Method and apparatus for direct communication between mobile stations
First Claim
1. A communication system that provides duplex communication between mobile stations over at least one RF channel divided into a plurality of time slots during which information are communicated in a duplex manner, comprising:
- a calling and a called mobile stations that communicate with each other in one of two communication modes, a direct mode, when the calling and called mobile stations engage in a direct duplex communication with each other, and an indirect mode, when the calling and called mobile stations communicate with each other through at least one base station; and
a controller that before a call set up, determines whether the calling and called mobile stations are in-range or out-of-range from each other, wherein the mobile stations communicate in direct mode if they are in-range and communicate in indirect mode if they are out-of-range, wherein the controller, in response to an in-range condition, allocates a first time slot during which the calling mobile station transmits the information to the called mobile station, while the called mobile station receives the transmitted information from the calling mobile station, and a second time slot during which the called mobile station transmits the information to the calling mobile station, while the calling mobile station receives the transmitted messages from the called mobile station, and wherein, when the mobile stations communicate in direct mode, the controller performs a direct mode test to determine whether direct communication between the mobile stations should be maintained or not.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a TDMA/TDD communication system and method, communication throughput is increased by allowing direct duplex communication between the mobile stations that are within close proximity of each other. The system and method determines the range of the mobile stations from each other. Based on the range, the communication units may communicate with each other in one of either direct mode or indirect mode. If an in-range condition is determined, the mobile stations engage in direct duplex communication with each other. Otherwise, they communicate with each other in the indirect mode.
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Citations
55 Claims
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1. A communication system that provides duplex communication between mobile stations over at least one RF channel divided into a plurality of time slots during which information are communicated in a duplex manner, comprising:
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a calling and a called mobile stations that communicate with each other in one of two communication modes, a direct mode, when the calling and called mobile stations engage in a direct duplex communication with each other, and an indirect mode, when the calling and called mobile stations communicate with each other through at least one base station; and a controller that before a call set up, determines whether the calling and called mobile stations are in-range or out-of-range from each other, wherein the mobile stations communicate in direct mode if they are in-range and communicate in indirect mode if they are out-of-range, wherein the controller, in response to an in-range condition, allocates a first time slot during which the calling mobile station transmits the information to the called mobile station, while the called mobile station receives the transmitted information from the calling mobile station, and a second time slot during which the called mobile station transmits the information to the calling mobile station, while the calling mobile station receives the transmitted messages from the called mobile station, and wherein, when the mobile stations communicate in direct mode, the controller performs a direct mode test to determine whether direct communication between the mobile stations should be maintained or not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A communication system for providing duplex communication between mobile stations over one or more RF channels divided into a plurality of time slots during which information are communicated, comprising:
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at least two mobile stations; and a controller for assigning transmit and receive time slots in response to a call request transmitted from a calling mobile stations to communicate with a called mobile station through a base station, wherein the controller is responsive to the range of the called and the calling mobile stations from each other for assigning the transmit and receive time slots to allow the calling and called mobile stations to engage in duplex communication with each other, wherein the controller, in response to an in-range condition determined before a call set up, allocates a first time slot during which the calling mobile station transmits the information to the called mobile station, while the called mobile station receives the transmitted information from the calling mobile station, and a second time slot during which the called mobile station transmits the information to the calling mobile station, while the calling mobile station receives the transmitted messages from the called mobile station, and wherein, when the mobile stations communicate in direct mode, the controller performs a direct mode test to determine whether direct communication between the mobile stations should be maintained or not. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method for providing duplex communication between two mobile stations over one or more RF channels divided into a plurality of slots during which information are communicated, comprising:
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generating a call request from a calling mobile stations to a calling mobile station through a base station; before setting up the call determining whether the calling and called mobile stations are in range; if in range, allocating time slots during which the mobile stations engage in a direct duplex communication with each other by allocating a first tine slot during which a calling mobile station transmits the information to a called mobile station, while the called mobile station receives the transmitted information from the calling mobile station, and a second time slot during which the called mobile station transmits the information to the calling mobile station, while the calling mobile station receives the transmitted messages from the called mobile station; and performing a direct mode test when the mobile stations communicate in direct mode to determine whether direct communication between the mobile stations should be maintained or not. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for providing duplex communication between two mobile stations over one or more RF channels divided into a plurality of slots during which information are communicated, comprising:
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placing the mobile stations in a direct mode, wherein in direct mode the base mobile stations engage in direct duplex communication with each other; communicating signaling information between the mobile stations while they engage in direct communication with each other; switching the communication mode of the mobile communication units from direct mode to indirect mode based on the signaling information communicated between the mobile stations, wherein, in indirect mode, the mobile stations engage in indirect duplex communication with each other through at least one base station, wherein the mobile stations communicate in direct mode by allocating a first time slot during which a calling mobile station transmits the information to a called mobile station, while the called mobile station receives the transmitted information from the calling mobile station, and a second time slot during which the called mobile station transmits the information to the calling mobile station, while the calling mobile station receives the transmitted messages from the called mobile station; and performing a direct mode test when the mobile stations communicate in direct mode to determine whether direct communication between the mobile stations should be maintained or not. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55)
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Specification