Access Point for Wireless Local Area Network

Abstract

Embodiments of an access point for an expanded wireless local area network are described and depicted.

1 . A physical layer (PHY) processor in an access point, comprising:
 a first group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more transmit data streams according to a first mode of operation; and   a second group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more transmit data streams according to a second mode of operation.   
     
     
         2 . The PHY processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of channel paths are configured as a first virtual transmit PHY operating according to the first mode of operation; and
 wherein the second group of channel paths are configured as a second virtual transmit PHY operating according to the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         3 . The PHY processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode and the second mode of operation comply with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard. 
     
     
         4 . The PHY processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode of operation complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second mode of operation complies with a legacy 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         5 . The PHY processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first mode of operation complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second mode of operation is associated with a wired data network. 
     
     
         6 . The PHY processor of  claim 2 , wherein the first virtual transmit PHY and the second virtual transmit PHY comply with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard. 
     
     
         7 . The PHY processor of  claim 2 , wherein the first virtual transmit PHY complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second virtual transmit PHY complies with a legacy IEEE 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         8 . The PHY processor of  claim 2 , wherein the first virtual PHY complies with an IEEE 802.11n or later standard; and wherein the second virtual PHY processes data associated with a wired data network. 
     
     
         9 . The PHY processor of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a third group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more receive data streams according to the first mode of operation; and   a fourth group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more receive data streams according to the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         10 . The PHY transmitter of  claim 2 , wherein the third group of channel paths are configured as a first virtual receive PHY operating according to the first mode of operation; and
 wherein the fourth group of channel paths are configured as a second virtual receive PHY operating according to the second mode of operation.   
     
     
         11 . A network, comprising:
 an access point comprising a physical layer (PHY) processor, the PHY comprising:
 a first group of one or more channel paths to process a first set of one or more data streams according to a first mode of operation; and 
 a second group of one or more channel paths to process a second set of one or more data streams according to a second mode of operation; and 
   one or more wireless client devices in communication with the access point using the first mode of operation.   
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a repeater in communication with the access point using the second mode of operation; and   one or more wireless client devices in communication with the repeater.   
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the repeater further comprises:
 a physical layer (PHY) processor, the PHY comprising:
 a third group of one or more channel paths for processing a third set of one or more data streams according to the first mode of operation; and 
 a fourth group of one or more channel paths for processing a fourth set of one or more data streams according to a third mode of operation. 
   
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 13 , wherein the repeater communicates with the access point using the second mode of operation; and
 wherein the one or more wireless client devices in communication with the repeater use the third mode of operation.   
     
     
         15 . The network of  claim 14 , wherein the first, second and third modes of operation are each associated with respectively different IEEE  802 . 11  standards. 
     
     
         16 . The network of  claim 12 , wherein the repeater is coupled to the access point via a wired network connection. 
     
     
         17 . The network of  claim 16 , wherein one or more additional devices are coupled to the access point via the wired network connection. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 designating a first channel path through physical layer (PHY) circuitry for processing a first set of one or more data streams according to a first mode of operation; and   designating a second path through the PHY circuitry for processing a second set of one or more data streams according to a second mode of operation.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a first set of antennas; and   coupling the second set of one or more data streams to the second set of antennas.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first set of one or more data streams and the second set of one or more data streams are processed according to an IEEE 802.11 standard. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling the first set of one or more data streams to one or more antennas; and   coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a wired data network.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a repeater via a wireless connection; and   coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a first set of one or more wireless clients.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 relaying, via the repeater, the second set of one or more data streams to a second set of one or more wireless clients.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 coupling the first set of one or more data streams to a repeater via a wired connection; and   coupling the second set of one or more data streams to a first set of one or more wireless clients.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising:
 relaying, via the repeater, the second set of one or more data streams to a second set of one or more wireless clients.