Wireless mesh point portable data terminal

Abstract

A portable data terminal (PDT) adapted to participate in a wireless mesh network including a plurality of peer PDTs can comprise: a PDT module including an encoded information reading (EIR) device, and a mesh point (MP) module communicatively coupled to the PDT module. The MP module can include a microcontroller and at least one wireless communication interface and can be configured to perform IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless station services including authentication, de-authentication, privacy, and MAC service data unit delivery, and IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless distribution system services including association, disassociation, distribution, integration, and re-association. The MP module can be further configured, responsive to receiving a MAC frame addressed to a recipient inside the wireless mesh network, to deliver the MAC frame using the distribution service.

1 . A terminal comprising:
 a terminal module comprising an encoded information reading device and a first battery, wherein the terminal module manages its power between at least an awake state and a sleep state and sends outgoing Media Access Control frames to a mesh point module;   the mesh point module communicatively coupled to the terminal module for providing distribution and integration services over a wireless mesh network comprising at least two other terminals, wherein the mesh point module is configured for:
 receiving a Media Access Control frame; 
 while the terminal module is in the awake state or the sleep state, in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame addressed to a recipient in the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the distribution services; 
 while the terminal module is in the sleep state, in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame addressed to a recipient outside the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the integration services; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient in the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the distribution services; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient outside the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the integration services; and 
 in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame addressed to the mesh point module, transmitting the Media Access Control frame to the terminal module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the terminal module is configured for, in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame from the mesh point module while in the sleep state, exiting the sleep state. 
     
     
         3 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mesh point module comprises a second battery; and   the terminal is configured for, when the second battery is depleted, powering the mesh point module with the first battery.   
     
     
         4 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless mesh network comprises a portal for routing frames between the wireless mesh network and an external network. 
     
     
         5 . The terminal of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh point module is configured for transmitting beacons only at Delivery Traffic Indication Time intervals. 
     
     
         6 . A terminal comprising:
 a terminal module comprising an encoded information reading device and a first battery, wherein the terminal module manages its power between at least an awake state and a sleep state and sends outgoing Media Access Control frames to a mesh point module;   the mesh point module communicatively coupled to the terminal module for providing distribution and integration services over a wireless mesh network comprising at least two other terminals, wherein the mesh point module is configured for:
 receiving a Media Access Control frame having a header including a destination address and a frame control field; 
 while the terminal module is in the awake state or the sleep state, in response to receiving the Media Access Control frame, routing the Media Access Control frame according to the destination address and the frame control field; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient in the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the distribution services; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient outside the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the integration services; and 
 in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame addressed to the mesh point module, transmitting the Media Access Control frame to the terminal module. 
   
     
     
         7 . The terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the terminal module is configured for, in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame from the mesh point module while in the sleep state, exiting the sleep state. 
     
     
         8 . The terminal of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the mesh point module comprises a second battery; and   the terminal is configured for, when the second battery is depleted, powering the mesh point module with the first battery.   
     
     
         9 . The terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the wireless mesh network comprises a portal for routing frames between the wireless mesh network and an external network. 
     
     
         10 . The terminal of  claim 6 , wherein the mesh point module is configured for transmitting beacons only at Delivery Traffic Indication Time intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The terminal of  claim 6 , comprising a portable housing, wherein:
 the terminal module is disposed within the portable housing; and   the mesh point module is disposed within the portable housing.   
     
     
         12 . A terminal comprising:
 a terminal module comprising an encoded information reading device and a first battery, wherein the terminal module manages its power between at least an awake state and a sleep state and sends outgoing Media Access Control frames to a mesh point module;   the mesh point module communicatively coupled to the terminal module for providing distribution and integration services over a wireless mesh network comprising at least two other terminals, wherein the mesh point module is configured for:
 receiving a Media Access Control frame having a header including a destination address and a frame control field; 
 while the terminal module is in the awake state or the sleep state, in response to receiving the Media Access Control frame, routing the Media Access Control frame according to the destination address and the frame control field; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient in the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the distribution services; 
 in response to receiving an outgoing Media Access Control frame from the terminal module addressed to a recipient outside the wireless mesh network, delivering the Media Access Control frame using the integration services; 
 in response to receiving a Media Access Control frame addressed to the mesh point module, transmitting the Media Access Control frame to the terminal module; 
 receiving a wake-up command from an external server; and 
 in response to receiving a wake-up command from an external server, causing the terminal module to exit the sleep state. 
   
     
     
         13 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the mesh point module is configured for:
 performing IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless station services comprising authentication, de-authentication, privacy, and Media Access Control service data unit delivery; and   performing IEEE 802.11-conformant wireless distribution system services including association, disassociation, distribution, integration, and re-association.   
     
     
         14 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the mesh point module comprises a second battery; and   the terminal is configured for, when the second battery is depleted, powering the mesh point module with the first battery.   
     
     
         15 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the wireless mesh network comprises a portal for routing frames between the wireless mesh network and an external network. 
     
     
         16 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the mesh point module is configured for transmitting beacons only at Delivery Traffic Indication Time intervals. 
     
     
         17 . The terminal of  claim 12 , comprising a portable housing, wherein:
 the terminal module is disposed within the portable housing; and   the mesh point module is disposed within the portable housing.   
     
     
         18 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the terminal module comprises a central processing unit and memory. 
     
     
         19 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the encoded information reading device is configured for outputting decoded message data corresponding to an encoded message. 
     
     
         20 . The terminal of  claim 12 , wherein the mesh point module comprises a microcontroller and a wireless communication interface.