Full-Duplex Communications System

• US 20190327067A1
• Filed: 10/17/2017
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Photonic Systems Inc. (Photonics Systems Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Photonic Systems Inc. (Photonics Systems Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Cox, Charles H.
• Granted Patent: US 10,992,444 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2621 using frequency division multiple access [FDMA] H04B7/2615 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex

Abstract

A method of full-duplex cellular communications includes receiving a first signal transmitted by a first cellular device at a base station using a cellular uplink frequency in a cellular frequency band. A second signal is transmitted from the base station to the first cellular device using a cellular downlink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device. A third signal is transmitted from the base station to a second cellular device using the cellular uplink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device and simultaneously with the transmitting the second signal from the base station to the first cellular device.

Claims

1. A method of full-duplex cellular communications, the method comprising:

a) receiving at a base station a first signal transmitted by a first cellular device using a cellular uplink frequency in a cellular frequency band;

b) transmitting a second signal from the base station to the first cellular device using a cellular downlink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device; and

c) transmitting a third signal from the base station to a second cellular device using the cellular uplink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device and simultaneously with the transmitting the second signal from the base station to the first cellular device.

2. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 1 wherein the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device to the base station comprises receiving the first signal using a signal generated with a frequency division duplexing (FDD) communication protocol.

3. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 1 wherein the transmitting the third signal from the base station to the second cellular device comprises transmitting the third signal with a frequency division duplexing (FDD) communication protocol.

4. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 1 further comprising receiving a fourth signal transmitted by the second cellular device at the base station using a second cellular uplink frequency in a second cellular frequency band.

5. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 4 wherein the fourth signal transmitted by the second cellular device at the base station using the second cellular uplink frequency in the second cellular frequency band has a frequency division duplexing (FDD) communication protocol.

6. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 4 wherein the first cellular frequency band and the second cellular frequency band are different cellular frequency bands.

7. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 1 wherein both the first cellular device and the second cellular device comprise a legacy cellular device.

8. The method of full-duplex cellular communications of claim 1 wherein the first cellular device comprises a legacy cellular device and the second cellular device comprises a full-duplex cellular device.

9. A full-duplex cellular base station comprising:

a) a receiver coupled to an antenna and configured to receive a first signal transmitted by a first cellular device using a cellular uplink frequency in a cellular frequency band; and

b) a transmitter coupled to the antenna and configured to transmit a second signal from the base station to the first cellular device using a downlink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device, and configured to transmit a third signal from the base station to a second cellular device using the cellular uplink frequency in the cellular frequency band simultaneously with the receiving the first signal transmitted by the first cellular device and simultaneously with the transmitting the second signal from the base station to the first cellular device.

10. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a fourth signal transmitted by the second cellular device using a cellular uplink frequency in a second cellular frequency band.

11. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is configured to generate the second signal with a frequency division duplexing (FDD) communication protocol.

12. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the transmitter is configured to generate the third signal with a frequency division duplexing (FDD) communication protocol.

13. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the first and second cellular devices comprise legacy cellular devices.

14. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the first cellular device comprises a legacy cellular device and the second cellular device comprises a full-duplex cellular device.

15. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the antenna is coupled to the transmitter via an any frequency connector.

16. The full-duplex cellular base station of claim 9 wherein the antenna is coupled to both the transmitter and the receiver via an any frequency connector.