Method and an apparatus for establishing the functional capabilities for wireless communications between a base unit and a remote unit

• US 5,267,244 A
• Filed: 11/08/1991
• Issued: 11/30/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Atmel Corporation (Microchip Technology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Teknekron Communications Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Lu, Hulhung, Flores, Christopher, Messerschmitt, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLUM, RUSSELL
• Application Number:
  US07/789,348
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 370/18, 370/50, 370/95.3, 370/105.2, 370/107, 370/110.1, 370/29, 379/63, 375/115, 455/32.1, 455/34.2
• US Class Current: 370/342
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/31 combining coding for error detection or correction and efficient use of the spectrum without error detection or correction H03M5/14 , H03M5/145
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 5/145 Conversion to or from block codes or representations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/4908 using mBnB codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72502 with one base station connected to a single line

Abstract

In a wireless communication system between a base unit and a remote unit, the base unit transmits periodically a sync signal in a first selected time period in a selected frequency channel. The remote unit scans the frequency channels to detect the sync signal. The remote unit transmits a response signal in the selected frequency channel. The response signal is transmitted in a second selected time period different from the first selected time period. In addition, the remote unit transmits a first control signal encoded by a first code in the selected frequency channel in a third selected time period, different from the first and second selected time periods, containing a set of functional capabilities of the remote unit. The base unit receives and decodes the first control signal to derive the set of functional capabilities of the remote unit and compares it to its own set of functional capabilities to determine a common set of functional capabilities. The base unit transmits a second control signal encoded by the first code in the same selected frequency channel in a fourth selected time period containing the common set of functional capabilities. Thereafter, communication between the base unit and the remote unit is based upon a functional capability selected from the common set.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a full duplex wireless communication link over a common selected frequency channel between a base unit having a first set of functional capabilities and a remote unit having a second set of functional capabilities wherein said base unit is without a priori knowledge of the functional capabilities of the remote unit, said method comprising:

transmitting periodically a sync signal in a first selected time period, in the common selected frequency channel, by the base unit;

scanning by said remote unit to detect said sync signal;

transmitting a first response signal in the common selected frequency channel by said remote unit, in response to the detection of said sync signal, in a second selected time period, different from the first selected time period;

transmitting a first control signal encoded by a first code by the remote unit in the common selected frequency channel, in a third selected time period, different from the first and second selected time periods, said first control signal containing the second set of functional capabilities;

receiving the first control signal by the base unit;

decoding the first control signal by the base unit to derive the second set of functional capabilities;

comparing the second set to the first set by the base unit and determining a common set of functional capabilities thereof;

transmitting a second control signal encoded by the first code by the base unit in the common selected frequency channel, in a fourth selected time period, different from the first, second and third selected time periods, said second control signal containing the common set of functional capabilities; and

communicating between the base unit an the remote unit based upon a functional capability from the common set.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

transmitting in said selected frequency channel an acknowledgement signal by the base unit, in response to the first response signal from the remote unit, in a fifth time period, different from the first, second, third, and fourth time periods.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first code is a CDMA code.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting one of a plurality of frequency channels by said base unit as said selected frequency channel, and wherein said scanning step further comprising scanning said plurality of frequency channels, one at a time.

4. The method of claim I wherein said sync signal is encoded by a second code, different from the first code.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said second code is a CDMA code.

7. An apparatus for establishing a full duplex wireless communication link over a common selected frequency channel between a base unit, having a first set of functional capabilities, and a remote unit, having a second set of functional capabilities wherein said base unit is without a priori knowledge of the functional capabilities of the remote unit, comprising:

means for transmitting periodically a sync signal in a first selected time period in the common selected frequency channel by the base unit;

means for detecting said sync signal, by said remote unit;

means for transmitting a first response signal in the common selected frequency channel by said remote unit, in response to the detection of said sync signal, in a second selected time period, different from the first selected time period;

means for transmitting a first control signal encoded by a first code by the remote unit in the common selected frequency channel, in a third selected time period, different from the first and second selected time periods, said first control signal containing the second set of functional capabilities;

means for receiving the first control signal by the base unit;

means for decoding the first control signal by the base unit, to derive the second set of functional capabilities;

means for comparing the second set to the first set by the base unit and for determining a common set of functional capabilities thereof;

means for transmitting a second control signal encoded by the first code by the base unit in the common selected frequency channel, in a fourth selected time period, different from the first, second and third selected time periods, said second control signal containing the common set of functional capabilities; and

means for communicating between the base unit and the remote unit based upon a functional capability from the common set.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

means for transmitting in said selected frequency channel an acknowledgement signal by the base unit, in response to the first response signal from the remote unit, in a fifth time period, different from the first, second, third, and fourth time periods.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said first code is a CDMA code.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said sync signal is encoded by a second code, different from the first code.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said second code is a CDMA code.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising means for selecting one of a plurality of frequency channels by said base unit, as said selected frequency channel.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said detecting means further comprising:

means for scanning said plurality of frequency channels, one at a time.