USOO734.0015B1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Jones et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,340,015 B1
`*Mar. 4, 2008
`
`(54) ASYMMETRIC WIRELESS PROTOCOL
`COMMUNICATIONS WHEREN UPSTREAM
`TRAFFIC USES ONE PROTOCOLAND
`DOWNSTREAM TRAFFIC USESA
`DIFFERENT PROTOCOL
`
`(58) Field of Classification Search ................ 375/264,
`375/347, 225, 299; 370/208,338, 204,465,
`370/455; 455/450
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`(75) Inventors: Vincent K. Jones, Redwood City, CA
`(US); Partho Mishra, Cupertino, CA
`(US); Greg Raleigh, Woodside, CA
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`(73) Assignee: Qualcomm Incorporated, San Diego,
`CA (US)
`0
`-
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 711 days.
`This patent is Subject to a terminal dis-
`claimer.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/643,215
`
`Aug. 18, 2003
`
`(22) Filed:
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04B 7/10
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/24
`(52) U.S. Cl. ....................................... 375/347; 370/338
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`6,725,015 B1
`4/2004 Lin ............................ 370,338
`7,062,703 B1* 6/2006 Keaney et al. .
`... 714,807
`2002/0013135 A1* 1/2002 Proctor, Jr. .......
`... 455,228
`2003/0045307 A1
`3/2003 Arviv et al. ................ 455,464
`2003/0210750 A1* 11/2003 Onggosanusi et al. ...... 375,295
`2004/O125775 A1
`7/2004 Rios ........................... 370,338
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Khai Tran
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Amin, Turocy & Calvin,
`LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`In a wireless network, data transmitted from a client station
`to an access point is transmitted using the 802.11b protocol
`while data transmitted from the access point to the client
`station is transmitted using the 802.11g protocol. In an
`alternative embodiment of a wireless network, data trans
`mitted from a client station to an access point is transmitted
`using the 802.11g protocol while data transmitted from the
`access point to the client station is transmitted using the
`802.11b protocol.
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`23 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
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`802.11 Extended Subsection
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`802.11b Subsection
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`Data Out
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`802.11a Subsection
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`Passthrough,
`Ancillary
`Signals
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`Joint Packet
`Detector
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`802.11a Activate
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`802.11b Activate
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`802.11 Extended Activate
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`U.S. Patent
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`Mar. 4, 2008
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`FIG. 1
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`Wireless
`Channel
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`ACCess
`Point
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`Access Point Station
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`Section
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`Client
`Station
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`Device
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`TX
`Section
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`RX
`Section
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`Client Device
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`Distribution
`System
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`FIG. 2
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`US 7,340,015 B1
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`1.
`ASYMMETRIC WIRELESS PROTOCOL
`COMMUNICATIONS WHEREN UPSTREAM
`TRAFFIC USES ONE PROTOCOLAND
`DOWNSTREAM TRAFFIC USESA
`DIFFERENT PROTOCOL
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`2
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a simple wireless network
`that might use the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the coupling
`between one device and one network connection of the
`wireless network shown in FIG. 1.
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a receive section of station
`hardware as might be used in hardware illustrated in FIG. 2.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating data communication
`among two client devices.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating data communication
`between an access point and a network interface card of a
`client device.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a simple wireless network that might use
`the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a wireless
`network 10 comprises a plurality of stations 12 wherein each
`station 12 is capable of communicating with at least one
`other station 12 of wireless network 10. In specific imple
`mentations, wireless network 10 is a local area wireless
`network, as might be used within a building, campus,
`vehicle or similar environments.
`In a specific embodiment, wireless network 10 is designed
`to be compliant with one or more of the IEEE 802.11
`standards. However, it should be understood that other
`standards and nonstandard networks might be substituted
`therefore to solve problems similar to those solved in the
`802.11 environment.
`As shown, Some of the stations are coupled to client
`devices 14, while other stations are coupled to wired net
`work interfaces 16. For example, station 12(1) is coupled to
`client device 14(1), while station 12(3) is coupled to a wired
`network interface 16. FIG. 1 is intended to be a simplified
`and generalized diagram of a wireless network. Interfering
`signal generators are not shown, but are assumed to be
`present. More generally, wired network interfaces 16 might
`be instead replaced with other types of distribution systems
`as the invention is not limited to a particular interface.
`Examples of client devices 14 include laptops, personal
`digital assistants (PDAs), or any other portable or semi
`portable electronic device needing to communicate with
`other devices, or a stationary electronic device needing to
`communicate with other devices where a wired connection
`to a network or the other devices is not available or easily
`provided. Wired network interfaces 16 couple their respec
`tive stations to a network. Examples of Such networks
`include the Internet, a local area network (LAN) or a public
`or private connection to a TCP/IP packet network or other
`packet network or networks.
`In a typical operation, a plurality of client devices 14 are
`outfitted with circuitry and/or software that implements a
`station 12 functionality and one or more network access
`points are provided in wireless network 10 to provide access
`between such a client device and the network to which a
`wired network interface (or other distribution system) is
`coupled. A station coupled to a wired network interface or
`other distribution system is referred to as an “access point.
`Just one example of the uses of Such a system is to connect
`computers within a building to a network without requiring
`network wires to be run to each computer. In that example,
`the building would be outfitted with stationary access points
`coupled to the network that are within wireless communi
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`Wireless networks have become increasingly popular, as
`computers and other devices can be coupled for data com
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`munications without requiring wired connections between
`the network nodes. One set of standards for wireless net
`works is the IEEE 802.11 standards, but other wireless
`standards or protocols might be used instead. In the IEEE
`802.11 standards, there are at least two widely-used stan
`dards, 802.11a and 802.11b, and communication systems
`and devices might be required to Support both standards
`and/or be required to operate in areas where both are being
`used. Enhancements to the 802.11 standards have been in
`place, such as the 802.11g standard that allows for OFDM
`transmissions (802.11a is an OFDM transmission protocol)
`in the 2.4 GHz band.
`The 802.11a protocol supports OFDM transmissions in
`the 5 GHz band for data rates of 6 to 54 million bits per
`second (“Mbps'). The 802.11b protocol supports DSSS
`transmissions in the 2.4 GHz band for data rates of 1, 2, 5.5
`and 11 Mbps. The 802.11g protocol mixes OFDM and DSSS
`protocols in the 2.4 GHz band for data rates of 1, 2, 5.5, 6,
`9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps. Data transmissions are
`well known for these protocols, so they need not be set forth
`herein. They are described, for example, in ANSI/IEEE Std
`802.11, 1999 Edition: IEEE Std 802.11b, 1999; IEEE Std
`802.11a, 1999/Amd 1:2000(E). Those references are incor
`porated by reference herein for all purposes.
`The 802.11b protocol can be supported by a station with
`a lower power than the full range of the 802.11g protocol.
`One reason for this is that the 1 to 11 Mbps transmissions
`can be at a lower signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than the 12 to
`54 Mbps transmissions. Another reason is that demodulation
`is simpler for DSSS than OFDM. Thus, where power
`limitations exist at a station, 802.11b might be used instead
`of 802.11g. Where a station is not power-limited and higher
`data rates are needed, the 802.11g protocol might be pre
`ferred, as data rates can be as high as 54 Mbps.
`It would be desirable to overcome the shortcomings of the
`prior art described above.
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`BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`In one embodiment of a wireless network, data transmit
`ted from one of an access point station and a client station
`to the other of the client station and the access point station
`is transmitted using the 802.11b protocol while data trans
`mitted in the other direction is transmitted using the 802.11g
`protocol.
`In some embodiments, data is sent with one protocol and
`acknowledgements are returned in the other protocol. Thus,
`the client station might send data in one protocol of 802.11b
`or 802.11g and the access point station acknowledges the
`data in the other protocol. Likewise, the access point station
`can send data in one protocol and receive acknowledge
`ments in the other protocol.
`A further understanding of the nature and the advantages
`of the inventions disclosed herein may be realized by
`reference to the remaining portions of the specification and
`the attached drawings.
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`3
`cation range of wireless network cards in each of the
`computers coupled to the network.
`FIG. 2 shows in more detail the coupling between one
`client device and one distribution system. As shown there,
`client device 14 is coupled to a device I/O section of client
`station hardware 20. Client station hardware 20 includes a
`transmit section and a receive section, each coupled to the
`device I/O section. The transmit section transmits a signal
`through a wireless channel 21 to a receive section of access
`point station hardware 22. That receive section is coupled to
`a network I/O section, thus providing a data communication
`path from client device 14 to a distribution system 28. A path
`from distribution system 28 to client device 14 is also
`provided via the network I/O section of access point station
`hardware 22, a transmit section of access point station
`hardware 22, a receive section of client station hardware 20
`and the device I/O section of client station hardware 20. The
`characteristics of wireless channel 21 depend on many
`factors, such as the location of client station hardware 20 and
`access point station hardware 22 as well as intervening
`objects, such as walls, buildings and natural obstructions, as
`well as influences by other devices and transmitters and
`receivers and signal-reflecting Surfaces.
`Typically, client station hardware 20 can be integrated in
`with client device 14. For example, where client device 14
`is a laptop computer, client station hardware 20 might be an
`add-on PCMCIA card that is inserted into the laptop's
`PCMCIA slot. Access point station hardware 22 might be
`implemented as part of a wired network interface device that
`is just used to couple a wired network to a wireless network.
`Notwithstanding the typical implementation, it should be
`understood that nothing here prevents the diagram of FIG. 2
`from being entirely symmetrical, i.e., wherein client station
`hardware 20 and access point station hardware 22 are nearly
`identical instances of hardware devices, however in many
`cases, a station that is an access point will be fixed and the
`station that is not an access point is in a portable or mobile
`device where power usage, cost, weight and/or size are
`considerations. Furthermore, communication is not limited
`to being between a client and an access point, as two clients
`can communicate and two access points can communicate.
`What follows is a detailed description of a receive section.
`FIG. 3 illustrates components of a receive section 30.
`Receive section 30 receives one or more signals over the
`wireless channel via antennas 32, which are initially pro
`cessed by RF section 34. RF section 34 might, for example,
`process the signals to form baseband signals to form digital
`signal streams. As shown, receive section 30 also might
`include FIR(s) 35 and various subsections 40, 42, 44 for
`processing 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11 extended signals,
`respectively. Further details of elements of receive section
`30 not more fully described herein are shown in (U.S. patent
`application Ser. No. 10/068.360, filed on Feb. 5, 2002 on
`behalf of Steele et al. and entitled “Multi-Antenna Wireless
`Receiver Chain With Vector Decoding and hereinafter
`“Steele', now abandoned), which is incorporated by refer
`ence herein for all purposes. It should be understood that the
`present invention is not limited to the particular receiver
`implementations shown here or there.
`In the asymmetric modes described herein, transmission
`from a client station (e.g., a mobile and/or portable station)
`to an access point, in one direction is one protocol and in
`another direction is another protocol taking into account
`asymmetric bandwidth needs in each direction and/or taking
`into account asymmetric power, cost, weight and/or size
`limitations.
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`In a specific example, a client station sends data to an
`access point using the 802.11b protocol, while the access
`point sends data to the client station using the 802.11g
`protocol. Where most of the data flowing between the client
`station and the access point is flowing downstream from the
`access point to the client station, the network capacity is
`effectively the capacity of the 802.11g protocol with the
`range of the 802.11b protocol. One reason for this is because
`802.11b works at lower SNRS due to the use of DSSS.
`The 802.11g standard is a modification of the previous
`802.11b standard that allows for additional, higher data
`rates. The 802.11b rates are 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps (four data
`rates), while the 802.11g rates are 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18.
`22, 24, 33, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps (eleven data rates). For ease
`of reference, the 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps data rates are referred
`to herein as the “11b’ rates and the 6, 9, 12, 18, 22, 24, 33,
`36, 48 and 54 Mbps data rates are referred to herein as the
`“OFDM rates. Note that where the OFDM rates can be
`used, higher data throughput is possible. However, under
`some less-than favorable conditions, an 11b rate is preferred
`over an OFDM rate as, for example, the data can be
`Successfully transmitted using the 11b rates where the sig
`nal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) are low, as the required SNRs for
`11b rates are lower than for higher rate OFDM rates.
`This asymmetry has significant implications where one of
`the receivers is more sensitive than the other. For example,
`if two stations are not near each other, or there are other
`reasons why significant noise is introduced, a more sensitive
`receiver can receive at a higher data rate while transmitting
`to the less sensitive receiver at a lower data rate. The
`receiver might be more sensitive because it uses innovations
`such as those described in Steele (U.S. patent application
`Ser. No. 10/068,571, filed on Feb. 5, 2002 on behalf of van
`Nee et al. and entitled “System from Soft Symbol Decoding
`with MIMO Log-Map Detection' and hereinafter “van
`Nee', now abandoned), which is incorporated by reference
`herein for all purposes.
`Where two sensitive receivers are used, they can both
`handle low SNRs. However, where one receiver, such as the
`receiver in a client device is more sensitive than the receiver
`in an access point, the access point can transmit using
`OFDM data rates while the client device transmits using 11b
`rates. This is advantageous especially where the data flow is
`greater towards the client device than away from the client
`device—a typical scenario where the client device is con
`Suming information from a remote server via the wireless
`network. Since access points are typically stationary devices
`and client devices are typically mobile or portable devices,
`device size, power consumption, computing power, antenna
`positioning and reliability would be expected to be more
`constrained in a client device relative to an access point,
`which could lead to situations wherein a client device with
`a sensitive receiver would be in range for receiving OFDM
`transmissions while the less sensitive receiver at the other
`end might be out of range for receiving OFDM transmis
`sions.
`The advantages also apply when the access point has a
`sensitive receiver, for example, one designed by Airgo
`Networks, Inc. In Such cases, the access point station trans
`mits using an 11b data rate, to be received by a less sensitive
`network interface card (NIC) supporting a client device,
`rather than an OFDM data rate, but receives data from the
`NIC at an OFDM data rate. Acknowledgements (“ACKs)
`might be transmitted in a similar manner, as shown in FIG.
`4. As shown there, a first station device 60 transmits to a
`second station device 62 using an 11b data rate while
`receiving ACKs at an OFDM data rate. When the second
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`station device 62 transmits data, it does so at an OFDM data
`rate while receiving ACKs at an 11b data rate. In this
`example, first station device 60 can be either an access point
`station or a client device station and second station device 62
`can also be either an access point station or a client device
`station—nothing here prevents two client devices or two
`access points from using these techniques to communicate
`among themselves.
`Where two sensitive receivers are involved, such as two
`Airgo Networks devices, an asymmetry might still exist,
`Such as a power constraintasymmetry. Assume, for example,
`that a sensitive access point is deployed and communica
`tions with a sensitive NIC and that the access point has a
`steady source of power, whereas the NIC is preferably a
`low-power device. This is desirable where the NIC draws
`power from a battery, such as the battery of a laptop, a
`cellular telephone, a PDA, or the like, where the battery
`must be carried or ported (so the size, and therefore the
`capacity of the battery is constrained). In Such cases, 11b and
`OFDM rates might be used as indicated in FIG. 5.
`The NIC-to-AP link budget is often less than the AP-to
`NIC link budget due to the lower transmit power available
`for the NIC to spend, however that need not always be the
`case. Even where neither side is constrained in its use of
`transmit power, there are asymmetries. Some of these are
`due to, for example, variable transmit power, variable noise
`figure values for receiving radios and variable numbers of
`antennas used to increase receiver sensitivity.
`Another source of asymmetry is that, for a given power
`amplifier, packets of 11b signals can be sent with more
`transmit power because they require less linearity than
`OFDM signals and thus can drive the power amplifier
`further in its dynamic range.
`As described above, a sensitive access point and a less
`sensitive client device (such as an access point designed by
`Airgo and a client device using a station of another design),
`can benefit from the asymmetric transmissions described
`herein. Also, a sensitive access point with a sensitive client
`device with power constraints also benefits. Other cases
`might also benefit. For example, one station with high
`available transmit power and low receiver sensitivity (typi
`cally an access point, but not required) and another station
`(typically a client device station, but not required) with low
`available transmit power and high receiver sensitivity would
`also benefit from the asymmetric transmissions described
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`herein. One situation where this is likely to be a common
`problem is where the client device is a personal digital
`assistant ("PDA"), which has very little transmit power
`available.
`The above description is illustrative and not restrictive.
`Many variations of the invention will become apparent to
`those of skill in the art upon review of this disclosure. The
`scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined not
`with reference to the above description, but instead should
`be determined with reference to the appended claims along
`with their full scope of equivalents.
`What is claimed is:
`1. A client wireless module, for handling communications
`to and from an access point wireless module, comprising:
`an 802.11b processing section, for processing at least data
`to be transmitted to the access point wireless module
`into representations of a transmit signal and for pro
`cessing at least a representation of a receive signal from
`the access point wireless module into receive data;
`an OFDM processing section, for processing at least a
`representation of a receive signal from the access point
`wireless module into receive data and for processing at
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`6
`least data to be transmitted to the access point wireless
`module into representations of a transmit signal;
`at least one transmit antenna, coupled to the 802.11b
`processing section and to the OFDM processing sec
`tion;
`at least one receive antenna, coupled to the OFDM
`processing section and to the 802.11b processing sec
`tion; and
`logic for routing information between a client and the
`client wireless module,
`wherein a transmit processing section to be used for
`processing the at least data to be transmitted is one of
`either the 802.11b or the OFDM processing sections,
`wherein the transmit processing section is defined at
`least in part upon one or more attributes of the client
`wireless module and one or more attributes of the
`access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the access point
`wireless module include a sensitivity of a receiver of
`the access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the client wireless
`module include a sensitivity of a receiver of the client
`wireless module,
`wherein if the receiver of the access point wireless mod
`ule has a higher sensitivity than the sensitivity of the
`receiver of the client wireless module, the OFDM
`processing section is selected as the transmit processing
`section and,
`wherein if the receiver of the access point wireless mod
`ule has a lower sensitivity than the sensitivity of the
`receiver of the client wireless module, the 802.11b
`processing section is selected as the transmit processing
`section.
`2. The client wireless module of claim 1, wherein the at
`least one transmit antenna comprises a plurality of transmit
`antennas.
`3. The client wireless module of claim 1, wherein the at
`least one receive antenna comprises a plurality of receive
`antennas.
`4. A client wireless module, for handling communications
`to and from an access point wireless module, comprising:
`an OFDM processing section, for processing at least data
`to be transmitted to the access point wireless module
`into representations of a transmit signal and for pro
`cessing at least a representation of a receive signal from
`the access point wireless module into receive data;
`an 802.11b processing section, for processing at least a
`representation of a receive signal from the access point
`wireless module into receive data and for processing at
`least data to be transmitted to the access point wireless
`module into representations of a transmit signal;
`at least one transmit antenna, coupled to the OFDM
`processing section and to the 802.11b processing sec
`tion;
`at least one receive antenna, coupled to the 802.11b
`processing section and to the OFDM processing sec
`tion; and
`logic for routing information between a client and the
`client wireless module,
`wherein a receive processing section to be used for
`processing the at least a representative of a receive
`signal is one of either the OFDM processing section or
`the 802.11b processing sections, wherein the receive
`processing section is defined at least in part upon one
`or more attributes of the client wireless module and one
`or more attributes of the access point wireless module,
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`wherein the one or more attributes of the access point
`wireless module include a transmitter strength of a
`transmitter of the access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the client wireless
`module include a transmitter strength of a transmitter of
`the client wireless module,
`wherein if the transmitter strength of the transmitter of the
`access point wireless module has a higher transmitter
`strength than the strength of the transmitter of the client
`wireless module the OFDM processing section is
`Selected as the receive processing section, and
`wherein if the transmitter of the access point wireless
`module has a lower transmitter strength than the trans
`mitter strength of the client wireless module, the
`802.11b processing section is selected as the receive
`processing section.
`5. The client wireless module of claim 4, where in the at
`least one transmit antenna comprises a plurality of transmit
`antennas.
`6. The client wireless module of claim 4, wherein the at
`least one receive antenna comprises a plurality of receive
`antennas.
`7. An access point wireless module, for handling com
`munications to and from a client wireless module, compris
`1ng:
`an 802.11b processing section, for processing at least data
`to be transmitted to the client wireless module into
`representations of a transmit signal and for processing
`at least a representation of a receive signal from the
`client wireless module into receive data;
`an 802.11g processing section, for processing at least a
`representation of a receive signal from the client wire
`less module into the receive data and for processing at
`least data to be transmitted to the client wireless
`module into representations of a transmit signal;
`at least one transmit antenna, coupled to the 802.11b
`processing section and to the 802.11b processing sec
`tion;
`at least one receive antenna, coupled to the 802.11g
`processing section and to the 802.11g processing sec
`tion; and
`logic for routing information between an access point and
`the access point wireless module,
`wherein a transmit processing section to be used for
`45
`processing the at least data to be transmitted is one of
`either the 802.11b or the OFDM processing sections,
`wherein the transmit processing section is defined at
`least in part upon one or more attributes of the client
`wireless module and one or more attributes of the
`access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the access point
`wireless module include a sensitivity of a receiver of
`the access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the client wireless
`module include a sensitivity of a receiver of the client
`wireless module,
`wherein if the receiver of the client wireless module has
`a higher sensitivity than the sensitivity of the receiver
`of the access point wireless module, the 802.11g pro
`cessing section is selected as the transmit processing
`section and,
`wherein if the receiver of the client wireless module has
`a lower sensitivity than the sensitivity of the receiver of
`the access point wireless module, the 802.11b process
`ing section is selected as the transmit processing sec
`tion.
`
`8
`8. The access point wireless module of claim 7, wherein
`the at least one transmit antenna comprises a plurality of
`transmit antennas.
`9. The access point wireless module of claim 8, wherein
`the at least one receive antenna comprises a plurality of
`receive antennas.
`10. An access point wireless module, for handling com
`munications to and from a client wireless module, compris
`ing:
`an 802.11g processing section, for processing at least data
`to be transmitted to the client wireless module into
`representations of a transmit signal and for processing
`at least a representation of a receive signal from the
`client wireless module into receive data;
`an 802.11b processing section, for processing at least a
`representation of a receive signal from the client wire
`less module into receive data and for processing at least
`data to be transmitted to the client wireless module into
`representations of a transmit signal;
`at least one transmit antenna, coupled to the 802.11g
`processing section and to the 802.11b processing sec
`tion;
`at least one receive antenna, coupled to the 802.11b
`processing section and to the 802.11g processing sec
`tion; and
`logic for routing information between an access point and
`the access point wireless module,
`wherein a receive processing section to be used for
`processing the at least a representative of a receive
`signal is one of either the OFDM processing section or
`the 802.11b processing sections, wherein the receive
`processing section is defined at least in part upon one
`or more attributes of the client wireless module and one
`or more attributes of the access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the access point
`wireless module include a transmitter strength of a
`transmitter of the access point wireless module,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the client wireless
`module include a transmitter strength of a transmitter of
`the client wireless module,
`wherein if the transmitter strength of the transmitter of the
`client wireless module has a higher transmitter strength
`than the strength of the transmitter of the access point
`wireless module, the 802.11g processing section is
`Selected as the receive processing section, and
`wherein if the transmitter of the client wireless module
`has a lower transmitter strength than the transmitter
`strength of the access point module, the 802.11b pro
`cessing section is selected as the receive processing
`section.
`11. The access point wireless module of claim 10, wherein
`the at least one transmit antenna comprises a plurality of
`transmit antennas.
`12. The access point wireless module of claim 10, wherein
`the at least one receive antenna comprises a plurality of
`receive antennas.
`13. A method of wireless communication between a client
`device and an access point, wherein a client device is a
`wireless network station that is portable, mobile or portable
`and mobile, the method comprising:
`transmitting upstream data from the client device using
`one of an 802.11b protocol or an 802.11g protocol;
`receiving the upstream data at the access point;
`transmitting downstream data from the access point using
`one of an 802.11g protocol or an 802.11b protocol in
`response to receiving the upstream data at the access
`point; and
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`EXHIBIT 1023 - PAGE 8
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`US 7,340,015 B1
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`receiving the downstream data at the client device,
`wherein upstream data is transmitted using a different
`protocol than downstream data, and wherein protocols
`are selected at least in part based upon one or more
`attributes of the client device and one or more attributes
`of the access point device,
`wherein the one or more attributes of the access point
`device include a sensitivity of a receiver of the access
`point device and include a transmitter strength of a
`transmitter of the access point device,
`wherein the one more attributes of the client device
`include a sensitivity of a receiver of the client device
`and include a transmitter strength of a transmitter of the
`client device,
`wherein if the receiver of the client device has a higher
`sensitivity than the receiver of the access point device,
`the 802.11g protocol is selected for transmitting
`upstream data,
`wherein if the receiver of the client device has a lower
`sensitivity than the receiver of the access point device,
`the 802.11b protocol is selected for transmitting
`upstream data,
`wherein if the transmitter strength of the transmitter of the
`access point device has a higher transmitter strength
`25
`than the strength of the transmitter of the transmitter of
`the client device, the 802.11g protocol is selected for
`transmitting downstream data, and
`wherein if the transmitter of the access point device has a
`lower transmitter strength than the transmitter strength
`of the client device, the 802.11b protocol is selecte