Method for transmitting and receiving digital information over unused portions of licensed communication channels

• US 20010033610A1
• Filed: 02/09/2001
• Published: 10/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Metronet MET Net Revivor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Metronet MET Net Revivor Corporation
• Inventors: Chastain, William J.
• Application Number:
  US09/780,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20010033610A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/16 Performing reselection for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A method for transmitting and receiving digital information utilizes unused parts of currently licensed communication channels for the purpose of connecting to a local loop network. Presently portions of communication channels licensed to UHF television broadcasters remain unused and the present invention uses these portions to establish a high-speed local loop connection to a network. This high-speed connection may support switched, digital wireline telephone services; telemetry and high-speed data services; television, video-on-demand and DTV services; and wireless base station integration into the switched telephone network. Resulting wireless broadband local loop connections will have a lower capital cost than with current conventional technologies.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data in unused portions of licensed communication channels comprising:

selecting an unused first portion of a first licensed communication channel,

configuring a transmitter to operate in said unused first portion, and

transmitting downstream digital data using a transmitting antenna operating on said first portion.

2. The method of transmitting data of

claim 1

further comprising:

selecting an unused second portion of a second licensed communication channel,

configuring an upstream downconverter to operate in said unused second portion, and

receiving upstream digital data using a receiving antenna operating on said unused second portion.

3. The method of transmitting data of

claim 2

wherein said first communications channel and said second communications channel are different.

4. The method of transmitting data of

claim 1

wherein said downstream digital data is selected from a group consisting of telephony signals, high-speed data, digital video signals and DTV signals.

5. The method of transmitting data of

claim 1

further comprising enabling a subscriber to select a method of transmitting upstream data from using the unused second portion, using a cable connection, and using a wired connection.

6. The method of transmitting data of

claim 1

wherein said transmitting antenna comprises an array of transmitting antennae.

7. A method for receiving data in unused portions of licensed communication channels comprising:

selecting an unused first portion of a first licensed communication channel,

configuring an upstream downconverter to operate in said unused first portion, and

receiving upstream digital data using a receiving antenna operating on said first portion.

8. The method for receiving data of

claim 7

further comprising the steps of:

selecting an unused second portion of a second licensed communication channel,

configuring a transmitter to operate in said unused second portion, and

transmitting downstream digital data using a transmitting antenna operating on said unused second portion.

9. The method for receiving data of

claim 8

wherein said first communications channel and said second communications channel are different.

10. The method for receiving data of

claim 7

further comprising enabling a subscriber to select a method of transmitting upstream data from using the unused first portion, using a cable connection, and using a wired connection.

11. The method for receiving data of

claim 7

wherein said upstream digital data is selected from a group consisting of telephony signals, high-speed data, digital video signals and DTV signals.

12. The method for receiving data of

claim 7

wherein said receiving antenna comprises an array of receiving antennae.

13. The method for receiving data of

claim 7

wherein said transmitting antenna comprises an array of transmitting antennae.

14. A method for transmitting and receiving data in unused portions of licensed communication channels comprising:

selecting an unused first portion of a first licensed communication channel,

configuring a transmitter to operate in the said unused first portion,

transmitting downstream digital data using a transmitting antenna operating on said first portion,

selecting an unused second portion of a second licensed communication channel,

configuring an upstream downconverter to operate in the said unused second portion, and

receiving upstream digital data using a receiving antenna operating on said unused second portion.

15. The method for transmitting and receiving data of

claim 14

wherein said first communications channel and said second communications channel are different.

16. The method for receiving and receiving data of

claim 14

further comprising enabling a subscriber to select a method of transmitting upstream data from using the unused second portion, using a cable connection, and using a wired connection.

17. The method for transmitting and receiving data of

claim 14

wherein said downstream digital data and said up stream digital data is selected from a group consisting of telephony signals, high-speed data, digital video signals and DTV signals.

18. The method for transmitting and receiving data of

claim 14

wherein said receiving antenna comprises an array of receiving antennae.

19. The method for transmitting and receiving data of

claim 14

wherein said transmitting antenna comprises an array of transmitting antennae.