLP, CALIFORNIAFree format text: SECURITY AGREEMENT;ASSIGNOR:XIRRUS, INC.;REEL/FRAME:032380/0252Effective date: 20131119Mar 7, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: TRIPLEPOINT VENTURE GROWTH BDC CORP., CALIFORNIAFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY AGREEMENT (REEL 031867, FRAME 0745);ASSIGNOR:TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC;REEL/FRAME:032410/0338Effective date: 20140305Apr 30, 2014ASAssignmentOwner name: XIRRUS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CARR & FERRELL LLP;REEL/FRAME:032794/0290Effective date: 20140422Owner name: XIRRUS, INC., CALIFORNIAFree format text: RELEASE BY SECURED PARTY;ASSIGNOR:CARR & FERRELL LLP;REEL/FRAME:032794/0265Effective date: 20140422Nov 27, 2015REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedApr 18, 2016FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 18, 2016SULPSurcharge for late paymentRotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services