The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 13, 2009
Naresh Chand, Warren, NJ (US);
Bruce M. Eteson, Hackettstown, NJ (US);
Naresh Chand, Warren, NJ (US);
Bruce M. Eteson, Hackettstown, NJ (US);
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc., Nashua, NH (US);
Abstract
A communication network includes a local area network (LAN) and a wireless access point coupled to the LAN. In one embodiment, each access point includes a medium access control (MAC) stage, and a radio frequency (RF) transmitter/receiver for communicating unsecure message data via RF links with users of associated wireless devices. An optical transmitter/receiver in the access point enables the users to communicate secure message data over the LAN via free space optical (FSO) links with the users. The MAC stage operates (i) to direct unsecure data from the LAN to the wireless device users and to direct unsecure data from the users to the LAN, via the RF transmitter/receiver; and (ii) to direct secure data from the LAN to the wireless device users and to direct secure data from the users to the LAN, via the optical transmitter/receiver. An integrated VoIP/FSO portable handset is also disclosed.