Wireless communication system that supports selection of operation from multiple frequency bands and multiple protocols and method of operation therefor

• US 6,128,490 A
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 10/03/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Huang, Chenhong, Shaheen, Kamel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOBUTKA, PHILIP
• Application Number:
  US08/994,353
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552, 455/553, 455/403, 455/422, 455/453, 455/434, 455/561, 455/450, 455/451, 455/452, 455/62, 455/524, 455/525, 455/443, 375/220, 370/329, 370/330, 370/341, 370/343, 370/344
• US Class Current: 455/434
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2612 Arrangements for wireless medium access control, e.g. by allocating physical layer transmission capacity H04B7/2615 - H04B7/2643 take precedence; provision for broadband connection H04Q11/0478
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• 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

A wireless communication system facilitates wireless communication with a subscribing unit operating within a respective service area. At least one base station supports wireless communication within the service area in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols. In a broadcast message, a transmitting base station indicates to the subscribing unit the plurality of frequency bands and the plurality of communication protocols available. The subscribing unit receives the broadcast message and communicates with the base station on one of the plurality of frequency bands according to one of the plurality of communication protocols. In another embodiment, the system includes a plurality of base stations providing overlying coverage within the service area. In such systems, multiple broadcast message may provide information regarding the overlying coverage provided. The broadcast message may also include channel information that indicates the available channels within the available frequency bands, preference information, traffic levels within the frequency bands, available bandwidth within the frequency bands and system operator information that may indicates to the subscribing unit operation on reserved portions of the frequency band is available. The broadcast message may also indicate traffic levels on overlying systems, the bandwidth provided and cost of service for the overlying systems. A subscribing unit operating within the service area receives the broadcast message, makes operational decisions, may elicit additional information, makes operational determinations and communicates on a selected frequency band according to a selected communication protocol.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system that facilitates wireless communication with a subscribing unit operating within a service area, the wireless communication system comprising:

a base station providing wireless communication within the service area in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols;

the base station indicating the plurality of frequency bands and the plurality of communication protocols in a broadcast message;

the subscribing unit receiving the broadcast message and transmitting a request to the base station based upon contents of the broadcast message, the request requesting operations supported by the base station; and

the subscribing unit communicating with the base station on one of the plurality of frequency bands according to one of the plurality of communication protocols.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the broadcast message further including channel information, the channel information indicating available channels within the frequency bands.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2, the channel information comprising information regarding control channels within the frequency bands.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates preferred operation among the plurality of frequency bands and among the plurality of communication protocols.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates traffic levels within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates available bandwidth within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the broadcast message including system operator information that is available to a subscribing unit.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 7, the system operator information indicating to the subscribing unit portions of at least one frequency band reserved for the subscribing unit.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the plurality of frequency bands including the 800 MHz frequency band and the 1900 MHz frequency band.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the plurality of communication protocols including an analog protocol and a code division multiple access protocol.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 10, the plurality of communication protocols is selected from the group consisting of IS-91A, TIA/EIA 691, TIA/EIA 553A, IS-95B and later revision protocols.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1, the base station responding to the information request with requested information.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for code division multiple access operation.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for high speed data operation.

15. A wireless communication system that facilitates wireless communication with a subscribing unit operating within a respective service area, the wireless communication system comprising:

a mobile switching center;

a plurality of base stations coupled to the mobile switching center that each provide wireless communication within a portion of the service area, at least one of the plurality of base stations providing service in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols;

at least one of the plurality of base stations indicating the plurality of frequency bands and the plurality of communication protocols in a broadcast message;

the subscribing unit receiving the broadcast message;

the subscribing unit transmitting a request to the base station based upon contents of the broadcast message, the request requesting additional information regarding one of the plurality of frequency bands or one of the plurality of communication protocols supported by the base station; and

the subscribing unit communicating with one of the base stations on a selected frequency band according to a selected communication protocol.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, based upon the contents of the broadcast message, the subscribing unit establishing communication with more than one of the base stations.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16, based upon the contents of the broadcast message, the subscribing unit establishing communication with the base stations according to differing communication protocols.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further including bandwidth information for at least one of the plurality of base stations and, based upon the contents of the broadcast message, the subscribing unit establishing communication with one of the base stations to obtain a desired bandwidth.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further including cost of service information for at least one of the plurality of base stations and, the subscribing unit establishing communication with one of the base stations based upon a desired cost of service.

20. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further including channel information, the channel information indicating available channels within the frequency bands.

21. The wireless communication system of claim 20, the channel information comprising information regarding control channels within the frequency bands.

22. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates preferred operation among the plurality of frequency bands and according to one of the plurality of communication protocols.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates traffic levels within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message further comprising preference information that indicates available bandwidth within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the broadcast message including system operator information that is available to a subscribing unit.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 25, the system operator information indicating to the subscribing unit portions of at least one frequency band reserved for the subscribing unit.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the plurality of frequency bands comprising at least the 800 MHz frequency band and the 1900 MHz frequency band.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 27, the plurality of communication protocols including an analog protocol and a code division multiple access protocol.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the plurality of communication protocols including an analog protocol and a code division multiple access protocol.

30. The wireless communication system of claim 29, the plurality of communication protocols is selected from the group consisting of IS-91A, TIA/EIA 691, TIA/EIA 553A, IS-95B and later revision protocols.

31. The wireless communication system of claim 15, the base station responding to the information request with requested information.

32. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for code division multiple access operation.

33. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for high speed data operation.

34. A subscribing unit that operates within a wireless communication system having at least one base station that provides wireless communication within a service area in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols, the subscribing unit comprising:

a wireless interface that facilitates communication with the at least one base station to receive a broadcast message from the base station, the broadcast message indicating the plurality of frequency bands and the plurality of communication protocols;

the wireless interface also facilitating transmission of a request to the base station based upon contents of the broadcast message, the request requesting additional information regarding one of the plurality of frequency bands or one of the plurality of communication protocols supported by the base station;

a selection unit that selects at least one of the plurality of frequency bands and at least one of the plurality of communication protocols; and

the subscribing unit communicating with the base station according to the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands and the at least one of the plurality of communication protocols.

35. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein:

the broadcast message further includes channel information, the channel information indicating available channels within the frequency bands; and

the selection unit selecting the at least one channel of the plurality of available channels.

36. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein:

the broadcast message further comprises preference information that indicates preferred operation among the plurality of frequency bands and among the plurality of communication protocols; and

the selection unit making selections based upon the preference information.

37. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein:

the broadcast message further comprises preference information that indicates traffic levels within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

38. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein:

the broadcast message further comprises preference information that indicates available bandwidth within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

39. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein:

the broadcast message including system operator information that is available to a subscribing unit.

40. The subscribing unit of claim 39, wherein:

the system operator information indicates portions of at least one frequency band reserved for the subscribing unit.

41. The subscribing unit of claim 34, the plurality of frequency bands including the 800 MHz frequency band and the 1900 MHz frequency band.

42. The subscribing unit of claim 34, the plurality of communication protocols including an analog protocol and a code division multiple access protocol.

43. The subscribing unit of claim 42, the plurality of communication protocols is selected from the group consisting of IS-91A, TIA/EIA 691, TIA/EIA 553A, IS-95B and later revision protocols.

44. The subscribing unit of claim 34, the base station responding to the information request with requested information.

45. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for code division multiple access operation.

46. The subscribing unit of claim 34, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for high speed data operation.

47. A method of operating a wireless communication system that facilitates wireless communication with a subscribing unit operating within a service area, the method comprising:

broadcasting from a base station a broadcast message that indicates a plurality of frequency bands and a plurality of communication protocols supported by the base station;

receiving, by the subscribing unit, the broadcast message;

transmitting, by the subscribing unit, a request to the base station based upon contents of the broadcast message, the request requesting additional information regarding one of the plurality of frequency bands or one of the plurality of communication protocols supported by the base station;

selecting a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

selecting a communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols; and

the subscribing unit and the base station communicating on the selected frequency band according to the selected communication protocol.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the broadcast message includes channel information indicating available channels within the frequency bands.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the channel information includes information regarding control channels within the frequency bands.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the broadcast message includes preference information that indicates preferred operation among the plurality of frequency bands and according to one of the plurality of communication protocols.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the broadcast message further includes preference information that indicates traffic levels within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the broadcast message further includes preference information that indicates available bandwidth within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the broadcast message further includes system operator information that is available to a subscribing unit.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the system operator information indicates to the subscribing unit portions of at least one frequency band reserved for the subscribing unit.

55. The method of claim 47, wherein the plurality of communication protocols is selected from the group consisting of IS-91A, TIA/EIA 691, TIA/EIA 553A, IS-95B and later revision protocols.

56. The method of claim 47, further comprising the step of responding, by the base station to the subscribing unit, with requested information.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for code division multiple access operation.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for high speed data operation.

59. In a wireless communication system having a plurality of base stations coupled to a mobile switching center, with each base station providing wireless communications within a respective portion of a service area and at least one of the plurality of base stations operating in a plurality of frequency bands and according to a plurality of communication protocols, a method for operating the wireless communication system comprising:

broadcasting from at least one of the base stations a broadcast message, the broadcast message indicating a plurality of frequency bands and a plurality of communication protocols supported by at least one of the base stations;

receiving, by the subscribing unit, the broadcast message;

selecting, by the subscribing unit, a base station from the plurality of base stations with which to establish communication;

selecting a frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands;

selecting a communication protocol of the plurality of communication protocols;

transmitting a request to the base station based upon contents of the broadcast message, the request requesting additional information regarding one of the plurality of frequency bands or one of the plurality of communication protocols supported by the base station; and

the subscribing unit and the selected base station communicating in the selected frequency band according to the selected communication protocol.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein, based upon the contents of the broadcast message, the subscribing unit establishes communication with the base stations according to differing communication protocols.

61. The method of claim 59, wherein the broadcast message further includes cost of service information for at least one of the plurality of base stations and, the subscribing unit establishes communication with one of the base stations based upon the cost of service information.

62. The method of claim 59, wherein the broadcast message includes preference information that indicates possibly preferred operation among the plurality of frequency bands and according to one of the plurality of communication protocols.

63. The method of claim 59, wherein the broadcast message further includes preference information that indicates traffic levels within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

64. The method of claim 59, wherein the broadcast message further includes preference information that indicates available bandwidth within at least one frequency band of the plurality of frequency bands.

65. The method of claim 59, wherein the broadcast message further includes system operator information that is available to a subscribing unit.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the system operator information indicates to the subscribing unit portions of at least one frequency band reserved for the subscribing unit.

67. The method of claim 59, wherein the plurality of communication protocols is selected from the group consisting of IS-91A, TIA/EIA 691, TIA/EIA 553A, IS-95B and later revision protocols.

68. The method of claim 59, further comprising the step of responding, by the base station to the subscribing unit, with requested information.

69. The method of claim 59, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for code division multiple access operation.

70. The method of claim 59, wherein the information request includes a request for information regarding frequencies supported for high speed data operation.