Personal communication system architecture

• US 6,233,228 B1
• Filed: 05/15/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Stratmoen, Scott Alan, Fitzpatrick, Brian James, Collar, Stuart John, Jacklin, William Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/079,650
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/334, 370/347, 370/337, 370/315, 370/321, 370/335, 455/11.1, 455/7, 455/16, 455/15, 455/422
• US Class Current: 370/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/18 between terminal devices

Abstract

A personal communication system provides full duplex digital communications between multiple users for both audio and data. A universal adaptor interface receives a plurality of wireless communications. The wireless adaptor interface multiplexes the plurality of wireless communications into a composite signal. The universal adapter interface transmits the composite signal wirelessly. At least one personal communications unit receives the composite signal. Multiplexing the plurality of wireless communications facilitates simultaneous reception thereof by the personal communications units.

Claims

1. A method for providing full duplex digital communications within a network defined by at least one transceiver, a repeater and at least one wired intercom system, the method comprising the steps of:

a) receiving with the repeater at least one wireless communication from the transceivers(s);

b) receiving with the repeater at least one wired intercom signal from the wired intercom system(s);

c) multiplexing with the repeater the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) to form a composite signal;

d) transmitting the composite signal wirelessly from the repeater to other transceiver(s); and

e) receiving with the other transceiver(s) the composite signal;

f) wherein multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) facilitates simultaneous reception thereof.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into a composite signal comprises summing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) together.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into the composite signal comprises summing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) over a predetermined time interval.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

a) the step of receiving the wireless communication(s) comprises receiving at least one transceiver audio signal;

b) the step of receiving the wired intercom signal(s) comprises receiving at least one intercom audio signal; and

c) the step of multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into the composite signal comprises multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into a composite audio signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein:

a) the step of receiving the wireless communication(s) comprises receiving at least one transceiver audio signal and at least one transceiver data signal;

b) the step of receiving the wired intercom signal(s) comprises receiving at least one intercom audio signal and at least one intercom data signal; and

c) the step of multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into the composite signal comprises multiplexing the wireless communication(s) and the wired intercom signal(s) into a composite audio/data signal.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the composite signal to a wired intercom.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

a) providing centralized control of a network defined by transceivers and at least one repeater; and

b) cooperating among transceivers when a repeater is unavailable, so as to provide distributed control of the network defined by the transceivers.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of performing peer-to-peer communications.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of linking of multiple wired intercoms with a repeater.

10. A communications system for providing full duplex audio communications within a network defined by at least one transceiver, a repeater and at least one wired intercom system, the communications system comprising:

a) a repeater for receiving a plurality of transceiver audio signals and at least one wired intercom audio signal, the repeater having a multiplexer for multiplexing the plurality of transceiver audio signals and the at least one wired intercom audio signal into a composite audio signal, the repeater further having a transmitter for transmitting the composite audio signal wirelessly;

b) at least one transceiver for receiving the composite audio signal; and

c) wherein multiplexing the plurality of transceiver audio signals and the at least one wired intercom audio signal facilitates simultaneous reception thereof by the at least one transceiver.

11. The communications system as recited in claim 10 wherein the multiplexer comprises a summer for summing the plurality of transceiver audio signals and the at least one wired intercom audio signal together.

12. The communications system as recited in claim 11 wherein the summer is configured to sum the plurality of transceiver audio signals and the at least one wired intercom audio signal over a predetermined time interval.

13. The communications system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

a) the repeater is configured to receive at least one transceiver audio signal and at least one transceiver data signal;

b) the repeater is configured to receive at least one wired intercom audio signal and at least one wired intercom data signal; and

c) the repeater is configured to multiplex the at least one transceiver audio signal, the at least one transceiver data signal, the at least one wired intercom audio signal and the at least one wired intercom data signal into a composite audio/data signal.

14. The communications system as recited in claim 10, wherein the repeater is configured to transmit the composite audio signal to a wired intercom.

15. The communications system as recited in claim 10, wherein:

a) at least one transceiver is configured to cooperate with the repeater when the repeater is available, so as to provide centralized control of the network defined by the transceivers and the repeater;

b) the transceivers are configured to cooperate with one another when a repeater is unavailable, so as to provide distributed control of a network defined by the transceivers; and

c) an autonomous transceiver of a neighboring network cooperates with other transceivers in that network so as not to bring down that network.

16. The communications system as recited in claim 10, wherein the transceiver(s) are configured so as to facilitate peer-to-peer communication among one another.

17. The communications system as recited in claim 10, wherein the repeater is configured so as to function as a transceiver so as to facilitate linking of multiple wired intercom therewith.

18. A communications system for facilitating full duplex communication between a network defined by a plurality of radio transceivers and a wired intercom system, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of radio transceivers transmitting transceiver signals therebetween and defining a transceiver network;

b) at least one wired intercom system transmitting at least one wired intercom signal; and

c) a repeater interfacing the network and the wired intercom system(s), the repeater being operative to receive the transceiver and at least one wired intercom signals to form a first composite signal therefrom for communication to the plurality of transceivers.

19. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater is further configured to form a second composite signal comprised of the signals from the plurality of transceivers for communication to the wired intercom system.

20. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the wired intercom system is installed within a vehicle.

21. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein each transceiver comprises an antenna for radio frequency communication with other transceivers.

22. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater further comprises a multiplexer for combining the transceiver and at least one wired intercom signals.

23. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater is configured to receive audio and data signals from the transceivers, and to form the first composite signal therefrom.

24. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater is configured for centralized control of the network such that the repeater receives, transmits and regulates transceiver signals between the transceivers.

25. The system as set forth in claim 24 wherein the transceivers are configured for distributed control of the network such that the transceivers are operable to communicate directly with one another when the repeater is inoperative.

26. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater is in wired communication with the wired intercom system(s).

27. The system as set forth in claim 18 wherein the repeater is in wireless communication with the wired intercom system(s).

28. A communications system for providing full duplex communication within a network defined by a plurality of radio transceivers and a repeater, the system comprising:

a) a plurality of radio transceivers in wireless communication therebetween and defining a transceiver network; and

b) a repeater for receiving a plurality of wireless communications from the transceivers to form a composite signal therefrom, the repeater further being operative to transmit the composite signal to the plurality of transceivers;

c) wherein;

1) the transceivers are configured for distributed control of the network such that the transceivers are operable to communicate directly with one another when the repeater is inoperative; and

2) the repeater is configured for centralized control of the network such that the repeater receives, transmits and regulates signals between the transceivers.

29. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein each transceiver comprises an antenna for radio frequency communication with other transceivers.

30. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the repeater is configured to receive voice and data signals from the transceivers, and to form the composite signal therefrom.

31. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the plurality of wireless communications comprise a plurality of separately timed signal segments.

32. The system as set forth in claim 31 wherein each segment comprises a plurality of downlink and uplink slots, each down link slot including transmissions from the repeater to the transceivers therein, and each uplink slot including transmissions from the transceivers to the repeater therein.

33. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the repeater further comprises a multiplexer for combining the plurality of wireless communications.

34. The system as set forth in claim 33 wherein the multiplexer comprises a summer for summing the plurality of wireless communications together.

35. The system as set forth in claim 34 wherein the summer is configured to sum the plurality of wireless communications during a predetermined time interval.

36. The system as set forth in claim 28, wherein:

a) the repeater is configured to receive a plurality of audio signals; and

b) the repeater is configured to multiplex the plurality of audio signals into a composite audio signal.

37. The system as set forth in claim 28 further comprising at least one wired intercom system, wherein:

a) the repeater is configured to receive at least one wired intercom signal; and

b) the repeater is further configured to multiplex the at least one wired intercom signal with the plurality of wireless communications to form the composite signal.

38. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein the transceivers are configured so as to facilitate point-to-point communication among one another.

39. The system as set forth in claim 28 wherein an autonomous transceiver of a neighboring network communicates with other transceivers in the network so as not to bring down that network.

40. The system as set forth in claim 28 further comprising at least one wired intercom system, and wherein the repeater is configured to transmit the composite signal to the at least one wired intercom system.