Plug-in network appliance
A plug-in network appliance is disclosed. In one aspect, a network appliance performs a bridge between two wireless communication formats. In another aspect, a network appliance is deployed to perform position location services. In another aspect, a mesh network comprising one or more network appliances is deployed. A mesh network comprising one or more network appliances may be deployed to perform position location services. A plug-in form factor is described. A network appliance may convert power received from a plug in a first format to power in a second format for powering various components. A network appliance may connect with a wireless network and/or a network connected through a plug. A plug-in network appliance may connect to a weight-bearing outlet. Various other aspects are also presented.
1. A mesh network in an indoor facility, the mesh network comprising:
a plurality of mesh nodes distributed about the indoor facility, each mesh node connected via a wireless link with at least one other mesh node, each mesh node comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor positioned within the enclosure;
a plurality of wireless local area network interfaces positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, each of the plurality of wireless local area network interfaces comprising at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format;
a plug extending outward from the enclosure, the plug physically and electrically connecting the mesh node with an outlet of the indoor facility; and
means for bridging data between at least two communication formats,
wherein the plurality of mesh nodes includes at least one mesh node in wired connection with an attached device.
2. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mesh nodes includes a first mesh node connected at least to a second mesh node via a first wireless link and to a third mesh node via a second wireless link, the first and second mesh nodes communicating over the first wireless link in accordance with a first communication format, the first and third mesh nodes communicating over the second wireless link in accordance with a second communication format, wherein the second communication format differs from the first communication format.
3. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the attached device includes one of a workstation, a server, a printer, and a user terminal.
4. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mesh nodes includes at least one access point mesh node, the access point mesh node being connected to at least one other mesh node via a first wireless link and to at least one user terminal via a second wireless link.
5. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of mesh nodes includes at least one mesh node connected to an external network.
6. The mesh network of claim 5 , wherein the at least one mesh node connected to the external network is connected by a wired connection.
7. The mesh network of claim 5 , wherein the at least one mesh node connected to the external network is connected by a wireless connection.
8. The mesh network of claim 1 , farther comprising:
a position location engine connected to one of the plurality of mesh nodes; and
a tag located within the indoor facility, the tag emitting a signal for receipt by at least one neighboring mesh node,
wherein the at least one neighboring mesh node processes the signal to generate position location information for the tag and transfers the position location information to the position location engine.
9. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein the at least one neighboring mesh node is connected to the position location engine by at least one intermediate mesh node, such that the at least one intermediate mesh node receives the position location information from the neighboring mesh node and then transmits the position location to the position location engine.
10. The mesh network of claim 8 , wherein a plurality of tags are located within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of tags having its own identifier information.
11. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network utilizes a proactive mesh routing algorithm to route data across the plurality of mesh nodes.
12. The mesh network of claim 1 , wherein the mesh network utilizes a reactive mesh routing algorithm to route data across the plurality of mesh nodes.
13. The mesh network of claim 12 , wherein the reactive mesh routing algorithm includes one of Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol, Ad-hoc On-demand Distance Vector (AODV), and Topology Based on Reverse Path Forwarding (TBRPF).
14. A system for an indoor facility, the system comprising:
a mesh network including a plurality of mesh nodes distributed about the indoor facility, each mesh node connected via a wireless link with at least one other mesh node, each mesh node comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor positioned within the enclosure;
at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface comprising at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format; and
a plug extending outward from the enclosure, the plug physically and electrically connecting the mesh node with an outlet of the indoor facility, such that the mesh node remains at a stationary location within the indoor facility;
at least one attached device in wired communication with a respective one of the plurality of mesh nodes;
a position location engine connected to one of the plurality of mesh nodes; and
at least one tag located within the indoor facility, the tag emitting a signal for receipt by at least one neighboring mesh node,
wherein the at least one neighboring mesh node processes the signal to generate position location information for the tag and transfers the position location information to the position location engine.
15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising at least one connection to an external network, the external network being accessed via a respective one of the plurality of mesh nodes.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the attached device includes one of a workstation, a sewer, a printer, and a user terminal.
17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of mesh nodes includes a first mesh node connected at least to a second mesh node via a first wireless link and to a third mesh node via a second wireless link, the first and second mesh nodes communicating over the first wireless link in accordance with a first communication format, the first and third mesh nodes communicating over the second wireless link in accordance with a second communication format, wherein the second communication format differs from the first communication format.
18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of mesh nodes include at least one access point mesh node, the access point mesh node being connected to at least one other mesh node via a first wireless link and to at least one user terminal via a second wireless link.
19. A method for transmitting and receiving tracking information for a plurality of mobile objects on a continuous basis in a facility utilizing an indoor wireless network, the method comprising:
transmitting position location information signals on a continuous periodic basis for each of the plurality of mobile objects, the position location information signals for each of the plurality of mobile objects transmitted from a RFID tag attached to each of the plurality of mobile objects, the RFID tag of each of the plurality of mobile objects transmitting the position location information signals in a first communication format at a low power;
connecting a plurality of stationary devices to power from a plurality of wall outlets within the facility to form an indoor wireless network, each of the plurality of stationary devices comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor positioned within the enclosure;
a receiver positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor;
a transmitter positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor; and
a power converter capable of receiving power from the wall outlet in a first power format and delivering power to the transmitter and receiver in a second power format, the power converter positioned within the enclosure;
receiving position location information signals on a continuous periodic basis at the plurality of stationary devices in a first wireless communication format over a first wireless link from the plurality of mobile objects; and
transmitting the position location information over a second wireless link in a second wireless communication format at a high power from the plurality of stationary devices to an access point, the high power of the second wireless communication format higher than the low power of the first communication format; and
transmitting the position location information from the access point to a remote position location engine.
20. The method according to claim 19 wherein the first wireless communication format and the second wireless communication format are the same.
21. The method according to claim 19 wherein the first wireless communication format is a low power communication format and the second wireless communication format is a high power communication format.
22. A system for an indoor facility, the system comprising:
a wireless network including a plurality of stationary devices distributed about the indoor facility, each stationary device comprising:
an enclosure;
a processor positioned within the enclosure;
at least one wireless local area network interface positioned within the enclosure and in communication with the processor, the wireless local area network interface comprising at least one transceiver for receiving and transmitting data according to a communication format;
a plurality of access points, each of the plurality of access point in communication with at least one of the plurality of stationary devices; and
a position location engine in communication with each of the plurality of access points; and
a plurality of mobile objects within the indoor facility, each of the plurality of mobile objects comprising a RFID tag for emitting on a continuous periodic basis a position location tracking signal for receipt by the plurality of stationary devices;
wherein the position location tracking signals from each of the RFID tags of each of the plurality of mobile objects are utilized to generate position location information for each of the plurality of mobile objects by the position location engine.