Two-Tier Wireless Access Network With Window Bridge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless LANs face issues with co-channel interference, inadequate channel frequencies, poor signal quality, especially when providing both indoor and outdoor coverage, and inability to ensure deterministic Quality-of-Service (QoS) for real-time applications like VoIP and video streaming due to contention and signal attenuation through building walls.
Innovation Solution
A two-tier wireless access network architecture utilizing concatenated Neighborhood Area Networks (NANs) and Local Area Networks (LANs) with a specialized bridge/gateway unit, where the first tier provides outdoor coverage and the second tier offers indoor service, using nano-cells and scheduled QoS protocols to manage radio resources effectively, ensuring high-integrity links and private connections for subscribers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If wireless LANs use multiple channels for simultaneous transmission, then transmission speed is improved, but co-channel interference increases when number of channels is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless network into multiple tiers (first tier for outdoor access, second tier for indoor access) with separate channel allocations. This segmentation allows each tier to operate on dedicated channels, reducing co-channel interference while maintaining high transmission speeds through efficient spectrum utilization across different frequency bands.
2Area of stationary object
If wireless LANs provide both indoor and outdoor coverage with single-tier architecture, then network coverage is improved, but signal quality deteriorates due to building wall attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a two-tier architecture where the first tier provides outdoor coverage and the second tier provides indoor coverage. This segmentation allows optimized signal propagation paths for each environment, with the second tier acting as a repeater that receives signals from the first tier and retransmits them indoors, maintaining signal quality across building walls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary access point at the boundary between outdoor and indoor networks. This intermediary device facilitates signal transmission from the outdoor first tier into the indoor second tier environment, compensating for signal attenuation through building walls by providing a dedicated signal path and reception point.
3Productivity
If wireless LANs service both voice and data communications on shared channel, then network capacity is improved, but latency increases violating real-time streaming requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into dedicated tiers with differentiated service capabilities. The first tier handles outdoor access while the second tier handles indoor access with prioritized real-time services. This segmentation enables quality of service (QoS) differentiation where voice and real-time streaming traffic receive prioritized handling separate from best-effort data traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation and scheduling mechanisms that adapt channel assignment and transmission priorities based on traffic type. Real-time streaming and voice communications receive dynamic prioritization and dedicated time slots, while data traffic uses available capacity flexibly, maintaining low latency for time-sensitive services.
4Device complexity
If wireless LANs use conventional single-tier architecture, then device complexity is reduced, but quality of service for real-time applications cannot be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network into two functional tiers with distinct roles. The first tier provides outdoor access point functionality while the second tier provides indoor access point functionality. This segmentation enables specialized optimization for each tier's specific requirements, with the second tier incorporating QoS mechanisms tailored for real-time applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested architecture where the second tier (indoor network) is nested within the first tier (outdoor network) coverage area. The second tier access points are positioned inside the first tier coverage zone, creating a nested structure where indoor devices access the network through the second tier while the first tier provides outer coverage and backbone connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless access network is based on a two-tier access point (AP) structure to provide effective and efficient wireless communication into an individual home/office building. A first tier of the network utilizes “neighborhood” APs, relatively low power, and utilized to provide wireless communication with a “nanocell” boundary (e.g., 300-1000 feet). A second tier of the network utilizes a set of “network concatenation devices” (window bridge), with a separate network concatenation device at each permanent facility in the nanocell that houses wireless devices. The network concatenation device is attached to a window, for example, of a home in communication with the neighborhood AP. The network concatenation device functions as a bridge to couple to each of the wireless devices within the home. This communication is then relayed in an efficient manner between the network concatenation device and the neighborhood AP. By using a number of neighborhood APs, rather extensive wireless coverage can be obtained.