Multiple antenna cellular network

• US 6,070,071 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interwave Communications International SA (Alvarion Limited)
• Inventors: Sage, Gerald F., Sayers, Ian L., Chavez, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US08/748,015
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/436, 455/562, 455/524, 455/424, 455/101, 455/102, 455/103, 455/104, 455/105, 455/132, 455/133-135, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/69, 455/522, 455/503, 370/328, 370/332, 370/334, 370/347, 375/220, 375/260, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A multiple antenna cellular network communicates with a mobile station over a plurality of antennas. The antennas are arranged in a plurality of positions to customize a cell or cells. A transceiver is coupled to the antennas and configured to receive inbound information from the mobile station and transmit outbound information to the mobile station. A processor is coupled to the transceiver and configured to decode the inbound information and to encode the outbound information to communicate with the mobile station. In another embodiment, the transmit signal power is continuously modified to move interference nulls to improve quality so that a fixed location user can receive a high quality signal. Exemplary embodiments are provided for use with the Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) protocol and can be applied to other digital technologies.

Claims

1. A multiple antenna cellular network for communicating with a mobile station within a cell, comprising:

a plurality of remote transceivers each having a remote processor and a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the cell, said remote transceivers configured to receive inbound information from said mobile station and to transmit outbound information to said mobile station, where each remote transceiver is configured to communicate with mobile stations in communication proximity to said respective antenna, and where each remote transceiver includes a receive channel coupled to a communications port and a transmit channel coupled to said communications port;

a local transceiver coupled to said communications port of each of said remote transceivers and configured to receive said inbound information from said remote transceivers and to transmit said outbound information to said remote transceivers; and

a local processor coupled to said local transceiver and to an external port and configured to process said inbound information and outbound information to conform said inbound information for communication with said external port and to conform said outbound information for communication with said mobile stations;

wherein said local processor is configured to communicate a control word to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data;

wherein said local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical outbound information to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers and said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical outbound information; and

wherein said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency and to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell.

2. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

each remote transceiver is configured to communicate said inbound information from said mobile station to said local transceiver without frequency modification; and

each remote transceiver is configured to communicate said outbound information from said local transceiver to said mobile station without frequency modification.

3. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 2, wherein:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

4. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 3, further comprising:

a combiner coupled to said communications port of each remote transceiver and configured to combine said inbound information.

5. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

6. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

said configuration data includes test data; and

each remote transceiver includes a test circuit coupled to said remote processor and configured to execute a test corresponding to said test data to calibrate said remote transceiver.

7. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port; and

said local transceiver is configured to receive said signal strength value from each remote transceiver, to select a remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria, and to communicate said configuration data to said selected remote transceiver to instruct said selected remote transceiver to set said switch to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit said inbound information to said local transceiver.

8. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

each remote transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile station, a converter to convert RF information to IF information and to convert IF information to RF information, and an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver includes an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said remote transceivers and an interface circuit to communicate information with said processor.

9. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 8, wherein

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

10. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 8, wherein:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port; and

said local transceiver is configured to receive said signal strength value from each remote transceiver, to select a remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria, and to communicate said configuration data to said selected remote transceiver to instruct said selected remote transceiver to set said switch to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit said inbound information to said local transceiver.

11. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, wherein:

each remote transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile station, and an RF transceiver to communicate RF information with said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate with said remote transceivers, a converter to convert RF information to IF information and to convert IF information to RF information, and an interface circuit to communicate information with said processor.

12. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 11, wherein:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

13. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 11, further comprising:

a combiner coupled to said communications port of each remote transceiver and configured to combine said inbound information.

14. A multiple antenna cellular network for communicating with a mobile station within a cell, comprising:

a plurality of remote transceivers each having a remote processor and a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the cell, said remote transceivers configured to receive inbound information from said mobile station and to transmit outbound information to said mobile station, where each remote transceiver is configured to communicate with a mobile station in communication proximity to said respective antenna, and where each remote transceiver includes a receive channel coupled to a communications port and a transmit channel coupled to said communications port;

a local transceiver coupled to said communications port of each of said remote transceivers and configured to receive said inbound information from said remote transceivers and to transmit said outbound information to said remote transceivers; and

a local processor coupled to said local transceiver and to an external port and configured to process said inbound information and outbound information to conform said inbound information for communication with said external port and to conform said outbound information for communication with said mobile stations;

wherein said local processor is configured to communicate a control word to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data;

wherein each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port;

wherein said remote transceivers are configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to communicate said inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

wherein said remote transceivers are configured to measure a second inbound information power level from said second mobile station and to communicate said second inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

wherein said local transceiver is configured to select inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level and to select second inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest second inbound information power level;

wherein said remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

wherein said remote transceiver having the greatest second inbound information power level is configured to communicate said second inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

15. A multiple antenna cellular network for communicating with a mobile station within a cell, comprising:

a plurality of remote transceivers each having a remote processor and a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the cell, said remote transceivers configured to receive inbound information from said mobile station and to transmit outbound information to said mobile station, where each remote transceiver is configured to communicate with a mobile station in communication proximity to said respective antenna, and where each remote transceiver includes a receive channel coupled to a communications port and a transmit channel coupled to said communications port;

a local transceiver coupled to said communications port of each of said remote transceivers and configured to receive said inbound information from said remote transceivers and to transmit said outbound information to said remote transceivers; and

a local processor coupled to said local transceiver and to an external port and configured to process said inbound information and outbound information to conform said inbound information for communication with said external port and to conform said outbound information for communication with said mobile stations;

wherein said local processor is configured to communicate a control word to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data;

wherein each remote transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile station, a converter to convert RF information to IF information and to convert IF information to RF information, and an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said local transceiver;

wherein said local transceiver includes an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said remote transceivers and an interface circuit to communicate information with said processor;

wherein each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port;

wherein said remote transceivers are configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to communicate said inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

wherein said remote transceivers are configured to measure a second inbound information power level from a second mobile station and to communicate said second inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

wherein said local transceiver is configured to select inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level and to select second inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest second inbound information power level;

wherein said remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

wherein said remote transceiver having the greatest second inbound information power level is configured to communicate said second inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

16. A multiple antenna cellular network for communicating with a plurality of mobile stations within a plurality of cells, comprising:

for each cell;

(a) a plurality of remote transceivers each having a remote processor and a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the cell, said remote transceivers configured to receive inbound information from said mobile stations and to transmit outbound information to said mobile stations, where each remote transceiver is configured to communicate with mobile stations in communication proximity to said respective antenna, and where each remote transceiver includes a receive channel coupled to a communications port and a transmit channel coupled to said communications port; and

(b) a local transceiver coupled to said communications port of each of said remote transceivers and configured to receive said inbound information from said remote transceivers and to transmit said outbound information to said remote transceivers;

(c) wherein said local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical outbound information to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers and said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical outbound information; and

(d) wherein said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency and to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell; and

a local processor coupled to each of said local transceivers and to an external port and configured to process said inbound information and outbound information to conform said inbound information for communication with said external port and to conform said outbound information for communication with said mobile stations; and

wherein said local processor is configured to communicate a control word to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data.

17. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver is configured to communicate said inbound information from said mobile station to said local transceiver without frequency modification; and

each remote transceiver is configured to communicate said outbound information from said local transceiver to said mobile station without frequency modification.

18. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 17, further comprising for each cell:

a combiner coupled to said communications port of each remote transceiver and configured to combine said inbound information.

19. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 17, wherein for each cell:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

20. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

21. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein:

said configuration data includes test data; and

each remote transceiver includes a test circuit coupled to said remote processor and configured to execute a test corresponding to said test data to calibrate said remote transceiver.

22. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile stations and to generate received signal strength values, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port; and

said local transceiver is configured to receive said signal strength values from each remote transceiver, to select a remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria, and to communicate said configuration data to said selected remote transceiver to instruct said selected remote transceiver to set said switch to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit said inbound information to said local transceiver.

23. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port;

said remote transceivers are configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile stations and to communicate said inbound information power level to said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver is configured to set said switch in a remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level for a given time slot in a given frame to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit later inbound information during a later time slot in a later frame.

24. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile stations, a converter to convert RF information to IF information and to convert IF information to RF information, and an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver includes an IF transceiver to communicate IF information with said remote transceivers and an interface circuit to communicate information with said processor.

25. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 24, wherein for each cell:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

26. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 24, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile stations and to generate received signal strength values, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port; and

said local transceiver is configured to receive said signal strength values from each remote transceiver, to select a remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria, and to communicate said configuration data to said selected remote transceiver to instruct said selected remote transceiver to set said switch to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit said inbound information to said local transceiver.

27. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 24, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to said communications port;

said remote transceivers are configured to measure an inbound information power level from said mobile station and to communicate said inbound information power level to said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver is configured to set said switch in a remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level for a given time slot in a given frame to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit later inbound information during a later time slot in a later frame.

28. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 16, wherein for each cell:

each remote transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile station, and an RF transceiver to communicate RF information with said local transceiver; and

said local transceiver includes an RF transceiver to communicate with said remote transceivers, a converter to convert RF information to IF information and to convert IF information to RF information, and an interface circuit to communicate information with said processor.

29. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 28, wherein for each cell:

said configuration data includes a transmit power level.

30. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 28, further comprising for each cell:

a combiner coupled to said communications port of each remote transceiver and configured to combine said inbound information.

31. A method of communicating with a mobile station in a cell using a multiple antenna cellular network having a plurality of antennas positioned to produce the cell, a plurality of remote transceivers coupled to said antennas and configured to receive inbound information from said mobile station and transmit outbound information to said mobile station, a local transceiver coupled to said remote transceivers and to a processor configured to decode said inbound information and to encode said outbound information to communicate with said mobile station, said method comprising the steps of:

communicating a control word from said local transceiver to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data;

simultaneously transmitting substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency from a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

periodically varying outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell; and

receiving said inbound information by at least one remote transceiver.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

said step of communicating a control word includes the step of communicating configuration data including a transmit power level.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising the steps of:

measuring inbound information power level from said mobile station and communicating said inbound information power level to said local transceiver; and

selecting inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein:

said simultaneously transmitting outbound information step is performed by communicating said inbound information from said mobile station to said local transceiver without

said receiving inbound information step is performed by communicating said outbound information from said local transceiver to said mobile station without frequency modification.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising the step of:

combining said inbound information from said remote transceivers to said local transceiver.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein:

said step of communicating a control word includes the step of communicating configuration data including test data; and

said method further comprises the step of executing a test corresponding to said test data to calibrate said remote transceiver.

37. A method of communicating with a mobile station in a cell using a multiple antenna cellular network having a plurality of antennas positioned to produce the cell, a plurality of remote transceivers coupled to said antennas and configured to receive inbound information from said mobile station and transmit outbound information to said mobile station, a local transceiver coupled to said remote transceivers and to a processor configured to decode said inbound information and to encode said outbound information to communicate with said mobile station, said method comprising the steps of:

communicating a control word from said local transceiver to each of said remote transceivers, said control word including an address identifying a remote transceiver and configuration data;

simultaneously transmitting said outbound information from a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

receiving said inbound information by at least one remote transceiver;

measuring inbound information power level from said mobile station and communicating said inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

measuring second inbound information power level from said second mobile station and communicating said second inbound information power level to said local transceiver;

selecting inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest inbound information power level;

selecting second inbound information from the remote transceiver having the greatest second inbound information power level;

communicating said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

communicating said second inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein:

said step of communicating a control word includes the step of communicating configuration data including a transmit power level; and

said method further comprises the steps of periodically varying outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell, and periodically varying second outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell.