Movable access points and repeaters for minimizing coverage and capacity constraints in a wireless communications network and a method for using the same

• US 20030035437A1
• Filed: 08/15/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ARRIS Enterprises LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MeshNetworks, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Garahi, Masood, Stanforth, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,149,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/465
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for improving the ability of a wireless communications network, such as a packet-switched data communications network, to provide service to mobile user terminals. The system and method employs a mobile access point, adapted for use with the packet-switched communications network, to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, and a method for using the same. The mobile access point can be mounted to a mobile vehicle and receives substantially constant power from the vehicle, and is adapted to transmit and receive communications signals to and from wireless user terminals, fixed access points and other networks and mobile access points. The mobile access point includes at least one or more transceivers, which allows the access point to support multiple wireless communication protocols. A first protocol may be supported allowing network access, and a second protocol may be used for backhaul service.

Claims

1. A mobile access point, adapted for use with a packet-switched communications network to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, said mobile access point comprising:

a first transceiver, adapted to select a first communication protocol and use said first protocol to transmit and receive communications signals to and from at least one of a wireless user terminal, fixed access point and a network;

a second transceiver, adapted to select a second communication protocol and use said second protocol to transmit and receive communications signals to and from at least one of a wireless user terminal, fixed access point and a network; and

a structure, adapted to house said first and second transceiver, and being adapted to mount on or in a mobile vehicle.

2. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said selected first communication protocol is adapted to support network access by wireless user terminals and said selected second communication protocol is adapted to support network backhaul service.

3. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of a plurality of wireless transmission techniques.

4. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of QDMA, CDMA, TDMA and FDMA modulation formats.

5. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile access point further comprises:

a first and second antenna, said first antenna located in said vehicle and receiving communication signals from at least one of wireless user terminals located in said vehicle, said first antenna electrically coupled to said first transceiver and said first transceiver adapted to support communication protocols of said wireless user terminals; and

said second antenna located outside said vehicle and broadcasting communication signals to at least one of wireless user terminals, fixed access points and networks, said second antenna electrically coupled to said second transceiver and said second transceiver adapted to support communication protocols of said wireless user terminals, fixed access points and networks.

6. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a power connection, adapted to couple to a substantially constant power supply, to provide substantially constant power to said first and second transceiver.

7. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 6, wherein:

said power connection is adapted to couple to said substantially constant power supply of said vehicle.

8. A mobile access point as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile vehicle is a bus.

9. A method for providing a mobile access point in a packet-switched communications network to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, said method comprising:

coupling a mobile access point to a mobile vehicle; and

transmitting and receiving communications signals between said mobile access terminal and at least one wireless user terminal using a first communication protocol and transmitting and receiving communications signals between said mobile access terminal and at least one wireless user terminal, fixed access point and network using a second communication protocol.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first communication protocol supports network access by wireless user terminals and said second communication protocol supports network backhaul service.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of a plurality of wireless transmission techniques.

12. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of QDMA, CDMA, TDMA and FDMA modulation formats.

13. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

locating a first antenna in said vehicle and receiving communication signals from at least one wireless user terminal located in said vehicle, said first antenna electrically coupled to said first transceiver and said first transceiver supporting communication protocols of said wireless user terminals; and

locating a second antenna outside said vehicle and broadcasting communication signals to at least one of wireless user terminals, fixed access points and networks, said second antenna electrically coupled to said second transceiver and said second transceiver supporting communication protocols of said wireless user terminals, fixed access points and networks.

14. A method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising:

providing substantially constant power to said mobile access point.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said providing provides said substantially constant power supply from a power supply of said vehicle.

16. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said mobile vehicle is a bus.