Access Point for Wireless Local Area Network
Embodiments of an access point for an expanded wireless local area network are described and depicted.
1 . A physical layer (PHY) processor in an access point, comprising:
a first group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more transmit data streams according to a first mode of operation; and
a second group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more transmit data streams according to a second mode of operation.
2 . The PHY processor of claim 1 , wherein the first group of channel paths are configured as a first virtual transmit PHY operating according to the first mode of operation; and
wherein the second group of channel paths are configured as a second virtual transmit PHY operating according to the second mode of operation.
3 . The PHY processor of claim 1 , wherein the first mode and the second mode of operation comply with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard.
4 . The PHY processor of claim 1 , wherein the first mode of operation complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second mode of operation complies with a legacy 802.11 standard.
5 . The PHY processor of claim 1 , wherein the first mode of operation complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second mode of operation is associated with a wired data network.
6 . The PHY processor of claim 2 , wherein the first virtual transmit PHY and the second virtual transmit PHY comply with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard.
7 . The PHY processor of claim 2 , wherein the first virtual transmit PHY complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second virtual transmit PHY complies with a legacy IEEE 802.11 standard.
8 . The PHY processor of claim 2 , wherein the first virtual PHY complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second virtual PHY processes data associated with a wired data network.
9 . The PHY processor of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more receive data streams according to the first mode of operation; and
a fourth group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more receive data streams according to the second mode of operation.
10 . The PHY transmitter of claim 2 , wherein the third group of channel paths are configured as a first virtual receive PHY operating according to the first mode of operation; and
wherein the fourth group of channel paths are configured as a second virtual receive PHY operating according to the second mode of operation.
11 . A network, comprising:
an access point comprising a physical layer (PHY) processor, the PHY comprising:
a first group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more data streams according to a first mode of operation; and
a second group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more data streams according to a second mode of operation; and
one or more wireless client devices in communication with the access point using the first mode of operation.
12 . The network of claim 11 , further comprising:
a repeater in communication with the access point using the second mode of operation; and
one or more wireless client devices in communication with the repeater.
13 . The network of claim 12 , wherein the repeater further comprises:
a physical layer (PHY) processor, the PHY comprising:
a third group of one or more channel paths for processing a third set of one or more data streams according to the first mode of operation; and
a fourth group of one or more channel paths for processing a fourth set of one or more data streams according to a third mode of operation.
14 . The network of claim 13 , wherein the repeater communicates with the access point using the second mode of operation; and
wherein the one or more wireless client devices in communication with the repeater use the third mode of operation.
15 . The network of claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third modes of operation are each associated with respectively different IEEE 802 . 11 standards.
16 . The network of claim 12 , wherein the repeater is coupled to the access point via a wired network connection.
17 . The network of claim 16 , wherein one or more additional devices are coupled to the access point via the wired network connection.
18 . A method, comprising:
designating a first channel path through physical layer (PHY) circuitry for processing a first set of one or more data streams according to a first mode of operation; and
designating a second path through the PHY circuitry for processing a second set of one or more data streams according to a second mode of operation.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a first set of antennas; and
coupling the second set of one or more data streams to the second set of antennas.
20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first set of one or more data streams and the second set of one or more data streams are processed according to an IEEE 802.11 standard.
21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
coupling the first set of one or more data streams to one or more antennas; and
coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a wired data network.
22 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a repeater via a wireless connection; and
coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a first set of one or more wireless clients.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
relaying, via the repeater, the second set of one or more data streams to a second set of one or more wireless clients.
24 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a repeater via a wired connection; and
coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a first set of one or more wireless clients.
25 . The method of claim 24 , further comprising:
relaying, via the repeater, the second set of one or more data streams to a second set of one or more wireless clients.