METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEROPERATION BETWEEN WIRELESS COMPUTER NETWORKS AND INTERNET PROTOCOL-BASED NETWORKS

摘要

A first and second computer network are communicatively coupled by tunneling information within a hierarchical communication protocol operative within the second computer network. In this scheme, the hierarchical communication protocol may be supported on a communication channel of a wireless communication link, for example a half-duplex communication channel and/or a spread spectrum communication channel. In general, the communication channel includes a number of time slots for transmissions of information associated with network components within the second computer network. For example, one or more forward time slots and one or more reverse time slots, which together define transmission and reception periods for components operative at a highest level of a hierarchy of the second computer network, may be included. Then, the tunneling may be accomplished by transmitting information from the first network during at least one of the forward time slots and transmitting information from at least one of the network components during at least one of the reverse time slots.