Cellular/PCS network with distributed-RF base station

• US 6,178,334 B1
• Filed: 11/17/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Shyy, Dong-Jye, Zatloukal, Cathy, Karimullah, Khalid
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, QUANG D
• Application Number:
  US09/193,632
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.1, 455/67.3, 455/67.6, 455/422, 455/446, 455/502, 455/503, 455/560, 455/561
• US Class Current: 455/503
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/27 for locating or positioning the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2609 Arrangements for range control, e.g. by using remote antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a communications network including a base station and two or more distributed cells which are remote from the base station. The cells are coupled to the base station by transmission mediums which may, for example, be cable, fiber, and/or air. Between the base station and each cell, there is a time delay or transmission time, between the time when a communication that is received at one of the two is transmitted to and is received by the other of the two. The time delays of the two cells are unique or distinct one from the other. The network includes a time responsive system which is responsive to the time delay for a communication between the base station and one of the cells. Since the time delays are distinctive, the time responsive system identifies the cell associated with the communication. The time delays of the cells may be inherent in the circuitry and transmission mediums between the base station and the cells. A time delay element also may be provided to modify the time delay of one or more of the cells, if the inherent time delays are not sufficiently distinct.

Claims

1. A cellular or PCS communications network comprising a base station, a distributed first cell, a distributed second cell, first and second transmission means for transmitting information between said first cell and said second cell, respectively, with said base station, said first transmission means including a first time delay between the sending and receipt of information between said base station and said first cell, said second transmission means including a second time delay between the sending and receipt of information between said base station and said second cell, said first time delay being distinct from said second time delay, and said communication network further including distinguishing means responsive to said first time delay and to said second time delay for distinguishing between said first and second time delays and for identifying said first and said second cells based on said time delays.

2. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and said second transmission means includes a time delay element for modifying said time delay.

3. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distinguishing means comprises a searcher of a communication equipment of said base station.

4. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said transmission means comprises a fiber optics line.

5. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said transmission means comprises a cable strand.

6. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one of said transmission means comprises antennas.

7. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said distinguishing means comprises base station communication equipment including means for storing time delay values of said cells, and means for comparing a measured time delay with said stored time delay values and thereby identifying a cell associated with said measured time delay.

8. A communications network as set forth in claim 1, wherein said base station comprises communication equipment including one transmission port and two receive ports for each of said cells.

9. A cellular or PCS communications network comprising

a) a base station;

b) a plurality of distributed cells;

c) a plurality of transmission mediums, each of said transmission mediums coupling one of said cells with said base station for carrying communications between said cells and said base station;

d) there being a distinct time delay inherent in each of said transmission mediums, said time delays being distinct one from another and each of said time delays being associated with one of said distributed cells; and

e) said base station including communication equipment means for comparing a measured time delay with said distinct time delays and thereby identifying a cell associated with said measured time delay.

10. A method of distinguishing between distributed cells of a communications network including a base station and at least first and second distributed cells, said first and said second distributed cells being respectively coupled to said base station by first and second transmission mediums which carry information between said base station and said distributed cells, said method comprising the steps of determining a first time delay for first information moving on said first transmission medium between said base station and said first distributed cell, determining a second time delay for second information moving on said second transmission medium between said base station and said second distributed cell, said first and second time delays being distinct one from the other, determining a third time delay for third information moving on one of said first and said second transmission mediums, and comparing said third time delay with said first and said second time delays and thereby determining whether said third information moved on said first or said second transmission mediums.

11. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said first time delay and said second time delay include inherent time delays of said first and said second transmission mediums.

12. A method as set forth in claim 11, and further including the step of providing a time delay element in said first transmission medium, said time delay element being added to said inherent time delay of said first time delay.

13. A method of identifying distributed cells of a cellular or PCS communications network, said network including a base station and a plurality of distributed cells coupled to said base station by transmission mediums, said method comprising the steps determining the transmission time delay between each of said cells and said base station, storing said determined transmission time delays in a table, comparing a measured time delay with said time delays stored in said table and thereby identifying a cell associated with said measured time delay, and then directing communications from said base station primarily to said identified cell.