Method and system for improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminals
Aspects of a method and system for improved communication network setup utilizing extended terminals are presented. Aspects of the method may comprise configuring a wireless Ethernet terminal functioning as a client station by a configurator via a network. The configured wireless Ethernet terminal may wirelessly receives information from a wireless station, and communicate the wirelessly received information to at least one of a plurality of wired stations via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wired interfaces. Aspects of the system may comprise a collocated device functioning as a configurator that configures a wireless Ethernet terminal functioning as a client station via a network. The configured wireless Ethernet terminal may wirelessly receives information from a wireless station, and communicate the wirelessly received information to at least one of a plurality of wired stations via at least one of a plurality of corresponding wired interfaces.
1. A method for communicating information, the method comprising:
performing, by processing circuitry integrated within a wireless Ethernet terminal (WET):
receiving a wireless local area network (WLAN) frame including a physical layer header field specifying at least one WLAN address and a physical layer service data unit (PSDU) field;
using information included in the PSDU field to determine a media access control (MAC) address of a local area network (LAN) station connected to the WET via a wired interface;
transcoding the physical layer header of the received WLAN frame to generate a LAN physical layer header including the MAC address of the LAN station; and
communicating a LAN frame based on said LAN physical layer header.
2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising appending the LAN physical header to the WLAN frame.
3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising associating a port at said WET corresponding to the MAC address of the LAN station.
4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
appending said generated LAN header to at least a portion of a WLAN physical layer service data unit to generate said LAN frame.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said received WLAN frame indicates a destination address that corresponds to an address within a basic service set (BSS) associated with said wireless Ethernet terminal.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
decrypting the received WLAN frame; and
removing the WLAN physical layer header.
7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
advertising an association between the WLAN address and the MAC address.
8. A method for communicating information, the method comprising:
performing by one or more processors and/or circuits integrated within a wireless Ethernet terminal (WET):
receiving a local area network (LAN) frame including a physical layer header field specifying at least one LAN address and a physical layer service data unit (PSDU) field;
using information included in the PSDU field to determine a media access control (MAC) address of a wireless local area network (WLAN) station connected to the WET via a wireless interface;
transcoding the physical layer of the received LAN frame to generate a WLAN header; and
communicating a WLAN frame based on said generated WLAN header.
9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein said received LAN frame indicates a destination address that corresponds to an address within a basic service set (BSS) associated with the WET.
10. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
determining a network layer destination address based on said MAC address.
11. The method according to claim 8 , comprising associating the MAC address of a collocated device corresponding to the MAC address of the WLAN station.
12. The method according to claim 8 , comprising appending said generated WLAN header to at least a portion of a LAN PSDU to generate said WLAN frame.
13. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
decrypting the received LAN frame; and
removing the LAN physical layer header.
14. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
advertising an association between a WLAN address and a MAC address.
15. A system for communicating information, the system comprising:
one or more circuits for use in a wireless Ethernet terminal (WET), said one or more circuits being operable to transmit messages received via a wireless local area network (WLAN) to devices connected to the WET via a wired local area network (LAN), and to transmit messages received via the LAN to the devices connected to the WET via the WLAN:
receive a WLAN frame including a physical layer header field specifying at least one WLAN address and a physical layer service data unit (PSDU) field;
use information included in the PSDU field to determine a media access control (MAC) address of a LAN station connected to the WET via a wired interface;
transcode the physical layer header of the received WLAN frame to generate a LAN physical layer header including the MAC address of the LAN station;
communicate a LAN frame based on said LAN physical layer header;
receive a LAN frame including a physical layer header field specifying at least one LAN address and a PSDU field;
use information included in the PSDU field to determine a network layer address of a WLAN station connected to the WET via a wireless interface;
transcode the physical layer of the received LAN frame to generate a WLAN header; and
communicate a WLAN frame based on said generated WLAN header.
16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said received WLAN frame indicates a destination address that corresponds to an address within a basic service set (BSS) associated with said WET.
17. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said received LAN frame indicates a destination address that corresponds to an address within a basic service set (BSS) associated with said WET.
18. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:
decrypt said received WLAN frame; and
determine a network layer destination address based on said decrypted WLAN frame.
19. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to:
decrypt said received LAN frame; and
determine a network layer destination address based on said decrypted LAN frame.
20. The system according to claim 15 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to associate a port at said WET corresponding to a determined network layer destination address.