Wireless Adapter Architecture for Mobile Computing
John Trotter and Mark Cravatts
AT&T Bell Laboratories,
600 Mountain Avenue,
Murray Hill, NJ 07974
Abstract
We present the architecture of an indoor wireless adapter card for use
in nanocellular wireless networks. The card, called FAWN (Flexible
Adapter for Wireless Networking), includes an RF modem, a CPU and an
interface to a host computer. The card supports mobility, allowing
portable machines to handoff between base-stations while maintaining a
high speed, low latency wireless connection. By executing the MAC
algorithms on the FAWN card the host computer is able to run its
applications at full speed. In addition, this approach enhances the
cardUs applicability for use in a wide variety of machines as it
presents a simple and universal interface. The on-board CPU can also
be used as the controller, allowing the card to be used as the central
component in embedded wireless designs. The card has been constructed
and is being used as part of a larger wireless project in AT&T.
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