Importance

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Abstract

A simple and low cost architecture for coupling wireless local area network signals between geographically distributed access points and centrally located internetworking devices. A cable access point (CAP) is associated with each respective microcell. Each CAP includes a remote bridge to convert such signals to a convenient transport format depending upon the available cabling. For example, if the available cabling is a cable television (CATV) plant, the transport signals are first converted to a T1 format and up-converted to a carrier frequency suitable for the CATV plant. Alternatively, the transport signals may be converted to IEEE 802.3 cable modem signals. If the available cabling is twisted pair telephone type wiring, the remote bridge converts the transport signals to a suitable Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL) format. The transport signals are collected at a central distribution or head end access point (HAP). At this location, a remote bridge then converts the signals from the up-converted T1 format or the xDSL format, back to the Ethernet local area network format. These Ethernet signals are then suitable for coupling to a local area network hub or other internetworking equipment such as repeaters, bridges, routers, and gateways.

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First Claim