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

• US 20030091010A1
• Filed: 08/15/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• 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 7,206,294 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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 comprising at least one fixed access point, to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, and a method for using the same. The mobile access point comprises at least one transceiver, which can be mounted to a mobile vehicle and receive substantially constant power from the vehicle, and which is adapted to transmit and receive communications signals to and from the wireless user terminal, and to operate as a communications link between the wireless user terminal and the fixed access point, to provide the wireless user terminal with access to the network via the communications link. The transceiver is further adapted to provide a second communications link between the user terminal an another user terminal, or between the mobile access point and another mobile access point of the network. The mobile access point further includes technology, such as global positioning system (GPS) technology, which adapted to determine a geographic location of the mobile access point.

Claims

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

at least one transceiver, adapted to transmit and receive communications signals to and from said wireless user terminal, and to operate as a communications link between said wireless user terminal and said fixed access point, to provide said wireless user terminal with access to said network via said communications link; and

a structure, adapted to house said at least one transceiver, and being adapted to mount on or in a mobile vehicle.

2. 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 transceiver.

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

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

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

said transceiver is further adapted to provide a second communications link between said user terminal an another user terminal.

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

said transceiver is further adapted to provide a second communications link with another mobile access point adapted for use with said network.

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

a location determiner, adapted to determine a geographic location of said mobile access point.

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

said location determiner includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

determining a geographic location of said mobile access point.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

said location determining includes using global positioning system (GPS) technology to determine said geographic location of said mobile access point.

8. A method for providing a mobile access point in a packet-switched communications network comprising at least one fixed access point, 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 said wireless user terminal; and

establishing a communications link between said mobile access terminal and said fixed access point, such that said communications link provides said wireless user terminal access to said network via said fixed access point.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

providing substantially constant power to said mobile access point.

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

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

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

using said mobile access point to provide a second communications link between said user terminal an another user terminal.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

providing a second communications link between said mobile access point and another mobile access point adapted for use with said network.