Method and apparatus for providing duplex communication service in geographical areas where conventional services are obstructed
First Claim
1. A method for providing a duplex geolocation service to a communication unit located within an area where an obstruction exists between the communication unit and a navigation satellite, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) receiving geolocation information from an antenna located in a proximity to the area, wherein the antenna receives a geolocation signal from the navigation satellite;
b) retransmitting the geolocation information by applying the geolocation information to a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area so that the communication unit can receive the geolocation information;
c) receiving, from the communication unit via the signal distribution means, an approximated position which the communication unit approximated using the geolocation information; and
d) reporting the approximated position to a host communication system which is associated with the communication unit.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system (10) and method delivers geolocation or other signals (26, 28) to a communication unit (24) located within an area (20) (e.g., a building) where an obstruction exists between the signal transmitter (12, 18) and the communication unit (24). The system (10) uses an infrastructure transceiver apparatus (14, 16, 22) to receive (204, 304, 604) the signals (26, 28) and retransmit (208, 310, 610) them within the area (20). A communication unit (24) calculates responsive data, such as its approximate position, from the retransmitted signals and reports (406, 704) the responsive data to a host system via the infrastructure transceiver apparatus (14, 16, 22).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing a duplex geolocation service to a communication unit located within an area where an obstruction exists between the communication unit and a navigation satellite, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving geolocation information from an antenna located in a proximity to the area, wherein the antenna receives a geolocation signal from the navigation satellite; b) retransmitting the geolocation information by applying the geolocation information to a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area so that the communication unit can receive the geolocation information; c) receiving, from the communication unit via the signal distribution means, an approximated position which the communication unit approximated using the geolocation information; and d) reporting the approximated position to a host communication system which is associated with the communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A method for providing a duplex geolocation service to a communication unit located within an area where an obstruction exists between the communication unit and a navigation satellite, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving geolocation information from an antenna located in a proximity to the area, wherein the antenna receives a geolocation signal from the navigation satellite; b) calculating a position from the geolocation information; c) retransmitting the position to the communication unit by applying the position to a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area so that the communication unit can receive the position; and d) reporting the position to a host communication system which is associated with the communication unit.
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4. A method for providing a duplex data service to a communication unit located within an area where an obstruction exists between the communication unit and a wireless signal transmitter, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a wireless signal from the signal transmitter by a device located in a proximity to the area; and b) retransmitting the signal, by the device, by applying the signal to a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area so that the communication unit can receive the signal; c) receiving, from the communication unit via the signal distribution means, responsive data; and d) sending the responsive data by the device, through a wireless link to a host communication system which is associated with the communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for a communication unit to send and receive signals when the communication unit is located within an area where an obstruction exists between a wireless signal transmitter and the communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a first wireless signal from a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area, wherein the signal distribution means received the first wireless signal from the wireless signal transmitter and retransmitted the first wireless signal throughout the area; b) calculating responsive data in response to the first wireless signal; and c) sending the responsive data through a wireless link to a host system associated with the communication unit by transmitting the responsive data to the wireless signal transmitter using the signal distribution means.
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9. A method for a communication unit to send and receive signals when the communication unit is located within an area where an obstruction exists between a signal transmitter and the communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a geolocation signal from a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area, wherein the signal distribution means received the geolocation signal from the signal transmitter and retransmitted the geolocation signal within the area; b) calculating responsive data which represents an approximate position of the communication unit, wherein the approximate position is calculated from geolocation information contained within the geolocation signal, wherein the geolocation signal is substantially similar to a first signal received by an antenna located in a proximity to the area and coupled to the signal distribution means; and c) sending the responsive data to a host system associated with the communication unit by transmitting the responsive data using the signal distribution means. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for a communication unit to send and receive signals when the communication unit is located within an area where an obstruction exists between a signal transmitter and the communication unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a geolocation signal from a signal distribution means which is dispersed throughout the area, wherein the signal distribution means received the geolocation signal from the signal transmitter and retransmitted the geolocation signal within the area; b) calculating responsive data which represents an approximate position of the communication unit from information contained within the geolocation signal, wherein the geolocation signal comprises a location of an antenna which is located in a proximity to the area and which is coupled to the signal distribution means, the antenna is fixed in space, and the location of the antenna is a programmed location; and c) sending the responsive data to a host system associated with the communication unit by transmitting the responsive data using the signal distribution means.
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12. A communication system comprising:
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multiple navigation satellites for sending geolocation signals; a repeater base station located in a proximity to an obstructed area within which the geolocation signals are significantly attenuated, wherein the repeater base station is coupled to an antenna which receives the geolocation signals from the multiple navigation satellites and to a signal distribution means dispersed throughout the obstructed area, the repeater base station retransmits the geolocation signals within the obstructed area using the signal distribution means, and the repeater base station reports an approximate position of a communication unit located within the obstructed area to a host system, wherein the approximate position is calculated from the geolocation signals; and the communication unit located within the obstructed area, for receiving the geolocation signals which are retransmitted by the repeater base station. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A repeater base station for receiving and retransmitting geolocation signals, the repeater base station comprising:
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a receiver for receiving the geolocation signals from at least one navigation satellite via an antenna coupled to the repeater base station; a processor, coupled to the receiver, for generating geolocation information by processing the geolocation signals in order to prepare them for retransmission within an obstructed area within which the geolocation signals from the at least one navigation satellite would be significantly attenuated; an infrastructure distribution system interface, coupled to the processor and to an infrastructure distribution system which is dispersed throughout the obstructed area, the infrastructure distribution system interface for retransmitting the geolocation information to a communication unit located within the obstructed area using the infrastructure distribution system; and a transmitter, coupled to the processor, for reporting an approximate position of the communication unit to a host system associated with the communication unit. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A repeater base station for receiving and retransmitting signals, the repeater base station comprising:
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a receiver for receiving the signals from at least one satellite via an antenna coupled to the repeater base station; a processor, coupled to the receiver, for generating information by processing the signals in order to prepare them for retransmission within an obstructed area within which the signals from the at least one satellite would be significantly attenuated; an infrastructure distribution system interface, coupled to the processor and to an infrastructure distribution system which is dispersed throughout the obstructed area, the infrastructure distribution system interface for retransmitting the information to a communication unit located within the obstructed area using the infrastructure distribution system; and a transmitter, coupled to the processor, for reporting responsive data from the communication unit through a wireless link to a host system associated with the communication unit, wherein the communication unit created the responsive data from the information, and wherein the host system communicates with the repeater base station through the at least one satellite.
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19. A communication unit for use within an obstructed area where geolocation signals from at least one navigation satellite are attenuated due to an obstruction between the communication unit and the at least one navigation satellite, the communication unit comprising:
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receiver means for receiving the geolocation signals from an infrastructure transceiver means which is dispersed throughout the obstructed area when the communication unit does not receive the geolocation signals directly from the at least one navigation satellite; processor means, coupled to the receiver means, for calculating an approximate position of the communication unit based on the geolocation signals; and transmitter means, coupled to the processor means, for transmitting the approximate position to a host system associated with the communication unit via the infrastructure transceiver means. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. A communication unit for use within an obstructed area where wireless signals from at least one satellite are attenuated due to an obstruction between the communication unit and the at least one satellite, the communication unit comprising:
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receiver means for receiving wireless signals from an infrastructure transceiver means which is dispersed throughout the obstructed area when the communication unit does not receive the wireless signals directly from the at least one satellite; processor means, coupled to the receiver means, for creating responsive data; and transmitter means, coupled to the processor means, for transmitting the responsive data through a wireless link, via the infrastructure transceiver means, to at least one satellite of a host system associated with the communication unit.
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Specification