Patent Application
20120164877
The present disclosure relates generally to installing an access point over a standard electronic wall box and more particularly to providing access to different types of cables installed in the standard electronic wall box.
A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is a data communication system that uses electromagnetic waves to transmit and receive data over the air, thereby minimizing the need for wired connections. A wireless access point is a specially configured node on the WLAN that acts as a central transmitter and receiver of the WLAN radio signals. The access point connects wireless devices within the WLAN and also can serve as the point of interconnection between the WLAN and a fixed wire network. Access points are generally small, dedicated hardware devices featuring, among other components, a built-in network adapter, an antenna, and a radio transmitter/receiver. At a minimum, the access point receives, buffers, and transmits data between the WLAN and the wired network. Access points support IEEE 802-11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n or other similar wireless communication standards. (For any (IEEE) standards recited herein, contact the IEEE at IEEE, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, N.J. 08855-1331, USA or see: http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/index.html)
In a typical WLAN configuration, the access point is connected to the wired network from a fixed location with standard Ethernet cable. The access point is typically installed in a building, for example, on a ceiling or on a wall. The access point may be mounted essentially anywhere that is practical as long as the desired radio coverage is obtained. Because the access point is a single purpose device intended only for WLAN use, the access point is typically installed in a location that is hidden from view, so as not to distract from the aesthetic or décor of a room.
Some existing access points are designed to be aesthetically pleasing and to be blend in with the décor of any room. These access points may be shaped, for example, like a light switch cover or a thermostat cover and they may be installed on a wall-plate mounting over a standard electronic wall box. These access points are designed to include a number of Ethernet ports, some of which are managed by an internal Ethernet switch in the access point and at least one of which is a pass-through Ethernet port that is not managed by the internal Ethernet switch. One of the Ethernet ports, managed by the internal Ethernet switch, may be a power over Ethernet (PoE) port for providing power to devices, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones or similar devices that require power and an Ethernet connection.
Different types of cables for connections other than Ethernet connections may be installed in the standard electronic wall box. Examples of some cables that are likely to be installed in the standard electronic wall box include fiber optic cables, coaxial cables, triaxial cables, or Bayonet Neill-Concelman (BNC) cables used to provide audio, video, television, or telephone services. When the access point is installed over the standard electronic wall box, the access point is connected to the wired network with an Ethernet cable that is also installed in the standard electronic wall box. The access point is then configured to provide Ethernet access through one of the Ethernet ports provided by the access point. After installation, however, the access point covers other cables in the standard electronic wall box that are not used for Ethernet connection. There is no current means in the access point for exposing these other cables in the standard electronic wall box that are not used for Ethernet connection. As such, to provide access to these cables, which are not Ethernet cables, an additional opening in the wall or ceiling will have to be provided. In buildings, for example hotels and hospitals, with brick walls or other solid construction, providing additional opening(s) to expose different types of existing cabling in the standard electronic wall box increases the costs and time associated with installing the access point.
Accordingly, there is a need for a method and apparatus that provides access to different types of existing cables in the standard electronic wall box when the access point is installed over the standard electronic wall box.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments.
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention.
The apparatus and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.
Some embodiments are directed to apparatuses and methods for providing access to different types of existing cables in a standard electronic wall box when an access point is installed over the standard electronic wall box. The access point includes at least one pass-through slot configured to expose a plurality of types of connectors for connecting a plurality of types of cables installed in the standard electronic wall box. The access point also includes a connection port configured to connect the access point to a wall cable. The wall cable is a network uplink cable for connecting the access point to a network. When the access point is installed on the standard electronic wall box, the pass-through slot is used to expose a cable connected to one of the plurality of types of connectors, wherein the cable is different from the wall cable.
A single access point can support a small group of users and can typically function within a range of several hundred feet. Although the wireless coverage area for each access point is limited, access points 102-112 can be configured such that the coverage area of adjacent access points 102-112 overlap to provide a continuous wireless coverage area. The configurations and the number of access points 102-112 in WLAN 100 are used to determine the WLAN coverage area. WLAN 100 may be configured for a specific application and as such each access point 102-112 may be configured to provide wireless coverage for a specific purpose, for example, for a store, or for one or more rooms in a hospital, hotel, or dormitory. As noted previously, access points 102-112 support IEEE 802-11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n or other similar wireless communication standards. (For any (IEEE) standards recited herein, contact the IEEE at IEEE, 445 Hoes Lane, PO Box 1331, Piscataway, N.J. 08855-1331, USA or see: http://standards.ieee.org/getieee802/index.html). It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that other components and configurations of WLAN 100 are not shown for the sake of simplicity.
Access point 200 includes a pass-through slot 204 for housing a pass-through port. In
Access point 200 further includes an expansion slot 206 for connecting a multi-port expansion module. Similar to port 204, in
Access point 200 also includes an internal dual-band radio which supports radio bands, such as 802.11a/b/g/n radio bands, and internal firmware which enables access point 200 to boot up after it receives power or after it is reset. The firmware can be updated via, for example, an Ethernet interface. Access point 200 further includes light-emitting diode (LED) activity indicators 208 and 210 for providing a status display to indicate error conditions, transmissions, and network activities. In some embodiments, LED activity indicator 208 is used to provide a status display for a 2.4 gigahertz 802.11 b/g/n radio while LED activity indicator 210 is used to provide a status display of a 5 gigahertz 802.11 a/n radio.
In a typical room, for example a hotel room or a hospital room, a standard wall plate may be found near floor level (as an air conditioner outlet), near the middle of a wall (as a light switch cover, or a thermostat cover), or at spaces near the ceiling. An example of the standard wall plate may be a seventy by one hundred and twenty millimeter (70/120 mm) standard sized telecommunication plate with a RJ-45 Ethernet connector and a RJ-11 telephone connector. When the telecommunication plate is removed from the standard electronic wall box, access point 200 may be installed in its place and access point 200 is considered to be “hiding in plain sight”, as it does not detract from the décor of the room where it is installed. Installing access point 200 as the standard wall plate allows for better WLAN coverage in a multi-room building and allows for faster deployment over existing cables in the standard electronic wall box. In some embodiments, access point 200 is hooked on the wall plate mounting installed over the standard electronic wall box and access point 200 is configured to use the existing cables, used in other standard wall plates, in the standard electronic wall box. For example, access point 200 may be installed with an existing category five or higher cable, such as the RJ-45 cable, that is already installed in the standard electronic wall box.
At least one existing cable in the standard electronic wall box that is not used by access point 200 can be exposed through pass-through slot 204. Specifically, in some embodiments, a standard keystone style port or modular connector is installed in pass-through slot 204. Because audio, video, and data network cables typically use the keystone style connector, installing the standard keystone style port in pass-through slot 204 allows at least one existing cable in the standard electronic wall box to be mechanically exposed on the front face of access point 200, just as it would on any standard wall plate. As noted above, any style port that supports existing cables in the standard electronic wall box may be installed in pass-through slot 204. Access point 200 therefore functions as a wall plate which exposes existing cable connections and access point 200 also provides wired and/or wireless connections to devices in a predefined space. Access point 200 may also be installed on any flat surface, such as a desk or ceiling, such that it does not protrude into the flat surface. For example, access point 200 may also be installed on a wall so that it does not protrude into the wall, thereby allowing for efficient heat transfer in the wall.
Access point 200 may be configured to function as a central controller for a number of other access points. In particular, access point 200 may include a processor to provide central configuration and automatic radio frequency management functions for a predefined number of other access points in the wireless network. In some embodiments, any two access points can be designated as controller access points, one as the primary controller access point and one as a backup controller access point. This allows any network with up to a predefined number of access points to be managed without the expense of a radio frequency controller. It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that other configurations and components of access point 200 are not shown for the sake of simplicity.
In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present teachings.
The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued.
Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used.
Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.
