System and methods for mass broadband communications
First Claim
1. A broadband mass communications network system comprising:
- a plurality of zones, each including a plurality of subscribers having wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving signals within the zone, and interface means for connecting the plurality of zones respectively with other elements of the network system, the interface means employing a form of communication means other than the communication means provided within the zones, characterized by;
each zone being formed as a patch comprising;
a plurality of subscriber units, each associated with a respective one of the subscribers for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers within the patch, the plurality of subscriber units within the patch being in direct line of sight communication with one another, each subscriber unit comprising an indoor interface unit for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit for the transmission and reception of signals, each subscriber unit further being arranged to impress the signals on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in a range from infra-red to ultra-violet and to transmit the carrier signal substantially omni-directionally, and objects within and/or around the respective zone arranged to define boundaries for the patch and to determine and/or modify the propagation pattern of the carrier signal, and the interface means comprising patch interface points inter-connecting respective patches, the patch interface points being connected to respective subscriber units from at least two adjacent patches.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
After the claims, please insert the following Abstract:—The invention provides a broadband mass communications network system and method comprising a plurality of patches (10), each patch including a plurality of subscribers, and each subscriber having a respective subscriber unit (12) for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers. Each subscriber unit comprises an indoor interface unit (20) for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit (18) for the transmission and reception of signals. The signals are impressed on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in the range from infra-red to ultra-violet, the subscriber units of a respective patch being arranged to transmit the carrier signals substantially omni-directionally and to communicate by way of direct line of sight connections within the patch. Objects (16) within and/or around the respective patch are employed to determine and/or modify the propagation pattern of the carrier signal and to define boundaries for the patch. Respective patches are inter-connected by way of patch interface points (46), each patch interface point being connected to respective subscriber units from at least two adjacent patches by communication means other than that between respective subscriber units within the patches.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A broadband mass communications network system comprising:
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a plurality of zones, each including a plurality of subscribers having wireless communication means for transmitting and receiving signals within the zone, and interface means for connecting the plurality of zones respectively with other elements of the network system, the interface means employing a form of communication means other than the communication means provided within the zones, characterized by;
each zone being formed as a patch comprising;
a plurality of subscriber units, each associated with a respective one of the subscribers for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers within the patch, the plurality of subscriber units within the patch being in direct line of sight communication with one another, each subscriber unit comprising an indoor interface unit for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit for the transmission and reception of signals, each subscriber unit further being arranged to impress the signals on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in a range from infra-red to ultra-violet and to transmit the carrier signal substantially omni-directionally, and objects within and/or around the respective zone arranged to define boundaries for the patch and to determine and/or modify the propagation pattern of the carrier signal, and the interface means comprising patch interface points inter-connecting respective patches, the patch interface points being connected to respective subscriber units from at least two adjacent patches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for providing broadband mass communications comprising the steps of:
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forming a plurality of zones, each including a plurality of subscribers having wireless transmission means for transmitting and receiving signals within the zone, and inter-connecting the plurality of zones respectively with other elements of the network system by interface means, the interface means employing a form of communication other than the form of communication employed within the zones, and forming each zone as a patch by;
providing each of the plurality of subscribers with a respective subscriber unit for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from other subscribers within the patch, each subscriber unit comprising an indoor interface unit for user access to the system and an outdoor mounted communication unit for the transmission and reception of signals, locating the plurality of subscriber units within the patch in direct line of sight communication with one another, impressing the signals on a carrier signal operating at frequencies in a range from infra-red to ultra-violet, transmitting the carrier signals substantially omni-directionally, employing objects within and/or around the respective patch to define boundaries for the patch and to determine and/or modify the propagation pattern of the carrier signal, and inter-connecting respective patches with the interface means comprising patch interface points connected to respective subscribers from at least two adjacent patches. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification