Communication protocol for a wireless data system

• US 6,278,883 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GWcom, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GWcom, Inc.
• Inventors: Choi, Kwok
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/574,686
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/466, 455/422, 455/435, 455/500, 455/516-517, 455/524, 455/550, 455/557, 455/31.3, 455/449, 455/444, 455/448, 455/552, 455/553, 455/525, 370/310, 370/311, 370/338, 370/467, 370/477, 375/222
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0229 where the received signal is a wanted signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless data network provides message control center broadcasting over a paging channel covering a wide service area and base stations distributed in said wide service area providing two-way communication over a local channel in local service areas within said wide service area. The wireless data network provides asymmetrical data transmission rates between the base station and subscriber wireless data terminals. In addition, the base stations and wireless data terminals can each transmit at different data rates according to desired range and to minimize probability of collision. In one embodiment, a registration procedure is provided to establish continuous communication between a wireless data terminal and a base station in the local channel.

Claims

1. A two-way wireless data network, comprising:

a plurality of mobile wireless data terminals, each wireless data terminal capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency over a predetermined range at a first transmission rate;

a base station having a radio signal transceiver, said base station serving a first service area and capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency at a second transmission rate; and

a message control center coupled to said base station, said message control center being capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency, which is different from said predetermined frequency of said base station, over a second service area encompassing and greater than said first service area;

wherein each of said wireless data terminal monitors said predetermined frequency of said base station for two-way communication when said wireless terminal is located within said first service area and monitors said predetermined frequency of said message control center when said wireless terminal is located outside of said first service area, and said first transmission rate is less than said second transmission rate.

2. The two-way wireless data network of claim 1, wherein said message control center relays messages destined for a first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals to said base station for transmission to said first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals.

3. A two-way wireless data network, comprising:

a plurality of mobile wireless data terminals, each wireless data terminal capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency over a predetermined range at a first transmission rate;

a base station having a radio signal transceiver, said base station serving a first service area, and capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency at a second transmission rate; and

a message control center coupled to said base station, said message control center being capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency, which is different from said predetermined frequency of said base station, over a second service area encompassing and greater than said first service area;

wherein each of said wireless data terminal monitors said predetermined frequency of said base station for two-way communication when said wireless terminal is located within said first service area and monitors said predetermined frequency of said message control center when said wireless terminal is located outside of said first service area, and said base station sends a data packet to one of said wireless data terminals, such that when said wireless data terminal receives said data packet, said wireless data terminal acknowledges receipt of said data packet by transmitting an acknowledgment packet at said first transmission rate, which is slower than said second transmission rate.

4. The two-way wireless data network of claim 3, wherein said base station indicates in said data packet to said wireless data terminal use of said first transmission rate in said acknowledgment packet in a field within a header of said data packet.

5. The two-way wireless data network of claim 3, wherein said message control center relays messages destined for a first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals to said base station for transmission to said first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals.

6. In a two-way wireless data network, a method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of mobile wireless data terminals, each wireless data terminal capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency over a predetermined range at a first transmission rate;

providing a base station having a radio signal transceiver, said base station serving a first service area and capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency at a second transmission rate; and

providing a message control center coupled to said base station, said message control center being capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency, which is different from said predetermined frequency of said base station, over a second service area encompassing and greater than said first service area;

wherein each of said wireless data terminal monitors said predetermined frequency of said base station for two-way communication when said wireless terminal is located within said first service area and monitors said predetermined frequency of said message control center when said wireless terminal is located outside of said first service area, and said providing steps providing first transmission rate to be less than said second transmission rate.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said message control center relays messages destined for a first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals to said base station for transmission to said first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals.

8. In a two-way wireless data network, a method comprising the steps of:

providing a plurality of mobile wireless data terminals, each wireless data terminal capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency over a predetermined range at a first transmission rate;

providing a base station having a radio signal transceiver, said base station serving a first service area, and capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency at a second transmission rate; and

providing a message control center coupled to said base station, said message control center being capable of transmitting a radio signal of a predetermined frequency, which is different from said predetermined frequency of said base station, over a second service area encompassing and greater than said first service area;

wherein each of said wireless data terminal monitors said predetermined frequency of said base station for two-way communication when said wireless terminal is located within said first service area and monitors said predetermined frequency of said message control center when said wireless terminal is located outside of said first service area, and said base station sends a data packet to one of said wireless data terminals, such that when said wireless data terminal receives said data packet, said wireless data terminal acknowledges receipt of said data packet by transmitting an acknowledgment packet at said first transmission rate, which is slower than said second transmission rate.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said base station indicates in said data packet to said wireless data terminal use of said first transmission rate in said acknowledgment packet in a field within a header of said data packet.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said message control center relays messages destined for a first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals to said base station for transmission to said first one of said plurality of mobile wireless data terminals.