Radio ATM transceiver

• US 6,188,680 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ohki, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): MARCELO, MELVIN C
• Application Number:
  US08/993,391
• Time in Patent Office: 1,153 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/466, 370/467
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5607 Radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

A radio ATM transceiver (where “ATM” stands for “Asynchronous Transfer Mode”) is equipped in a radio base station and/or a radio terminal provided for a radio LAN, for example, to enable ATM-supported multimedia service, particularly to avoid occurrence of a burst of ATM cells in case of a CBR service. At a transmitting mode, the radio ATM transceiver receives SONET frame signals from an optical fiber, for example. The SONET frame signals are disassembled into ATM cells, from which signaling information is extracted and is subjected to analysis to recognize a service class which is requested for ATM communication. In accordance with the service class, a number of ATM cells are assembled together with an addition of a radio header to provide a radio packet. Then, the radio packets are transmitted into the air on the radio lines using a transmission speed which is employed for a radio modem. At a receiving mode, the radio ATM transceiver disassembles the radio packet transmitted thereto into a number of ATM cells with excluding the radio header. The ATM cells are converted to SONET frame signals, which are then outputted using a transmission speed which corresponds to the service class.

Claims

1. A radio ATM transceiver which transmits ATM signals given via an ATM interface onto a radio line, comprising:

SONET framer means for disassembling electric signals, which are supplied thereto from an optical fiber via the ATM interface, into ATM cells, said SONET framer means also converting ATM cells, which are supplied thereto, into electric signals;

signaling analysis means for analyzing signaling information from the ATM cells so as to provide a number of the ATM cells which are assembled together for transmission onto the radio line as well as a bit rate employed for the ATM interface;

rate conversion means for converting a transmission speed of incoming signals thereof to coincide with a first transmission speed corresponding to a time series of ATM cells of the SONET framer means or a second transmission speed corresponding to a bit rate employed for the radio line on the basis of an output of the signaling analysis means; and

packet assembly/disassembly means for assembling a number of the ATM cells, given from the rate conversion means, with an addition of header information to form a radio packet, which is then transmitted onto the radio line, said packet assembly/disassembly means also disassembling the radio packet, given from the radio line, with excluding header information into ATM cells, which are then supplied to the rate conversion means.

2. A radio ATM transceiver comprising:

a radio modem for receiving and transmitting radio packets each corresponding to a number of ATM cells and a radio header; and

an ATM media access control unit for at a transmitting mode, producing the radio packets based on incoming SONET frame signals thereof to have a transmission speed employed for the radio modem, whereas at a receiving mode, the ATM media access control unit reproduces the ATM cells from the radio packets to provide SONET frame signals having a transmission speed which corresponds to a service class designated by signaling information contained in the ATM cells.

3. A radio ATM transceiver as defined in claim 2 wherein the service class corresponds to a CBR service (where “

CBR”

stand for “

Constant Bit Rate”

).

4. A radio ATM transceiver comprising:

a radio modem for receiving and transmitting a radio packet;

conversion means for performing mutual conversion between SONET frame signals and ATM cells;

analysis means for analyzing signaling information extracted from the ATM cells to recognize a service class which is requested for ATM communication;

speed control means for controlling a transmission speed of incoming signals thereof to coincide with a first transmission speed employed for the radio modem or a second transmission speed corresponding to the service class; and

packet assembly/disassembly means for at a transmitting mode, assembling a number of ATM cells with an addition of a radio header to provide the radio packet which is forwarded to the radio modem, whereas at a receiving mode, said packet assembly/disassembly means disassembles the radio packet into the number of ATM cells which are forwarded to the speed control means.

5. A radio ATM transceiver as defined in claim 4 wherein the service class corresponds to a CBR service (where “

CBR”

stands for “

Constant Bit Rate”

).

6. A radio ATM transceiver which transmits ATM signals given via an ATM interface onto a radio line, comprising:

a SONET framer which disassembles electric signals, which are supplied thereto from an optical fiber via the ATM interface, into ATM cells, said SONET framer also converting ATM cells, which are supplied thereto, into electric signals;

a signaling analyzer which analyzes signaling information from the ATM cells so as to provide a number of the ATM cells which are assembled together for transmission onto the radio line as well as a bit rate employed for the ATM interface;

a rate converter which converts a transmission speed of incoming signals thereof to coincide with a first transmission speed corresponding to a time series of ATM cells of the SONET framer of a second transmission speed corresponding to a bit rate employed for the radio line on the basis of an output of the signaling analyzer; and

a packet assembler/dissassembler which assembles a number of the ATM cells, given from the rate converter, with an addition of header information to form a radio packet, which is then transmitted onto the radio line, said packet assembler/disassembler also disassembling the radio packet, given from the radio line, with excluding header information into ATM cells, which are then supplied to the rate converter.

7. A radio ATM transceiver comprising:

a radio modern for receiving and transmitting a radio packet;

a converter which performs mutual conversion between SONET frame signals and ATM cells;

an analyzer which analyzes signaling information extracted from the ATM cells to recognize a service class which is requested for ATM communication;

a speed controller which controls a transmission speed of incoming signals thereof to coincide with a first transmission speed employed for the radio modem or a second transmission speed corresponding to the service class; and

a packet assembler/disassembler which, at a transmitting mode, assembles a number of ATM cells with an addition of a radio header to provide the radio packet which is forwarded to the radio modem, whereas at a receiving mode, said packet assembler/disassembler disassembles the radio packet into the number of ATM cells which are fonvarded to the speed controller.

8. A radio ATM transceiver as defined in claim 7, wherein the service class corresponds to a CBR service (where “

CBR”

stands for “

Constant Bit Rate”

).