Software-defined radio communication protocol translator

• US 20030158954A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Inventors: Williams, Terry L.
• Application Number:
  US10/078,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20030158954A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus for facilitating communications between communications systems operating on different communications protocols. The process involves receiving a first communication signal, translating the communication signal from a first protocol to a second protocol, and re-transmitting the communication signal. The communications protocols can include at least one of a data format, data timing system, coding scheme, transmission mode, and carrier frequency. A software-defined translator can be configured for receiving the communication signal, performing the protocol translation, and re-transmitting the communication signal.

Claims

1. In a communications environment comprised of a plurality of communications systems, each having a distinct communications protocol associated therewith, a method for facilitating inter-system communications using a software defined translator, comprising:

selecting from among a plurality of predefined software communication protocol applications available in the software-defined translator, a plurality of correlating communication protocols applications respectively corresponding to a plurality of the communications protocols in use by said communication systems;

instantiating said plurality of correlating communication protocol applications in said software defined translator;

receiving a first communication transmitted by a first one of said plurality of communication systems corresponding to a first one of said plurality of communications protocols;

translating said first communication to at least a second one of said plurality of communications protocols; and

re-transmitting said first communication after said translation step.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said translating step further comprises translating said first communication to a common protocol prior to translation to said second one of said plurality of communications protocols.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of communications systems comprises a mobile communication device.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said first communication is translated to a plurality of said communications protocols in use by said communications systems.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein each of said communications protocols is comprised of at least one of a data format, data timing system, coding scheme, transmission mode, and carrier frequency.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein said receiving step is further comprised of receiving said first communication at a repeater station and forwarding said first communication to said software defined translator.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said re-transmitting step is further comprised of forwarding said first communication to a repeater station for said retransmitting.

8. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of backhauling said first communication from said software defined translator to a base station prior to said re-transmitting step.

9. The method according to claim 8 further comprising the step of forwarding said first communication from said base station to a second software defined translator prior to said re-transmitting step.

10. A software defined translator system for facilitating inter-system communications in a communications environment comprised of a plurality of communications systems, each having a distinct communications protocol associated therewith, said software defined translator comprising:

an interactive management interface responsive to a user input for instantiating in a software defined translator a plurality of correlating communication protocol applications respectively corresponding to a plurality of said communications protocols in use by said communication systems; and

said software defined translator system responsive to a first communication transmitted by a first one of said plurality of communications systems in accordance with a first one of said plurality of communications protocols, for translating said first communication to at least a second one of said plurality of communication protocols, and re-transmitting said first communication after said translation.

11. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 wherein said at least one software defined translator translates said first communication to a common protocol prior to translation to said second one of said plurality communications protocols.

12. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said plurality of communications systems comprises a mobile communication device.

13. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 wherein said software defined translator translates said first communication to a plurality of said communications protocols.

14. The software defined translator system according to claim 13 further comprising means for retransmitting said first communication in accordance with each said plurality of communications protocols.

15. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 wherein each said communications protocol is comprised of at least one of a data format, data timing system, coding scheme, transmission mode, and carrier frequency.

16. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 further comprising a repeater station for receiving said first communication and forwarding said first communication over a backhaul link to said software defined translator.

17. The software defined translator system according to claim 10 further comprising a repeater station for receiving said first communication from said software defined translator over a backhaul link after said first communication has been translated, and re-transmitting said first communication.

18. The software defined translator according to claim 10 further comprising a backhaul link for backhauling said first communication from said software defined translator to a base station prior to said retransmitting.

19. The software defined translator according to claim 18 further comprising a second backhaul link for backhauling said first communication from said base station to a second translator prior to said re-transmitting.