Wireless communication method and apparatus

• US 20010000136A1
• Filed: 12/05/2000
• Published: 04/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1990
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dixon, Robert C., Vanderpool, Jeffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2628 using code-division multiple access [CDMA] or spread spectrum multiple access [SSMA] H04B7/2618 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for establishing communications between a master unit and a plurality of node units. Of the plurality of node units, K node units are assumed to have established communications with a master unit. A first (K+1) node unit of the plurality of node units, desires to establish communications with the master unit. The method includes transmitting from the master unit, a base-station spread spectrum signal having a common signalling chip code, transmitting from the first node unit a second spread spectrum signal with a first identification code using the common-signalling chip code, transmitting from the master unit a third spread spectrum signal with a master unit identification code, using the common-signalling chip code. The method further includes generating at the first node unit using the master unit identification signal, a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to the master unit. Additionally, the method includes generating, at the master unit using the first identification code, a first node unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to the first node unit.

Claims

1. A method for establishing communications between a unit and a plurality of N node units wherein K node units of said plurality of node units have established communications channels with said master unit using upto 2K different spread spectrum codes, respectively, with a time slot for each the the K node units in the first K time slots, respectively, and a first node unit of the N-K node units of said plurality of said node units, desires to establish communications with said master unit, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, in a (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a first node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, responsive to receiving the first node-initialization spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code, modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a second node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+1)-node-identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code;

generating, at said first node unit using the master identification code, a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

generating, at said master unit using the (K+1)-node-identification code, a (K+1)-node-unit chip code for transmitting;

spread spectrum signals to said first node unit; and

communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code to said first node unit, and from said first node unit using the master unit chip code to said master unit, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

2. A method for establishing communications between a master unit and a first node unit comprising the steps of:

transmitting, a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a first node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the first node-initialization spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal having a master-unit-slot-identification code modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a second node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a first identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code of the master-initialization spread spectrum signal;

generating, at said first-node unit using the master identification spread spectrum signal, a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit.

3. The method as set forth in

claim 2

further comprising the steps, using a second node unit, of:

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said second node unit, a third node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the second node-initialization spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal having the master-unit slot-identification code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal at said second node unit, a fourth node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+2)-node-identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code;

generating, at said second node unit using the master-identification code, a second master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit; and

generating, at said master unit using the (K+2)-node-identification code, a (K+2)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said second node unit.

4. A system for establishing communications between a master unit and a plurality of N node units wherein K node units of said plurality of node units have established communications channels with said master unit using upto 2K different spread spectrum codes, respectively, with a time slot for each the the K node units in the first K time slots, respectively, and a first node unit of the N-K node units of said plurality of said node units, desires to establish communications with said master unit, comprising:

means, located at said master unit, for transmitting, in a (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, for transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, a first node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

means, located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the first node-initialization spread spectrum signal at said master unit, for transmitting in the (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code, modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

means located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, for transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, a second node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+1)-node-identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and using the master identification code, for generating a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

mean, located at said master unit and using the (K+1)-node-identification code, for generating a (K+1)-node-chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit;

means located at said master unit for communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot; and

means located at said first node unit for communicating from said first node unit using the master unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

5. A system for establishing communications between a master unit and a first node unit, comprising:

means, located at said master unit, for transmitting a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a first node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

means, located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the first node-initialization spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code, modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

means located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a second node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+1)-node-identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and using the master identification code, for generating a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

mean, located at said master unit and using the first identification code, for generating a (K+1)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit;

means located at said master unit for communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot; and

means located at said first node unit for communicating from said first node unit using the master unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

6. The system as set forth in

claim 5

using a second node unit comprising:

means located at said second node unit and responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said second node unit, for transmitting a third node-initialization spread spectrum signal;

means located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the third node-initialization spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a master-identification spread spectrum signal having the master-slot-identification code modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

means located at said second node unit and responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a fourth node-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+2)-node-identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code;

means located at said second node unit using the master-identification code, for generating a second master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit; and

means located at said master unit using the second identification code, for generating a (K+2)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said second node unit.

7. A method for establishing communications between a master unit and a plurality of N node units wherein K node units of said plurality of node units have established communications channels with said master unit using upto 2K different spread spectrum codes, respectively, with a time slot for each the the K node units in the first K time slots, respectively, and a first node unit of the N-K node units of said plurality of said node units, desires to establish communications with said master unit, comprising the steps of:

transmitting, in a (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a node-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a (K+1)-node-identification code and the node-common-signalling chip code;

transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, responsive to receiving the first node-initialization spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code, modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

generating, at said first node unit using the master identification code, a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

generating, at said master unit using the (K+1)-node-identification code, a (K+1)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit; and

communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, and from said first node unit using the master unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

8. A method for establishing communications between a master unit and a first node unit comprising the steps of:

transmitting from said master unit a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, a first node-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a first identification code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the first node-identification spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal having a master-unit-slot-identification code;

generating, at said first node unit using the master identification code, a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

generating, at said master unit using the (K+1)-node-identification code, a (K+1)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit; and

communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, and from said first node unit using the master unit chip code.

9. The method as set forth in

claim 8

further comprising the steps, using a second node unit, of:

transmitting, responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said second node unit, a second node-unit-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a second identification code;

transmitting, responsive to receiving the second node-unit-identification spread spectrum signal at said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal having the master-unit-identification code;

generating, at said second node unit using the master-identification code, a second master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit; and

generating, at said master unit using the (K+1)-node-identification code, a (K+2)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said second node unit.

10. A system for establishing communications between a master unit and a plurality of N node units wherein K node units of said plurality of node units have established communications channels with said master unit using upto 2K different spread spectrum codes, respectively, with a time slot for each the the K node units in the first K time slots, respectively, and a first node unit of the N-K node units of said plurality of said node units, desires to establish communications with said master unit, comprising:

means, located at said master unit, for transmitting, in a (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-identification spread spectrum signal at said first node unit, for transmitting, in the (K+1)^th time slot from said first node unit, a node-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a first identification code and the master-common-signalling chip code of the master-initialization spread spectrum signal;

means, located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the first node-identification spread spectrum signal at said master unit, for transmitting in the (K+1)^th time slot from said master unit, a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code, modulated by the master-common-signalling chip code having a master-identification code;

means, located at said first node unit and using the master identification code, for generating a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

mean, located at said master unit and using the (K+1)-node-identification code, for generating a (K+1)-node-chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit;

means located at said master unit for communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot; and

means located at said first node unit for communicating from said first node unit using the master unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

11. A system for establishing communications between a master unit and a first node unit, comprising:

means, located at said master unit, for transmitting a master-initialization spread spectrum signal modulated by a master-common-signalling chip code;

means, located at said first node unit and responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal, for transmitting, a first node-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a first identification code;

means, located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the first node-identification spread spectrum signal, for transmitting a master-identification spread spectrum signal with a master-unit-slot-identification code;

means, located at said first node unit and using the master-identification code for generating a master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit;

mean, located at said master unit and using the first identification code, for generating a (K+1)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said first node unit;

means located at said master unit for communicating from said master unit using the (K+1)-node-unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot; and

means located at said first node unit for communicating from said first node unit using the master unit chip code, in the (K+1)^th time slot.

12. The system as set forth in

claim 11

using a second node unit further comprising:

means located at said second node unit and responsive to receiving the master-initialization spread spectrum signal at said second node unit, for transmitting a second node-identification spread spectrum signal modulated by a second identification code;

means located at said master unit and responsive to receiving the second node-identification spread spectrum signal, the master-identification spread spectrum signal having the master-unit-identification code;

means located at said second node unit using the master-identification code, for generating a second master unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said master unit; and

means located at said master unit using the (K+1)-node-identification code, for generating a (K+2)-node-unit chip code for transmitting spread spectrum signals to said second node unit.