Extending Wi-Fi Coverage via Ethernet RF Tuning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless infrastructure, such as wireless access points, have limited coverage areas due to obstacles like walls and floors, necessitating systems and methods to extend coverage without major redesigns.
Innovation Solution
A personalized wireless information handling system that uses a headend unit, RF module with an RF tuner and authenticator, and Ethernet cables to multiplex control, power, and wireless signals, allowing for extended coverage by routing wireless signals through physical transmission lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If wireless access points are deployed to provide wireless connectivity, then wireless communication capability is enabled, but coverage area is limited by building structures such as walls and floors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces Ethernet cables as intermediary transmission lines to carry wireless signals through physical pathways (walls, floors, ceilings) that bypass obstructions. The cables act as mediators between wireless access points in different locations, allowing signals to traverse through building structures without being blocked by them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends wireless coverage by transitioning from purely wireless three-dimensional space to include physical cable pathways as an additional transmission dimension. Ethernet cables provide alternative routing paths through walls and floors, effectively adding a physical infrastructure dimension to complement wireless signal propagation.
2Area of stationary object
If Ethernet cables are used to extend wireless signal coverage, then coverage area is extended beyond the access point, but system complexity increases due to multiplexing control, power, and wireless signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions (control signals, power delivery, and wireless signal transmission) into a single Ethernet cable infrastructure. By merging these separate functions into one unified medium, the system reduces the number of separate components and connections needed, thereby simplifying overall system architecture despite the advanced multiplexing techniques employed.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ethernet cable system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: carrying control signals for device management, delivering power to remote devices, and transmitting wireless signals for extended coverage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated cables for each purpose, reducing system complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If existing infrastructure is utilized without major redesigns, then implementation cost is reduced, but coverage extension capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages pre-installed Ethernet cable infrastructure that already exists in most buildings, eliminating the need for new cable installations. By utilizing this preliminary infrastructure, the system can extend wireless coverage immediately without major construction or redesign work.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses existing Ethernet cables that are already deployed throughout the building for their original purpose (data networking) and repurposes them to also carry wireless signals. This self-service approach allows the infrastructure to serve dual functions without requiring additional installation work or external modifications.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein are systems and methods that use Ethernet infrastructure to extend the reach of Wi-Fi signals. As a result, the Wi-Fi coverage area of, e.g., an access point can be extended through building structures, such as walls, floors, and other obstacles. In certain embodiments, this is accomplished by utilizing an RF tuner that receives a signal produced from a Wi-Fi signal and recreates the Wi-Fi signal to retransmit it at a remote location that is outside of the regular coverage area of the access point.