Home and personal data services overlay communications system

• US 6,252,883 B1
• Filed: 02/27/1998
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Summit Wireless LLC
• Original Assignee: Aloha Networks
• Inventors: Schweickart, Russell L., Abramson, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pizarro, Ricardo M.
• Application Number:
  US09/031,664
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 370/342, 370/343, 370/344, 370/345, 370/346, 370/347, 370/401, 455/414, 455/420, 455/422, 340/825.06, 340/825.69
• US Class Current: 370/441
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

The invention provides both a fixed and a mobile data telecommunication service using a fixed code, direct sequence spread spectrum, connection-free data protocol as an overlay on cellular or PCS wireless services. A wide band connectionless data protocol is employed to transmit packetized digital data from a variety of home sources e.g. www inputs, e-mail, utility meter readings, security system data, to a local cellular or PCS communications hub station. From the hub station the cellular/PCS provider routes the packet data into packet networks for delivery to a variety of recipient parties designated by address within the packets themselves. The data capability is provided as a supplement to the existing communications capability of the cellular/PCS system and overlays, but does not destructively interfere with, the pre-existing voice connection oriented services.

Claims

1. A two-way home and personal data services overlay telecommunication system comprising:

a data communication service having at least one data device for transmitting and receiving data packets using a wide band connectionless data protocol and identical spreading codes, a network hub having an antenna for receiving multiplexed data packet transmissions from the at least one data device, the network hub further having a demodulator/modulator for converting the multiplexed data packets into addressed data packets, a data packet system for directing the addressed data packets to a main user or placing the addressed packets on Internet, a communication link between the network hub and the data packet system, and a plurality of communication links between the data packet system and main users, wherein the at least one data device has an address which is added to transmitted data packets and which is recognized by the data device when included in data packets broadcast from the network hub, and whereby recognition of the address prompts the data device to demodulate the broadcast data packets to digital information.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one data device comprises a data communication transceiver and an antenna.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one data device further comprises a modulator/demodulator for converting the information transmitted by the data device into multiple access data packets.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the at least one data device further comprises an input-output device for receiving digital data, a signal processor for receiving signals from the input-output device and for packetizing and modulating digital information received into multiple access signals, an amplifier for amplifying the multiple access signals and a power source for supplying power to the amplifier and the antenna.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one data device further comprises an analog-digital converter for accepting and sending analog signals.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one data device further comprises a sequence generator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication links between the packet data system and the main users are selected from a group consisting of microwave, satellite, wire or fiber optics.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication service is mobile and selected from a group consisting of a car cellphone, a computer or a stand-alone hand carried device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication service is fixed and selected from a group consisting of a home, or a factory or a motel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the main users and the Internet provide the addressed data packets to the data communication service via the network hub modulator and the data device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the data communication service further comprises application devices supplying data to and receiving data from the data device via wireline, wireless or mixed interface means.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the wide band connectionless data protocol transmits packetized digital data between the application devices and the data device.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the network hub is selected from the group consisting of cellular, PCS or packet data network hubs.

42. The system of claim 1, wherein the communication link between the network hub and the packet data system is selected from a group consisting of microwave, satellite or fiber optic communication.

43. The system of claim 1, wherein the network hub is mounted on an existing or a purpose-built vertical structure.

14. A Home Data Service, for providing one or two-way connectionless data communication, comprising a data device at a home location, application devices at the home location connected to the data device for providing data to the data device, an antenna connected to the data device for transmitting and receiving addressed data packets using a wide band connectionless data protocol, a packet data network hub having an antenna for receiving the addressed data packet transmissions, and a data packet system connected by a communication link to the packet data network hub for directing the data packets to main users, wherein the data device has an address which is added to transmitted data packets and which is recognized by the data device when included in data packets broadcast from the network hub, and whereby recognition of the address prompts the data device to demodulate the broadcast data packets to digital information.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data device further comprises a modulator for converting application device information into Spread ALOHA Multiple Access (SAMA) data packets for transmission, and the network hub further comprises a modulator/demodulator for converting the SAMA data packets into addressed data packets for communicating to a packet data system for directing the addressed data packets to main user recipients.

16. A Personal Data Service comprising:

at least a data device, an antenna connected to the data device for transmitting and receiving addressed data packets using a wide band connectionless data protocol and identical spreading codes, a packet data network hub having an antenna for receiving the addressed data packet transmissions, and a data packet system connected by a communication link to the packet data network hub, and a plurality of communication links between the data packets and main users for directing the data packets to main users, wherein the at least one data device has an address which is added to transmitted data packets and which is recognized by the data device when included in data packets broadcast from the network hub, and whereby recognition of the address prompts the data device to demodulate the broadcast data packets to digital information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the data devices are selected from a group consisting of stand-alone, hand-held cellular or PCS telephone, onboard cellular or PCS chips embedded in an automobile, card in a computer.

18. An overlay telecommunication system comprising at least one data device for transmitting and receiving data packets, a wide band connectionless data protocol communicating with the system, a network hub receiving the data packets from the at least one data device, a demodulator/modulator in the network hub for converting the data packets into addressed data packets, a data packet system communicating with the network hub for receiving and directing the addressed data packets to one or more desired destinations, wherein the at least one data device has an address for transmitting the data packets, the address being recognizable by the data device when included in the data packets transmitted from the network hub thereby prompting the data device to demodulate the broadcast data packets into digital information.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the overlay telecommunication is an interactive home data service.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the overlay telecommunication is an interactive personal data service.

21. The system of claim 18, wherein the overlay telecommunication is an interactive home and personal data service.

22. The system of claim 18, further comprising identical spreading codes for receiving and transmitting the data packets.

23. The system of claim 18, the network hub further comprising an antenna for receiving and sending transmissions.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the data packets are multiplexed data packets.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the destination includes one or more main users.

26. The system of claim 18, wherein the destination includes Internet.

27. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one data device comprises a data communication transceiver and an antenna.

28. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one data device further comprises a modulator/demodulator within the at least one data device for converting input information and transmitting into multiple access data packets.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the data device further comprises an analog-digital converter for accepting and sending analog signals.

31. The system of claim 18, wherein the at least one data device further comprises a sequence generator.

32. The system of claim 18, further comprising communication links between the packet data system and the main users selected from a group consisting of microwave, satellite, wire and fiber optics, and communication links between the network hub and the packet data system selected from a group consisting of microwave, satellite and fiber optics.

33. The system of claim 18, wherein the telecommunication system is a mobile units selected from a group consisting of car phone, cellphone, computer and stand-alone hand carried device.

34. The system of claim 18, wherein the telecommunication system is fixed such as but not limited to a home, or a factory or a motel.

35. The system of claim 18, further comprising a network hub modulator for addressing the data packets to the telecommunication system via the network hub modulator and the at least one data device.

36. The system of claim 18, further comprising application devices for supplying data to and receiving data from the at least one data device via a communication means.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the communication means is selected from a group consisting of wireline, wireless and mixed interface means.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising application devices, wherein the wide band connectionless data protocol transmits packetized digital data between the application devices and the at least one data device.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the application devices include home appliances.

40. The system of claim 18, wherein the network hub is selected from a group consisting of cellular, PCS and packet data network hubs.

41. The system of claim 18, wherein the network hub is mounted on a vertical structure.

29. An overlay telecommunication system comprising at least one data device for transmitting and receiving data packets, a wide band connectionless data protocol communicating with the system, a network hub receiving the data packets from the at least one data device, a demodulator/modulator in the network hub for converting the data packets into addressed data packets, a data packet system communicating with the network hub for receiving and directing the addressed data packets to one or more desired destinations, wherein the overlay telecommunication is an interactive home data service, wherein the at least one data device further comprises an input-output device for receiving and sending digital data, a signal processor for receiving signals from the input-output device and for packetizing and modulating the digital information in the form required for multiple access signals, an amplifier for amplifying the multiple access signals, and a power source for supplying power to the amplifier and the antenna.