IP Library Granted Patent US 8,577,403
Granted Patent B2
US 8,577,403 · App. 12/197,184 · Granted Nov 5, 2013

Wireless ethernet adapter

Inventors: Matthew B. Shoemake (Allen, TX); Greg Christison (Fairview, TX)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,577,403
App. No.
12/197,184
Granted
Nov 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for providing wireless Ethernet connectivity over an UWB link includes providing an adapter coupled to an external network via an Ethernet port, monitoring, by the adapter, a plurality of communication channels in an UWB spectrum, establishing a wireless link on a preferred communication channel, and exchanging data between the adapter and a UWB-enabled device over the wireless link.

Claims (46)

1. A method for providing wireless Ethernet connectivity over an ultra-wideband (UWB) link, the method comprising:

reserving a first time slot of a plurality of time slots associated with a communication channel of a plurality of communication channels in a UWB spectrum to exchange data between an adapter and an UWB-enabled device on the communication channel, the plurality of communication channels defined by time frequency codes;

reserving a second time slot of the plurality of time slots to monitor the plurality of communication channels to identify a preferred communication channel in the plurality of communication channels based on monitored traffic;

monitoring the plurality of communication channels at the adapter using the second time slot;

establishing a wireless link on the preferred communication channel;

exchanging the data between the adapter and the UWB-enabled device on the preferred communication channel over the wireless link;

decrementing a channel change count field;

checking the plurality of communication channels to determine whether a new communication channel has a least amount of usage when the channel change count field reaches a predetermined value;

switching to the new communication channel if it is determined that the new communication channel has the least amount of usage; and

notifying the UWB-enabled device of the switch to the new communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the preferred communication channel includes a communication channel with a least amount of usage.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the exchanging data includes exchanging data utilizing orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured with a Physical (PHY) Layer for supporting data transmission speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising powering the adapter by a power connection of the Ethernet port.

6. An apparatus for providing wireless Ethernet connectivity over an ultra-wideband (UWB) link, the apparatus comprising an adapter coupled to an external network via an Ethernet port, the adapter including:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver for transmitting and receiving radio signals over the UWB link;

a physical (PHY) layer for configuring a plurality of communication channels in an UWB spectrum for the RF transceiver, the PHY layer using time frequency codes to define the plurality of communication channels;

a Media Access Control (MAC) layer for providing a mechanism for addressing and channel access for the PHY layer; and

a memory having instructions executable at the adapter to:

route data received from the external network to a UWB-enabled device on a communication channel in the plurality of communication channels over the wireless link;

reserve a time slot in a plurality of time slots associated with the communication channel to monitor the plurality of communication channels to identify a preferred communication channel based on monitored traffic;

monitor the plurality of communication channels in the UWB spectrum using the time slot;

establish a wireless link on the preferred communication channel;

route data received from the external network to a UWB-enabled device on the preferred communication channel over the wireless link;

decrement a channel change count field;

check the plurality of communication channels to determine whether a new communication channel has a least amount of usage when the channel change count field reaches a predetermined value;

switch to the new communication channel if it is determined that the new communication channel has the least amount of usage; and

transmit a superframe having a channel change information element indicating the new communication channel.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the preferred communication channel includes a communication channel with a least amount of usage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising an internet protocol (IP) telephone that is operatively coupled to the adapter.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the external network includes the Internet and the Ethernet port includes a Gigabyte Ethernet port.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the physical (PHY) Layer is configured to support data transmission speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps).

11. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the adapter is powered by a power connection of the Ethernet port.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the RF transceiver transmits and receives orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) signals.

13. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the UWB-enabled device includes a laptop computer.

14. A method for providing wireless Ethernet connectivity over an ultra-wideband (UWB) link, the method comprising:

means for reserving a time slot, the means for reserving a time slot to

reserve a first time slot of a plurality of time slots associated with a communication channel of a plurality of communication channels in a UWB spectrum to exchange data between an adapter and an UWB-enabled device on the communication channel, the plurality of communication channels defined by time frequency codes; and

reserve a second time slot of the plurality of time slots to monitor the plurality of communication channels to identify a preferred communication channel in the plurality of communication channels based on monitored traffic;

monitoring the plurality of communication channels at the adapter using the second time slot;

establishing a wireless link on the preferred communication channel;

exchanging the data between the adapter and the UWB-enabled device on the preferred communication channel over the wireless link;

decrementing a channel change count field;

checking the plurality of communication channels to determine whether a new communication channel has a least amount of usage when the channel change count field reaches a predetermined value;

switching to the new communication channel if it is determined that the new communication channel has the least amount of usage; and

notifying the UWB-enabled device of the switch to the new communication channel.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 10, 2009
From: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 022370/0651 →
AFFIDAVIT OF FORECLOSURE Recorded Mar 6, 2009
From: WIQUEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 022360/0771 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 19, 2008
From: WIQUEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: TRIPLEPOINT CAPITAL LLC
Reel/Frame 021858/0798 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2008
From: SHOEMAKE, MATTHEW; CHRISTISON, GREG
To: WIQUEST COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 021432/0288 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 60957224 · Aug 22, 2007
Related Publication 20090053999A1 · Feb 26, 2009