Mobile radio communication system and fixed and mobile units used therefor

• US 6,122,515 A
• Filed: 02/15/1995
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ito, Koichi, Sawa, Buntaro, Kuno, Jun, Marui, Kuniyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/381,994
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/59, 379/61, 455/34.1, 455/34.2, 455/426, 455/450, 455/455, 455/464, 455/553, 455/552, 455/509, 455/447
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/105 PBS [Private Base Station] network H04W84/12 - H04W84/16 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

In a mobile communication system of the present invention, a cordless base unit LBU is connected to a wired subscriber line SL. The base unit LBU detects a radio channel assigned to a cell other than a cell where the base unit LBU is located, among radio channels assigned to the cells of a cellular radio communication system. This radio channel is used as a radio channel for a cordless call. On the other hand, a cellular cordless telephone CCT is provided with a mode switch. When a cordless mode is designated by the mode switch, a radio channel for a cordless call is detected, as with the case of the base unit LBU. At the time of the cordless call, a transmission power level of the cellular cordless telephone CCT is set at a weak level smaller than that for a cellular call.

Claims

1. A fixed unit situated in a physical area of a cellular communication system wherein the physical area is divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other, and radio communication is performed between the base units of the cells and a mobile unit moving in the physical area by using communication channels of the communication channel groups, said fixed unit comprising:

a wired communication circuit configured for signal transmission/reception with a communication network via a wired line;

a control circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups assigned to cells of the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which a fixed unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the fixed unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups;

a radio communication circuit configured to select a communication channel to be used, on the basis of the communication channel groups stored in said control circuit, and to perform signal transmission/reception with the mobile unit via the selected communication channel; and

a communication control circuit configured to connect the wired communication circuit and the radio communication circuit in the case of performing communication between the communication network and the mobile unit.

2. The fixed unit according to claim 1, wherein said radio communication between said base unit and said mobile unit is performed at a level in a first transmission output level range.

3. The fixed unit according to claim 2, wherein said signal transmission/reception with said mobile unit is performed at a level which is lower than the output levels in the first transmission output level range.

4. A mobile unit used in a cellular communication system wherein a physical area is divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in the cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other, and radio communication is performed between the base units of the cells and a mobile unit moving in the physical area by using communication channels of the communication channel groups, said mobile unit comprising:

an operation circuit configured to designate the base unit or a fixed unit as a destination of communication connection;

a control circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups assigned to cells of the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which the mobile unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the mobile unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups;

a receiving circuit configured to selectively receive, in accordance with a designated result of the operation circuit, a signal sent via a communication channel of the communication channel group assigned to the cell in which the mobile unit is located or a signal sent from the fixed unit via a communication channel of one of the communication channel groups stored in the control circuit; and

a transmission circuit configured to perform, in accordance with the designated result of the operation circuit, transmission in a first case of performing radio communication with the base unit and transmission in a second case of performing communication with the fixed unit.

5. The mobile unit according to claim 4, wherein said radio communication between said base unit and said mobile unit is performed at a level in a first transmission output level range.

6. The mobile unit according to claim 5, wherein said transmission circuit performs transmission at a level in the first transmission output level range in the first case of performing radio communication with the base unit and transmission at a level which is lower than the output levels in the first transmission output level range in the second case of performing communication with the fixed unit.

7. A fixed unit situated in a physical area of a cellular communication system wherein the physical area is divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in the cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other, and radio communication is performed between the base units of the cells and a mobile unit moving in the physical area by using communication channels of the communication channel groups, said fixed unit comprising:

a wired communication circuit configured for signal transmission/reception with a communication network via a wired line;

a radio communication circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups employed in the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which a fixed unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the fixed unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

a communication control circuit configured to connect the wired communication circuit and the radio communication circuit in a case of performing communication between the communication network and the mobile unit.

8. A mobile unit of a cellular communication system used in a mobile communication system comprising the cellular communication system wherein a physical area is divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in the cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent one of the cells are different from each other, and radio communication is performed between the base units of the cells and the mobile unit moving in the physical area, and a fixed unit situated in said physical area of the cellular communication system and connected to a communication network via a wired line, said mobile unit comprising;

a connection destination determining circuit configured to determine the base unit or the fixed unit as a destination of radio connection;

a first radio communication circuit configured to perform radio communication with the base unit of one of the cells, when the base unit is determined as the destination of radio connection by the connection destination determining circuit, by selectively using a communication channel of the communication channel group assigned to the cell in which the mobile unit is located;

a control circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups assigned to cells of the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which the mobile unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the mobile unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

a second radio communication circuit configured to perform radio communication with the fixed unit, when the fixed unit is determined as the destination of radio connection by the connection destination determining circuit, by selectively using a communication channel of one of the communication channel groups stored in the control circuit.

9. The mobile communication system according to claim 8, wherein said connection destination determining circuit determines the base unit or the fixed unit as the destination of radio connection, on the basis of information for designating the connection destination input by an operation circuit.

10. The mobile communication system according to claim 8, wherein said connection destination determining circuit includes a circuit configured to determine whether an associated mobile unit is present in such a position as to permit radio communication with the fixed unit, and the connection destination determining circuit determines the fixed unit as the radio connection destination if said circuit has determined that the associated mobile unit is present in such a position as to permit radio communication with the fixed unit, and determines the base unit as the radio connection destination in another case.

11. The mobile unit according to claim 8, wherein said radio communication between said base unit and said mobile unit is performed at a transmission output level in a first transmission output level range.

12. The mobile unit according to claim 11, wherein said radio communication between said mobile unit and said fixed unit is performed at a transmission output level which is lower than the output levels in the first transmission output level range.

13. A mobile communication system comprising:

a cellular communication system covering a physical area which is divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in the mobile communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to the adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other;

a communication network;

a mobile unit movable in the physical area and configured to communicate with a base unit of a cell in which the mobile unit is located using a communication channel in the communication channel group associated with the cell in which the mobile unit is located; and

a fixed unit connection to the communication network,

wherein said fixed unit comprises;

a control circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups assigned to cells of the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which a fixed unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the fixed unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

a radio communication circuit configured to select a communication channel to be used, on the basis of the communication channel groups stored in said control circuit, and to perform signal transmission/reception with the mobile unit via the selected communication channel.

14. The mobile communication system of claim 13, wherein the fixed unit is connected to the communication network via a wired line.

15. A system comprising a fixed unit connected to a communication network and a mobile unit configured to communicate with a base unit of a cell in which the mobile unit is located, the cell being in a cellular communication system having a plurality of cells wherein said fixed unit comprises:

a control circuit for sequentially receiving signals transmitted via communication channels included in communication channel groups assigned to cells of the cellular communication system, identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which a fixed unit is situated, selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups which are not assigned to the one cell in which the fixed unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

a radio communication circuit configured to select a communication channel to be used, on the basis of the communication channel groups stored in said control circuit, and to perform signal transmission/reception with the mobile unit via the selected communication channel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the fixed unit is connected to the communication network via a wired line.

17. A mobile communication system comprising:

a cellular communication system for covering a geographical area which is geographically divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other, wherein radio communication is performed between the base unit, and a mobile unit moving in the geographical area, using a communication channel included in the one of the communication channel groups and a first transmission output level; and

a fixed unit connected to a communication network via a wired line,

wherein said mobile unit and said fixed unit comprise;

identification means for sequentially receiving communication channels included in the communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system, and identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which the mobile unit is situated;

storage means for selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system which are not assigned to the one of the cells at which the mobile unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

means for performing radio communication between the mobile unit and the fixed unit, using a communication channel included in the communication channel groups stored in the storage means, and a second transmission output level lower than the first transmission output level.

18. A mobile communication system comprising:

a cellular communication system for covering a geographical area which is geographically divided into a plurality of cells, each cell comprising a base unit and being assigned one of a plurality of communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system, such that at least those of the communication channel groups which are assigned to adjacent ones of the cells are different from each other, wherein radio communication is performed between the base unit and a mobile unit moving in the geographical area, using a communication channel included in the one of the communication channel groups and a first transmission output level; and

a fixed unit connected to a communication network via a wired line,

wherein said mobile unit and said fixed unit comprise;

identification means for sequentially receiving communication channels included in the communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system, and identifying, on the basis of the reception results, the one of the communication channel groups which is assigned to the one of the cells in which the mobile unit is situated;

storage means for selecting, on the basis of the identification results, those of the communication channel groups employed in said cellular communication system which are not assigned to the one of the cells at which the mobile unit is situated, and storing the selected communication channel groups; and

means for performing radio communication between the mobile unit and the fixed unit, using a communication channel included in the communication channel groups stored in the storage means.

19. The mobile communication system according to claim 18, wherein said fixed unit is located in a cell of the cellular communication system and comprises:

a first receiving circuit configured to receive signals sent via the communication channels of the communication channel groups assigned to the cells of the cellular communication system;

a control circuit configured to determine whether communication channels of the communication channel groups other than the communication channel group assigned to the cell in which the fixed unit is located are available on the basis of the signals received by the first receiving circuit; and

a second receiving circuit configured to receive a signal transmitted from the mobile unit via a communication channel determined to be available by the control circuit.

20. The mobile communication system according to claim 18, wherein said mobile unit comprises:

a receiving circuit configured to receive, in a first time period, a signal sent via a communication channel of the communication channel group of the cell in which the mobile unit is located, and receiving, in a second time period different from the first time period, a signal sent via a communication channel of one of the communication channel groups other than the communication channel group assigned to the cell in which the mobile unit is located; and

a call reception detection circuit configured to detect a call coming via the base unit and a call coming via the fixed unit on the basis of the signals received by the receiving circuit.

21. The mobile communication system according to claim 18, wherein said mobile unit comprises:

an operation circuit configured to designate the base unit or the fixed unit as a destination of radio connection; and

a radio communication circuit configured to selectively perform a radio communication operation with the base unit and a radio communication operation with the fixed unit in accordance with a designated content input by the operation circuit.

22. The mobile communication system according to claim 18, wherein said fixed unit is located in a cell of the cellular communication system and comprises:

a first receiving circuit configured to selectively receive signals sent via the communication channels of the communication channel groups assigned to the cells of the cellular communication system;

a control circuit configured to determine whether communication channels of the communication channel groups other than the communication channel group assigned to the cell in which the fixed unit is located are available on the basis of the signal received by the first receiving circuit; and

a transmission circuit configured to transmit a signal to the mobile unit via a communication channel determined to be available by the control circuit; and

said mobile unit comprises;

a receiving circuit configured to receive the signal from the fixed unit via the communication channel determined to be available by the control circuit of the fixed unit;

a mode setting circuit configured to set a cordless mode in a time period in which the signal transmitted to the mobile unit is received by the receiving circuit, and to set a cellular mode in another time period; and

a radio communication circuit configured to selectively perform a radio communication operation with one of the base units and a radio communication operation with the fixed unit in accordance with the mode set by the mode setting circuit.