Cellular telephone system

• US 20040092276A1
• Filed: 11/13/2002
• Published: 05/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Manageable Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Manageable Networks Incorporated
• Inventors: Dooley, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,062,283 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/504
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and device for improving the reliability and performance of cellular telephones. In particular, this invention provides a method of transmitting two signals which are substantially identical over two different cellular networks. The transmitted signals are received by a receiving device and synchronized and combined into one combined signal. The invention also discloses a cellular telephone system that is able to transmit two substantially identical signals over two different cellular networks which are received by a telephone device capable of synchronizing and combining the signals into one combined signal.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting and receiving telephone signals comprising:

transmitting a first signal from a first device over a first cellular network,

simultaneously transmitting a second signal substantially identical to the first signal over a second cellular network,

receiving at least the first and second signals at a second device,

synchronizing at least the first and second signals into one combined signal; and

combining at least the first and second signals into one combined signal.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of determining at least two identifying numbers representing the second device prior to transmission over the two cellular networks.

3. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of transmitting the combined signal from the second device to a third device.

5. The method of claim 1 including the step of simultaneously transmitting a third signal substantially identical to the first and second signals over a third cellular network wherein the first, second and third signals are synchronized and combined into one combined signal.

6. The method of claim 1 including the step of simultaneously transmitting an nth signal substantially identical to the first signal over an nth cellular network wherein the first through nth signals are synchronized and combined into one combined signal.

8. The device of claim 6 additionally comprising a processing device to determine at least two identifying numbers representing the second telephone device prior to transmission over the two cellular networks.

9. The device of claim 6 additionally comprising a third telephone device adapted to receive the combined signal from the second telephone device.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the device checks for the termination of transmission of either the first or second signal and re-establishes connection for the terminated signal.

11. The device of claim 6 wherein the first telephone device is additionally adapted to simultaneously transmit a third signal substantially identical to the first and second signals over a third cellular network and the second telephone device is additionally adapted to receive the third signal and to synchronize and combine the first, second and third signals into one combined signal.

12. The device of claim 6 wherein the first telephone device is additionally adapted to simultaneously transmit an nth signal substantially identical to the first signal over an nth cellular network and the second telephone device is additionally adapted to receive the nth signal and to synchronize and combine the first through nth signals into one combined signal.

4. The method of claim 4 additionally comprising the step of checking for the termination of transmission of either the first or second signal and re-establishing connection for the terminated signal.

7. A cellular telephone system comprising

a first telephone device adapted to simultaneously transmit a first signal over a first cellular network and at least a substantially identical second signal over a second cellular network, and

a second telephone device adapted to receive at least the first and second signals and to synchronize and combine at least the first and second signals into one combined signal.