Wireless communication system using distributed switched antennas
First Claim
1. A method of achieving increased coverage and macro diversity from a single base station in a wireless communication system having a base station coupled to N antennas, said method comprising the steps of:
- (1) transmitting from said base station N control messages in N downlink control slots of a frame each via one of said antennas;
(2) transmitting a data message addressed to a mobile unit in one of N downlink data slots of said frame via a particular one of said antennas previously assigned to said mobile unit for the duration of an active call;
(3) receiving in said mobile unit said control messages and said data message;
(4) analyzing in said mobile unit said control messages to identify from said antennas a best antenna;
(5) transmitting from said mobile unit to said base station a new antenna request identifying said best antenna in one of N uplink control slots of said frame, said one of N uplink control slots being associated with said particular one of said antennas; and
(6) using in response to said new antenna request said best antenna to transmit from said base station one or more subsequent data messages addressed to said mobile unit.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Increased coverage and macro diversity from a single base station in a wireless communication system by having a base station coupled to N antennas is described. Increased coverage and macro diversity are achieved by transmitting from the base station N control messages each via one of the antennas, and transmitting a data message addressed to a mobile unit via a particular one of the antennas previously assigned to the mobile unit for an active call. The mobile unit receives the control messages and the data message and analyzes the control messages to identify from the antennas a best antenna. The mobile unit then transmits to the base station a new antenna request identifying the best antenna in an uplink control slot of a frame. The uplink control field is associated with the particular one of the antennas. The base station uses the best antenna to transmit subsequent data messages addressed to the mobile unit. A random access technique, to allow mobile units that are going from an inactive status to an active status, is provided by connecting all base station antennas together during non-call-affiliated slots in the uplink portion of the frame.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of achieving increased coverage and macro diversity from a single base station in a wireless communication system having a base station coupled to N antennas, said method comprising the steps of:
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(1) transmitting from said base station N control messages in N downlink control slots of a frame each via one of said antennas; (2) transmitting a data message addressed to a mobile unit in one of N downlink data slots of said frame via a particular one of said antennas previously assigned to said mobile unit for the duration of an active call; (3) receiving in said mobile unit said control messages and said data message; (4) analyzing in said mobile unit said control messages to identify from said antennas a best antenna; (5) transmitting from said mobile unit to said base station a new antenna request identifying said best antenna in one of N uplink control slots of said frame, said one of N uplink control slots being associated with said particular one of said antennas; and (6) using in response to said new antenna request said best antenna to transmit from said base station one or more subsequent data messages addressed to said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of achieving increased coverage and macro diversity from a single base station in a wireless communication system having a base station coupled to N antennas, comprising the steps of:
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(1) transmitting from said base station N control messages in N control fields of a downlink control/data slot of a frame, said downlink control/data slot being associated with a mobile unit for the duration of an active call, each of said control messages being transmitted via one of said antennas; (2) transmitting a data message addressed to said mobile unit in a data field of said downlink control/data slot, said data message being transmitted via a particular one of said antennas previously assigned to said mobile unit; (3) receiving in said mobile unit said control messages and said data message; (4) analyzing in said mobile unit said control messages to identify from said antennas a best antenna; (5) transmitting from said mobile unit to said base station a new antenna request identifying said best antenna in a control field of an uplink control/data slot of said frame, said uplink control/data slot being associated with said mobile unit for the duration of an active call, said control field of said uplink control/data slot being associated with said particular one of said antennas; and (6) using in response to said new antenna request said best antenna to transmit from said base station one or more subsequent data messages addressed to said mobile unit. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A radio sub-system of a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a base station; N antennas each positioned in a sub-cell of a cell; a switch connected to said base station and to said antennas, to selectively connect said base station to said antennas; and a mobile unit; said base station comprising; means for transmitting N control messages in N downlink control slots of a frame each via one of said antennas; and means for transmitting a data message addressed to said mobile unit in one of N downlink data slots of said frame via a particular one of said antennas previously assigned to said mobile unit; said mobile unit comprising; means for receiving said control messages and said data message; means for analyzing said control messages to identify from said antennas a best antenna; and means for transmitting to said base station a new antenna request identifying said best antenna in one of N uplink control slots of said frame, said one of N uplink control slots being associated with said particular one of said antennas. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A radio subsystem of a wireless communication system, comprising:
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a base station; N antennas each positioned in a sub-cell of a cell; a switch connected to said base station and to said antennas, to selectively connect said base station to said antennas; and a mobile unit; said base station comprising; means for transmitting N control messages in N control fields of a downlink beacon slot each via one of said antennas; means for transmitting system messages in at least one system message field of said downlink beacon slot; means for transmitting system related control information in at least one system related field of said downlink beacon slot; and means for transmitting a data message addressed to said mobile unit via a particular one of said antennas previously assigned to said mobile unit; said mobile unit comprising; means for receiving said control messages and said data message; means for analyzing said control messages to identify from said antennas a best antenna; and means for transmitting to said base station a new antenna request identifying said best antenna. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification