Fluid treatment system and radiation source module for use therein

Abstract

A wireless local loop system manages radio data transmission capacity and network resources shared by a plurality of subscriber stations by considering the type of connections desired to be created to the subscriber stations and the radio data transmission capacity, and in some cases QoS parameters, and network resources required for those connections. The subscriber stations include data and telephony ports and can include a subscriber utilization client (SUC) to assist in the management process. The SUC in each subscriber station communicates with a network utilization manager (NUM) to request network resources from the base station. The NUM determines the requirements, in data transmission capacity and/or QoS levels, for the desired connection and considers the utilization of the network resources at the base station, or sector of the base station, in determining whether to establish the desired connection. The NUM can consider the required level and a desired level of data transmission capacity and/or QoS levels and allocate resources for the connection according to either level, or therebetween. The SUC and NUM can prioritize the establishment of connections on an appropriate basis, including the type of connection, the parties to the connection, the revenue potential of the connection and the port for the connection at the subscriber station, etc.

1 - 149 . (canceled)  
     
     
         150 . A wireless local loop system comprising: 
 a network utilization manager;    a base station including an antenna, a radio, a modem, and a communication system; and    a plurality of subscriber stations, each including 
 an antenna, a radio unit, and a modem operable to communicate with the base station,  
 at least two subscriber communications ports, and  
 a subscriber utilization client,  
   wherein the network utilization manager in response to requests from subscriber utilization clients and available capacity in the wireless local loop system assigns capacity in the wireless local loop system to subscriber communications ports and establishes connections between the base station and subscriber communications ports,    wherein at least one subscriber utilization client includes a prioritization scheme and that subscriber utilization client prioritizes its requests for connections among the subscriber communications ports of its associated subscriber station using that prioritization scheme, and    wherein the prioritization scheme is downloaded in the form of a prioritization table to the subscriber utilization client from the base station.    
     
     
         151 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 150 , wherein the communication system comprises a switch.  
     
     
         152 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 151 , wherein the switch is operable to establish connections between subscriber stations serviced by the base station.  
     
     
         153 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 150 , wherein the communication system comprises a router connected to a packet network via a backhaul connection.  
     
     
         154 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 153 , and further including at least one network management center connected to the base station via the backhaul, the network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         155 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 150 , wherein when a subscriber utilization client requests the network utilization manager to establish a connection to a subscriber communication port, the network utilization manager determines a required data rate and a desired data rate for the connection from the request.  
     
     
         156 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 155 , wherein the communication system comprises a switch.  
     
     
         157 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 156 , wherein the switch is operable to establish connections between subscriber stations serviced by the base station.  
     
     
         158 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 155 , wherein the communication system comprises a router connected to a packet network via a backhaul connection.  
     
     
         159 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 158 , and further including at least one network management center connected to the base station via the backhaul, the network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         160 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 155 , wherein monetary charges associated with the connection differ according to whether the connection is established at the required data rate or the desired data rate.  
     
     
         161 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 160 , wherein the communication system comprises a switch.  
     
     
         162 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 161 , wherein the switch is operable to establish connections between subscriber stations serviced by the base station.  
     
     
         163 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 160 , wherein the communication system comprises a router connected to a packet network via a backhaul connection.  
     
     
         164 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 163 , and further including at least one network management center connected to the base station via the backhaul, said network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         165 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 150 , wherein the network utilization manager determines a QoS level required for the connection and a QoS level desired for the connection from the request.  
     
     
         166 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 165 , wherein the communication system comprises a switch.  
     
     
         167 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 166 , wherein the switch is operable to establish connections between subscriber stations serviced by the base station.  
     
     
         168 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 165 , wherein the communication system comprises a router connected to a packet network via a backhaul connection.  
     
     
         169 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 168 , and further including at least one network management center connected to the base station via the backhaul, the network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         170 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 165 , wherein monetary charges associated with the connection differ according to whether the connection is established at the required QoS level or the desired QoS level desired for the connection.  
     
     
         171 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 170 , wherein the communication system comprises a switch.  
     
     
         172 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 171 , wherein the switch is operable to establish connections between subscriber stations serviced by the base station.  
     
     
         173 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 171 , wherein the communication system comprises a router connected to a packet network via a backhaul connection.  
     
     
         174 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 173 , and further including at least one network management center connected to the base station via the backhaul, said network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         175 . A wireless local loop system comprising: 
 a network utilization manager;    a base station including an antenna, a radio, a modem, and a communication system, the communication system including at least one of 
 a router operable to route packets via a backhaul connection to a packet network,  
 a router operable to route packets via a backhaul connection to a gateway to a telecommunications network,  
 a router and a gateway connected to the router, the router operable to route packets via a backhaul connection to a telecommunications network, and  
 a switch operable to switch packets between subscriber stations serviced by the base station; and  
   a plurality of subscriber stations, each including 
 an antenna, a radio unit, and a modem operable to communicate with the base station,  
 at least two subscriber communications ports, and  
 a subscriber utilization client,  
   wherein the network utilization manager in response to requests from subscriber utilization clients and available capacity in the wireless local loop system assigns capacity in the wireless local loop system to subscriber communications ports and establishes connections between the base station and subscriber communications ports.    
     
     
         176 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175 , wherein the network utilization manager is implemented at the base station.  
     
     
         177 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 176 , wherein when a subscriber utilization client makes a request to the network utilization manager to establish a connection between a subscriber communications port and the base station, the network utilization manager determines a required data rate for the connection from the request.  
     
     
         178 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 177 , wherein a request made by a subscriber utilization client includes at least one of (1) a type identifier for the requested connection and (2) specific parameters for the requested connection.  
     
     
         179 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 177 , wherein the network utilization manager determines both a required data rate and a desired data rate from the request.  
     
     
         180 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 179 , wherein monetary charges associated with the connection differ according to whether the connection is established at the required data rate or the desired data rate.  
     
     
         181 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 177 , wherein the network utilization manager further determines at least one QoS level required for the connection.  
     
     
         182 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 177 , wherein the network utilization manager further determines both a required QoS level for the connection and a desired QoS level for the connection from the request.  
     
     
         183 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 182 , wherein monetary charges associated with the connection differ according to whether the connection is established at a required QoS level or a desired QoS level desired for the connection.  
     
     
         184 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175 , wherein at least one of the subscriber communications ports is a data communication port.  
     
     
         185 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 184 , wherein the data communication port is an Ethernet port.  
     
     
         186 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 184 , wherein the data communication port is a radio port for communication with radio-enabled devices adjacent the subscriber station.  
     
     
         187 . The wireless local loop system of  claim 184  comprising two telephony ports in addition to the data communication port.  
     
     
         188 . The wireless local loop system of  claim 187 , wherein one of the telephony ports is a data port for data modulated in the voice band.  
     
     
         189 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175 , wherein at least one subscriber utilization client includes a prioritization scheme and that subscriber utilization client prioritizes its requests for connections among the subscriber communications ports of its associated subscriber station using that prioritization scheme.  
     
     
         190 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 189 , wherein that prioritization scheme is downloaded in the form of a prioritization table to that subscriber utilization client from the base station.  
     
     
         191 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175 , wherein the base station comprises at least two sectors, each sector including an antenna, a radio, a modem, and wherein the antenna is directional so as to define a reception footprint for each respective sector substantially different from the reception footprint of each other sector and the network utilization manager manages and assigns resources on a per sector basis.  
     
     
         192 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175  including at least two base stations and wherein the network utilization manager is implemented in a distributed manner on at least two of the base stations.  
     
     
         193 . The wireless local loop system as claimed in  claim 175 , and further including a network management center connected to the base station via a backhaul connection, the network utilization manager being implemented in a distributed manner on the network management center and the base station.  
     
     
         194 . A subscriber station for a wireless local loop that includes a base station that manages allocation of data transmission capacity in the wireless local loop, comprising: 
 a radio operably connected between a modem and an antenna; and    a processor operably connected between the modem and at least two communications ports,    wherein the processor is configured to determine and communicate to the base station, via the radio, data transmission capacity requirements and at least one quality of service requirement for a desired connection of at least one of its communication ports to the base station, thereby enabling the base station to evaluate those requirements before authorizing the desired connection.    
     
     
         195 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein at least one of the communications ports is a telephony port and at least another is a data port.  
     
     
         196 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein the requirements are communicated by communicating the type of connection desired.  
     
     
         197 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein the processor communicates to the base station a required level of data transmission capacity and a desired level of data transmission capacity for the connection, and wherein the base station determines a level of data transmission capacity at which to authorize establishment of the connection.  
     
     
         198 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 197 , wherein after the connection has been authorized at the desired level of data transmission capacity, the subscriber station receives instruction from the base station to decrease the data transmission capacity authorized for the connection to a level below the desired level but at least equal to the required level.  
     
     
         199 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein the processor further prioritizes the authorization of connections by the base station.  
     
     
         200 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 199 , wherein the prioritization is based upon which of the at least two communication ports the connection is being authorized for.  
     
     
         201 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein data transmission capacity and quality of service requirements for a connection are determined by the subscriber station based upon the type of connection to be established.  
     
     
         202 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 201 , wherein the determination includes distinguishing between a desired voice connection and a desired data connection.  
     
     
         203 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 202  where for desired data connections, the determination further includes determining the type of data of the desired data connection.  
     
     
         204 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 203 , wherein the type of data is determined by examining an Internet Protocol port to which the data is addressed.  
     
     
         205 . The subscriber station as claimed in  claim 194 , wherein the subscriber station distinguishes between voice communications and facsimile or data communications at the telephony port.