This invention relates to wireless data communications networks, and in particular to such networks in accordance with co-assigned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,697, filed Mar. 17, 2000, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein its entirety.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/528,697 discloses an arrangement for wireless local area networks, and particularly arrangement for wireless networks using the radio data communications protocol of IEEE Standard 802.11, such as the Spectrum 24 system which is available from the assignee of this application. In the referenced prior application there is disclosed an arrangement wherein access points used for a conventional IEEE Standard 802.11 wireless data communication system are replaced by simplified devices called “rf ports” in the prior application. The rf ports are connected by an interface to cell controllers which are computers programmed to perform much of the higher level MAC functions required of an access point according to Standard 802.11. As indicated in the referenced prior application, the rf ports can be simplified devices which are supplied with power over the data communications cable from the location of the cell controller. Accordingly the rf ports provide a simplified device, not only for manufacture, but also for installation.
One consideration with the arrangements as described in the referenced prior application is that a failure of a cell controller can result in a failure of communications between a wired network and the rf ports associated with that cell controller. Since a cell controller is responsible for performing higher level Standard 802.11 MAC functions of the access points, a large number of rf ports may be serviced by a single cell controller, and failure of the cell controller can result in failure of the wireless data communications network over a relatively large area. In systems which use self sufficient access points to provide wireless access to a network, the failure of an access point does not necessarily result in system failure, since access points in adjoining physical location can continue to provide communications for a mobile unit which was communicating through the failed access point.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for use in a system using a cell controller and rf port for providing wireless local area network communications.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a wireless local area network for data communications between a computer and at least one mobile unit. The network includes first and second cell controllers connected to the computer, for example, through a wired data communications network. There is provided at least one rf port connected to a primary interface of the first cell controller and to a backup interface of the second cell controller. The second cell controller includes a control program for monitoring data communications with the rf port via the backup interface. The program is arranged to cause the second cell controller to assume primary communications functions of the rf port in the event primary communications functions of the first cell controller are inoperative for communication with the rf port.
According to a preferred arrangement of the wireless local area network there may be provided at least one additional rf port which is connected to a primary interface of the second cell controller and to a backup interface of the first cell controller. In this arrangement the first cell controller also includes a control program for monitoring data communications with the additional rf port through its backup interface. The program is arranged to cause the first cell controller to assume primary communication functions of the additional rf port in the event primary communications function of the second cell controller are inoperative for communication with the additional rf port.
In one arrangement the control program monitors boot requests from the rf port and detects communication failure by repeated boot requests. The primary and backup interfaces of the cell controllers may be defined by the software of the cell controllers, which designates certain of its interfaces as being primary to that cell controller and others as being backup interfaces. When a communication failure occurs the cell controller control program may be arranged to communicate with the other cell controller and to determine if primary communications functions of the other cell controller have become operative. When the backup cell controller determines that the other cell controller has become operative and is capable of assuming primary communications with an rf port, the backup cell controller for the rf port can be arranged to send a reset signal to the rf port to cause it to send a boot request to it's primary cell controller.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a backup cell controller for use in a wireless local area network for data communications between a computer and at least one mobile unit. The backup cell controller includes at least one interface for connection to an rf port and a cell controller program for monitoring data communications from the rf port connected to the interface. The program is arranged to cause the backup cell controller to assume primary communications functions with the rf port in the event primary communications functions of another cell controller are inoperative for communications with the rf port.
The backup cell controller preferably includes an additional interface by which the backup cell controller may provide primary communications functions with an additional rf port connected to the additional interface. One way that the control program can monitor communications with an rf port is to monitor the boot requests and detect communications failure between an rf port and another cell controller by repeated boot requests from the rf port. The backup cell controller may be arranged to communicate with a primary cell controller following a determination of inoperative primary communications with an rf port to determine if primary communications have subsequently become operative. The backup cell controller can reset an rf port to cause it to reinitiate communications through it's primary cell controller.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a method for operating a wireless local area network for data communications between a computer and at least one mobile unit. There are provided first and second cell controllers connected to the computer, for example through a wired network. At least one rf port is connected to a primary interface of a first cell controller and connected to a backup interface of the second cell controller. The second cell controller monitors communications with the rf port by the backup interface and assumes primary communications with the rf port using the second cell controller in the event primary communications functions of the first controller are inoperative for communications with the rf port.
In a preferred arrangement there may be provided an additional rf port connected to a primary interface of the second cell controller and to a backup interface of the first cell controller. In this case the first cell controller monitors data communications with the additional rf port and causes the first cell controller to assume primary communications functions for the additional rf port in the event primary communications of the second cell controller are inoperative for communicating with the additional rf port. The monitoring may comprise monitoring boot requests from the additional rf port and detecting primary communications failure when the boot requests are repeated. Software may be used to define which interfaces of either cell controller comprise primary or backup interfaces. Following a determination of an inoperative primary communications there may be provided communications between the first and second cell controllers to determine if primary communications functions of the first cell controller have become operative. The rf port can be reset if the failed cell controller has been determined to be operative.
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, references made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims
Referring to
In the embodiment illustrated in
Those skilled in the art will recognize that other arrangements of cell controllers are possible. For example, in a system having three cell controllers A, B and C, cell controller B may backup for cell controller A, cell controller C may backup for cell controller B and cell controller A may backup for cell controller C. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that it is possible to have a backup cell controller that does not have it's own rf ports associated with it and whose function is only to be in a hot standby backup condition for another cell controller. Cell controllers 18A and 18B are coupled by a common switching hub 20 to rf ports associated therewith. In the system 10 of
Rf ports 22, 24, 26, 28, A and B are arranged to form a wireless network for example within a facility, such as a hospital, industrial facility or university. Mobile units 30 may be arranged anywhere within the facility within range of an rf port and communicate with computer 14 over wireless network 10 and through wired network 12.
In accordance with a preferred arrangement of the present invention, rf ports 22A, 24A, 26A and 28A are connected to a primary interface of cell controller 18A. In this connection, the interface may be a software interface designating the particular interface with the rf port as being a primary rf port.
By designation of the interface with rf ports 22A, 24A, 26A and 28A, cell controller 18A primarily acts when it receives a boot request from any of these rf ports and thereafter boots or downloads a program to the rf port sending the boot request to initiate its operation. Likewise, rf ports 22B, 24B, 26B and 28B are primarily associated with cell controller B and have a primary interface therewith. Accordingly cell controller B initially responds to boot requests from its associated rf ports to download software to them.
All of the rf ports of the system 10 of
Those skilled in the art will recognize that other modes of operation are possible than those specifically described above. For example a cell controller may determine malfunction in another cell controller by monitoring signals from the other cell controller and thereby not monitor the boot request from the rf ports. In addition a cell controller may determine that a different cell controller has become operational when it receives valid communications from the other cell controller.
While there have been described what are believed to be the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such changes and modifications as fall within the true scope of the invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/473,756, filed on May 28, 2003.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
5239673 | Natarajan | Aug 1993 | A |
5339316 | Diepstraten | Aug 1994 | A |
5371738 | Moelard et al. | Dec 1994 | A |
5432814 | Hasegawa | Jul 1995 | A |
5457557 | Zarem et al. | Oct 1995 | A |
5461627 | Rypinski | Oct 1995 | A |
5465392 | Baptist et al. | Nov 1995 | A |
5490130 | Akagiri | Feb 1996 | A |
5502726 | Fischer | Mar 1996 | A |
5504746 | Meier | Apr 1996 | A |
5506887 | Emery et al. | Apr 1996 | A |
5546397 | Mahaney | Aug 1996 | A |
5602843 | Gray | Feb 1997 | A |
5610972 | Emery et al. | Mar 1997 | A |
5623495 | Eng et al. | Apr 1997 | A |
5636220 | Vook et al. | Jun 1997 | A |
5668803 | Tymes et al. | Sep 1997 | A |
5717737 | Doviak et al. | Feb 1998 | A |
5734963 | Fitzgerald et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
5737328 | Norman et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5758281 | Emery et al. | May 1998 | A |
5761619 | Danne et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5765112 | Fitzgerald et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5768531 | Lin | Jun 1998 | A |
5771353 | Eggleston et al. | Jun 1998 | A |
5796729 | Greaney et al. | Aug 1998 | A |
5835696 | Hess | Nov 1998 | A |
5850526 | Chou | Dec 1998 | A |
5852405 | Yoneda et al. | Dec 1998 | A |
5870385 | Ahmadi et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5873085 | Enoki et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5875186 | Belanger et al. | Feb 1999 | A |
5881094 | Schilling | Mar 1999 | A |
5889816 | Agrawal et al. | Mar 1999 | A |
5901362 | Cheung et al. | May 1999 | A |
5907544 | Rypinski | May 1999 | A |
5918181 | Foster et al. | Jun 1999 | A |
5946617 | Portaro et al. | Aug 1999 | A |
5958006 | Eggleston et al. | Sep 1999 | A |
5960344 | Mahaney | Sep 1999 | A |
5974034 | Chin et al. | Oct 1999 | A |
5991287 | Diepstraten | Nov 1999 | A |
5999295 | Vowell et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6005884 | Cook et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6006090 | Coleman et al. | Dec 1999 | A |
6011975 | Emery et al. | Jan 2000 | A |
H1836 | Fletcher et al. | Feb 2000 | H |
6031863 | Jusa et al. | Feb 2000 | A |
6067291 | Kamerman et al. | May 2000 | A |
6088346 | Du et al. | Jul 2000 | A |
6101531 | Eggleston et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6119162 | Li et al. | Sep 2000 | A |
6137797 | Bass et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6140911 | Fisher et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6154461 | Sturniolo et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6205495 | Gilbert et al. | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6213942 | Flach et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
6259898 | Lewis | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6272120 | Alexander | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6301618 | Sitaraman et al. | Oct 2001 | B1 |
6330231 | Bi | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6330244 | Swartz et al. | Dec 2001 | B1 |
6353599 | Bi et al. | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6359873 | Kobayashi | Mar 2002 | B1 |
6393261 | Lewis | May 2002 | B1 |
6400722 | Chuah et al. | Jun 2002 | B1 |
6414950 | Rai et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6415323 | McCanne et al. | Jul 2002 | B1 |
6473449 | Cafarella et al. | Oct 2002 | B1 |
6487605 | Leung | Nov 2002 | B1 |
6496499 | Hamilton et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6496881 | Green et al. | Dec 2002 | B1 |
6512754 | Feder et al. | Jan 2003 | B2 |
6590884 | Panasik | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6590885 | Jorgensen | Jul 2003 | B1 |
6629151 | Bahl | Sep 2003 | B1 |
6665536 | Mahany | Dec 2003 | B1 |
6681259 | Lemilainen et al. | Jan 2004 | B1 |
6701361 | Meier | Mar 2004 | B1 |
6717926 | Deboille et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6724730 | Mlinarsky et al. | Apr 2004 | B1 |
6751250 | Kirke et al. | Jun 2004 | B2 |
6760859 | Kim et al. | Jul 2004 | B1 |
7042988 | Juitt et al. | May 2006 | B2 |
20010055283 | Beach | Dec 2001 | A1 |
20020015398 | Kikinis | Feb 2002 | A1 |
20020034168 | Swartz et al. | Mar 2002 | A1 |
20020089958 | Feder et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020099972 | Walsh et al. | Jul 2002 | A1 |
20020115442 | Dorenbosch et al. | Aug 2002 | A1 |
20020181429 | Kikinis | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20020196763 | Reynolds et al. | Dec 2002 | A1 |
20030012164 | Mizoguchi et al. | Jan 2003 | A1 |
20030105865 | McCanne et al. | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030112820 | Beach | Jun 2003 | A1 |
20030193946 | Gernert et al. | Oct 2003 | A1 |
20040029612 | Gorsuch | Feb 2004 | A1 |
20050157690 | Frank et al. | Jul 2005 | A1 |
20050226181 | Beach | Oct 2005 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
0566874 | Oct 1993 | EP |
0696117 | Feb 1996 | EP |
0817096 | Jan 1998 | EP |
1134935 | Sep 2001 | EP |
2 320 647 | Jun 1998 | GB |
WO 9307684 | Apr 1993 | WO |
WO 9505720 | Feb 1995 | WO |
WO 9623377 | Jan 1996 | WO |
WO 9721316 | Jun 1997 | WO |
WO 9729602 | Aug 1997 | WO |
WO 9937047 | Jul 1999 | WO |
WO 0024216 | Apr 2000 | WO |
WO 0143467 | Jun 2001 | WO |
WO 2004107638 | Dec 2004 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20050028032 A1 | Feb 2005 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60473756 | May 2003 | US |