Multi-purpose base station

• US 5,771,468 A
• Filed: 01/17/1996
• Issued: 06/23/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wi-Fi One, LLC (Inception Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Stein, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARISTILDE, JEAN
• Application Number:
  US08/587,493
• Time in Patent Office: 888 Days
• Field of Search: 455/561, 455/403, 455/426, 455/11.1, 455/560, 455/74, 455/74.1, 455/558, 455/90, 455/442, 455/450, 455/575, 370/466, 370/467, 370/422, 235/472
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

The invention provides a modular base station for use in a plurality of telecommunications systems where the systems operate according to different standards. The base station comprises a chassis having means for removably mounting system components to allow system components to be removed and replaced for operation in telecommunications systems operating according to varying standards. In a two system embodiment of the invention, logic circuitry and RF circuitry for each of the two systems is mounted in four PCMCIA slots. The base station can be used in either of the two systems depending on which systems control signals are received. When it is desired to use the base station in a third system that operates according to a third standard, the logic and RF circuitry of one of the systems can be replaced with circuitry capable of operation in the third system.

Claims

1. A base station for use in a plurality of telecommunications systems operating according to different system standards, said base station comprising:

at least one PCMCIA card slot for removably mounting at least one system component of a system of said plurality of telecommunications systems;

a line interface connected to at least one of said plurality of telecommunications systems; and

an interface for allowing electrical communication between said at least one means for removably mounting said line interface.

2. The base station of claim 1 in which said plurality of telecommunications systems comprises a single system and at least one PCMCIA card slot for removably mounting comprises a first PCMCIA card slot for removable mounting logic circuitry of said system and, a second PCMCIA card slot for removably mounting RF circuitry of said system and further, said base station further comprises a bus structure for providing electrical communication between said first and second means.

3. The base station of claim 1 in which said at least one PCMCIA card slot for removably mounting comprises a plurality of pairs of PCMCIA card slots, each pair of PCMCIA card slots comprising a first means and a corresponding second means, said first means of each pair of PCMCIA card slots for mounting logic circuitry of a selected system of said plurality of systems and said second means of each pair of PCMCIA card slots for mounting RF circuitry of said selected system.

4. The base station of claim 1 in which said at least one PCMCIA card slot for removably mounting comprises a plurality of means for removably mounting said at least one system component comprising a plurality of system components, said base station further comprising a bus structure providing electrical communication between said means for removably mounting.

5. The base station of claim 4 in which said plurality of system components comprises:

first RF circuitry for a first system of said plurality of telecommunications systems, said first RF circuitry for receiving an RF signal transmit at a frequency of said first system;

second RF circuitry for a second system of said plurality of telecommunications systems, said second RF circuitry for receiving an RF signal transmit at a frequency of said second system;

first logic circuitry for receiving an RF signal from said first RF circuitry and determining if said RF signal received from said first RF circuitry is a control signal of said first system; and

second logic circuitry for receiving an RF signal from said second RF circuitry and determining if said RF signal received from said second RF circuitry is a control signal of said second system.

6. The base station of claim 5 in which said plurality of system components further comprise:

a first line interface for receiving a first logic signal from said first logic circuitry and switching a connection from said first logic circuitry to said first system; and

a second line interface for receiving a second logic signal from said second logic circuitry and switching a connection from said second logic circuitry to said second system.

7. The base station of claim 1 in which said at least one telecommunications system comprises a system chosen from the group consisting of PCS, GSM, D-AMPS, AMPS, NMT, TACS and Mobitex systems.

8. The base station of claim 1 in which said at least one telecommunications system comprises a plurality of systems, said plurality of systems comprising systems chosen from the group consisting of PCS, GSM, D-AMPS, AMPS, NMT, TACS and Mobitex systems.

9. A base station for use in a plurality of telecommunications systems operating according to different system standards, said base station comprising:

a line interface connected to said plurality of communications systems;

first circuitry removably interfaced to the line interface through a PCMCIA card slot for a first system of said plurality of telecommunications systems, said first circuitry for receiving an RF signal transmit at a frequency of said first system;

second RF circuitry removable interfaced to the line interface through a PCMCIA card slot for a second system of said plurality of telecommunications systems, said second circuitry for receiving an RF signal transmit at a frequency of said second system;

first logic circuitry removable interfaced to the line interface through a PCMCIA card slot for receiving an RF signal from said first RF circuitry and determining if said RF signal received from said first RF circuitry is a control signal of said first system; and

second logic circuitry removable interfaced to the line interface through a PCMCIA card slot for receiving an RF signal from said second RF circuitry and determining if said RF signal received from said second RF circuitry is a control signal of said second system.

10. The base station of claim 9, wherein said line interface further comprises:

a first line interface portion for receiving a first logic signal from said first logic circuitry and switching a connection from said first logic circuitry to said first system; and

a second line interface portion for receiving a second logic signal from said second logic circuitry and switching a connection from said second logic circuitry to said second system.