ASYMMETRIC BROADBAND DATA NETWORK

• US 20100232355A1
• Filed: 03/13/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Global Communications, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Richeson, Steven D., Adrick, Jay C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,406,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

An asymmetric wireless network (100) includes a first base station (104) including a RF transceiver (208) having a first transmission range, a first transmit data rate, and a first coverage area. The wireless network also includes a second base station (106) comprising a RF transmitter (210) having a second transmission range, a second transmit data rate, and a second coverage area. In the wireless network, the second transmit data rate is greater than the first transmit data rate, the first and the second transmission ranges are substantially equal, and the first and the second coverage areas at least partially overlap. The wireless network also includes at least one computer network (108) communicatively coupling the base stations, configured for generating transmit data in response to a data request received at the first base station, and configured for routing the transmit data to the first or the second base station for transmission.

Claims

1. An asymmetric wireless network, comprising:

at least a first base station comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver having a first transmission range, a first transmit data rate, and a first coverage area;

at least a second base station comprising a RF transmitter having a second transmission range, a second transmit data rate, and a second coverage area, the second transmit data rate being greater than the first transmit data rate, the first and the second transmission ranges being substantially equal, and the first and the second coverage areas at least partially overlapping; and

at least one computer network communicatively coupling the first and the second base stations,

wherein the computer network is configured for generating transmit data in response to at least one data request received at the first base station, and routing the transmit data to at least one of the first and second base stations for transmission.

2. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the second base station comprises a RF broadcast service base station.

3. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the first base station comprises a RF Public Safety base station.

4. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station inside the first coverage area and the second coverage area, the computer network routes the transmit data to the second base station for transmission.

5. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station inside the first coverage area and outside the second coverage area, the computer network routes the transmit data to the first base station for transmission.

6. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station, the computer network routes the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a comparison of a quality of a first communications link between the first base station and the mobile station and a quality of a second communications link between the second base station and the mobile station.

7. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the computer network routes the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a size of the transmit data.

8. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein the computer network routes the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a priority of the data request.

9. The wireless network of claim 1, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station, the computer network is further configured for generating a cue for the mobile station, the cue identifying the one of the first and the second base stations selected for transmission of the transmit data.

10. A method for exchanging data over an asymmetric wireless network including at least a first base station comprising a radio frequency (RF) transceiver having a first transmission range, a first transmit data rate, and a first coverage area, at least a second base station comprising a RF transmitter having a second transmission range, a second transmit data rate, and a second coverage area, and at least one computer network communicatively coupling the first and the second base stations, where the second transmit data rate is greater than the first transmit data rate, the first and the second transmission ranges are substantially equal, and the first and the second coverage areas are at least partially overlapping, the method comprising:

receiving at least one data request at the first base station;

generating transmit data in the computer network in response to the data request; and

transmitting the transmit data using one of the first and second base stations.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the transmit data using the second base station further comprises selecting a RF broadcast service channel for transmission of the transmit data.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the transmit data using the first base station further comprises selecting a RF Public Safety channel for transmission of the transmit data.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station inside the first coverage area and the second coverage area, the step of transmitting the transmit data further comprises routing the transmit data to the second base station for transmission.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station inside the first coverage area and outside the second coverage area, the step of transmitting the transmit data further comprises routing the transmit data to the first base station for transmission.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station, the step of transmitting further comprises routing the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a comparison of a quality of a first communications link between the first base station and the mobile station and a quality of a second communications link between the second base station and the mobile station.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the transmit data further comprises routing the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a size of the transmit data.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of transmitting the transmit data further comprises routing the transmit data to one of the first and the second base stations based on a priority of the transmit data.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein responsive to a request for data being received at the first base station from a mobile station, the step of generating the transmit data further comprises selecting one base station of the first and second base stations prior to generating the transmit data, and generating a cue for the mobile station, the cue identifying the one of the first and the second base stations for transmission of the transmit data.

19. A mobile station, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver, comprising a transmitter for transmitting at least one data request to first base station and a receiver for receiving transmit data from at least one of the first base station associated with a first channel and a second base station associated with a second channel, the first base station being associated with a first transmit data rate and the second base station associated with a second transmit data rate greater than the first transmit data rate;

a processing element communicatively coupled to the transceiver, the processing element configured for;

generating the data request;

selecting one of the first and second channels for receiving the transmit data associated with the data request based on at least one of the data request, the quality of the communications link between the transceiver and the second base station, and a cue received by the transceiver identifying one of the first and second base stations.

20. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the second channel comprises a RF broadcast service channel.

21. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the first channel comprises a RF Public Safety channel.

22. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the processing element is further configured for selecting one of the first and the second base stations based the quality of the communications link between the transceiver and the second base station by comparing a quality of a communications link between the first base station and the transceiver and the quality of the communications link between the second base station and the transceiver.

23. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the processing element is further configured for selecting one of the first and the second base stations based on the data request by estimating a size of the transmit data.

24. The mobile station of claim 19, wherein the processing element is further configured for selecting one of the first and the second base stations based on the data request based a priority specified for the data request.