Multi-band Access Point Coextensive Coverage Antenna Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless network providers face challenges in upgrading existing WLANs to support multiple communications protocols with different data rates and propagation ranges, as conventional approaches either reduce data rates or require significant re-layout and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A multi-band wireless access point with co-located antenna systems, each optimized for specific communication protocols, ensuring effective coextensive ranges without reducing data rates or redistributing access points, allowing for seamless upgrades to higher data rate protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a wireless access point supports multiple communications protocols with different data rates, then the network can provide higher data rates to subscribers, but the propagation ranges of different protocols become mismatched requiring network re-layout
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless access point is segmented into multiple antenna systems, with each antenna system dedicated to specific communication protocols. The first antenna system handles 802.11b while the second antenna system handles 802.11a and 802.11g protocols. This segmentation allows each antenna system to be optimized for its assigned protocols' propagation characteristics, eliminating the need for network re-layout when supporting multiple protocols with different data rates.
2Reliability
If the data rate of the protocol with lesser range is reduced to match propagation ranges, then coextensive coverage is achieved, but the benefit of higher data rates is lost
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the antenna systems, each system can maintain its protocol-optimized data rate while achieving coextensive coverage through coordinated operation. The first antenna system operates at 802.11b data rates and the second at 802.11a/g data rates, with both systems working together to provide uniform coverage boundaries.
3Reliability
If access points are placed closer together to attenuate the greater range protocol, then protocol range mismatch is reduced, but the number of access points and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each wireless access point becomes a multi-functional device that simultaneously supports multiple communication protocols through its multiple antenna systems. This universality allows a single access point to handle both long-range 802.11b and shorter-range 802.11a/g protocols, eliminating the need to deploy additional access points to manage range differences.
4Speed
If existing WLAN layout is upgraded to faster protocols, then data rates increase, but substantial re-layout and additional costs are required
Solution Approach 1:
The upgrade path is enabled by segmenting antenna functions within existing access points. Newer antenna systems supporting 802.11a/g can be added to existing 802.11b access points, allowing incremental upgrades that maintain the original layout while introducing higher data rate protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary deployment of higher data rate protocols by incorporating multiple antenna systems from the outset. This allows future-proofing the network infrastructure so that when upgrade needs arise, the physical layout is already in place and only protocol activation is required.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-band wireless access point includes a first antenna system including at least one antenna and having a first effective range for communicating with subscribers using a first communications protocol and a second antenna system including a plurality of antennas generally co-located with the first antenna system and having a second effective range for communicating with subscribers using a second communications protocol whereby the first and the second effective ranges are effectively coextensive. Moreover, each of the plurality of antennas in the second antenna system has a greater directivity than the at least one antenna in the first antenna system to compensate for a difference in propagation of the second communications protocol relative to the first communications protocol.