Access point in a wireless lan

Abstract

A wireless access device in a local area network (LAN) having a plurality of transceivers. Each transceiver has a directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector. Each sector defines a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device. The wireless access device has a network interface to a data network, and an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.

1 . A wireless access device comprising:
 a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device;   a network interface to a data network; and   an array controller to control communication of data between the stations and the transceivers, and between the transceivers and the network interface.   
     
     
         2 . A wireless access device according to  claim 1  where each of the plurality of transceivers is a radio that may be configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g or any sub-part of IEEE 802.11. 
     
     
         3 . A wireless access device according to  claim 2  where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g. 
     
     
         4 . A wireless access device according to  claim 2  where the plurality of transceivers covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a. 
     
     
         5 . A wireless access device according to  claim 2  where the transceivers include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g. 
     
     
         6 . A wireless access device according to  claim 5  where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a. 
     
     
         7 . A wireless access device according to  claim 5  where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g. 
     
     
         8 . A wireless access device according to  claim 2  where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna. 
     
     
         9 . A wireless access device according to  claim 1  where the plurality of transceivers includes:
 twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30°; 
 three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and 
 one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
 
     
     
         10 . A wireless access device according to  claim 1  where the plurality of transceivers includes:
 four 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 90°; 
 three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and 
 one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
 
     
     
         11 . A wireless access device according to  claim 1  where the plurality of transceivers includes: three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
     
     
         12 . A method for providing wireless access to a plurality of stations comprising:
 generating a plurality of sectors of coverage area using a plurality of transceivers, each sector generated using a directional antenna on a corresponding one of the plurality of transceivers;   communicating signals with at least one station in at least one of the sectors; and   managing communication of signals between the at least one station and a data network.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising generating a coverage pattern that provides access to stations located on one side of a border, but limits access to stations located on the other side of the border. 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  further comprising generating a coverage pattern by enabling and disabling selected transceivers. 
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 12  further comprising configuring each of the plurality of transceivers is a radio configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g standard. 
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising configuring the plurality of transceivers to cover all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g. 
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15  further comprising configuring the plurality of transceivers to cover all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising assigning a unique channel defined by 802.11a. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising assigning a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 17  further comprising configuring one of the plurality of transceivers to receive only using an omni-directional antenna. 
     
     
         21 . A system for providing access to data network services comprising:
 at least one wireless access device having a plurality of transceivers, each transceiver having a directional antenna, each directional antenna positioned in a substantially circular array to communicate signals with a plurality of stations in a corresponding sector, each sector defining a portion of a coverage area surrounding the wireless access device; and   a wired network connected to the at least one wireless access device, the wired network having an interface to at least one data network service; where the at least one wireless access device communicates with stations within the coverage area and forms a communications path between the wireless stations and the wired network.   
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 21  where each of the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device is a radio configured to communicate pursuant to the IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g standard. 
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 22  where the plurality of transceivers in the at least one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11b, or IEEE 802.11g. 
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 22  where the plurality of transceivers in the at least, one wireless access device covers all available channels in the band defined by IEEE 802.11a. 
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 22  where the transceivers in the at least one wireless access device include a first plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of transceivers configured to operate pursuant to IEEE 802.11b/g. 
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 25  where each of the first plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique channel defined by 802.11a. 
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 25  where each of the second plurality of transceivers is assigned a unique non-overlapping channel defined by 802.11b/g. 
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 22  where one of the plurality of transceivers is configured to receive only using an omni-directional antenna. 
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 21  where the plurality of transceivers includes:
 twelve 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 30°; 
 three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and 
 one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
 
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 21  where the plurality of transceivers includes:
 four 802.11a radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 90°; 
 three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and 
 one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
 
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 21  where the plurality of transceivers includes:
 three 802.11a/b/g radios configured to generate a uni-directional sector of at least 120°; and 
 one 802.11a/b/g radio configured to generate an omni-directional coverage pattern. 
 
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 21  further comprising a network management system operable to provide management functions over the at least one wireless access device. 
     
     
         33 . A wireless service access area comprising:
 a plurality of coverage sectors, each coverage sector defining a space within which a client station may associate with a corresponding one of a plurality of radios mounted in a wireless access device;   where the wireless access device includes an interface to a data network to provide access to data network services to stations that associate with the radios.   
     
     
         34 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where each coverage sector overlaps with at least one adjacent coverage sector such that the client station may associate with at least one other one of the plurality of radios. 
     
     
         35 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where the plurality of radios form a corresponding plurality of coverage sectors that form a 360° coverage area. 
     
     
         36 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where the plurality of radios are controlled to turn on or off in accordance with a desired coverage pattern. 
     
     
         37 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 36  where the desired coverage pattern is a 180° coverage pattern. 
     
     
         38 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 36  where the desired coverage pattern avoids an obstacle that would generate reflected radio signals. 
     
     
         39 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where the plurality of radios are each controlled to communicate at a designated power level in accordance with a desired coverage pattern. 
     
     
         40 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where the plurality of radios communicates according to any part of IEEE 802.11. 
     
     
         41 . A wireless service access area according to  claim 33  where a first plurality of radios communicates according to IEEE 802.11a and a second plurality of radios communicates according to IEEE 802.11b or g.