초록 ▼

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 communicatio

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-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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of communicating data packets in a wireless network, wherein the method comprises steps of:a. receiving a first Fast Ethernet data packet into a first media access control (MAC) unit wherein the first Fast Ethernet data packet is received at a rate of 100 mega-bits per second (Mbps); b.

1. A method of communicating data packets in a wireless network, wherein the method comprises steps of:a. receiving a first Fast Ethernet data packet into a first media access control (MAC) unit wherein the first Fast Ethernet data packet is received at a rate of 100 mega-bits per second (Mbps); b. receiving a second Fast Ethernet data packet into a second MAC unit wherein the second Fast Ethernet data packet is received at a rate of 100 Mbps and wherein the step of receiving the second Fast Ethernet data packet is performed simultaneously with the step of receiving the first Fast Ethernet data packet; c. providing the first Fast Ethernet data packet and the second Fast Ethernet data packet to a radio framer according to time division multiplexing thereby forming a time division multiplexed radio frame; d. communicating the time division multiplexed radio frame via a wireless link wherein the time division multiplexed radio frame is communicated at a rate of at least 200 Mbps; and e. buffering the first Fast Ethernet data packet in the first MAC unit prior to providing the first Fast Ethernet data packet to the radio framer.