Network architecture for mobile communication network with billing module for shared resources
First Claim
1. A communication network comprising:
- an antenna site including a shared transmitter used by two or more service providers to transmit signals to mobile subscribers;
a first signal processing center connected to said antenna site and belonging to a first service provider to generate a first modulating signal, wherein said first modulating signal is used at said antenna site to modulate an RF carrier; and
a second signal processing center connected to said antenna site and belonging to a second service provider to generate a second modulating signal, wherein said second modulating signal is used at said antenna site to modulate an RF carrier.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mobile communication network includes an antenna site shared by two or more telecommunications service providers. The antenna site includes a shared resource, such as an antenna, telecommunications equipment, or bandwidth, used by multiple service providers and connects to multiple signal processing centers, each of which belongs to one of the service providers. The signal processing centers may provide modulating signals to the antenna site to use in modulating a carrier. The antenna site may also direct received signals from mobile terminals to the signal processing center for the appropriate service provider. A billing module at the antenna site maintains an accounting of resources used by each service provider.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A communication network comprising:
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an antenna site including a shared transmitter used by two or more service providers to transmit signals to mobile subscribers;
a first signal processing center connected to said antenna site and belonging to a first service provider to generate a first modulating signal, wherein said first modulating signal is used at said antenna site to modulate an RF carrier; and
a second signal processing center connected to said antenna site and belonging to a second service provider to generate a second modulating signal, wherein said second modulating signal is used at said antenna site to modulate an RF carrier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. The communication network of claim 7 wherein said billing module accounts for usage of said transmitter based on a bandwidth-time product.
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8. An antenna site in a communications network, said antenna site comprising:
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at least one shared transmitter used by two or more service providers to communicate with mobile subscriber terminals; and
an interface to connect said antenna site with signal processing centers operated by each of said service providers, wherein said signal processing centers provide modulating signals to said antenna site that are used by said transmitter to modulate a radio frequency carrier. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A communication network comprising:
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an antenna site including a shared receiver used by two or more service providers to receive signals from mobile subscribers;
a first signal processing center connected to said antenna site and belonging to a first service provider to process selected signals received at said antenna site intended for said first service provider; and
a second signal processor connected to said antenna site and belonging to a second service provider to process selected signals received at said antenna site intended for said second service provider. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24)
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21. An antenna site in a communications network, said antenna site comprising:
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at least one shared receiver used by two or more service providers to communicate with mobile subscriber terminals; and
an interface to connect said antenna site with signal processing centers operated by each of said service providers. - View Dependent Claims (22, 25, 26)
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27. A method of sharing network resources between multiple telecommunications service providers, said method comprising:
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providing an antenna site having at least one shared resource used by two or more service providers to communicate with mobile subscribers;
connecting multiple signal processing centers to said antenna site such that multiple telecommunications service providers can use said shared resource. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. An antenna site in a communications network, said antenna site comprising:
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at least one shared resource used by two or more service providers to communicate with mobile subscriber terminals;
an interface to connect said antenna site with a signal processing center operated by each of said service providers. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification