Abstract: A cable has miniaturized, low-cost, highly-integrated wireless network access points embedded in the cable at periodic intervals along the length of the cable. Power conductors that run the length of the cable supply each of the access points with electrical power. Each access point has an antenna for receiving and transmitting radio signals. The antenna of an access point is encapsulated, along with the rest of the access point circuitry, underneath an insulating protective outer sheath of the cable. The cable includes conductors that are usable for a purpose other than deploying a wireless network. When the cable is physically installed (for example, in the wall or ceiling of a building) for the other purpose, the access points are simultaneously physically installed. The access points so installed can then be activated and used as part of a wireless network.

Abstract: A wireless communication system implements a calibration mode by which individual nodes in the system can determine which other nodes in the system are physically close to them and therefore can be reached with less than full transmitting power. Nodes which can communicate with one another via low power can form a low power constellation (a subset of the complete network) whose nodes can communicate directly with one another using this low power arrangement. The direct communication mode may additionally be used by itself. In another mode, the nodes in the system can communicate amongst themselves via bridges—other, non-access point nodes—to lessen the load on the access point or to accommodate environmental or other conditions. Various ones of these modes may be combined into a predetermined cycle of communication modes to help the physical layer accommodate various types of data handled by the network using beacons or another coordinating technique.

Abstract: A wireless communication system implements a calibration mode by which individual nodes in the system can determine which other nodes in the system are physically close to them and therefore can be reached with less than full transmitting power. Nodes which can communicate with one another via low power can form a low power constellation (a subset of the complete network) whose nodes can communicate directly with one another using this low power arrangement. The direct communication mode may additionally be used by itself. In another mode, the nodes in the system can communicate amongst themselves via bridges—other, non-access point nodes—to lessen the load on the access point or to accommodate environmental or other conditions. Various ones of these modes may be combined into a predetermined cycle of communication modes to help the physical layer accommodate various types of data handled by the network using beacons or another coordinating technique.