(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0227753 A1
`Vleugels et al.
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`US 20060227753A1
`
`(54) METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR
`OPERATING AWIRELESS PAN NETWORK
`USING AN OVERLAY PROTOCOL THAT
`ENHANCES CO-EXISTENCE WITH A
`WIRELESS LAN NETWORK
`
`(75) Inventors: Katelijn Vleugels, San Carlos, CA
`(US); Roel Peeters, San Carlos, CA
`(US)
`Correspondence Address:
`TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW,
`LLP
`TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER
`EIGHTH FLOOR
`SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94111-3834 (US)
`Assignee: H-Stream Wireless, Palo Alto, CA
`Appl. No.:
`11/376,753
`
`(73)
`(21)
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Mar. 14, 2006
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`(60) Provisional application No. 60/661,746, filed on Mar.
`14, 2005.
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51)
`
`Int. C.
`H04Q
`7/24
`
`(2006.01)
`
`(52) U.S. Cl. .............................................................. 370/338
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A computing device is interfaced with other devices in a
`wireless personal area network (PAN) to enhance co-exist
`ence with a wireless local area network (WLAN), wherein
`the WLAN is characterized by a plurality of nodes inter
`communicating for various network devices and the wireless
`PAN is characterized by lower power transmissions relative
`to transmissions over the WLAN. The computing device
`coordinates activity of the wireless PAN as a coordinator for
`the wireless PAN, including communicating with the wire
`less PAN devices using a protocol that is an overlay protocol
`only partially compliant with the protocol used over the
`WLAN but that enables co-existence. The WLAN can be an
`802.11 wireless LAN. WLAN devices preferably can, upon
`hearing an overlay protocol frame, understand at least
`enough of the overlay protocol frame to defer use of a
`common wireless networking medium. If the PAN coordi
`nator is capable of associating with the WLAN, it can be a
`dual-network device capable of associating with the WLAN
`and PAN simultaneously. The dual-network device can use
`a common network module to handle both WLAN and PAN
`traffic.
`
`100
`
`STA1
`(COORD)
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`114
`
`16
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`
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`STA4
`(COORD)
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`301
`
`AP
`
`306
`
`
`
`Mobile Phone
`(COORD)
`
`Wireless
`Headset
`(PER1)
`
`Handheld PDA
`
`Fig. 3(d)
`
`400
`
`Display Keyboard
`
`Processor
`
`Program Code
`Memory
`
`Disk Drive
`
`Network I/O
`Interface
`
`
`
`Network Card
`CLK-416
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`internal Clock
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`Fig. 4
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`
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`Data
`I/O
`
`Interface
`Circuits
`
`Control/
`Datapath
`Logic
`
`Baseband
`Modem
`
`
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`RF Section
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`510
`
`
`
`POWer
`
`Clock Circuit
`
`Fig. 5
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`
`
`610
`IP networking
`(IP stack)
`
`O
`O
`s
`C
`CD
`(O.
`CD
`O
`C)
`CD
`
`9 CD
`
`a
`
`Peripheral interconnect
`(USB, HID,audio,etc. stack)
`
`Non-IP peer-to-peer
`(1394 stack)
`
`602
`
`Applications
`and System
`Services
`
`Fig. 6
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`METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A
`WIRELESS PAN NETWORK USING AN OVERLAY
`PROTOCOL THAT ENHANCES CO-EXISTENCE
`WITH A WIRELESS LAN NETWORK
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`0001. This application claims the benefit of and is a
`non-provisional of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/661,
`746 filed on Mar. 14, 2005, which is incorporated by
`reference in its entirety for all purposes.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0002 The present invention relates generally to wireless
`communications and more particularly to coordinating dif
`ferent network uses of a common wireless medium.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0003 Wireless communication among electronic devices
`has been increasing as the benefits and conveniences of
`wireless communication become more preferred. A wireless
`communication system or wireless network is often
`described as containing nodes (or more precisely, circuitry
`associated with the concept of a node) and a wireless
`medium (WM) over which the nodes' circuitry communi
`cate to convey information. Where some action or activity is
`described as happening at (or being done at) a node, it should
`be understood that the electronic device and/or network
`interface that is at (or simply is) the node is the circuitry that
`is performing the action or activity. For example, sending
`data from node A to node B means transmitting a signal from
`circuitry associated with node A and receiving that signal (or
`more precisely, the transmitted signal modified by the
`medium) using circuitry associated with node B.
`0004 The information conveyed between nodes can be
`digital data and digitized analog signals, or other forms of
`information, but communication system design often
`assumes that digital data is being conveyed and higher
`network layers interpret the data appropriately. For purposes
`herein, it is assumed that data exists at one node, is provided
`to lower network layers, is conveyed to another node over a
`WM, is received by another node correctly or incorrectly
`and then is conveyed to upper network layers at the receiver.
`In one model, two networked devices run applications that
`pass data between themselves by having the sending
`devices application convey data to an application layer of a
`network stack, which conveys data to lower levels, ulti
`mately to a medium access control (MAC) layer and a
`physical network (PHY) layer, and the process is inverted at
`the recipient.
`0005 To set up a wireless network, all that is needed is
`a plurality of electronic “node devices capable of transmit
`ting and receiving data in a manner understood by the two
`(or more) nodes involved in a conversation, with the node
`devices appropriately placed Such that they can communi
`cate in the medium that exists between the devices. The
`medium could be some type of dielectric material, but more
`commonly, the medium is the air space and objects (walls,
`chairs, books, glass. etc.) that are between devices or are
`positioned Such that they have an effect on the signals
`transmitted between devices. Presumably, the node devices
`are assigned unique identifiers to distinguish transmissions,
`
`but this might not always be necessary. Examples of Such
`unique identifiers are MAC addresses and IP addresses.
`0006. As the existence of various wireless media and
`their properties are known and are not the focus of this
`disclosure, the medium is often just shown in the attached
`figures as a cloud. Thus, it should be understood that
`Supplier of a set of two or more powered devices that can
`communicate Supplies a wireless network; the wireless
`medium is presumed.
`0007 Wireless communication systems can be catego
`rized based on coverage range, which in some cases is
`dictated by use. A wireless local area network or “WLAN”.
`has a typical coverage range on the order of 300 feet and is
`useful for providing communications between computing
`devices in Some (possibly loosely) defined space Such as a
`home, office, building, park, airport, etc. In some modes of
`operation, one or more of the nodes is coupled to a wired
`network to allow other nodes to communicate beyond the
`wireless network range via that wired network. In 802.11
`terminology, such nodes are referred to as “access points'
`and the typical protocol is such that the other nodes (referred
`to as “stations') associate with an access point and commu
`nication is generally between a station and an access point.
`Some wireless networks operate in an “ad hoc mode,
`wherein node devices communicate with each other without
`an access point being present.
`0008. A personal area network or “PAN” is a short-range
`wireless network, with typical coverage ranges on the order
`of 30 feet, usable to connect peripherals to devices in close
`proximity, thereby eliminating cables usually present for
`such connections. For example, a PAN might be used to
`connect a headset to a mobile phone or music/audio player,
`a mouse or keyboard to a laptop, a PDA or laptop to a mobile
`phone (for syncing, phone number lookup or the like), etc.
`Yet another example of a wireless PAN application is
`wireless medical monitoring devices that wirelessly connect
`monitoring hardware to a pager or similar read-out device.
`Yet another example is a remote control that connects to a
`wireless-enabled electronic device.
`0009. Some networks might fall in a gray area between a
`WLAN and a PAN, but in many cases, a network is clearly
`one or the other. A personal area network (PAN) is generally
`used for the interconnection of information technology
`devices within the range of an individual person, typically
`within a range of 10 meters. For example, a person traveling
`with a laptop will likely be the sole user of that laptop and
`will be the same person handling the personal digital assis
`tant (PDA) and portable printer that interconnect to the
`laptop without having to plug anything in, using some form
`of wireless technology. Typically, PAN nodes interact wire
`lessly, but nothing herein would preclude having some wired
`nodes. By contrast, a wireless LAN tends to be a local area
`network (LAN) that is connected without wires and serves
`multiple users.
`0010 Equipment connecting to a wireless communica
`tion system in general, and to a wireless PAN communica
`tion system in particular, is typically used for applications
`where power usage, weight, cost and user convenience are
`very important. For example, with laptops, low-cost acces
`sories are preferable, and it is critical that the power usage
`of Such accessories be minimized to minimize the frequency
`at which batteries need to be replaced or recharged. The
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`latter is a burden and annoyance to the user and can
`significantly reduce the seamless user experience.
`0011
`Weight and complexity are additional concerns in
`many wireless communication systems. Particularly with
`mobile devices such as laptops, weight is a concern and the
`user would rather not have to deal with the hassle of carrying
`around a multiplicity of devices. Mobile devices are devices
`that can be expected to be in use while moving, while
`portable devices are devices that are movable from place to
`place but generally are not moving when in use. The
`considerations for mobile devices also apply to portable
`devices, albeit sometimes with less of a concern. For
`example, with a wireless connection of a peripheral to a
`laptop, both devices are likely to be used while mobile or
`moved frequently and carried around. Thus, weight and the
`number of devices is an important consideration. With
`portable devices, such as a small desktop computer with a
`wireless trackball, as long as the total weight is below a
`user's carrying limit, the weight is not as much a concern.
`However, battery life is often as much a concern with
`portable devices as it is with mobile devices.
`0012. There are shades of grey between “portable' and
`“mobile” and it should be understood that the concerns of
`mobile applications and portable applications can be con
`sidered similar, except where indicated. In other words, a
`mobile device can be a portable device in the examples
`described herein.
`0013 Where a computing and/or communication device
`connects to a WLAN, it uses wireless circuitry that often
`times are already built into the computing device. If the
`circuitry is not built in, a WLAN card (such as a network
`interface card, or “NIC) might be used. Either way, some
`antenna circuitry is used and power is required to run that
`circuitry.
`0014 Where a device also connects wirelessly to periph
`erals or other devices over short links often referred to as
`forming a “personal area network” or “PAN, circuitry is
`needed for that connection as well. This circuitry is typically
`provided with an external interface unit that is plugged into
`or onto the device. For example, where the device is a
`laptop, the circuitry might be provided by a Universal Serial
`Bus (USB) dongle that attaches to a USB port of the laptop.
`The USB dongle contains the radio circuitry needed to
`communicate wirelessly over the short wireless links.
`0015. In general, a wireless connection between two or
`more devices requires that each device include wireless
`network circuitry for conveying signals over the medium
`and receiving signals over the medium, as well as process
`ing/communication circuitry to receive, process and/or con
`vey data and/or signals to that wireless network circuitry.
`The processing/communication circuitry could be imple
`mented with actual circuits, Software instructions executable
`by a processor, or some combination thereof. In some
`variations, the wireless network circuitry and processing/
`communication circuitry are integrated (such as with some
`PDAs, wireless mice, etc.) or are separate elements (such as
`a laptop as the processing/communication circuitry and a
`network PCMCIA card as the wireless network circuitry).
`0016 For ease of understanding this disclosure, where it
`is important to make the distinction between devices, a
`device that exists to provide wireless connectivity is referred
`
`to as a “network interface”, “network interface device',
`"wireless network interface device' or the like, while the
`device for which the wireless connectivity is being provided
`is referred to as a “computing device' or an “electronic
`device' notwithstanding the fact that some such devices do
`more than just compute or might not be thought of as devices
`that do actual computing and further notwithstanding the
`fact that some network interface devices themselves have
`electronics and do computing. Some electronic devices
`compute and communicate via an attached network interface
`device while other electronic devices might have their
`network interface devices integrated in a non-detachable
`form. Where an electronic device is coupled to a wireless
`network interface to a wireless network, it is said that the
`device is a node in the network and thus that device is a
`“node device.
`0017. An 802.11x (x=a, b, g, n, etc.) NIC (network
`interface card) or 802.11x built-in circuitry might be used for
`networking an electronic device to the outside world, or at
`least to devices at other nodes of a WLAN 802.11x network,
`while using an external dongle or a similar interface device
`with Bluetooth or proprietary wireless circuitry for commu
`nication between the computing device and the peripheral or
`other PAN node.
`0018. A device that is equipped with an 802.11x-confor
`mant network interface to the WM is herein referred to as a
`station or “STA’. In 802.11 terminology, set of STAs con
`stitutes a Basic Service Set (“BSS”). A set of STAs that
`communicate in a peer-to-peer configuration is referred to as
`an “802.11x ad-hoc network or an independent BSS
`(IBSS). A set of STAs controlled by a single coordinator is
`referred to as an 802.11x infrastructure network. The coor
`dinator of a BSS is herein referred to as the access point or
`“AP.
`0019. A typical access point device is wired to a wired
`network and is also wired to an external Source of electricity,
`Such as being plugged into a wall Socket or wired to a
`building's power grid. For example, a building, an airport or
`other space people might occupy might have fixed access
`points mounted throughout the space to provide adequate
`network coverage for the purpose of providing access to the
`Internet or other network for the people occupying the space,
`via their portable or mobile devices. As such, access points
`are typically always on so that the wireless network is
`available whenever suitable portable or mobile devices are
`carried into the space.
`0020. The use of different technologies for WLAN and
`wireless PAN connectivity increases cost, weight and power
`usage (at the COORD side and/or the PER side), and impairs
`a seamless user experience. Those disadvantages could be
`resolved by equipping the peripheral or PAN nodes with
`802.11x wireless circuitry, thus eliminating the dedicated
`PAN technologies altogether. However, PAN nodes are often
`very power-sensitive devices. They usually are battery
`operated devices and their small form factor prohibits the
`use of bulky batteries with large capacity. Instead, Small
`batteries with limited power capacity are used. Such periph
`erals cannot typically support the power usage requirements
`typical of WLAN wireless circuitry, such as 802.11x cir
`cuitry. A host of other difficulties are present in view of the
`optimizations, goals and designs of differing network pro
`tocols.
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`0021 Another drawback is that independent LANs and
`PANs may interfere if they share a common frequency band.
`
`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`0022. In embodiments of wireless communication
`according to the present invention, devices in a secondary
`network operate using an overlay protocol that enhances
`co-existence with a primary network. In a specific example,
`the primary network is an 802.11x network and the second
`ary network is a network that uses the overlay protocol for
`communications with devices that cannot directly supportan
`802.11X network because of latency, power, computing
`effort, or other limitations, but where the secondary network
`and primary network need to co-exist. The secondary net
`work might entirely comprise devices that are only capable
`of joining the secondary network, but the secondary network
`might also comprise devices that can join, or have joined, the
`primary network. The overlay protocol is preferably such
`that devices that can join both networks can use a common
`network interface circuit.
`0023. In specific embodiments, a computing device is
`interfaced to a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a
`wireless personal area network (PAN). A network circuit,
`comprising logic and at least one antenna, interfaces the
`computing device to the WLAN and including logic to set up
`a LAN association between the computing device and the
`access point prior to data transfer therebetween, while also
`interfacing the computing device to a PAN device via the
`wireless PAN.
`0024 Communication with the wireless PAN device
`might use an SWN protocol that is only partially compliant
`with the protocol used over a conventional WLAN and
`might do so without interference from the conventional
`WLAN, yet usage of the WLAN is such that the wireless
`PAN device and computing device can communicate with
`out interference. To reduce interference, the computing
`device coordinates the usage of the wireless medium with
`devices of a WLAN that may be active in the same space.
`Coordination is achieved by the use of a secondary network
`(PAN) protocol that is an overlay protocol that is partially
`compatible with the WLAN protocol, but not entirely, in
`terms of power, frame contents and sequences, timing, etc.
`The secondary network (PAN) protocols might be 802.11x
`frames with new frame arrangements adapted for PAN
`needs, such as reduced latency, power etc. The computing
`device might determine to signal the primary network
`(WLAN) such that devices therein defer so that communi
`cations can occur with the secondary network.
`0025. In specific implementations, a shareable network
`circuit stores parameters, addresses and other information
`necessary to maintain sessions with both networks simulta
`neously. As an example, a shareable network circuit may
`store two media addresses, one for communication in the
`WLAN and one for communication in the wireless PAN.
`The network circuit can maintain sessions with both simul
`taneously. More than two networks and corresponding Stor
`age of parameters, addresses and additional network related
`information might be provided for. A recognition method is
`provided in the computing device to distinguish and separate
`traffic from different networks.
`0026.
`In the computing device, the network circuitry for
`a device that operates in multiple networks might be coupled
`
`to different standard drivers, such as an 802.11x PHY and
`MAC layers coupled to a convergence layer that in turn is
`coupled to higher-layer drivers such as standard networking
`drivers, an IP stack, a Human Interface Device (HID) class
`driver, and/or a standard USB stack. The convergence layer
`might allow for multi-protocol Support, exposing and coor
`dinating access to specific MAC service primitives and
`coordinating priority handling in Quality-of-Service (QoS)
`sensitive applications. The convergence layer may be
`explicit, or may be integrated with the PHY and MAC
`layers.
`0027. To conserve power at the wireless PAN device and
`the computing device, they can agree on an inactivity time
`and disable at least a part of a coordination function of the
`computing device following a start of the inactivity time,
`wherein disabling is such that less power per unit time is
`consumed by the network circuit relative to power con
`sumed when not disabled.
`0028. In addition to communicating between such net
`work circuitry and an AP as part of WLAN traffic, similar
`techniques might also be used where the network circuitry is
`communicating with another station in an ad hoc mode
`rather than an AP in infrastructure mode. Alternatively, the
`computing device may be acting as the AP for the WLAN
`network.
`0029. Other objects, features, and advantages of the
`present invention will become apparent upon consideration
`of the following detailed description and the accompanying
`drawings, in which like reference designations represent like
`features throughout the figures.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`0030 FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating various
`devices operating as part of a primary wireless network
`(PWN), a secondary wireless network (SWN), or both,
`wherein the SWN operates using an SWN protocol that
`co-exists with the PWN protocol.
`0031
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a subpart of
`the elements of FIG. 1, in greater detail.
`0032 FIG. 3 comprises several examples of elements of
`a PWN and an SWN: FIG. 3(a) is a block diagram showing
`elements of a PWN and an SWN that co-exist, but do not
`necessarily span the two networks: FIG. 3(b) is a block
`diagram showing specific objects that might be used as the
`elements of a PWN and an SWN: FIG. 3(c) is a block
`diagram of a variation of Subparts wherein objects might
`span the PWN and the SWN: FIG. 3(d) is a block diagram
`showing further examples.
`0033 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an example wireless
`PAN coordinator (“COORD) that might also operate as a
`dual-net device that could simultaneously maintain connec
`tions with a PWN and a SWN.
`0034 FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a network card that
`might be used to interface a COORD/dual-net device to the
`various networks.
`0035 FIG. 6 is a block diagram of software components
`that might comprise software and/or logical constructs to
`interface applications with the networks Supported by a
`COORD/dual-net device.
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`FIG. 7 is a block diagram of classes and objects
`0.036
`that might be used in an interface between a network and
`applications.
`0037 FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example of a PER
`device.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`0038. The present disclosure describes methods and
`apparatus for operating a secondary wireless network
`(“SWN’) in the presence of a primary wireless network
`(“PWN), including features, elements, configurations and/
`or programming that allow for co-existence of SWN devices
`in a space where PWN traffic might occur, as well as
`features, elements, configurations and/or programming that
`include coordination between a PWN and an SWN (or
`pluralities of these) such that a device might handle traffic
`for each of the networks present.
`0.039
`For example, a computing device might have a
`common network interface that allows the computing device
`to be a node in the PWN and a node in the SWN. In a
`particular example, a computing device is an 802.11X STA
`that is a member of a PWN capable of associating with and
`communicating with an AP for that PWN (as well as
`possibly other devices in that PWN) using a network inter
`face while also elements of that same network interface are
`used to simultaneously participate as a WPAN coordinator
`(“COORD) to coordinate the SWN, such that the COORD
`can communicate with members of one or more SWN
`without losing the COORD’s connectivity to the primary
`network and using common hardware components to inter
`face to both networks. Where a COORD is connectable to
`the PWN, it is referred to as a “dual-net device, as it
`coordinates communication over the SWN such that it can
`be connected to both simultaneously, possibly including
`steps that involve signaling within the PWN as part of SWN
`activity (e.g., reserving the PWN to avoid interference
`before using the SWN).
`0040. In some instances, the COORD is not set up to
`connect to the PWN, but it still performs the necessary
`actions to coordinate traffic for the SWN it coordinates,
`including performing actions that improve coexistence of
`the PWN and SWN.
`0041. In the general example, the computing device is a
`portable and/or mobile computing and/or communications
`device with some computing capability. Examples of com
`puting devices include laptop computers, desktop comput
`ers, handheld computing devices, pagers, cellular tele
`phones, devices with embedded communications abilities
`and the like. Examples of peripheral devices include typical
`computer, telephone etc. accessories where wireless connec
`tions are desired, but might also include less common
`devices, such as wearable devices that communicate with
`other devices on a person or even to communicate with other
`nearby devices, possibly using the electrical conductivity of
`the human body as a data network. For example, two people
`could exchange information between their wearable com
`puters without wires, by transmission through the air, or
`using their bodies and/or clothing.
`0042. The computing devices may interface to 802.11
`WLANs or other wireless networks to communicate with
`other network nodes, including nodes accessible through
`
`wired connections to the wireless network (typically via an
`access point). The computing devices also may interface to
`PAN devices over a personal area network (PAN), such as
`wireless headsets, mice, keyboards, accessories, recorders,
`telephones and the like. A wide variety of PAN devices are
`contemplated that are adapted for short-range wireless com
`munications, typically bi-directional and typically low
`power so as to conserve a PAN device's limited power
`source. Some PAN devices might be unidirectional, either
`receive-only or transmit-only, devices.
`0043. In a typical approach, where a STA needs to
`connect to more than one wireless network, the STA asso
`ciates with one wireless network and then when associating
`with another wireless network, it disassociates with the first
`wireless network. While this is useful for a WLAN where a
`STA might move out of one network's range and into the
`range of another network, this is not desirable when latency
`needs to be less than an association set-up time. The latency
`incurred with this Switching procedure easily amounts to
`several hundreds of milliseconds.
`0044) In certain applications, it may be desirable for a
`STA to connect to multiple networks without incurring long
`Switching-induced latencies. For example, consider a typical
`PER device, that of a cordless mouse. Since update rates for
`a cordless mouse during normal operation are on the order
`of 50 to 125 times per second, Switching-induced latencies
`involved with 802.11x association set ups are not acceptable.
`Furthermore, the Switching overhead significantly reduces
`the STA’s usable communication time, defined as the time
`that the STA is available to transmit or receive data.
`0045. In a specific embodiment of the invention, a wire
`less peripheral like a mouse, is attached to an 802.11x
`enabled computing device like a laptop computer, using the
`802.11x wireless circuitry inside the laptop, or connected to
`the laptop via a NIC card. At the same time, the laptop may
`be connected to the Internet via a regular WLAN network,
`using the same 802.11x circuitry. Herein, a peripheral or
`PAN node will be referred to as “PER''. Multiple PERs can
`connect to a single wireless PAN. The wireless device
`coordinating the wireless PAN is called the coordinator
`(“COORD). Where the COORD is also able to connect to
`the 802.11x network, the COORD is referred to as a “dual
`net” device, since it handles both networks. A typical
`dual-net device in this example is a device that is a STA on
`an 802.11x network while also having wireless peripherals
`used by applications running on that device.
`0046 While not always required, the PERs are power
`sensitive devices. It should be understood that an object
`labeled “PER' need not be a peripheral in the sense of an
`object with a purpose to serve a particular purpose, but
`rather an object that performs the behaviors herein referred
`to as behaviors of a PAN node. For example, a printer can
`be a PER when it is connected to a desktop computer via a
`PAN, but some other device not normally thought of as a
`peripheral can be a PER if it behaves as one.
`0047 Examples of the concepts and disclosures provided
`above will now be further explained with reference to the
`figures. In the figures, like items are referenced with a
`common reference number with parenthetical numbers to
`indicate different instances of the same or similar objects.
`Where the number of instances is not important for under
`standing the invention, the highest parenthetical number
`
`DELL
`EXHIBIT 1012 - PAGE 15
`
`

`

`US 2006/0227753 A1
`
`Oct. 12, 2006
`
`might be a letter, such as in “100(1), 100(2), . . . , 100(N).
`Unless otherwise indicated, the actual number of items can
`differ without departing from the scope of this disclosure.
`0.048
`Specifically, FIG. 1 illustrates various devices
`operating as part of a primary wireless network (PWN) 100,
`a secondary wireless network (SWN) (such as 114 or 116),
`or both. In the figure, an access point (AP) 110 supports an
`infrastructure mode for PWN 100, coupling various stations
`to the network allowing, for example, network traffic
`between a station and a wired network 112. By communi
`cating with the AP, a station can retrieve information from
`the Internet and exchange data with other stations that may
`or may not be part of the Basic Service Set (BSS) managed
`by the AP.
`0049. As shown in the example, the stations present are
`STA1, STA2, STA3 and STA4. Each station is associated
`with a node in PWN 100 and has the necessary hardware,
`logic, power, etc. to be a node device in PWN 100. Station
`STA1 also coordinates SWN 114 as the COORD for that
`network shown comprising PER1, PER2 and PER3. Like
`wise, station STA4 coordinates SWN 116 as the COORD for
`the network comprising STA4, PER10 and PER11. In FIG.
`1, each node device is shown with an antenna to indicate that
`it can communicate wirelessly, but it should be understood
`that an external antenna is not required.
`0050. Other network components and additional
`instances might also be present. For example, more than one
`AP might be present, there might be overlaps of BSSes and
`other network topol