Multiplex communications – Communication over free space – Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-08-24
2004-11-23
Ton, Dang (Department: 2666)
Multiplex communications
Communication over free space
Having a plurality of contiguous regions served by...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06822946
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to communication of electronic signals within a network and more particularly to a method and apparatus for wireless communication of broadband signals between separate network segments.
An increasing variety of household devices that require communication links with other devices in homes are leading to home networks having increased complexity and an undesirable proliferation of wiring. Broadband links which facilitate transmission of high quality audio and video signals through the internet and through home networks are creating substantial improvements in home communication and entertainment devices. Various means are being developed to combine the various communication technologies and simplify home networks.
Various home networking systems have been developed to minimize wiring and complexity. For example, several systems provide network connectivity between home devices which use existing phone wires or power wires within the home as a network backbone. These systems are sometimes referred to as “no new wires” systems. Other home networking systems broadcast data throughout the local area using radio frequency transmitters.
At least one consortium of industry groups, for example the Home Phone Network Alliance or Home PNA, was formed to develop a protocol for telephone wire home networks. Home PNA systems typically operate in the 1 Mbps-10 Mbps range which is too slow for many high bandwidth applications. New phone wires must often be installed to facilitate Home PNA networks connections because consumers often desire network connections in rooms which previously had no telephone connections. Many Home PNA devices also require separate power connections. Therefore, many new wires are often required to implement these “no new wires” networks.
Home PNA is not capable of transporting mixed asynchronous and isochronous signals. Digital video and other real-time broadband signals must communicate in isochronous mode whereby data packets must be received within precise time intervals. Other communication signals including data transmissions to computer printers and certain control signals are time independent (asynchronous). Many digital audio and video devices will require mixed isochronous and asynchronous data transport.
Networks have been developed which communicate electronic signals over existing electrical power wires in the walls of homes. Such networks are also incapable of mixed asynchronous and isochronous broadband data transport and are therefore unsuitable for use with many digital audio and video devices.
Wireless communication links between devices are necessary to minimize the need for installing an increasing web of communication wires, cables or fibers throughout homes and within the walls of homes and other structures. Installation of additional communication wires throughout homes is economically and environmentally wasteful. Furthermore, consumers are reluctant to purchase electronic devices which will require new wiring.
Wireless home networks have been developed which facilitate communication between multiple computers and peripherals. Typical wireless home network devices are linked by radio transceivers which communicate over distances over 150 ft. The signals used in wireless home networks are typically broadcast with out directionality and therefore require relatively high power levels. The bandwidth and data transmission capacity of such signals is therefore limited. Such networks are typically slower than standard ethernet networks and are not capable of high data transmission rates that will be required for multiple high quality video signals.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) developed standard IEEE 1394 to facilitate efficient communication between electronic devices and to provide minimum connections and setup requirements. IEEE 1394 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. One well known embodiment of the IEEE 1394 standard is the FireWire bus which is used and marketed by Apple Computer Incorporated.
IEEE 1394 networks are capable of communicating broadband signals at a rate of up to 400 Mbps (mega-bits per second). Such bandwidth is sufficient to transport multiple digital video and audio signals simultaneously. IEEE 1394 networks are also capable of transporting mixed asynchronous and isochronous data and are therefore well suited for use with many digital video and audio devices.
Devices complying with IEEE 1394 including many televisions, video cassette recorders, video cameras, personal computers and peripherals, games and entertainment systems may now communicate with each other using digital signals over a common network. Any IEEE 1394 compliant devices may be plugged into any other compliant device without requiring any central hub. The 1394 architecture thereby provides for networks having a branching structure. All devices on the network are required to be hot-pluggable and self configuring using a standard cable and connectors. The standard cable and connectors carry power as well as communication signals.
Data routing capability is provided in each IEEE 1394 device. Address assignment and network configuration automatically occurs each time a device is plugged to or unplugged from the network. Devices provide self descriptive attribute data to the network. Device addresses and attribute data are associated with communication data packets and the packets are automatically routed to the proper receiving devices.
Although IEEE 1394 networks provide minimized use of power wires and communication cables, such networks still require at least one cable between each device. This presents a problem when the network expands into more than one room. An IEEE 1394 standard cable must typically be routed through walls, ceilings or doorways to connect networked devices in different rooms. A heretofore unmet need exists for a wireless link in home networks to provide a bridge between network segments located in different rooms or spaces.
A major shift is taking place within the home with the introduction of devices, for example, multimedia broadband-capable personal computers, advanced TVs, digital set-top boxes, digital satellite receivers, digital video disk players and game players that support digital video integrated with internet based information. Many of these devices will be marketed in the future as being home networking capable (i.e. will provide a networking stack that allows these devices to control each other and send/receive streaming media at a minimum). The network stack will provide a common interconnection (based on IEEE 1394) for these home network capable devices. The set of specifications associated with IEEE 1394 offer cabling strategies that work well in new home construction where category
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twisted pairs are being installed as part of the structured wiring of the home. But in older homes and for the ultimate interconnect flexibility, a cost-effective wireless or “no new wires” interconnect is desired by the consumer.
Several wireless and/or “no new wires” approaches have been proposed to address the home networking needs of the consumer. Each of the proposed solutions have there own set of problems. For example, “no new wires” solution such as HomePNA and power-line technologies do not support the mixed broadband isochronous and asynchronous transport requirements of the new digital video and audio devices. Not every home has a phone connection in all of the rooms where broadband home networking would be needed; thus requiring the new wiring that the “no new wires” strategy is trying to avoid. AC powering of some of the wireless approaches becomes a problem for wide scale acceptance by the consumer. Consumers do not like a large number of wall powered devices that they must deal with today.
Many strategies are targeted at connecting two PCs and an access network device to form a home network for internet and PC peripheral sharing. These types of home networks do not provide the kind of interconnections that are needed in
Motorola Inc
Rockett Esteban A.
Ton Dang
Williams Karin L.
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