Concurrent uses of interfaces for participating in wireless networks
The subject matter describes software, devices, networks, and methods to configure a wireless device to establish two or more concurrent wireless links in a wireless network. Embodiments disclosed herein relate to use of computing and communication resources to perform multi-hop wireless communication and to expand the coverage of cellular networks.
1. A method of wireless communication in a multi-hop network, the method comprising:
receiving, by a wireless device, one or more data frames from an upstream wireless device over a first wireless link, wherein the upstream wireless device is a sink device, wherein the upstream wireless device is non-portable, wherein the wireless device is a relaying device, and wherein the wireless device is non-portable;
receiving, by the wireless device, one or more data frames from a downstream wireless device over a second wireless link,
wherein the wireless device concurrently maintains (i) the first wireless link between a first virtual interface of the wireless device and the upstream wireless device using a first protocol and (ii) the second wireless link between a second virtual interface of the wireless device and the downstream wireless device using a second protocol,
wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different protocols having different respective data frame formats,
wherein the upstream wireless device is in communication with a cellular base station via a third wireless link, and
wherein the first and second wireless links are included in a cellular communication between the downstream wireless device and the cellular base station that is via at least two non-portable wireless devices; and
while the wireless device that is non-portable concurrently maintains the first and second wireless links using the first and second virtual interfaces of the wireless device for relaying the cellular communication, performing operations comprising:
reassembling, by the wireless device, the one or more data frames from the downstream wireless device into a first format defined by a first protocol used in the first wireless link to generate first reassembled data;
transmitting, by the wireless device, the first reassembled data to the upstream wireless device over the first wireless link;
reassembling, by the wireless device, the one or more data frames from the upstream wireless device into a second format defined by the second protocol used in the second wireless link to generate second reassembled data; and
transmitting, by the wireless device, the second reassembled data to the downstream wireless device over the second wireless link.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising communicating, by the wireless device, over a fourth wireless link with another device while the wireless device maintains the first and second wireless links.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fourth wireless link uses the second protocol.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the wireless device uses a different interface of the wireless device for the fourth wireless link than for the first and second wireless links.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the wireless device uses a same interface of the wireless device for the second wireless link and the fourth wireless link.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first and second protocols are different data link layer protocols.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first protocol is a cellular protocol and the second protocol is a non-cellular protocol.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the upstream wireless device, one or more data frames from the cellular base station over the third wireless link;
reassembling, by the upstream wireless device, the one or more data frames from the cellular base station into a format defined by a protocol used in the first wireless link to generate third reassembled data; and
transmitting, by the upstream wireless device, the third reassembled data to the wireless device over the first wireless link.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving, by the upstream wireless device, one or more data frames from the wireless device over the first wireless link;
reassembling, by the upstream wireless device, the one or more data frames from the wireless device into a format defined by a protocol used in the third wireless link to generate third reassembled data; and
transmitting, by the upstream wireless device, the third reassembled data to the cellular base station over the third wireless link.
10. A system that relays data on a multi-hop network, the system comprising:
an upstream wireless device in communication with a cellular base station via a cellular link, wherein the upstream wireless device is a sink device, and wherein the upstream wireless device is non-portable; and
a wireless device that concurrently maintains a first wireless link with the upstream wireless device and a second wireless link with a downstream wireless device, the wireless device comprising a plurality of virtual interfaces,
wherein the wireless device concurrently maintains (i) the first wireless link between a first virtual interface of the plurality of virtual interfaces and the upstream wireless device using a first protocol and (ii) the second wireless link between a second virtual interface of the plurality of virtual interfaces and the downstream wireless device using a second protocol, and
wherein the first wireless link and the second wireless link use different protocols, and wherein the first and second wireless links are included in a cellular communication between the downstream wireless device and the cellular base station;
wherein the wireless device is a relaying device, and wherein the wireless device is non-portable, and wherein the cellular communication between the downstream wireless device and the cellular base station is via at least two non-portable wireless devices including the upstream wireless device and the wireless device; and
wherein while the wireless device that is non-portable concurrently maintains the first and second wireless links using the first and second virtual interfaces of the plurality of virtual interfaces of the wireless device for relaying the cellular communication, the wireless device:
reassembles one or more data frames received from the downstream wireless device over the second wireless link into a first format defined by the first protocol used in the first wireless link to generate first reassembled data;
transmits the first reassembled data to the upstream wireless device over the first wireless link;
reassembles one or more data frames received from the upstream wireless device over the first wireless link into a second format defined by the second protocol used in the second wireless link to generate second reassembled data; and
transmits the second reassembled data to the downstream wireless device over the second wireless link.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the wireless device communicates with another device over another wireless link while the wireless device maintains the first and second wireless links.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the another wireless link uses the second protocol.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein a different virtual interface of the plurality of virtual interfaces is used for the another wireless link than for the first and second wireless links.
14. The system of claim 11 , wherein a same interface of the wireless device is used for the second wireless link and the another wireless link.
15. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the upstream wireless device reassembles one or more data frames received from the cellular base station over the cellular link into a format defined by a protocol used in the first wireless link to generate third reassembled data; and
the upstream wireless device transmits the third reassembled data to the wireless device over the first wireless link.
16. The system of claim 10 , wherein:
the upstream wireless device reassembles one or more data frames received from the wireless device over the first wireless link into a format defined by a protocol used in the cellular link to generate third reassembled data; and
the upstream wireless device transmits the third reassembled data to the cellular base station over the cellular link.
17. Non-transitory computer-readable storage storing instructions that, when executed, cause a method to be performed, the method comprising:
receiving, by a wireless device, one or more data frames from an upstream wireless device over a first wireless link, wherein the wireless device is non-portable;
receiving, by the wireless device, one or more data frames from a downstream wireless device over a second wireless link,
wherein the wireless device concurrently maintains (i) the first wireless link between a first virtual interface of the wireless device and the upstream wireless device using a first protocol and (ii) the second wireless link between a second virtual interface of the wireless device and the downstream wireless device using a second protocol,
wherein the first protocol and the second protocol are different protocols,
wherein the upstream wireless device is in communication with a cellular base station via a third wireless link; and
wherein the first and second wireless links are included in a cellular communication between the downstream wireless device and the cellular base station that is via at least two non-portable wireless devices; and
while the wireless device that is non-portable concurrently maintains the first and second wireless links using the first and second virtual interfaces of the wireless device for relaying the cellular communication, performing operations comprising:
reassembling, by the wireless device, the one or more data frames from the downstream wireless device into a first format defined by the first protocol used in the first wireless link to generate first reassembled data;
transmitting, by the wireless device, the first reassembled data to the upstream wireless device over the first wireless link;
reassembling, by the wireless device, the one or more data frames from the upstream wireless device into a second format defined by the second protocol used in the second wireless link to generate second reassembled data; and
transmitting, by the wireless device, the second reassembled data to the downstream wireless device over the second wireless link.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the downstream wireless device wirelessly communicates with a non-cellular access point over a fourth wireless link while the second wireless link is maintained, and wherein the second wireless link and the fourth wireless link use different interfaces of the downstream wireless device.