Multi-mode network access device
An Ethernet network access device includes a wired Ethernet network port and a wireless network module. The wired Ethernet network port facilitates a wired network connection to a network via a wired network line. The wireless network module includes a wireless transceiver to selectively establish a wireless connection to the network, and a wireless network repeater to selectively provide wireless access to the network for other devices when the wired network connection is established.
1. An Ethernet network access device comprising:
a device housing;
a wired Ethernet network port coupled to the housing to access an Ethernet network, the wired Ethernet network port establishing a first user network connection for a first user when connected to a wired Ethernet line;
a wireless Ethernet network module disposed in the housing, the wireless Ethernet network module including
a wireless transceiver to access the network in the absence of a connection to the wired Ethernet line, and
a wireless network repeater to provide wireless access to the network for a second network access device operated by a second user, the wireless repeater being operative to provide the second user access to the network via the first user network connection solely when the wired Ethernet network port is connected to the wired Ethernet line.
2. The Ethernet network access device according to claim 1 , wherein:
the Ethernet network access device comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.
3. The Ethernet network access device according to claim 1 , wherein the wired Ethernet network port comprises a wired 10GBASE-T Ethernet port.
4. The Ethernet network access device according to claim 1 , wherein the wireless network repeater extends a range of a wireless access point (AP) coupled to the network.
5. An area network comprising:
plural Ethernet network access devices distributed throughout an area;
each of the plural Ethernet network access devices having
a device housing,
a wired Ethernet network port coupled to the housing to access an Ethernet network, the wired Ethernet network port establishing a first user network connection for a first user when connected to a wired Ethernet line,
a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing to access the network in the absence of a connection to the wired Ethernet line, and
a wireless repeater in the housing to provide wireless network access for a different device operated by a second user, the wireless network repeater operative to provide the second user access to the network via the first user network connection solely when the wired Ethernet network port is connected to the wired Ethernet line.
6. The area network of claim 5 , wherein the area network further comprises a dedicated wireless access point having a given range in the area, and at least one of the plural Ethernet network devices with a corresponding wireless repeater extends the range of the wireless access point.
7. The area network of claim 5 , wherein the wired Ethernet network ports comprise 10GBASE-T Ethernet ports.
8. The area network of claim 5 , wherein the wireless network transceivers comprise 802.11ac wireless transceivers.
9. The area network of claim 5 , wherein at least a first group of the plural Ethernet network access devices comprise Internet Protocol (IP) telephones.
10. The area network of claim 5 , wherein the plural Ethernet network devices are distributed throughout the area to, when the wireless repeaters are enabled as access points, provide wireless access to the network over substantially the entire area.
11. A method of accessing a network, the method comprising:
providing an Ethernet network device having a housing, a wired Ethernet network port coupled to the housing, and a wireless module disposed in the housing, the wireless module having a wireless transceiver and a wireless network repeater;
configuring the Ethernet network device to access the network by one of at least two modes, wherein
for a first mode,
establishing a first user network connection for a first user between the Ethernet network device when connected via the wired Ethernet network port,
transferring data between the Ethernet network device and the network solely via the wired Ethernet network port,
providing access to the network for a second network device operated by a second under via the first user network connection through the wireless network repeater solely when the wired Ethernet port is connected to a wired Ethernet line; and
for a second mode,
transferring data between the Ethernet network device and the network solely via the wireless transceiver, and
disabling the wireless repeater.
12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the network device comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) telephone.
13. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the configuring includes:
detecting whether or not the wired Ethernet network port has a wired connection to the network via the wired Ethernet line;
generating a command signal indicating whether or not the wired connection is detected; and
selecting the first or second mode in response to the command signal.