Multiple wireless local area networks occupying overlapping physical spaces
A wireless local area network is provided with simplified RF ports which are configured to provide lower level media access control functions. Higher level media access control functions are provided in a cell controller, which may service one or more RF ports that are capable operating with at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space. Mobile units can also be configured with the higher level media access control functions being performed in a host processor.
1. A method for operating a radio frequency (RF) port having a radio module, a digital processor, and a memory, comprising:
storing a bootloader program in said memory;
operating said digital processor to download instructions from a cell controller to said memory using said bootloader program, wherein the cell controller is separately housed from the RF port; and
operating said RF port under said downloaded instructions to send and receive messages, in accordance with a wireless communication standard protocol, over at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space using said radio module, wherein the two wireless local area subnetworks are accessible at substantially the same time, and wherein the cell controller performs functions of the wireless communication standard protocol related to addressing of the messages to the RF port, including at least one media access control function of the wireless communication standard protocol;
wherein the bootloader program downloads the instructions from the cell controller over a wired network connection, and the downloaded instructions configure said RF port to operate as an access point for communication with mobile units such that the RF port performs at least one media access control function of the wireless communication standard protocol.
2. A method as specified in claim 1 , wherein said step of operating said RF port comprises receiving messages from said cell controller, including protocol message portions for RF message transmission, and transmitting said message including said protocol message portions as an RF signal.
3. A method as specified in claim 2 , wherein said step of operating said RF port comprises receiving RF messages having an RF protocol and sending said RF messages to said cell controller as data signals encapsulated in a further message protocol.
4. A method as specified in claim 3 further comprising interpreting said RF protocol using said downloaded instructions and sending said RF messages to said cell controller only if said RF messages include an identification of said RF port.
5. A method as specified in claim 4 wherein said cell controller is operated to control association of said mobile units with said computer and RF port.
6. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said downloaded instructions configure said cell controller and said RF port to operate as a mobile unit for communications with access points.
7. A method as specified in claim 1 wherein said downloaded instructions configure said cell controller and said RF port to operate as either an access point or a mobile unit under control instructions from said computer.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wired network connection is an Ethernet connection.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instructions downloaded by the bootloader include instructions specifying that the RF port perform at least one time-critical media access control function of the wireless communication standard protocol and that the cell controller perform at least one non-time-critical media access control function of the wireless communication standard protocol.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space each constitute a separate virtual network.
11. A wireless access device for providing wireless access to a communication system, comprising:
a modem for sending and receiving data messages on said communications system in accordance with a wireless communication standard protocol, wherein a separately housed cell controller performs functions of the wireless communication standard protocol related to addressing of the data messages, including at least one media access control function of a wireless communication standard protocol, and
an RF port including a bootloader program configured to download operational instructions from the cell controller, a data interface coupled to said modem, a data processor, and an RF module, said processor configured to receive data messages from said modem, to format said messages for wireless data communication and to provide said formatted messages to said RF module for transmission by RF data signals to at least one remote station via at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space, wherein the at least two wireless local area subnetworks are accessible at approximately the same time, and to receive RF data signals from said at least one remote station via at least two wireless local area subnetworks occupying common physical space, and to provide data messages to said modem to be sent on said communications system;
wherein the bootloader program downloads the instructions from the cell controller over a wired network connection, and the instructions configure said RF port to operate as an access point for communication with mobile units such that the RF port performs at least one media access control function of the wireless communication standard protocol.
12. A wireless access device as specified in claim 11 wherein said communications system is a DSL communications system connected to the Internet, and wherein said modem comprises a DSL modem.
13. A wireless access device as specified in claim 11 wherein said communications system is a two-way cable communications system connected to the Internet, and wherein said modem comprises a cable modem.
14. A wireless access device as specified in claim 11 wherein said communication system comprises a fiber optic system, and wherein said modem comprises a fiber optical modem.