초록 ▼

A method for communicating information bidirectionally between a wired network (1) and a wireless network. The wireless network is of the type that includes header stations (12) each having a communication cell (2) associated therewith and one or more mobile communication units (10) disposed within

A method for communicating information bidirectionally between a wired network (1) and a wireless network. The wireless network is of the type that includes header stations (12) each having a communication cell (2) associated therewith and one or more mobile communication units (10) disposed within the communication cell. The method includes a first step of, during a first portion of a wireless communication cycle, transmitting information over an uplink wireless communication channel from one or more of the mobile communication units to the header station. A second step of the method, accomplished during a second portion of the wireless communication cycle, transmits information over a downlink wireless communication channel from the header station to one or more of the mobile communication units. The information transmitted downlink includes frames of data received by the header station from the wired network. The first portion may be accomplished in part or in total by a CSMA protocol where the mobile units contend for access to the uplink communication channel. In one embodiment the header station initiates the first portion by transmitting to the header stations information for scheduling the sequence of the uplink transmissions.

대표청구항 ▼

A communication system for communicating information bidirectionally between a wired network and a wireless network, comprising: at least one header station that is bidirectionally coupled to the wired network, the header station including means for receiving information from the wired network and f

A communication system for communicating information bidirectionally between a wired network and a wireless network, comprising: at least one header station that is bidirectionally coupled to the wired network, the header station including means for receiving information from the wired network and for transmitting information to the wired network, the header station further including means for receiving uplink information from the wireless network and for transmitting downlink information to the wireless network, the downlink information including information received from the wired network, said header station further including means for transmitting control information to the wireless network for identifying a start and an end of a wireless communication cycle time period, the control information transmitted by the header station further including information for specifying an end of an uplink portion of the time period and a beginning of a downlink portion of the time period; and at least one mobile communication unit that includes means that is responsive to the control information for receiving downlink information from the header station over the wireless network and for transmitting uplink information to the header station over the wireless network.