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`CA 2388986 A1 2003/12/05
`(21) 2 388 986
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`<12) DEMANDE DE BREVET CANADIEN
`CANADIAN PATENT APPLICATION
`
`(13)A1
`
`
`
`(22) Date de dépét/Filing Date: 2002/06/05
`(41) Mise a la disp. pub/Open to Public lnsp.: 2003/12/05
`
`(51) Cl.lnt.7/lnt.Cl.7 H04Q 7/36, H04L 12/66
`(71) Demandeur/Applicant:
`WIRELESS NETWORKS INC., CA
`
`(72) lnventeurs/lnventors:
`OOSTHUYSEN, HERMAN, CA;
`KISS, JOHN, CA;
`LO, KEITH, CA
`
`(74) Agent: BENNETT JONES LLP
`
`
`
`(54) Titre : PASSERELLE SANS FIL UNIVERSELLE
`(54) Title: UNIVERSAL WIRELESS GATEWAY
`
`(57) AbrégélAbstract:
`V\fire|ess Networks Inc. has conceived of a unique, low-cost method and apparatus for co-locating Bluetooth and 802.11b in a
`single access point. The WNI proposed solution has the added benefit of considerable flexibility, modularity, and end-user
`focused ease of use. The solution does not depend on complex silicon level integration but rather on widely available, low cost
`modular adapters and a means of interconnecting devices. The most basic configuration based on the WNI universal access
`point Is a base platform with a single USB peripheral expansion port. While a USB hub could be used to allow the attachment of
`multiple peripherals, the most basic configuration would be that of a single VlfiFi USB adapter attached to the base platform. The
`base platform is capable of supporting any radio technology internally, including 802.11b, but will initially be bought to market
`with Bluetooth as the built-in standard.
`
`C anad'é:
`
`http://opicgaca - Ottawa-Hull KIA 0C9 - him/431,00.gc.ca
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`Abstract
`
`Wireless Networks lnc. has conceived of a unique, low-cost method and apparatus for co-
`
`locating Bluetooth and 802.11b in a single access point. The WNI proposed solution has the
`
`added benefit of considerable flexibility, modularity, and end-user focused ease of use. The
`
`solution does not depend on complex silicon level integration but rather on widely available,
`
`low cost modular adapters and a means of interconnecting devices.
`
`The most basic configuration based on the WNI universal access point is a base platform
`
`with a single USB peripheral expansion port. While a USB hub could be used to allow the
`
`attachment of multiple peripherals, the most basic configuration would be that of a single WiFi
`
`USB adapter attached to the base platform. The base platform is capable of supporting any
`
`radio technology internally,
`
`including 802.11b, but will
`
`initially be bought to market with
`
`Bluetooth as the built-in standard.
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`Background
`
`Universal Wireless Gateway
`
`To facilitate development and ease of use in the wireless products market, many international
`
`government and regulatory bodies have set aside a portion of spectrum in the 2.4 GHz range
`
`as an unlicensed band for industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) applications. The 2.4 GHz
`
`lSM band has grown in popularity and application to dominate a wide range of consumer and
`
`business products ranging from cordless phones to high speed wireless networking products.
`
`The proliferation of devices using the same spectrum has created a growing interference
`
`problem for co-Iocated devices.
`
`Of specific interest is lEEE 80215.1 (Bluetooth) and lEEE 802.11b (WiFi) products in close
`
`proximity. Bluetooth has been envisioned as a wireless cable replacement and networking
`
`technology intended for two main targets:
`
`from a cable replacement perspective, offering a
`
`less cluttered alternative for connecting desktop devices like keyboards, mice, and speakers
`
`to a PC or a laptop. From a networking perspective, to provide network access for small
`
`devices with limited battery reserves such as PDA’s and Cell Phones. WiFi or 802.11b is a
`
`more mature specification and has become the defacto standard for implementing in-building
`
`wireless LAN infrastructure — predominantly targeted to Laptops and desktops where
`
`physical LAN wiring is impractical or inconvenient.
`
`Both standards share the ISM band and both are likely to require co—incident operation from a
`
`network infrastructure perspective. The issue of coexistence of Bluetooth and WiFi has
`
`been a topic of considerable discussion and research for the past 2 years and the detrimental
`
`effect of co-location is well known. Many proposals for long term resolution of this issue have
`
`been brought to the FCC and other regulators - chief of which is modification of the ISM band
`
`requirements to effectively allow federated “sharing" of the band, the implementation of which
`
`would be site specific. Unfortunately,
`
`it is extremely improbable that regulatory bodies will
`
`make the appropriate changes as quickly as the wireless industry is evolving.
`
`In the interim, several private companies have developed various means of allowing co-
`
`existence from a chipset perspective. Co—existing radios and chipsets which share the same
`
`antenna are extremely interesting and are required for top performance in devices where
`
`both technologies are expected to exist together, such as Laptop computers. The two
`
`leading proposals for solving the co—location issue are one from Mobilian and a more recent
`
`solution which is the result of a partnership between Silicon Wave and Intersil. Both are in a
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`position to provide samples of their solutions and estimate they will achieve full production in
`the fall of 2002.
`
`Description of the Drawings
`
`FIG. 1 is a view of the WM Universal Wireless Gateway in the simplest form with Bluetooth
`
`integrated into the base platform and a single 802.11b Adapter attached via Universal Serial
`Bus.
`
`FIG. 2 is a view of the basic operation of the WNI Universal Wireless Gateway is to allow
`
`multiple devices using multiple radio standards to connect to the home or office network
`
`thought a single, highly flexible gateway.
`
`FIG. 3 is a view of the WM Universal Wireless Gateway Architecture based on the Intel
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`StrongAFtM processor and an embedded Linux 08, the WM Universal Wireless Gateway
`
`architecture is specify targeted for maximum flexibility in adding standards based peripherals.
`
`Description of the Invention
`
`Wireless Networks lnc. has conceived of a unique, low-cost method and apparatus for co-
`
`locating Bluetooth and 802.11b in a single access point. The WNI proposed solution has the
`
`added benefit of considerable flexibility, modularity, and end-user focused ease of use. The
`
`solution does not depend on complex silicon level integration but rather on widely available,
`
`low cost modular adapters and a means of interconnecting devices.
`
`The most basic configuration based on the WNI universal access point is a base platform
`
`with a single USB peripheral expansion port. While a USB hub could be used to allow the
`
`attachment of multiple peripherals, the most basic configuration would be that of a single WiFi
`
`USB adapter attached to the base platform. The base platform is capable of supporting any
`
`including 802.11b, but will
`radio technology internally.
`Bluetooth as the built-in standard.
`
`initially be bought to market with
`
`Close proximity coexistence of WiFi and Bluetooth, while likely'to be the future preferred
`
`model,
`
`is simply not available at a reasonable cost today and does not allow for easy
`
`expansion to multiple radios within a single cell beyond the base configuration.
`
`in order to
`
`achieve the necessary separation of radios to minimize interference, a RS422 serial interface
`
`can be used. While completely functional,
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`this approach requires a proprietary
`
`implementation of peripherals which would increase both time to market and overall cost.
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`USB peripherals are available from multiple sources and are typically one of the first interface
`
`technologies used for emerging wireless standards. While expansion and the addition of
`
`peripheral devices is completely managed by the WNI platform, the ‘plug and play’ attributes
`
`of USB have earned it a reputation for simplicity in the minds of the average end user.
`
`The WNI Universal Access Point platform, which has multiple productized variants,
`
`is an
`
`embedded computing platform based on an Intel StrongARM processor and the MicroC
`
`distribution of embedded linux. Unique to the UAP as a network access point platform is the
`
`ability to be expanded much like a PC through the addition of peripherals. The UAP employs
`
`several different methods of peripheral expansion — CardBus, MiniPCl, and USB. Bluetooth
`
`is included in the access point and alternate wireless networking technologies are added to
`
`an available expansion port. To add 802.11b to the UAP, an end user attaches a WNI
`
`802.11b USB adapter to an available USB port and locates the adapter up to 5m away from
`
`the UAP. This ability to separate the two conflicting radios is unique to WNl's implementation
`
`and is key to minimizing interference between the two technologies. When separated by 5m,
`
`the adverse effect of WiFi on Bluetooth has been shown to be minimal.
`
`This separation of radios is not as convenient for client devices and the focus of Mobilian and
`
`Silicon Wave/Intersil is required to enable close proximity co—location.
`
`In fact the WNI UAP
`
`will be able to take advantage of mass market adapter availability to evolve rather than
`
`outright replacement of the entire AP when a new wireless technology arrives. WNI is
`
`currently sampling the Silicon Wave/lntersil Blue802 miniPCl prototype which could be
`
`incorporated into the flexible architecture of the UAP.
`
`The ability to simultaneously network both Bluetooth and WiFi devices to a wire line network
`
`infrastructure can be achieved with current technology. A user wanting to achieve this result
`
`would be forced to purchase two separate wireless LAN access points — one to network
`
`Bluetooth devices and another separate unit to network WiFi devices.
`
`In addition to the
`
`added cost of duplicating network devices, the user is also forced to duplicate the cost of
`
`management and maintenance. The Wireless Networks Inc. solution centers on the
`
`development of a common technology platform from a network services and management
`
`perspective that allows external expansion with low cost wireless peripherals — each of the
`
`attached peripherals would represent an instance of a wireless networking radio.
`
`Bluetooth technology will be incorporated natively into many product
`
`instances of
`
`the
`
`universal access point platform.
`
`In this case, the end user would choose, either initially or at
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`a later date, to add alternate wireless networking standard support through the addition of
`
`one or more external peripherals. For a home environment where relatively few devices are
`
`being networked within a small space, simply adding one external WiFi USB adapter would
`
`likely provide ample capability. All of the required network services such as routing, network
`
`address translation, and security are provided by a common platform with a single user
`
`interface and point of management. The technology required to implement each instance of
`
`network interface, whatever the standard, is kept to a minimum.
`
`The multiple expansion ports on the Universal Access Point platform allow for several
`
`peripherals to be added. Each peripheral can represent either a different wireless networking
`
`standard or multiple instances of the same standard. For example,
`
`in a busy cafeteria
`
`environment with a high density of laptop users, one may want to increase the WiFi coverage
`
`density by adding multiple WiFi adapters, each on it’s own 802.11b channel,
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`thereby
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`multiplying the aggregate bandwidth available for wireless users in the coverage area of the
`
`access point.
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`Claims
`
`1.
`
`A universal access point platform comprising:
`
`a base platform capable of
`
`internally supporting radio technology and
`
`incorporating at least one adapter port capable of connecting another radio
`
`technology.
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`CA 02388986 2002-06-05
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`Application number / numéro de demande: 97388 78‘
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`Figures:
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`I- 3&3
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`Pages:
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`Unscannable items
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`received with this application
`(Request original documents in File Prep. Section on the 10“ floor)
`
`Documents reeu avec cette demande ne pouvant étre balayés
`(Commander les documents originaux dans la section de preparation des dossiers au
`lOeme étage)
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`8
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