Microcell architecture

• US 5,870,392 A
• Filed: 12/28/1995
• Issued: 02/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ann, Bau-Hsing Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VINCENT, DAVID ROBERT
• Application Number:
  US08/579,946
• Time in Patent Office: 1,139 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/330, 370/335, 370/338, 370/342, 455/33.1, 455/33.4, 455/449
• US Class Current: 370/335
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A microcell architecture includes a macrocell base station capable of receiving signals from and transmitting signals to at least one microcell base station provided within a first predefined geographic area. The macrocell base station includes circuitry for converting downstream channel unit information to downstream baseband channel information and for modulating and transmitting the downstream baseband channel information. It also includes circuitry for demodulating received upstream baseband channel information and for converting the received baseband channel information to upstream channel unit information. Also provided is at least one microcell base station, provided within the first predefined geographic area, for communicating with wireless terminals within a second smaller predefined geographic area within the first predefined geographic area. The at least one microcell base station receives and demodulates the downstream baseband channel information and modulates it to an intermediate frequency signal for transmission to a wireless terminal. The at least one microcell base station also receives and converts upstream information from a wireless terminal to an intermediate frequency signal, separates the upstream information into baseband channel information and modulates and transmits it as the upstream baseband channel information to the macrocell basestation.

Claims

1. A microcell architecture comprising:

a macrocell base station capable of receiving signals from and transmitting signals to at least one microcell base station provided within a first predefined geographic area, the macrocell base station including circuitry for converting downstream code division multiple access (CDMA) coded channel unit information to downstream continuous analog in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) channels and for modulating the downstream continuous analog I and Q channels for transmission as downstream signals to the microcell base station on a common transmission line, and circuitry for demodulating received upstream continuous analog signals from the common transmission line and for converting the received upstream continvous analog signals to upstream CDMA channel unit information; and

at least one microcell base station configured for only Processing downstream signals in analog format and for only generating upstream signals in analog format, provided within the first predefined geographic area, for communicating with wireless terminals within a second smaller predefined geographic area within the first predefined geographic area, the at least one microcell base station receiving and demodulating the downstream continuous analog signals and having a CDMA radio that receives the demodulated downstream continuous analog signals and generates therefrom CDMA coded radio frequency signals for transmission to wireless terminals, the at least one microcell base station also receiving and converting upstream CDMA coded information from wireless terminals to upstream continuous analog I and Q channels and modulating and transmitting the upstream continuous analog I and Q channels on the common transmission line as upstream continuous analog signals to the macrocell base station.

2. A microcell architecture according to claim 1 wherein said downstream and upstream common transmission line comprises at least one radio frequency transmission line.

3. A microcell architecture according to claim 2, wherein the radio frequency transmission line is one of a coaxial cable or a twisted pair.

4. A microcell architecture according to claim 1, wherein the upstream and downstream transmission lines comprise a common transmission line that supports the transmission of the upstream and downstream signals.

6. A microcell architecture according to claim 1, wherein the macrocell base station and the at least one microcell base station include modulator/demodulator circuitry for modulating and demodulating the signals communicated therebetween via the upstream and downstream common transmission line.

7. A microcell architecture according to claim 6, wherein the modulator/demodulator circuitry comprise cable TV modulators and tuners.

8. A microcell architecture according to claim 1, wherein the macrocell basestation comprises at least one CDMA channel unit for processing the channel unit information.

9. A microcell architecture according to claim 8, wherein the macrocell basestation further comprises a CDMA controller for controlling the at least one CDMA channel unit.

15. A microcell architecture according to claim 1, wherein said downstream signals are transmitted on said common transmission line within a first frequency band and said upstream signals are transmitted on said common transmission line within a second frequency band.

5. A microcell architecture according to cliam 1, wherein each of the upstream and downstream transmission line comprises a fiber optic cable.

10. A microcell base station comprising:

an antenna for emitting and receiving electromagnetic signals to and from wireless terminals;

at least one input/output port allowing modulated code division multiple access (CDMA) coded continuous analog information to be received from and transmitted to a communication facility via a common transmission line;

a demodulator for demodulating the modulated CDMA coded continuous analog information received via the at least one input/output port to provide demodulated continuous analog signals;

an analog CDMA radio unit for generating, from the demodulated continuous analog signals, a radio frequency signal to be emitted by the antenna as an electromagnetic signal and for receiving CDMA coded continuous analog information from the wireless terminals, and generating therefrom upstream I and Q analog channels; and

a modulator for modulating the upstream analog I and Q channels for transmission via the at least one input/output port and common transmission line to the communication facility.

11. A microcell base station according to claim 10, wherein the modulator comprises a cable TV modulator.

12. A microcell base station according to claim 10, wherein the demodulator comprises a cable TV tuner/demodulator.

13. A method of communicating information between a communication facility and a microcell base station configured or only processin downstream signals in continuous analog format and for only generating upstream signals in analog format, comprising the steps of:

converting downstream CDMA channel unit information to downstream I and Q continuous analog channels;

modulating and transmitting the downstream I and Q continuous analog channels to provide downstream continuous analog signals to the microcell base station;

receiving and demodulating the downstream continuous analog signals at the microcell base station to provide demodulated continuous analog signals; and

modulating the demodulated analog signals at the microcell base station to provide a CDMA radio frequency signal for transmission to a wireless terminal.

14. A method of communicating information between a microcell base station configured for only processing downs earn signals in continuous analog format and for only generating upstream signals in continuous analog format and a communication facility, comprising the steps of:

receiving and converting upstream CDMA coded continuous analog information from a wireless terminal to upstream I and Q continuous analog channels;

modulating and transmitting the upstream I and Q continuous analog channels as upstream continuous analog signals to the communication facility;

receiving and demodulating the received upstream continuous analog signals; and

converting the received and demodulated upstream continuous analog signals to upstream CDMA channel unit information.