Multi-band cellular radiotelephone system architecture

• US 5,457,734 A
• Filed: 07/08/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T IPM Corp. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kanai, Takeo, Eryaman, Can A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US08/089,314
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 370/95.3, 375/1, 379/56, 379/58, 379/59, 455/20, 455/21, 455/22, 455/33.1, 455/33.2, 455/54.1, 455/101, 455/102, 455/34.1
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A dual frequency cellular radiotelephone system, having different service providers, serving mobile subscribers at first and second distinct frequency ranges, uses frequency conversion techniques, to serve both frequency ranges with a minimum of equipment duplication. A first service group is serviced by a first system including a mobile switching center (MSC), a first transmission unit, a first base station controller (BSC), a first base transceiver, a first linear amplifier and first antenna. The entire train of components is designed to support air interface transmissions at the first frequency band at which the first group is served. A signal frequency converter, connected to a transceiver of the first frequency band, converts downlink signals from the first frequency range to the second frequency range and uplink signals from the second frequency range to the first frequency range. Signals transmitted by the second antenna are within the second band of frequencies and signals received at the second band of frequencies are converted to signals within the first band of frequencies so that they may be processed by the first radio telephone system of the first frequency band. Mobile stations are identified by the subscriber group identification register for their subscriber group enabling distinct services and distince system parameters. Information concerning each mobile station of the first and second subscriber groups is obtained from the first and second subscriber information register databases.

Claims

1. In a cellular radiotelephone system for serving first and second distinct groups of mobile subscribers operating at first and second distinct radiotelephone communication frequency ranges;

a communication station for providing distinct cellular radiotelephone systems for serving first and second distinct subscriber groups at the first and second distinct frequency ranges utilizing a common call processing system;

comprising

means for processing telephone signals with a mobile switching center (MSC) to interconnect a public switched telephone network to a first cellular telephone system operating within a first one of the distinct frequency ranges and serving the first distinct subscriber group;

means for serving a second cellular telephone system operating at a second frequency within the second frequency range by converting uplink signals from the second subscriber group at the second frequency to the first frequency and converting downlink signals directed to the second distinct subscriber group to the second frequency from the first frequency; and

means for processing these telephone signals with the MSC;

means for providing first and second subscriber information data bases each describing attributes of mobile stations of the first and second subscriber groups, respectively; and

means for providing a subscriber group identification data base for identifying the distinct subscriber groups;

means for processing calls with the first subscriber group with the first cellular telephone system in conjunction with the first subscriber information data base;

means for processing calls with the second subscriber group with the second cellular telephone system by converting the frequency of downlink signals to the second group of subscribers from the first frequency to the second frequency and uplink signals from the second group subscribers from the second frequency to the first frequency;

means for processing signals to and from the first group of subscribers in response to data in the first subscriber information data base and processing signals to and from the second group of subscribers in response to data in the second subscriber information data base.

2. In a cellular radiotelephone system for serving first and second distinct groups of mobile subscribers operating at first and second distinct radiotelephone communication frequency ranges;

as claimed in claim 1;

including;

means for transmitting and receiving signals at the first frequency range between a feed access and the frequency converter over an optical transmission facility.