Radio signal scanning and targeting system for use in land mobile radio base sites

• US 6,006,113 A
• Filed: 07/26/1996
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Radio Frequency Systems Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Radio Frequency Systems Incorporated (Amphenol Corporation)
• Inventors: Meredith, Sheldon Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/708,130
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562, 455/422, 455/436, 455/445, 455/524, 455/507, 455/272, 455/273, 455/275, 455/277.1, 455/25, 455/101-103, 455/132-134, 455/137, 455/129, 455/125, 455/13 6, 342/368, 342/378, 333/100, 333/101
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/24 varying the orientation by switching energy from one active radiating element to another, e.g. for beam switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas

Abstract

A scanning and targeting system (100) interconnects a plurality of radio channel units (203) in a single trunk group with a plurality of antennas (202), each radio channel unit (203) having a receive section and a transmit section and the scanning and targeting system dynamically connecting the receive section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of the plurality of antennas which, on average during a sampling period, has the strongest received signal strength of RF signals at the operating frequency of the radio channel unit, and the scanning and targeting system dynamically interconnecting the transmit section of each of the plurality of radio channel units with any one of the plurality of antennas which, on average during the sampling period, is best suited for transmitting RF signals at the operating frequency of the radio channel unit in a direction corresponding to the desired destination for the transmitted RF signals.

Claims

1. A scanning and targeting system for interconnecting a plurality of radio channel units in a single trunk group with a plurality of antenna beams, each radio channel unit having a receive section and a transmit section, said scanning and targeting system comprising:

receiving means for dynamically connecting the receive section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of the plurality of antenna beams which, on average during a sampling period, has the strongest received signal strength of RF signals at an operating frequency of the one radio channel unit, said receive means including;

a plurality of frequency controllable receiver means, each associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units;

first switching means for selectively connecting each one of the antenna beams to each one of said frequency controllable receiver means; and

control means for controlling said first switching means to selectively interconnect each one of the antenna beams with each one of said frequency controllable receiver means and for controlling said frequency controllable receiver means to provide signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding group; and

transmit means for dynamically connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of the plurality of antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, is best suited for transmitting RF signals at the operating frequency of the one radio channel unit in a direction corresponding to a desired destination for the transmitted RF signals.

2. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means further comprises second switching means for connecting the receive section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of the antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to connect the receive section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of the one radio channel unit.

3. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 2, wherein said transmit means comprises third switching means for connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of the antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said third switching means to connect the transmit section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of the one radio channel unit.

4. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 3, wherein said plurality of frequency controllable receiver means includes:

a plurality of scanning receivers, each associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units; and

a plurality of phase lock loops, each associated with one of said scanning receivers; and

wherein said control means controls said phase lock loops to modulate said scanning receivers at the operating frequency of radio channel units in said corresponding group, and wherein said scanning receivers provide said control means with signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding group.

5. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 2, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receive capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to dynamically connect the receive section of each one of the radio channel units with two of the plurality of antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of the one radio channel unit.

6. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 1, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receiver capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said receiving means dynamically connects the receive section of each one of the radio channel units with two of the plurality of antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of the one radio channel unit.

7. A scanning and targeting system, comprising:

a plurality of radio channel units, each having a receive section and a transmit section;

a plurality of antenna beams;

means for interconnecting said plurality of radio channel units in a single trunk group with said plurality of antenna beams, said means for interconnecting including a receive modular interconnect matrix for dynamically connecting the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams which, on average during a sampling period, has the strongest received signal strength of RF signals at an operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units, and

wherein said receive modular interconnect matrix includes;

a plurality of frequency controllable receiver means, each associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units;

first switching means for selectively connecting each one of the antenna beams to each one of said frequency controllable receiver means; and

control means for controlling said first switching means to selectively interconnect each one of the antenna beams with each one of said frequency controllable receiver means and for controlling said frequency controllable receiver means to provide signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding group.

8. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 7 wherein said means for interconnecting further includes a transmit modular interconnect matrix for dynamically connecting the transmit section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, is best suited for transmitting RF signals at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units in a direction corresponding to a desired destination for the transmitted RF signals.

9. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 8, wherein said receive modular interconnect matrix further includes second switching means for connecting the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to connect the receive section of one of said radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

10. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 9, wherein said transmit modular interconnect matrix includes third switching means for connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said third switching means to connect the transmit section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

11. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 10, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receiver capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to dynamically connect the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with two of said antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

12. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 11, wherein said plurality of frequency controllable receiver means includes:

a plurality of scanning receivers, each associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units; and

a plurality of phase lock loops, each associated with one of said scanning receivers; and

wherein said control means controls said phase lock loops to modulate said scanning receivers at the operating frequency of radio channel units in said corresponding group, and wherein said scanning receivers provide said control means with signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding group.

13. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 8, wherein said transmit modular interconnect matrix includes third switching means for connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said third switching means to connect the transmit section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

14. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 7, wherein said receive modular interconnect matrix further includes

second switching means for connecting the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to connect the receive section of one of said radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

15. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 14, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receiver capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to dynamically connect the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with two of said antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

16. A scanning and targeting system, comprising:

a plurality of radio channel units, each having a receive section and a transmit section;

a plurality of antenna beams; and

means for interconnecting said plurality of radio channel units in a single trunk group with said plurality of antenna beams, said means for interconnecting including;

a receive modular interconnect matrix having;

a plurality of frequency controllable receiver means, each associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units;

first switching means for selectively connecting each one of the antenna beams to each one of said frequency controllable receiver means; and

control means for controlling said first switching means to selectively interconnect each one of the antenna beams with each one of said frequency controllable receiver means and for controlling said frequency controllable receiver means to provide signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of the radio channel units in said corresponding group; and

a transmit modular interconnect matrix for dynamically connecting the transmit section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, is best suited for transmitting RF signals at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units in a direction corresponding to a desired destination for the transmitted RF signals.

17. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 16, wherein said transmit modular interconnect matrix includes third switching means for connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said third switching means to connect the transmit section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

18. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 17, wherein said receive modular interconnect matrix further includes second switching means for connecting the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to connect the receive section of one of said radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

19. A scanning and targeting system according to claim 18, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receiver capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to dynamically connect the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with two of said antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

20. A land mobile radio base site having a plurality of radio channel units and a plurality of antenna beams, each radio channel unit having a receive section and a transmit section, the base site having a scanning and targeting system for interconnecting the transmit and receive sections of the radio channel units in a single trunk group with the antenna beams to exchange RF signals with remote mobile radios, the scanning and targeting system comprising:

at least one receive modular interconnect matrix, each receive modular interconnect matrix being associated with a corresponding group of radio channel units and dynamically connecting the receive section of each one of the radio channel units in said corresponding group with any one of the antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, has the strongest received signal strength of RF signals at the operating frequency of said one of the radio channel units in said corresponding group, each receive modular interconnect matrix including;

a plurality of scanning receivers, each associated with a corresponding sub-group of radio channel units in said corresponding group of radio channel units;

first switching means for selectively connecting each one of the antenna beams to each one of said scanning receivers;

a plurality of phase lock loops, each associated with one of said scanning receivers; and

control means for controlling said first switching means to selectively interconnect each one of the antenna beams with each one of said scanning receivers, for controlling said phase lock loops to modulate said scanning receivers at the operating frequency of radio channel units in said corresponding sub-group, and for receiving from said scanning receivers signal strength measurements of RF signals received at the operating frequencies of radio channel units in said corresponding sub-group.

21. A land mobile radio base site according to claim 20, further comprising at least one transmit modular interconnect matrix, each transmit modular interconnect matrix being associated with a corresponding receive modular interconnect matrix and dynamically connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units in said corresponding group with any one of the antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, is best suited for transmitting RF signals at the operating frequency of said one of the radio channel units in said corresponding group in a direction corresponding to the desired destination for the transmitted RF signals.

22. A land mobile radio base site according to claim 21, wherein said at least one receive modular interconnect matrix further comprises second switching means for connecting the receive section of each one of said radio channel units in said corresponding group of radio channel units with any one of said antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to connect the receive section of one of said radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of said radio channel units.

23. A land mobile radio base site according to claim 22, wherein said at least one transmit modular interconnect matrix includes third switching means for connecting the transmit section of each one of the radio channel units in said corresponding group with any one of the antenna beams, and wherein said control means controls said third switching means to connect the transmit section of one of the radio channel units with the antenna beam indicated as having the strongest signal strength of RF signals received at the operating frequency of said one of the radio channel units.

24. A land mobile radio base site according to claim 23, wherein each radio channel unit has a diversity receiver capable of receiving signals from two antenna beams and determining the signal having the strongest signal strength, and wherein said control means controls said second switching means to dynamically connect the receive section of each one of said radio channel units with two of the antenna beams which, on average during said sampling period, have the strongest received signal strength of RF signal at the operating frequency of said one of the radio channel units.