Interworking DECT with Ethernet for low cost wireless LANs

A system for wireless access to local area networks is presented. The system uses the DECT standard as a radio interface, defining a low cost and low/medium bit rate wireless LAN (WLAN). The routing capabilities of Windows NT are used. A PC with Windows NT, including an Ethernet network adapter and a general ISA DECT card, is the access point from the WLAN to the wired LAN. Miniport and intermediate Windows NT drivers for the DECT card were developed. The intermediate driver translates from the Ethernet protocol to the DECT protocol. We focus our work on Ethernet wireless access. However, we can use the same hardware and software to provide token-ring LANs with wireless access. Windows NT will ensure the communication between the DECT base station, seen like an Ethernet network adapter, and the token-ring LAN.