초록 ▼

Apparatus and method for interfacing a wired communications network (12) to a wireless communications network (13). Both networks operate with a CSMA protocol. An interface unit (16) includes circuitry (28) for bidirectionally interfacing to the wired medium for transmitting messages thereto and for

Apparatus and method for interfacing a wired communications network (12) to a wireless communications network (13). Both networks operate with a CSMA protocol. An interface unit (16) includes circuitry (28) for bidirectionally interfacing to the wired medium for transmitting messages thereto and for receiving messages therefrom. The interface unit also includes circuitry (29, 22, 24, 26) for bidirectionally interfacing to the wireless medium for transmitting messages thereto and for receiving messages therefrom. The interface unit further includes logic (28) for bidirectionally routing messages received fromthe wired medium to the wireless medium and for routing messages received from the wireless medium to the wired medium. A further feature of the interface unit is a collision detector (30), responsive to the reception of a rebroadcast wireless transmission, for comparing the transmitted message to the received rebroadcast message to determine if a collision has occurred.

대표청구항 ▼

[ Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for operating data processing means coupled to a communication network, comprising the steps of:transmitting a message from a first network node over a wireless medium, the message

[ Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:] [1.] A method for operating data processing means coupled to a communication network, comprising the steps of:transmitting a message from a first network node over a wireless medium, the message being addressed to a second network node;receiving the transmitted message with means for interfacing the wireless network medium to a wired medium having a physical conductor for conveying the message;retransmitting with the interface means, as the message is received, the received message to the wired medium;retransmitting with the interface means, as the message is received, the received message to the wireless medium;receiving the retransmitted message with the first network node; andcomparing, with the first network node, the message being transmitted with the received retransmitted message to determine if they are the same and, if not, determining that a collision has occurred.