Local area network

Details Local area network Local area network

1998-10-27

2003-07-01

Ton, Dang (Department: 2732)

Multiplex communications

Communication over free space

Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...

C455S556200, C455S557000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06587450

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a wireless local area network comprising at least one server device, one or several peripheral devices, and means for transferring information between the server device and the peripheral devices. The invention relates also to a method for implementing a wireless local area network with at least one server device and one or several peripheral devices, in which local area network information is transferred between the server device and the peripheral devices. The invention relates further to a mobile station comprising means for setting up a connection to a wireless local area network, for transferring information between the mobile station and a device connected to the local area network.
Local area networks usually consist of one or several server computers as well as work stations and other peripheral devices communicating with the same, such as printers and telecopier devices. Data transmission in the local area network is usually implemented by using wires, such as Ethernet cabling. Also wireless local area networks are known, in which data transmission is implemented by means of radio modems. According to their structures, local area networks can be e.g. star networks, ring networks, segmented networks, or combinations of these. In a star network, the server is typically placed in the centre, and a data transmission connection is set up from the server to each peripheral device separately. Thus, communication takes place along cabling between the server and the peripheral device. In a ring network, the server and the peripheral devices are placed in succession to form a ring, wherein data is carried usually in one direction along this network. In this case, information sent by the server is transmitted to the next peripheral device in the ring which transmits it further, until the receiver of the information receives the information. In a segmented network, the server and the peripheral devices are also placed in succession, but there is a so-called terminal adapter after the last peripheral device in a segment. Data transmission is thus bidirectional. Also at the other end of the segment, there is a corresponding terminal adapter. In a ring network and in a segmented network, the respective order of the peripheral devices and the server device is usually not significant.
In local area networks, each peripheral device coupled to the local area network is provided with its own address which identifies the peripheral device and by means of which information is directed to this peripheral device. On the other hand, information coming from the peripheral device is identified in the server on the basis of the address of the peripheral device. In the peripheral device and the server, there is a network adapter determined according to the physical structure of the local area network used in the case, provided with means for receiving messages coming from the local area network and for transmitting messages to the local area network.
Data transmission in local area networks takes place typically as data transmission based on messages. A message consists of address data and the actual information to be transmitted. The message may also contain initial and terminal data on the message, for separating different messages from each other. The address data is used for directing messages to the correct device and, on the other hand, for identifying the device which sent the message.
Wireless local area networks differ from wired ones primarily in that data transmission is conducted by using a wireless data transmission method, such as radio waves or infrared light. In their principle of operation, wireless local area networks are typically star networks, i.e. data is transmitted between the server device and a peripheral device. Thus, information to be transmitted between peripheral devices is conducted from the sending peripheral device to the server which transmits the information further to the receiving peripheral device.
For operation of the local area network, the server must know which peripheral devices are coupled to the local area network at each time and what is the operating state of these peripheral devices. This can be implemented by using for example the above-mentioned, message-based data transmission, wherein the peripheral device sends a message to the server device when turned on and up on a possible change of state. The server device receives the message and examines the information content of the message.
The use of a local area wired network is limited e.g. by the location of cabling, and the number and location of connection points placed in the cabling. Expanding such a local area network will require cabling which in many cases is difficult and expensive, particularly afterwards. Some of these limitations of a local area wired network can be eliminated or their effect can be reduced by setting up the local area network by wireless techniques. However, presently known wireless local area networks are relatively expensive, which limits their use particularly in smaller local area networks.
The use of a local area network is usually limited to the premises of an office. A recent trend is, however, that part of the work that was previously done in the office is now done as remote work at home. In such cases, the transmission of data etc. between the home and the office can be facilitated if there is a compact data processor available with a sufficient storage capacity. An example of such a portable device is Nokia 9000 Communicator which can be used both as a mobile station and a data processor. The small size of the device, however, will usually to some extent limit e.g. the size of the user interface, such as the keypad and the display. Moreover, the storage capacity of the data processor does not necessarily provide the same data processing properties as larger data processors.
Also a portable data processor can be linked to a local area network by means of a network connection card provided with means for setting up a data transmission connection between the local area network and the portable device. The network connection card is coupled to the wired local area network by means of a cable suitable for this. The linkage to and the use of the local area network requires that the server device is in operation so that it is possible to use the other peripheral devices functionally coupled to the local area network, such as printers and a mass storage, from the portable peripheral device. The mass memory comprises for example one or several hard disk drives, on which it is possible to store e.g. application software, text files, image files, and other data files.
Different peripheral devices can be linked to portable data processors directly, without using a local area network. The linkage can also be based on wireless techniques, usually infrared (IR) techniques. When such a peripheral device is connected to a portable data processor or the like, the data on the peripheral device in question must be configured by the data processor before the peripheral device can be used. Furthermore, the number of peripheral devices that can be connected to the portable data processor is usually limited to one peripheral device at the time, which will reduce the usability of such a system. However, for usability, it is often better that several different types of peripheral devices are functionally connected to the data processor at the same time, for example a mass memory, a printer, and a modem.
One purpose of the present invention is to provide a local area network comprising one or several servers and one or several peripheral devices. It is possible to connect several peripheral devices to the local area network, and the detection of their connection can be made automatic, wherein the configuration is carried out by a data processor controlling the local area network. The local area network according to the present invention is primarily characterized in what is presented in the characterizing part of the appended claim 1. The method of the

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