WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS USING MULTIPLE RADIOS
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a communication system and methods of use thereof. The system includes sets of complementary radios for transmitting and receiving signals to achieve high reliability and reduced costs. The sets of complementary radios are in wireless communication with each other. A new connection is made by selecting from amongst the complementary radios. Switching between complementary radios during a connection is also permitted. Optimized protocols and hardware for implementing the system are disclosed.
106 Citations
51 Claims
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1-31. -31. (canceled)
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32. A method of switching radio connections in a communication system, comprising:
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providing a peripheral node comprising a first set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the first set of radios of comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures; providing a base node comprising (1) a second set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the second set of radios comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures, wherein the peripheral node and the base node are constructed and arranged to wirelessly connect via both the first set of radios and the second set of radios, and (2) a controller configured to assess a quality of a wireless connection and send commands to the plurality of radios in the first set of radios and the second set of radios to activate or deactivate in real time based on the quality assessment; activating the wireless connection between the base node and the peripheral node by selecting a first radio from the first set of radios and a first radio from the second set of radios to form a forward radio connection that transmits data from the peripheral node to the base node; forming a reverse radio connection that transmits data from the base node to the peripheral node using a selected radio from the first set of radios and a selected radio from the second set of radios; and switching to a second radio from the first set of radios and a second radio from the second set of radios to maintain the forward radio connection during the wireless connection, in response to the commands from the controller provided through the reverse radio connection. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A communication system, comprising:
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a peripheral node comprising a first set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the first set of radios of comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures; and a base node comprising (1) a second set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the second set of radios comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures, wherein the peripheral node and the base node are constructed and arranged to wirelessly connect via both the first set of radios and the second set of radios, and (2) a controller configured to assess a quality of a wireless connection and send commands to the plurality of radios in the first set of radios and the second set of radios to activate or deactivate in real time based on the quality assessment; wherein the peripheral node and the base node are constructed and arranged to (1) activate the wireless connection between the base node and the peripheral node by selecting a first radio from the first set of radios and a first radio from the second set of radios to form a forward radio connection that transmits data from the peripheral node to the base node, (2) form a reverse radio connection that transmits data from the base node to the peripheral node using a selected radio from the first set of radios and a selected radio from the second set of radios, and (3) switch to a second radio from the first set of radios and a second radio from the second set of radios to maintain the forward radio connection during the wireless connection, in response to the commands from the controller provided through the reverse radio connection.
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45. The system of claim 45 wherein at least one radio of the second set of radios uses a multiple antenna scheme and at least one corresponding radio of the first set of radios uses a single antenna scheme.
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46. A method of using radio connections in a communication system, comprising:
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providing a peripheral node comprising a first set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the first set of radios of comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures; providing a base node comprising (1) a second set of radios for transmitting and receiving signals, wherein the second set of radios comprises a plurality of radios having complementary characteristics and different structures, wherein the peripheral node and the base node are constructed and arranged to wirelessly connect via both the first set of radios and the second set of radios, and (2) a controller configured to assess a quality of a wireless connection and send commands to the plurality of radios in the first set of radios and the second set of radios to activate or deactivate in real time based on the quality assessment; simultaneously transmitting, from the plurality of radios of the first set, of radios to the plurality of radios of the second set of radios; and combining signals from the plurality of radios of the second set of radios. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification