LAN-UWB Hybrid Device Bridge for Extended Range
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional UWB technology is limited to peer-to-peer communication in small personal area networks, failing to effectively extend its high bandwidth capabilities to larger local area networks (LANs) and infrastructure-based networking scenarios.
Innovation Solution
The integration of UWB technology with LAN infrastructure using a LAN-UWB hybrid device that incorporates a bridge and emulator layer, allowing data transmission between LAN-UWB hybrid devices and IEEE 802 network switches through UWB nodes, and the use of dual radios for hybrid wireless mesh networking to extend range and improve efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If UWB technology is used for peer-to-peer communication in WPANs, then high data rates and bandwidth are achieved, but the communication range is limited to less than 10 meters and cannot extend to larger LAN areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device as an intermediary between UWB WPANs and LAN infrastructure. This bridge receives UWB packets from WPAN nodes, translates them into appropriate LAN protocols, and forwards them to the LAN network, thereby extending the effective communication range of UWB technology from meter-scale WPAN to building-scale LAN while preserving high data rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network into distinct domains: UWB WPAN segments for high-speed peer-to-peer communication and LAN segments for infrastructure-based networking. The bridge device acts as a gateway between these segments, allowing each to operate optimally in its own domain while achieving overall extended coverage.
2Adaptability or versatility
If UWB technology operates in unlicensed spectrum, then spectrum sharing between multiple technologies is enabled, but interference from other devices using the same frequency range occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device serves as an intermediary that isolates UWB WPAN traffic from the broader LAN spectrum environment. By translating UWB packets into standard LAN protocols for infrastructure networking, the bridge allows UWB to operate in unlicensed spectrum with multiple technologies while preventing interference propagation between different frequency ranges and device types.
3Ease of operation
If conventional UWB technology is used without LAN integration, then simple peer-to-peer communication is achieved, but infrastructure-based networking and larger area coverage are not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device maintains communication simplicity for UWB WPAN nodes while enabling infrastructure-based networking. UWB devices continue to operate with simple peer-to-peer protocols, and the bridge handles the complexity of LAN integration, protocol translation, and infrastructure networking in the background.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge device provides multi-functionality by supporting both UWB WPAN communication and standard LAN infrastructure networking. It can translate and forward packets between these different networking paradigms, allowing the system to adapt to various networking scenarios while maintaining ease of operation for end devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An ultra-wideband (UWB) system and method provide a local area network (LAN) and/or LAN access. LAN access versions of the UWB system includes an emulator layer and bridge that allow data to be transmitted between a LAN-UWB hybrid device and a LAN network switch, such as an IEEE 802 network switch, through in part a UWB node of a UWB WPAN that can receive UWB super-frames from the LAN-UWB hybrid device. In some implementations the LAN-UWB hybrid device uses WiFi protocol layers above the emulator layer and a WiNet Peer IP PAL layer below the emulator layer.