Subscriber RF telephone system for providing multiple speech and/or data signals simultaneously over either a single or a plurality of RF channels

• US 20050018636A1
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1985
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Handzel, Mark J., Paneth, Eric, Morley, Steven Allan, Avis, Graham M.
• Application Number:
  US10/922,427
• Publication Number:
  US 20050018636A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0865 Independent weighting, i.e. weights based on own antenna reception parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0647 Synchronisation among TDM nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0682 by delay compensation, e.g. by compensation of propagation delay or variations thereof, by ranging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0007 by modifying the frame length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0084 Formats for payload data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1642 Formats specially adapted for sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 : Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/20 : using error rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 : Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 : Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 : Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 : Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 : WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communication between a plurality of subscriber units and a base station, the base station communicating information signals from an originating source to a destination subscriber unit over a channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies using repetitive time frames, each said time frame comprising a sequence of time slots. The channel is defined as having the same one or more time slots from the sequence of time slots in one or more of the time frames. The base station includes a central processing unit capable of assigning a duration of time for the information signals being sent to the destination subscriber unit. The duration equals the duration of one or more time slots in the same frame. The central processing unit maintains a memory of which time slots of each time frame have been assigned and provides the time slot assignment, and therefore channel assignment, by consulting said memory. The system includes a multiplexer for multiplexing the information signals onto the assigned channel; and a transmitter for transmitting the information signals to the destination subscriber unit using the assigned channel.

Claims

1. A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising:

(a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a plurality of time slots; and

(b) a processor for (i) assigning a duration of time for said information signals, wherein said duration equals the duration of at least one of said time slots, (ii) maintaining a memory of assigned time slots in said channel, and (iii) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said assigned time slots in said memory.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein a designated time frame includes other information signals from other originating sources that are assigned to time slots other than said at least one of said time slots.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said information signals include data information.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein said information signals include voice information.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said voice information signals have a predetermined bit processing rate.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different bit processing rates to time slots in a designated time frame.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said information signals are communicated over said channel by modulating said information signals onto one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said channel.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising:

(c) a modulator for modulating said information signals onto said one frequency, and for modulating different information signals having respective different modulation types, wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different modulation types to said at least one of said time slots.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said modulator uses modulation to transmit at least two bits per symbol.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein a first modulation type comprises phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.

11. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

12. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a receiver for receiving reverse information signals from an originating one of said subscriber units to a destination over a reverse channel at an assigned frequency, said reverse information signal being present on at least one time slot within a designated time frame.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said subscriber units is a mobile subscriber unit.

14. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

(c) a multiplexer for multiplexing said information signals onto said channel.

15. A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising:

(a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a time division multiplex (TDM) channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a predetermined number of time slots, each time slot having a predetermined position in the time frame; and

(b) a processor for (i) assigning segments of each of said information signals to said time slots of said TDM channel, (ii) maintaining a memory of the predetermined positions of assigned time slots in said TDM channel, and (iii) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein a frequency assigned to said channel has N time slots per time frame where N is at least four and N TDM channels are assigned to said at least one frequency such that an ith TDM channel corresponds to the time slots of an ith time slot position of said time frames, for i=1 to N, and said processor unit assigns a series of segments, which series combine to constitute a given information signal, to the ith time slot of consecutive time frames of the frequency in order to communicate the given information signal to a subscriber unit via the ith TDM channel of the frequency.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

(c) a multiplexer for multiplexing said assigned segments into a series corresponding to said assigned time slots; and

(d) an information signal buffer unit for providing information signals in segments of a selected size to said multiplexer corresponding said assigned time slots.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor assigns segments of information signals intended for different subscriber units to different time slots of a designated TDM channel.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor assigns time slots of consecutive time frames for each segment of a given information signal.

20. The system of claim 15 further comprising:

(c) a receiver for receiving signals on reception frequencies, wherein each frequency used for transmission has an associated frequency used for reception such that received signals on each respective reception frequency have time frames having the same predetermined number of time slots as signals transmitted on said associated frequency.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each frequency used for transmission is different from said associated frequency used for reception and is separated therefrom by approximately 5 MHz.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said information signals include voice information signals, said system further comprising:

(c) a voice coder unit for compressing said voice information signals into compressed voice information signals, wherein said processor assigns time slots for segments of said compressed voice information signals output by said voice coder unit.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein said information signals include command information signals, and said processor makes time slot assignments for segments of said command information signals to a TDM channel designated as a radio control channel (RCC) for said subscriber units.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein said processor allocates and deallocates time slot positions of frequency time frames by consulting said memory to dynamically define TDM channels.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein at least one frequency has time frames which each have four time slots and wherein said processor allocates either one or two time slots per time frame for the frequency'"'"'s TDM channels such that the processor allocates for the frequency a maximum of four TDM channels, each corresponding to the time slots of a respective first, second, third or fourth time slot position of each of the frequency'"'"'s time frame and a minimum of two TDM channels, one corresponding to the time slots of first and second time slot positions of the frequency'"'"'s time frames and the other corresponding to the time slots of third and fourth time slot positions of the frequency'"'"'s time frames.

26. A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising:

(a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units in selected time slots of time frames of assigned frequencies, wherein the time frames for each frequency have a predetermined position in the time frame, and channels are defined by a group of time slots having the same relative position in each of a frequency'"'"'s time frames; and

(b) a processor which (i) assigns time slots for segments of each information signal being sent to a subscriber unit such that segments of a particular information signal are assigned to the time slots of a selected channel, (ii) maintains information in a memory indicating which time slot positions in the time frames of each frequency are allocated to which channels, and (iii) provides a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.

27. In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising:

(a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a plurality of time slots;

(b) assigning a duration of time for said information signals, wherein said duration equals the duration of at least one of said time slots;

(c) maintaining a memory of assigned time slots in said channel; and

(d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said assigned time slots in said memory.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein a designated time frame includes other information signals from other originating sources that are assigned to time slots other than said at least one of said time slots.

29. The method of claim 27 wherein said information signals include data information.

30. The method of claim 27 wherein said information signals include voice information.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein said voice information signals have a predetermined bit processing rate.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different bit processing rates to time slots in a designated time frame.

33. The method of claim 27 wherein said information signals are communicated over said channel by modulating said information signals onto one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said channel.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

(e) modulating said information signals onto said one frequency, and for modulating different information signals having respective different modulation types, wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different modulation types to said at least one of said time slots.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said modulated information signals are transmitted at a rate of at least two bits per symbol.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein a first modulation type comprises phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.

37. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(e) receiving reverse information signals from an originating one of said subscriber units to a destination over a reverse channel at an assigned frequency, said reverse information signal being present on at least one time slot within a designated time frame.

38. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of said subscriber units is a mobile subscriber unit.

39. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

(e) multiplexing said information signals onto said channel.

40. In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising:

(a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a time division multiplex (TDM) channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a predetermined number of time slots, each time slot having a predetermined position in the time frame;

(b) assigning segments of each of said information signals to said time slots of said TDM channel;

(c) maintaining a memory of the predetermined positions of assigned time slots in said TDM channel; and

(d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.

41. The method of claim 40 wherein a frequency assigned to said channel has N time slots per time frame where N is at least four and N TDM channels are assigned to said at least one frequency such that an ith TDM channel corresponds to the time slots of an ith time slot position of said time frames, for i=1 to N, and said processor unit assigns a series of segments, which series combine to constitute a given information signal, to the ith time slot of consecutive time frames of the frequency in order to communicate the given information signal to a subscriber unit via the ith TDM channel of the frequency.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising:

(e) multiplexing said assigned segments into a series corresponding to said assigned time slots; and

(f) providing information signals in segments of a selected size to said multiplexer corresponding said assigned time slots.

43. The method of claim 40 wherein segments of information signals intended for different subscriber units are assigned to different time slots of a designated TDM channel.

44. The method of claim 40 wherein time slots of consecutive time frames are assigned for each segment of a given information signal.

45. The method of claim 40 further comprising:

(e) receiving signals on reception frequencies, wherein each frequency used for transmission has an associated frequency used for reception such that received signals on each respective reception frequency have time frames having the same predetermined number of time slots as signals transmitted on said associated frequency.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein each frequency used for transmission is different from said associated frequency used for reception and is separated therefrom by approximately 5 MHz.

47. The method of claim 40 wherein said information signals include voice information signals, said method further comprising:

(e) compressing said voice information signals into compressed voice information signals; and

(f) assigning time slots for segments of said compressed voice information signals.

48. The method of claim 40 wherein said information signals include command information signals, the method further comprising:

(e) assigning time slots for segments of said command information signals to a TDM channel designated as a radio control channel (RCC) for said subscriber units.

49. The method of claim 40 further comprising:

(e) allocating and deallocating time slot positions of frequency time frames by accessing said memory to dynamically define TDM channels.

50. The method of 49 wherein at least one frequency has time frames which each have four time slots, the method further comprising:

(f) allocating either one or two time slots per time frame for the frequency'"'"'s TDM channels such the frequency is allocated a maximum of four TDM channels, each corresponding to the time slots of a respective first, second, third or fourth time slot position of each of the frequency'"'"'s time frame and a minimum of two TDM channels, one corresponding to the time slots of first and second time slot positions of the frequency'"'"'s time frames and the other corresponding to the time slots of third and fourth time slot positions of the frequency'"'"'s time frames.

51. In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising:

(a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units in selected time slots of time frames of assigned frequencies, wherein the time frames for each frequency have a predetermined position in the time frame, and channels are defined by a group of time slots having the same relative position in each of a frequency'"'"'s time frames;

(b) assigning time slots for segments of each information signal being sent to a subscriber unit such that segments of a particular information signal are assigned to the time slots of a selected channel;

(c) maintaining information in a memory indicating which time slot positions in the time frames of each frequency are allocated to which channels; and

(d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.