Multiple antenna cellular network

• US 6,078,823 A
• Filed: 01/03/1996
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• 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:
  US08/582,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 455/53.1, 455/507, 455/33.1, 455/422, 455/33.2, 455/436, 455/33.3, 455/562, 455/56.1, 455/524, 455/101, 455/102, 455/103, 455/104, 455/105, 455/132, 455/133 , 455/134, 455/135, 455/277.1, 455/277.2, 455/88, 370/328, 370/332, 370/334, 370/347, 370/337, 375/220, 375/260, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• 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 antennas are similarly deployed to create a cell or cells. The transmit signal power is continuously modified to improve quality and to move the nulls 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 plurality of mobile stations within a cell, comprising:

a plurality of remote transceivers each having 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 having a down-converter, a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure inbound information signal strength and generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to an output port;

a local transceiver coupled to said output port of each of said remote transceivers and configured to receive said received signal strength value from each of said remote transceivers, to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria to allow said selected remote transceiver to transmit said inbound information to said local transceiver, and to transmit said outbound information to at least one of said remote transceivers; and

a 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.

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

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

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency; and

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell.

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

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value.

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

said remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said remote transceivers are configured to generate said received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

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

each of said remote transceivers includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile stations and an IF transceiver coupled to said output port to communicate IF information with said local transceiver, said IF information including both inbound information and control information wherein said inbound information is assigned to a set of time slots at a first IF frequency and said control information is assigned to a set of time slots at a second IF frequency, said control information including received signal strength values and selective switch settings; 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.

7. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 6, 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.

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

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency; and

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell.

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

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value.

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

said remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said remote transceivers are configured to generate said received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

11. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 1, for further communicating with a plurality of second mobile stations within a second cell, said network further comprising:

a plurality of second remote transceivers each having a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the second cell, said second remote transceivers configured to receive second inbound information from said second mobile stations and to transmit second outbound information to said second mobile stations, where each second remote transceiver is configured to communicate with second mobile stations in communication proximity to said respective antenna, and where each second remote transceiver includes a receive channel including a down-converter, a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure second inbound information signal strength and generate a second received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said second inbound information to an output port;

a second local transceiver coupled to said output port of each of said second remote transceivers and configured to receive said second received signal strength value from each of said second remote transceivers, to selectively set said switch in a selected second remote transceiver based on predetermined criteria to allow said selected second remote transceiver to transmit said second inbound information to said second local transceiver, and to transmit said second outbound information to at least one of said second remote transceivers; and

wherein said processor is coupled to said second local transceiver and configured to process said second inbound information and second outbound information to conform said second inbound information for communication with said external port and to conform said second outbound information for communication with said second mobile stations.

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

said local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical outbound information to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical outbound information;

said second local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical second outbound information to a multiplicity of said second remote transceivers; and

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical second outbound information.

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

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency;

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell;

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical second outbound information at a substantially identical frequency; and

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the second cell.

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

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set said switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value; and

said second local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected second remote transceiver having a greatest second received signal strength value.

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

said remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said remote transceivers are configured to generate said received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period;

said second remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said second mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said second remote transceivers are configured to generate said second received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said second local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected second remote transceiver having a greatest second received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a second remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said second local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a second remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

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

each of said remote transceivers includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said mobile stations and an IF transceiver coupled to said output port to communicate IF information with said local transceiver, said IF information including both inbound information and control information wherein said inbound information is assigned to a set of time slots at a first IF frequency and said control information is assigned to a set of time slots at a second IF frequency, said control information including received signal strength values and selective switch settings; 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;

each of said second remote transceivers includes an RF transceiver to communicate information with said second mobile stations and an IF transceiver coupled to said second output port to communicate IF information with said second local transceiver, said IF information including both second inbound information and second control information wherein said second inbound information is assigned to a set of time slots at said first IF frequency and said control information is assigned to a set of time slots at said second IF frequency, said control information including second received signal strength values and selective switch settings; and

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

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

said local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical outbound information to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical outbound information;

said second local transceiver is configured to communicate substantially identical second outbound information to a multiplicity of said second remote transceivers; and

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to simultaneously transmit said substantially identical second outbound information.

18. The multiple antenna cellular network of claim 17, wherein:

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical outbound information at a substantially identical frequency;

said multiplicity of remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary said outbound information output power to move nulls in the cell;

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to transmit said substantially identical second outbound information at a substantially identical frequency; and

said multiplicity of second remote transceivers are configured to periodically vary outbound information output power to move nulls in the second cell.

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

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value; and

said second local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected second remote transceiver having a greatest second received signal strength value.

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

said remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said remote transceivers are configured to generate said received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period;

said second remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said second mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

said second remote transceivers are configured to generate said second received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said second local transceiver is configured to selectively set the switch in a selected second remote transceiver having a greatest second received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a second remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said second local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a second remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

21. A method of communicating with a plurality of mobile stations within a cell using a multiple antenna cellular network having a plurality of remote transceivers each having a respective antenna and positioned at predetermined spaced apart locations to produce the cell and configured to receive inbound information from said mobile stations and transmit outbound information to said mobile stations, and where each remote transceiver includes a receive channel having a received signal strength measurement circuit configured to measure inbound information signal strength and generate a received signal strength value, and a switch to selectively allow or disallow transmission of said inbound information to an output port, a local transceiver coupled to said output of each of said remote transceivers and to a processor configured to process said inbound information and outbound information, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving inbound information at the remote transceivers;

measuring inbound information power levels from said mobile stations at each of said remote transceivers and generating a received signal strength value;

communicating said received signal strength values to said local transceiver;

determining in said local transceiver a selected remote transceiver meeting a predetermined criteria based on said received signal strength values and transmitting to said selected remote transceiver a selective switch setting;

setting the switch in said selected remote transceiver to allow communication of said inbound information to said local transceiver; and

transmitting said inbound information from said selected remote transceiver to said local transceiver.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

communicating substantially identical outbound information from said local transceiver to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

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

periodically varying an outbound information output power of said remote transceivers to move nulls in the cell.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said remote transceivers are configured to communicate with said mobile stations using a time division multiple access protocol having frames including a plurality of time slots;

and wherein;

said measuring step includes the steps of measuring inbound information power levels from said mobile stations and generating said received signal strength value for each of said frames; and

said determining step includes the step of selecting a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value, whereby;

(a) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a first frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a first time period; and

(b) a remote transceiver having a greatest received signal strength value during a second frame is configured to communicate said inbound information to said local transceiver during a second time period.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

communicating substantially identical outbound information from said local transceiver to a multiplicity of said remote transceivers;

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

periodically varying an outbound information output power of said remote transceivers to move nulls in the cell.