Packet-based wireless local loop and method

Abstract

A packet-based wireless local loop includes a wireless router operable to communicate with a network and a fixed wireless unit operable to communicate with the router over a wireless interface. The fixed wireless unit is operable to transmit a first plurality of packet messages to the router. The first plurality of messages contains analog traffic and data traffic from at least one wired device. The fixed wireless unit is also operable to receive a second plurality of messages from the router. The second plurality of messages contains analog traffic and data traffic, and the fixed wireless unit is further operable to communicate the analog traffic and the data traffic in the second plurality of messages to at least one of the wired devices.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A wireless unit for a packet-based wireless local loop, comprising: 
       a wireless subsystem operable to communicate with a network over a wireless interface, the wireless subsystem operable to transmit a first plurality of packet messages to the network and to receive a second plurality of packet messages from the network;  
       a packet data subsystem coupled to the wireless subsystem, the packet data subsystem operable to communicate the first plurality of packet messages to the wireless subsystem, the first plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic from at least one wired device; and  
       the packet data subsystem also operable to receive the second plurality of messages from the wireless subsystem, the second plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic, the packet data subsystem further operable to communicate the analog traffic and the data traffic in the second plurality of messages to at least one of the wired devices.  
     
     
       2. The wireless unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an interface coupled to the packet data subsystem and operable to transfer analog traffic between the wired device and the packet data subsystem. 
     
     
       3. The wireless unit of  claim 2 , wherein the interface is operable to digitize an analog signal received from the wired device and to convert digitized analog traffic received from the packet data subsystem into an analog signal. 
     
     
       4. The wireless unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a vocoder coupled to the packet data subsystem, the vocoder operable to packetize analog traffic from the wired device to generate at least one of the first plurality of messages, the vocoder also operable to depacketize analog traffic contained in at least one of the second plurality of messages. 
     
     
       5. The wireless unit of  claim 1 , wherein the packet data subsystem is operable to receive at least one of the first plurality of messages from the wired device. 
     
     
       6. The wireless unit of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic is transported in the first and second plurality of messages using an Internet Protocol. 
     
     
       7. A packet-based wireless local loop, comprising: 
       a wireless router operable to communicate with a network;  
       a fixed wireless unit operable to communicate with the router over a wireless interface, the fixed wireless unit operable to transmit a first plurality of packet messages to the router, the first plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic from at least one wired device; and  
       the fixed wireless unit also operable to receive a second plurality of messages from the router, the second plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic, the fixed wireless unit further operable to communicate the analog traffic and the data traffic in the second plurality of messages to at least one of the wired devices.  
     
     
       8. The wireless local loop of  claim 7 , wherein the fixed wireless unit comprises: 
       a wireless subsystem operable to communicate with the router; and  
       a packet data subsystem coupled to the wireless subsystem, the packet data subsystem operable to communicate the first plurality of messages to the wireless subsystem and to receive the second plurality of messages from the wireless subsystem.  
     
     
       9. The wireless local loop of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed wireless unit further comprises an interface coupled to the packet data subsystem and operable to transfer analog traffic between the wired device and the packet data subsystem. 
     
     
       10. The wireless local loop of  claim 9 , wherein the interface is operable to digitize an analog signal received from the wired device and to convert digitized analog traffic received from the packet data subsystem into an analog signal. 
     
     
       11. The wireless local loop of  claim 8 , wherein the fixed wireless unit further comprises a vocoder coupled to the packet data subsystem, the vocoder operable to packetize analog traffic from the wired device to generate at least one of the first plurality of messages, the vocoder also operable to depacketize analog traffic contained in at least one of the second plurality of messages. 
     
     
       12. The wireless local loop of  claim 8 , wherein the packet data subsystem is operable to receive at least one of the first plurality of messages from the wired device. 
     
     
       13. The wireless local loop of  claim 7 , further comprising a gateway coupled to the wireless router and operable to communicate with the network. 
     
     
       14. The wireless local loop of  claim 7 , wherein the traffic is transported in the first and second plurality of messages using an Internet Protocol. 
     
     
       15. A method for communicating over a wireless local loop, comprising: 
       generating a first plurality of packet messages, the first plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic from at least one wired device;  
       communicating the first plurality of messages to a network over a wireless interface;  
       receiving a second plurality of packet messages from the network over the wireless interface, the second plurality of messages containing analog traffic and data traffic; and  
       communicating the analog traffic and the data traffic in the second plurality of messages to at least one of the wired devices.  
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein generating the first plurality of messages comprises: 
       receiving an analog signal from the wired device;  
       digitizing the analog signal; and  
       packetizing the digitized analog signal to generate at least one of the first plurality of messages.  
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein generating the first plurality of messages comprises receiving at least one of the messages from the wired device. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein communicating the first plurality of messages to a network comprises communicating the first plurality of messages to a gateway coupled to the network. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the analog traffic in the second plurality of messages comprises digitized analog traffic, and wherein communicating the analog traffic and data traffic in the second plurality of messages to at least one of the wired devices comprises: 
       depacketizing the digitized analog traffic in at least one of the second plurality of messages;  
       converting the digitized analog traffic into an analog signal; and  
       communicating the analog signal to the wired device.  
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the traffic is transported in the first and second plurality of messages using an Internet Protocol.