JP2003515275A - Gateway system for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks - Google Patents

Abstract

SUMMARY A gateway system for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks for achieving the function of a wireless local area network (LAN) using a distributed antenna architecture is described. A plurality of master nodes (10) are connected to each of a plurality of remotes (12) in a distributed antenna architecture connected to a gateway (14). It is also possible for the master node to connect multiple remotes, and for multiple master nodes to connect to one remote. Each master node (10) has one or more slave nodes (16) and is configured to form a piconet. A slave node has a transmitter, a receiver and an antenna, and may be any suitable mobile device such as a computer device, desktop PC, notebook PC, fax machine, printer, mobile phone, camera, headphones and personal organizer, or It can take the form of a fixed device.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of wireless communication and network technology. The present invention relates to protocols, algorithms, methods, architectures and techniques for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks and achieving the functionality of a wireless local area network (LAN) using a gateway and distributed antenna architecture. The invention applies to the field of wireless network technology and communications for computer devices, desktop computers, notebook computers, facsimile machines, printers, cameras, headphones, mobile phones and personal organizers.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An ad hoc network is formed by mobile nodes when the mobile nodes are within a certain range of each other. The mobile node is equipped with a transmitter, a receiver and an antenna. The range is based on transmitter power, receiver sensitivity, local propagation environment, and interference conditions between nodes. The mobile node can optionally join or leave the ad hoc network. Since the interconnection between mobile nodes is formed ad-hoc, there is no fixed topology between the nodes and the link connectivity is dynamic.

One of the main advantages of using ad hoc networks is that the cost of wireless devices at mobile nodes is usually very low. The present invention takes advantage of wireless ad hoc networks (such as the ability to form cheap wireless devices and networks) and interconnects wireless ad hoc networks utilizing gateway and distributed antenna architectures to provide wireless local area A network (wireless LAN) is realized. The present invention also eliminates one of the drawbacks of ad hoc networks. That is, since the central master node can relay messages from node to node via the distributed antenna architecture, 2
The two nodes can still communicate with each other even if they are not in range. The resulting wireless LAN is a relatively more complex wireless LAN, such as the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802, because low cost ad hoc devices make the entire network cheaper.
． It is realized at a much lower cost than 11.

Many prior art systems have been developed to improve the interoperability of mobile devices in wireless ad hoc networks. U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,495 (Portable Base Station Architecture for Ad Hoc ATM LANs) describes a system that employs an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switch that interconnects multiple portable base stations. Mobile phones within the range of one mobile base station can communicate with other mobile phones within the range of the same or different mobile base stations. US Pat. No. 5,623,495 distinguishes between base stations (BS) and mobile phones. The present invention does not have the concept of BS. The base station typically uses the master node of the ad hoc network, which is not different from the slave node. The present invention uses a distributed antenna technique that interconnects piconets formed by different master nodes.

WO 99/11081 (Apparatus and method for inter-peer link monitoring of wireless networks with central control) describes a system in which the quality of service (QOS) of the link is monitored by all stations accessing the link. Disclose. The highest quality link is selected as the central controller. The system selects a central controller based on the QOS provided by the station. In the present invention, the master node is typically preselected and connected to the remote of one or more distributed antenna architectures. In WO 99/11081, any station can be a central controller, whereas in the present invention a slave node cannot be a master node and a master node cannot be a slave node.

TDK recently introduced the “Connectivity Bubble” that uses Bluetooth technology to implement personal area networks, and the World Wide Web (W
WW) announced. However, bubbles are understood to be used to connect Bluetooth-enabled computing devices to phones, printers, or wired LANs. This idea also falls into the category of ad hoc networks, not wireless LANs.

[0007]

[Outline of the Invention]

Throughout this specification, the term "comprising" is meant to be inclusive in the sense that there may be other features and / or steps included in the invention that are not explicitly defined or understood in the features and steps defined and described below. Is used for. Such other features and / or steps will be apparent upon reading this specification in its entirety.

According to one aspect of the invention, a gateway system for interconnecting a wireless ad hoc network with various external wired IP networks and / or external wireless networks as wireless local area networks (LANs). The gateway system is configured to form a piconet having one or more remote gateways of a distributed antenna architecture and one or more slave nodes connected to the gateways via a remote A master node, the master node being used to determine the synchronization characteristics of a piconet, the gateway being optimal within the same piconet or from one piconet to another piconet, With one or more remotes Routing determines the connection, the gateway system is provided.

The gateway is typically connected remotely by a wireless connection. Alternatively, they are connected by a wired connection. Gateway systems typically include a plurality of master nodes, each master node being used to form a piconet. One of the differences between ad hoc networks and piconets is that ad hoc networks do not have a fixed master node location for the network, but piconets do. Another difference is that in ad hoc networks every node can communicate with other nodes, whereas in piconet a slave node can only communicate directly with the master node and not other slave nodes. A slave node can only indirectly communicate with other slave nodes, that is to say via the master node. The master node determines the synchronization characteristics of the piconet (timing, frequency, etc.)
.

Preferably, the gateway dynamically switches the operating mode of the master node by reconfiguring remote connectivity within the distributed antenna architecture based on traffic load and QOS requirements. Advantageously, the gateway protocol converts from one piconet to another piconet if necessary.
The gateway also manages QOS-provided traffic for each connection (waiting for rules, scheduling, etc.).

Typically, one master node is connected to one remote in a distributed antenna architecture. That is, one remote forms one piconet.
However, it is also possible for one master node to connect to multiple remotes and for multiple master nodes to connect to one remote.

According to another aspect of the invention, a wireless ad hoc network is configured to
Various external wired IP networks and / or area networks (LAN)
Or a method of interconnecting to an external wireless network, the method providing a gateway connected to one or more remotes of a distributed antenna architecture, and providing a master node connected to the gateway. , Configuring a master node to form a piconet with one or more slave nodes, using a master node to determine the synchronization characteristics of a piconet, and from one piconet to another piconet Using a gateway that optimally routes the connection.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a wireless local area network (L
AN) as a gateway interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks, said gateway being configured to communicate with a master node, said master node being configured to form a piconet having one or more slave nodes. , One or more remotes of a distributed antenna architecture connected to a gateway, having a gateway controller, said gateway controller optimally connecting from one piconet to another piconet Provide a gateway that can determine the route of

[0014] Preferably, the gateway controller performs admission control, service provision, connection setup and release, and traffic route determination in addition to the roaming function. Advantageously, the gateway controller has an optimizing unit which improves the performance of the connectivity by optimizing all protocol layers of the connection.

[0015]

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

In the gateway system according to the present invention, the gateway communicates with the master node via a distributed antenna architecture. Each master node is used to form a piconet. Each master node is typically RF, IF
And a transmitter and receiver including baseband functionality (for physical and link layers). The master node determines the synchronization characteristics of p (such as timing and frequency).
Each piconet is typically authenticated by the master node's unique ID. The master node is generally capable of providing one or more services and applications (such as voice and internet access).

Based on the service request, the slave node attaches itself to the appropriate piconet. That is, the slave node determines whether the piconet has the correct service based on the service advertised by the master node. Slave
The node can take any form such as a desktop computer, mobile phone, notebook computer, camera, headphones, personal organizer and the like. Each slave node comprises a transmitter, a receiver and an antenna. To join the piconet, the ID of the slave node needs to be tied to the master node of connection establishment and approval.

Slave nodes are also capable of forming their own piconet. That is, the slave node acts as an independent master node in other piconets. This independent master node is not part of the gateway system. This hierarchy of operations requires interconnecting multiple personal area networks, where an independent master node system is used to control each personal area network. In this case, the independent master node acts as a slave node in the gateway system and is connected back to the gateway via the gateway master node.

When the master node receives the connection request message from the application of the slave node, the master node forwards this request to the gateway. The gateway uses the information in the request to determine the connection type. The gateway determines the amount of capacity that needs to be allocated to the slave nodes as part of the provision of services, and the QOS (and other requests in the request) needed to determine the type of connection (packet switched or circuit switched). ) Is also used. If the destinations are located in the same piconet, routing is done directly between the source slave node and the destination slave node.

If the destinations are located in different piconets, the gateway coordinates the master nodes in each piconet and the routing is from one piconet to another piconet. In addition to basic WLAN applications, this scenario supports higher level applications such as intercoms, cordless phones, email arrival notifications, real-time resource sharing, etc. The scene in which in the famous movie Star Trek, a pin-size communicator on the chest that communicates with each other is used on board is feasible using the present invention. In addition to master node coordination, when destinations are placed on different piconets using different ad hoc interface standards, the gateway also performs protocol conversion and interworking functions to interconnect piconets.

There are typically two possible remote implementations of a distributed antenna architecture. In a first method of implementation, the master node and the remote communicate over radio frequencies. In this case, the antenna does not require a master node since the functionality is provided by the distributed antenna. In the second implementation method, the master node is located remotely. In this case the antenna requires a master node.

Implementation Method 1 In FIG. 1 a first embodiment of the invention according to a first implementation method is shown, in which a plurality of master nodes 10 are each connected to a gateway 14 of a plurality of distributed antenna architectures. Connected to the remote 12. Typically, one master node is connected to one remote of the distributed antenna. In this embodiment, each remote forms a piconet. There can be multiple antennas connected to the same remote. Each remote can be connected to a gateway 14 that uses dedicated and shared gateways. It is also possible to connect one master node to multiple remotes, or to connect multiple master nodes to one remote. Each master node 10 is configured to form a piconet having one or more slave nodes 16. Slave node 16 may take the form of any suitable mobile and stationary device that fits the transmitter, receiver and antenna. The master node is typically a fixed device, or
It takes the form of a wireless device equipped with a transmitter and a receiver. The gateway 14 and distributed antenna architecture are typically provided in a single building or geographic area, such as a university campus, and a wireless ad hoc network formed by a group of mobile nodes functions as a wireless local area network (LAN). To achieve.

The gateway 14 has process means to dynamically switch the operating mode of the master node 10 by reconfiguring remote connectivity within the distributed antennas based on traffic load and QOS requirements. The gateway 14 optimally routes connections from one piconet to another piconet. The gateway 14 performs protocol conversion from one piconet to another piconet if necessary. In this structure, the gateway 14 also performs QOS-provided traffic management (waiting and scheduling rules, etc.) across each connection. The gateway provides coordination and services for external wireless networks between the gateway and the remote (if any) and on the wireless path between the remotes. The gateway dynamically adjusts the number of piconets that serve a given area to meet capacity requirements. The gateway also dynamically adjusts (via admission control) a number of piconet ad hoc devices to meet the capacity and QOS requirements of each connection.

When the master node is connected to multiple remotes, the same information is sent to multiple geographical areas. As such, the master node can communicate with multiple unbonded piconets. This scenario is shown in FIG. This system structure is used when the traffic load in the coverage area is low, that is, one master node 1
It is typically used when 0 fully meets the capacity requirements of the area. This system structure has several uses. In the first application, multiple master nodes may be adjusted based on the overall traffic load. For example, if the aggregate traffic load in multiple coverage areas is still less than the piconet's capacity, then one master node will adequately meet the capacity requirements of those areas. Otherwise, more master nodes may be deployed. The second application maintains voice communication connectivity. That is, piconets are particularly specialized for voice communication. By multicasting the master node's signal to multiple remotes, the (voice) piconet expands the range of the entire coverage area (building, etc.), allowing seamless (softest) handoffs in the remote range.

When a plurality of master nodes 10 are connected to one remote, a plurality of piconets are formed in the same coverage area. In this case, the user may simultaneously connect multiple piconets (using multiple slave nodes) so that user data can be demultiplexed into multiple streams for transmission over multiple piconets. As a result, user throughput is incremented kN times. Here, k <1.0, and N is the number of piconets. The gateway 14 performs interference separation in p that is overlapping to minimize interference. For example, the gateway 14 makes an appropriate selection of different piconet hopping sequences to reduce interference. This scenario is shown in FIG. This mode of operation is typically used to make high speed data connections.

The gateway 14 reconfigures remote connectivity within the distributed antenna architecture based on coverage connectivity (unicast, multicast or broadcast), traffic load, changes in propagation environment and QOS requirements to allow each master to reconfigure.・ Node operation mode (one master node to one remote,
One master node to multiple remotes or multiple master nodes to one remote). Examples of changes in the propagation environment include changes in the design of the building and / or the addition of new private rooms.

A possible implementation of dynamic changes in operating mode is described below with reference to FIG. Multiple master nodes are pooled at the gateway. A dedicated pass will be issued from each remote to the gateway. The non-blocking switch 18 is used to connect the master node and the remote. The structure of the switch 18 varies with the gateway depending on the operating mode of each master node.

Using an example, the operation of the present method will be described with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. First, the master node 1 is connected to the remotes 1 and 2, and the master node 2 is connected to the remote 3 (see FIG. 4A). Suppose there are two service types: voice and internet access. All master nodes can serve both voice and internet access. Further assume that the slave node of piconet 1 initiates voice communication with the external network. In this case, the master node 1 is dedicated to voice communication, ie it no longer provides internet access services. That is, the master node 1 advertises only the voice application service. The operation mode of the master node 1 is
The signal is multicast to all piconets that support voice handoff performance (see FIG. 4B). (Note that when the user tracking or user location function is implemented, the master node 1 only needs to send signals to the piconet where the user currently resides and its neighbors.)
Next, suppose a high speed data connection is initiated in piconet 3. In this case, the master node 2 is also arranged to connect to the remote 3 that supports high speed data requests (see FIG. 4C). In another example, master node 1 is connected to remotes 1, 2 for internet access applications. As traffic load demands increase, the piconet served by master node 1 is split into two piconets. The piconet is acted on by master node 1 via remote 1 and the other piconets are acted on by master node 2 via remote 2.

Either omnidirectional antennas, unidirectional antennas or antenna arrays are deployed remotely. When the antenna arrays are deployed remotely, the gateway can reconfigure the range of each remote to match the traffic pattern. The optional gateway can be an external wireless network, such as the Pan-European Digital Cellular System (GSM), American National Standards Institute / Telecommunications Industry Association /
Electronics Industry Association 95 (ANSI / TIA / EIA-95) and 3rd Generation Union (3GP
P) It is also possible to route piconet traffic to wideband CDMA, etc. (This implicitly increases wireless operator revenue as piconet traffic goes through the operator's wireless link.) In this case, the gateway contains multiple mobile processors to communicate with external wireless networks. A mobile processor in this gateway multiplexes piconet traffic into a multiplexed stream and sends the stream over an external wireless air connection. With such multiplexing capabilities, the large number of mobile processors required during the gateway is greatly reduced.

It should be noted that the user may also use the wireless telephone as a modem to connect to an external network that does not use the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the preferred embodiment presents some advantages. One of the advantages is that users can connect to external networks only with wireless ad hoc devices, ie without a phone. For example, a user with headphones can connect to a GSM network via a gateway without a GSM phone. The building of the GSM network is handled by the gateway system and restored separately from the user. Alternatively, a user with a digital camera sends the image to an external network without a phone. Second
The advantage of the distributed antenna architecture is the piconet range (coverage)
, Ie, the user gains access to the external wireless network through the gateway with a better range of certainty. A third advantage is that the preferred embodiment can provide connectivity of telephones to external wireless networks with different wireless standards. For example, a gateway can connect a user to a Piconet GSM or IS-95 phone to a 3G external wireless network.

The gateway 14 is, as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, Ethernet and other wireless networks, such as the Local Multipoint Distribution System (LMDS).
It is also possible to route a connection from a piconet to a wired IP network including.

A high level functional block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the gateway 14 is illustrated in FIG. The gateway 14 preferably contains a plurality of gateway interface modules 30 that are used to interface the gateway and various gateways that are remotely connected. For example, the Ethernet module is needed if the pathway is implemented using Ethernet. IEEE
The 802.11 module is required if the pathway is implemented using the wireless IEEE 802.11 standard. If the pathway is implemented using wireless technology, the interworking function also requires relaying messages from the piconet to the wireless pathway and relaying messages from the wireless pathway to the gateway.

The gateway controller 32 is responsible for the various control tasks illustrated in FIG. From a traffic management standpoint, the gateway controller 32 performs admission control 34, service provision 36, connection setup and teardown 38, traffic 40 routing and roaming 42.
The admission control 34 applied to the gateway is similar to that defined for ATM. For example, when a connection request is received by the gateway controller 32 from one of the slave nodes, the controller will respond to the loading status of the piconet and the QOS request of the request when connecting from one piconet to another piconet. Based on this, it is decided whether to permit or deny this request. In the case of a connection from one piconet to an external network, the controller performs coordination between the external networks and examines whether the piconet has sufficient resources to accept this request so that QOS can be provided. Serving is also performed at this stage of accepting the request's QOS request. For example, the remote capacity can be increased by appropriately configuring the operating mode of the master node so that more piconets can be formed to accept connections.

Once the request is granted, the controller 32 directs the data transport bus 44 to route traffic from the piconet to the piconet if it is a piconet connection. The controller 32 directs the data transport bus 44 to route traffic from a piconet to an external network if the connection is a piconet and the external network. If the piconets use different standards for inter-piconet connections, the gateway controller 32 also needs to perform an interaction function 46 to translate the protocol between the two different standards. The interworking function is required to span the connection between the piconet and the external network.

The roaming function 42 is provided by coordination between the gateway controller 32 and an external wireless network. For example, when a mobile phone user walks into a building, the user's phone is automatically switched to ad hoc standard mode (assuming the user's phone is a dual mode or multimode phone).
Once the gateway controller 32 detects that the user is within range, the gateway streams user location information to the external wireless network so that all incoming calls are forwarded to the user through the gateway. Mobile IP may also be deployed to provide the roaming capabilities of IP applications.

The protocol optimization unit 48 improves the performance of the connection by optimizing all protocol layers of the connection. For example, the gateway performs interference separation in multiple overlapping piconets such that the operations are orthogonal or quasi-orthogonal. In another example, the proposed method to improve the performance of wireless TCP may also be performed at the gateway (and / or the BS of the external wireless network). The Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol may also be enhanced and implemented at the gateway (and / or BS of the external wireless network). Another optimization aspect saves resources when multiple logical connections are multiplexed into one physical connection. In particular, when multiple slave nodes are communicating with an external wireless network, multiple logical connections may be formed between the slave nodes and the external wireless network. The protocol optimization unit 48 ensures that these local connections can be multiplexed into one physical connection between the gateway and the external wireless network. The end result is a savings of hardware resources (such as mobile chip sets) at the gateway as well as air resources of the external wireless network. When communicating with an external network, the IP address or directory mapping 50
It also needs to be performed by the controller 32.

Another task of protocol optimization unit 48, compression, is operated between remote and ad hoc user devices (slave nodes) as well as between external wireless networks and gateways to increase spectral efficiency. .

When communicating with external networks, IP address or directory mappings, firewalls, mail servers DNS and other Internet services also need to be performed by the gateway controller 32.

Multiple multi-mode interface modules 52 are used to interface various external networks. If the external network is a wireless network, the multimode interface module 52 acts as a mobile processor. Since multiplexing and compression are done in the gateway (
Through the optimization protocol unit 48), the large number of mobile processors that need to interface with external networks is significantly reduced.

Billing can be done in a one or two step process. In the one-step approach, the external billable slave node (eg, cell phone) has a virtual image registered with the external cellular network (as described above for roaming). When a call connection (incoming, outgoing) is established,
The gateway system is a traditional call setup before the other party is connected,
Negotiation and billing authentication can be performed. In this way, the gateway system charges the user directly to the mobile phone account regardless of the charging cycle.

Billing the Two-Step Approach: In Step 1, changes in usage time from the external wireless network are billed to the gateway owner. In step 2, the gateway further bills the client via the gateway to the external wireless network based on the amount of traffic. This can then be done by debiting the stored value card (along the line of the public telephone card) or by other conventional billing means. There is a one-to-one interaction between the client and slave node ID. When the mobile phone leaves the ad hoc network, the gateway system removes the virtual image of the slave node from the external wireless network interface.

The authentication process can take place between the master node and the slave node when the slave node is about to join the piconet, or it can take place between the application server and the application client. .
For application authentication, the gateway transparently passes the authenticated user between the server and the client.

Encryption is done at the service / application level or link level.
For link level encryption, the gateway will terminate the encryption if two slave nodes use two different standards or if the slave node requests to communicate with an external network. May need to reintroduce other encryption. For example, if the slave node is located inside a building that uses the wireless ad hoc standard. The destination of the connection is located on the external wireless network.

One possible implementation of the gateway's internal transport mechanism (data transport bus in FIG. 5) is ATM Adaptation Layer 2 (AAL2) / ATM or Internet Protocol (IP).

Implementation Method 2 The operation of Implementation Method 2 (FIG. 6) is similar to that of Implementation Method 1 and is the preferred implementation method. The main difference is that instead of pooling the gateway master node, the remote itself is the master node or a "cluster" of master nodes (with each master node controlling a separate piconet), a pathway transceiver and a LAN. Contains a controller. Each remote has a broad-beam antenna that communicates with slave nodes in the piconet.

Each remote is connected to a gateway via a gateway, and each piconet can participate in the gateway system. Each pathway connects each piconet back to the gateway, either directly, which helps to extend range or average traffic, or by relay via other remotes. Each pasway is preferably implemented as a wireless connection, but can also be implemented as a wired connection and a mixture of the two. If wireless pathways are implemented, each remote has at least one pathway antenna that can be a more directional device. Directional antennas improve performance and reduce interference but make setup more complex. In some wireless pathway installations, the same frequency band as the piconet is used for pathways. In other situations, the use of the same frequency band causes too much piconet for pathway interference, and in these situations alternate bands are used for the pathway.

The number of master nodes active in a cluster at any one time depends on coverage connectivity (unicast, multicast or broadcast), traffic load, changes in the propagation environment, and QOS requests as slave nodes come and go. You are free to request ad hoc services. The cluster of master nodes in the remote is responsible for informing the gateway of the status of all slave devices in its respective piconet, in the piconet's connection and in the service requested by the piconet. Remote dimensioning depends on the operating mode (determined by the gateway) and local traffic conditions.

If the coverage of two or more remotes 12 overlap, loading sharing or handoff is performed between the remotes. In the softest handoff, multiple adjacent remotes must be coordinated so that the actual user sees only one piconet from these remotes. Soft handoff requires the user to establish an additional link with a neighboring remote just before the original link is broken.

As in the method 1 of implementation, the plurality of master nodes 10 are located at one remote and the plurality of piconets are formed within the same coverage area. In this case, the user can connect to multiple piconets at the same time (using multiple slave nodes), which demultiplexes user data into multiple streams for transmission over multiple piconets. As a result, the user throughput is incremented kN times, where k <1.0 and N is the number of piconets. The gateway system provides interference separation between overlapping piconets, thereby minimizing interference between piconets.

The gateway 14 is the central point of control of the gateway system.
As described above in connection with FIG. 5, it provides system-wide management, configuration and control functions. The gateway 14 also provides a path for external access to the system, especially for cellular wireless networks and external wired IP networks.
The gateway is responsible for system integrity and security. The gateway has a table that authenticates all devices in the system. These tables allow selective access between slave nodes. Closed user group (
CUG) may be used to manage selective access.

Although several embodiments of the gateway system and method are described in detail, it is clear that the embodiments provide many of the following advantages of interconnected wireless ad hoc networks: (A) Implement a wireless local area network (wireless LAN) at a significantly lower cost than prior art wireless LANs that can be compared. (B) A variable data rate multi-mode wireless LAN is implemented similar to the same architecture. (C) Maintain all the advantages and benefits of wireless ad hoc networks. (D) removes some of the drawbacks of ad hoc networks, that is, two nodes can communicate with each other without being in the same range. (E) The system is transparent to mobile nodes that can optionally enter and exit the wireless ad hoc network. (F) The gateway can perform protocol conversions so that devices from different ad hoc wireless network standards can communicate with each other. (G) One corresponding to the LAN function for connection between two different piconets within the same piconet, between two different piconets and different ad hoc interface standards, between a piconet and an external wireless network, and between a piconet and an external wired network. Promote a common architecture. (H) The operation mode of the master mode is dynamically configured to accommodate the coverage connectivity (unicast, multicast or broadcast), traffic load, QOS requirements and demands of changes in the propagation environment. (I) A distributed antenna architecture that greatly expands the piconet range (eg, 10 to 100 meters) to significantly improve coverage reliability and capacity, and additionally allows the antenna structure to adapt to traffic conditions and propagation environments. Keep the benefits of using. (J) Automatically generate wireless operator benefits and extend wireless operator service from outside to inside. (K) Provide multiple types of services of the wireless user terminal as long as the user terminal is equipped with an ad hoc device, that is, provide connectivity of phones of different wireless standards to external wireless networks. (L) The user can connect to the external network only by a wireless ad hoc device without a telephone. (M) Since the user only needs to carry one wireless handset having the ad hoc device mode capability, the user can be provided with convenience. (N) Wireless operators can be deployed early and at low cost, as well as extending the range without extra BSs. (O) A cost-effective distributed building system with direct access to subscribers of LMDS type operators can be provided. (P) Providing a wireless pathway between the gateway and the remote allows the wireless operator to have a simple remote installation and reconfiguration. (Q) Maintains the benefits of a distributed antenna architecture such that the antenna structure can adapt to the environment so that coverage reliability can be greatly enhanced as well as diversity gain.

Various variations and modifications are suggested to those skilled in the fields of electronics and telecommunications, in addition to those described above, without departing from the basic inventive concept. Its nature is to be determined from the foregoing description and the appended claims, and all such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope of the invention.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of a gateway system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows a second embodiment of the gateway system according to the invention.

[Figure 3]   FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment of the gateway system according to the present invention.

4 (A), (B) and (C) show a third embodiment of a gateway system according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a gateway system according to the present invention.

[Figure 6]   FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the gateway system according to the present invention.

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (81) Designated countries EP (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, IE, I T, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE, TR), OA (BF , BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE, SN, TD, TG), AP (GH, G M, KE, LS, MW, MZ, SD, SL, SZ, TZ , UG, ZW), EA (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ, TM), AE, AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR, BY, CA, C H, CN, CR, CU, CZ, DE, DK, DM, EE , ES, FI, GB, GD, GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, K P, KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU , LV, MA, MD, MG, MK, MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, S G, SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, TT, TZ , UA, UG, US, UZ, VN, YU, ZA, ZW (71) Applicant ATRI, Curtin University             site of Technology,               Kent Street, Bentl             ey, WA 6102 Australia (72) Inventor Shay, Don, Jae             United States Virginia 22102,             McLean, Apartment 417,             Greensboro Drive 8370 (72) Inventor Isaac, Christopher, A             Western Australia             Rear 6018, double view, Elbede             Street 4 F-term (reference) 5K030 HA08 HC01 HC09 HC14 HD03                       HD05 HD06                 5K033 BA08 CB08 CC01 DA02 DA06                       DB19                 5K067 AA41 BB04 BB21 DD17 EE02                       EE10

Claims (16)

[Claims] 1. A gateway system for interconnecting a wireless ad hoc network to various external wired IP networks and / or external wireless networks as a wireless local area network (LAN), comprising: A master node connected to one or more remotes, and configured to form a piconet with one or more slave nodes connected to the gateways via the remotes,
The master node is used to determine the synchronization characteristics of a piconet, and the gateway routes one or more remote connections within the same piconet or from one piconet to another by any method. A gateway system with a master node to determine. 2. The master node is one of a plurality of master nodes, each master node
The gateway system of claim 1, wherein the nodes are used to form at least one piconet. 3. The gateway dynamically switches the operating mode of the master node by reconfiguring the remote connectivity within the distributed antenna architecture based on traffic load and QOS requirements. The gateway system described in 2. 4. The gateway system according to claim 2, wherein the gateway performs admission control, service provision, connection setup and release, and traffic route determination similarly to the roaming function. 5. The gateway system according to claim 4, wherein the gateway comprises means for protocol conversion from one piconet to another one if necessary. 6. The gateway system according to claim 4, wherein the gateway performs an interaction function, and protocol conversion and protocol optimization from an external wired IP network or an external wireless network to an internal wireless ad hoc network. 7. The gateway system of claim 4, wherein the gateway comprises means for traffic management to provide QOS for each connection. 8. A method for interconnecting a wireless ad hoc network to various external wired IP networks and / or external wireless networks as a wireless local area network (LAN), which comprises one of a distributed antenna architecture or Providing a gateway connected to a plurality of remotes, providing a master node connected to the gateway, configuring the master node as forming a piconet having one or more slave nodes, Interconnect a wireless ad hoc network using the master node to determine the synchronization characteristics of a piconet and using the gateway to route a connection from one piconet to another piconet in any manner. how to. 9. The method of interconnecting a wireless ad hoc network as claimed in claim 8, wherein a plurality of master nodes are provided, each master node being used to form at least one piconet. 10. The gateway is used to dynamically switch operating modes of the master node by reconfiguring remote connectivity within the distributed antenna architecture based on traffic load and QOS requirements. The method of interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks of claim 9, further comprising: 11. The method of interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks of claim 9, further comprising using a gateway to protocol convert one piconet to another if necessary. 12. A gateway for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks as a wireless local area network (LAN), the gateway controller being configured to communicate with a master node, and one or more slaves. A master node configured to form a piconet having a node, the master node being connected to one or more remotes of a distributed antenna architecture connected to the gateway, A gateway controller is a gateway that interconnects wireless ad hoc networks that can route connections in any way from one piconet to another piconet. 13. The gateway for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks according to claim 12, wherein the gateway controller performs admission control, service provisioning, connection setup and release, and traffic routing as well as roaming of functions. 14. The gateway for interconnecting wireless ad hoc networks according to claim 12, wherein the gateway controller includes a protocol optimization unit that improves the performance of the connection by optimizing all protocol layers of the connection. . 15. The gateway interconnecting a wireless ad hoc network of claim 12, wherein the gateway controller includes a plurality of gateway interface modules for interfacing with various gateways connecting the gateway and a remote. . 16. The wireless ad hoc network of claim 14, wherein the protocol optimization unit ensures that local connections are multiplexed into one physical connection between the gateway and an external wireless network. A gateway that interconnects.