Alvarion Israel (2003) Ltd.

Innowave Eci Wireless Systems Ltd.

Tat Huen

Tho Le Ngoc

Kirk Treadaway

Moshe Nattiv

Darryl Denton

Mike Hamilton

A method and apparatus for baseband transmission between a top floor unit and an outdoor unit in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. A terminal for a wireless link in a metropolitan area network includes an extender device (e.g. a top floor unit) for receiving data packets from a computer network coupled to the extender device and for forwarding the data packets, and a broadcast device (e.g. an outdoor unit) coupled to the extender device for receiving the data packets from the extender device according to baseband transmission and having a wireless transceiver for communicating the data packets over the wireless link. The terminal can include a cable coupled between the extender device and the broadcast device wherein the cable comprises a twisted pair of conductors for providing the data packets from the extender device to the broadcast device. The twisted pair of conductors can be a Categorytwisted pair of conductors. Thee broadcast device can include a microwave antenna coupled to the wireless transceiver; and a housing coupled to the microwave antenna for enclosing the wireless transceiver.

Method and apparatus for baseband transmission between a top floor unit and an outdoor unit in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network

Method and apparatus for an Ethernet switch in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a terminal for a wireless link in a metropolitan area network includes a network switch having a first port for receiving the data packets from a computer network and a second port for forwarding the data packets; rate buffers coupled to the network switch for receiving the data packets from the second port; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the rate buffers for receiving the data packets from the rate buffers and for communicating the data packets over the wireless link. The data packets can be Fast Ethernet data packets and the network switch can include a 100 mega-bits-per-second port for receiving the Fast Ethernet packets. The terminal can include a packet buffer for storing the data packets prior to storing the data packets in the rate buffer. The network switch can be a layer-two switch. The network switch can store the data packets in the packet buffer in response to a level of space available in the rate buffer, in response to rain fade in the wireless link, in response to interference in the wireless link, or in response to a detected bit error rate for communication via the wireless link. The terminal can include an extender device coupled to the broadcast device for receiving the data packets from the computer network and for providing the data packets to the broadcast device.

Ethernet switch in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network

Method and apparatus for activating and implementing adaptive countermeasures for wireless communication of Fast Ethernet data packets. A terminal for a wireless communication link includes a data packet receiver for receiving data packets, a packet formatting apparatus coupled to the data packet receiver for formatting the data packets according to radio frames, a wireless transceiver coupled to the packet formatting apparatus for communicating the radio frames over a wireless link, and a processor coupled to the packet formatting apparatus for selectively activating a technique for altering a manner in which the radio frames are communicated over the wireless link. The method can include a step of selectively activating a technique for implementing flow control on the data packets. The broadcast device can monitor a bit error rate associated with radio frames communicated and, in response to the bit error rate, can activate the technique for altering the manner in which the radio frames are communicated. The broadcast device can also monitor a received signal level associated with radio frames communicated and, in response to the received signal level, can activate the technique for altering the manner in which the radio frames are communicated. The technique can alter error correction coding, spectrum spreading, power level, data transmission rate, or modulation scheme utilized for transmitting the radio frames. The packet formatting apparatus includes an adaptive countermeasures apparatus having a plurality of selectively active paths, each path implementing a selected technique for altering the manner in which the radio frames are communicated.

Adaptive countermeasures for wireless communication of fast ethernet data packages

A method and apparatus for a data transmission rate of multiples of 100 mega-bits per second (Mbps) in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. A terminal includes a first media access control unit (MAC) unit for receiving Fast Ethernet data packets at a rate of 100 Mbps for communication over a wireless link, n&minus;1 additional MAC units for receiving Fast Ethernet data packets at a rate of 100 Mbps for communication over the wireless link, a multiplexer having n inputs, wherein each input is coupled to receive the data packets from a corresponding one of the MAC units and wherein the output of the multiplexer provides time-division multiplexed data, a packet formatting apparatus coupled to the output of the multiplexer for formatting the time division multplexed data according to radio frames, and a wireless transceiver coupled to the packet formatting apparatus for communicating the radio frames over a wireless link wherein the wireless link has a maximum bandwidth capacity of at least n times 100 Mbps. Each MAC unit can include a rate control unit and a rate buffer for temporarily storing data packets received by the corresponding MAC unit prior to providing them to a corresponding one of the inputs of the multiplexer. Each MAC unit can include a corresponding layer-two or layer-three switch having a 100 Mbps port. The maximum transmission rate is limited only by the bandwidth of the wireless link.

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Danville, CA, United States of America

Tat Huen