Four frequency band single GSM antenna

• US 20050208986A1
• Filed: 12/10/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Reed, Eric, Best, Fiona S., McClintock, Dorothy A., Hartwell, Wesley R., Lee, William Jeremy
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,466 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.700
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/30 with feed to end of elongated active element, e.g. unipole H01Q9/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A reach back secure communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity includes a GSM fixed cellular terminal, and a single whip antenna adapted for user selectable use at any of four distinct frequency bands, e.g., 850, 900, 1800, or 1900. Immediate and secure voice, data and video connectivity is provided to multiple telecommunications networks. Integrated components simplify access to varied networks allowing deployed users to select and connect quickly to a network that best supports their present mission. Networking options include any of PSTN, PBX, GSM (or CDMA or other cell telephone standard), SAT, IP and WiFi. During secure call setup, the reach-back communications terminal exchanges public keys with a remote terminal using FNBDT signaling. Traffic encryption is performed using the NIST approved Advanced Encryption System (AES) standard (Rijndael) and a 128-bit random key (2{circumflex over ( )}128 possible keys).

Claims

1. A communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity, comprising:

a GSM fixed cellular terminal; and

a single antenna adapted for user selectable use at any of four distinct frequency bands.

2. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said four frequency bands are 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 1900 MHz.

3. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 2, wherein:

said single antenna is tuned for use at any of at least four different GSM frequencies, including 850 MHz at approximately 2.2 dBi, 900 MHz at approximately 2.2 dBi, 1800 MHz at approximately 3 dBi, and 1900 MHz at approximately 3 dBi.

4. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said single antenna is adapted to operate at 850 MHz at approximately 2.2 dBi.

5. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said single antenna is adapted to operate at 900 MHz at approximately 2.2 dBi.

6. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said single antenna is adapted to operate at 1800 MHz at approximately 3 dBi.

7. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said single antenna is adapted to operate at 900 MHz at approximately 3 dBi.

8. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 1, wherein:

said single antenna is a single whip antenna.

9. The communications terminal capable of GSM network connectivity according to claim 8, wherein:

said single whip antenna is mounted to said communications terminal at a fixed angle of approximately 90 degrees; and

said single whip antenna is rotatable about said fixed angle to allow movement of said single whip antenna such that communications with a GSM network using said single whip antenna may be optimized.

10. A method of optimizing use of a single whip antenna, comprising:

selecting a single whip antenna for use in a 850 MHz GSM frequency band;

selecting said single whip antenna for use in a 900 MHz GSM frequency band;

selecting said single whip antenna for use in a 1800 MHz GSM frequency band; and

selecting said single whip antenna for use in a 1900 MHz GSM frequency band;

wherein said single whip antenna is operable in at least four different GSM frequency bands.

11. The method of optimizing use of a single whip antenna according to claim 10, wherein:

said single whip antenna is operated in said 850 MHz frequency band at approximately 2.2 dBi.

12. The method of optimizing use of a single whip antenna according to claim 10, wherein:

said single whip antenna is operated in said 900 MHz frequency band at approximately 2.2 dBi.

13. The method of optimizing use of a single whip antenna according to claim 10, wherein:

said single whip antenna is operated in said 1800 MHz frequency band at approximately 3 dBi.

14. The method of optimizing use of a single whip antenna according to claim 10, wherein:

said single whip antenna is operated in said 1900 MHz frequency band at approximately 3 dBi.