Radio network with a low power consumption and method for operating such a radio network

Abstract

A radio network having a low power consumption includes a first physical transmission unit, a first data link unit, and a first network unit connected to the first physical transmission unit and to the first data link unit. Between the first data link unit and the first network unit, a first network link is adapted to communicate with a second network link via a subsequent connection structure, such that a second network unit is connected to the first network unit.

What is claimed is 
     
         1 . A radio network having a low power consumption, comprising:
 a first physical transmission unit;   a first data link unit; and   a first network unit connected to the first physical transmission unit and to the first data link unit; wherein   between the first data link unit and the first network unit, a first network link is adapted to communicate with a second network link via a subsequent connection structure, such that a second network unit is connected to the first network unit.   
     
     
         2 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the radio network comprises a Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network. 
     
     
         3 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the subsequent connection structure comprising the first and the second network link represents, in relation to a radio transmission range between the first and the second network units, a remote connection between the first and the second network units based on a Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network, this remote connection exceeding a maximum radio transmission range. 
     
     
         4 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the first network link includes a first switch with echo suppression. 
     
     
         5 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the first network link comprises a subsequent second data link unit connected to a second physical transmission unit. 
     
     
         6 . The radio network of  claim 5 , wherein the second network link includes a second switch with echo suppression. 
     
     
         7 . The radio network of  claim 5 , wherein the second network link comprises a subsequent third data link unit connected to a third physical transmission unit. 
     
     
         8 . The radio network of  claim 7 , wherein the subsequent connection structure is located between the second physical transmission unit and the third physical transmission unit of the first and the second network link, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . The radio network of  claim 8 , wherein the first network link includes a first switch with echo suppression, and further comprising:
 a first management unit between the first switch and the second data link unit; and   a second management unit located between the second switch and the third data link unit,   wherein the first management unit and the second management unit are configured for an initial address data exchange for coupling the first and the second network links.   
     
     
         10 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the subsequent connection structure is configured bi-directionally as a wire link, a radio link, an optical fiber link, and/or a plastic optical fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The radio network of  claim 1 , wherein the first network unit and the second network unit are designed in accordance with the ZigBee Standard. 
     
     
         12 . A method for operating a radio network having a low power consumption, including a first physical transmission unit and a first data link unit connected to the first physical transmission unit and to a first network unit, the method comprising:
 between the first data link unit and the first network unit, using a first network link to communicate with a second network link via a subsequent connection structure, whereby a second network unit is being connected to the first network unit.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein second network unit is being connected to the first network unit on the basis of a Low Rate Wireless Personal Area Network. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first and the second network link have a first and a second management unit, respectively, and the method further comprises:
 exchanging address data for coupling the first and the second network units with the first and the second management units.