Abstract: Method and apparatus for synchronizing Fast Ethernet data packets to radio frames in a wireless metropolitan area network. A method of synchronizing Fast Ethernet data packets to radio frames includes receiving Fast Ethernet data packets, storing packet data in a packet buffer according to a first clock signal wherein the first clock signal is derived from the data packets, retrieving the packet data from the packet buffer according to a second clock signal wherein the second clock signal is asynchronous with the first clock signal, and formatting the retrieved packet data according to radio frames.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for baseband transmission between a top floor unit and an outdoor unit in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. A terminal for a wireless link in a metropolitan area network includes an extender device (e.g. a top floor unit) for receiving data packets from a computer network coupled to the extender device and for forwarding the data packets, and a broadcast device (e.g. an outdoor unit) coupled to the extender device for receiving the data packets from the extender device according to baseband transmission and having a wireless transceiver for communicating the data packets over the wireless link. The terminal can include a cable coupled between the extender device and the broadcast device wherein the cable comprises a twisted pair of conductors for providing the data packets from the extender device to the broadcast device. The twisted pair of conductors can be a Category 5 twisted pair of conductors.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for transporting Ethernet data packets via radio frames in a wireless metropolitan area network. A terminal includes a data packet receiver for receiving data packets for communication over a wireless link wherein not every data packet has a same length; a data packet formatting apparatus for formatting the data packets according to radio frames wherein the radio frames each have a same length and wherein the data packets are formatted into the radio frames such that boundaries for the data packets are not necessarily aligned with boundaries for the radio frames; and a wireless transceiver for communicating the radio frames over the wireless link. The packets can be Fast Ethernet packets. The terminal does not convert the Ethernet data packets into a telephony communication protocol or into an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) protocol prior to communication of the radio frames over the wireless link.

Abstract: A technique for maintaining a predefined transmission quality in a wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). Each of a plurality of Local Area Networks are coupled to a corresponding router. Each router is coupled to one or more transceivers for interconnecting the routers via wireless links. Each router stores a table representative of the topology of the MAN and receives detected indicia representative of the quality of the wireless links and representative of network traffic loads. The router adapts the manner of transmission and the path of transmission according to the indicia. As a result, the MAN is highly efficient, in terms of cost, power and bandwidth utilization. For example, a strength of a signal received over a wireless communication link is periodically monitored for maintaining the strength within a predefined range by adjusting the transmission power. In addition, an error rate for the data received over the link is monitored.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for an Ethernet switch in a terminal for a wireless metropolitan area network. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a terminal for a wireless link in a metropolitan area network includes a network switch having a first port for receiving the data packets from a computer network and a second port for forwarding the data packets; rate buffers coupled to the network switch for receiving the data packets from the second port; and a wireless transceiver coupled to the rate buffers for receiving the data packets from the rate buffers and for communicating the data packets over the wireless link. The data packets can be Fast Ethernet data packets and the network switch can include a 100 mega-bits-per-second port for receiving the Fast Ethernet packets. The terminal can include a packet buffer for storing the data packets prior to storing the data packets in the rate buffer. The network switch can be a layer-two switch.