Frequency hopping code division multiple access system and method

• US 6,327,297 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Schilling, Donald L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHU, PHUONG M
• Application Number:
  US09/631,183
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 375/134, 375/132, 375/133, 455/446, 455/561, 455/450, 455/452, 370/328, 370/329, 370/343, 342/358
• US Class Current: 375/134
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7156 Arrangements for sequence synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0857 using maximum ratio combining techniques, e.g. signal-to- interference ratio [SIR], received signal strenght indication [RSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2634 for channel frequency control
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/00 Code division multiplex systems for frequency hopping H04B1/713
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/30 Special cell shapes, e.g. doughnuts or ring cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/34 TPC management, i.e. sharing limited amount of power among users or channels or data types, e.g. cell loading
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A subscriber unit communicates with a base station in the communication system. The base station uses a group of frequencies within a predetermined coverage area. The coverage area is divided into N concentric regions which in turn are divided into M sectors to define M×N concentric sector areas. The subscriber unit communicates with the base station over a set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the subscriber unit is located. Each concentric sector area is assigned one of the group of frequency sets. The assigned frequency set for any given concentric sector area is different than the frequency sets assigned to any other concentric sector area adjacent to that concentric sector area.

Claims

1. A subscriber unit for communication with a base station in a communication system, the base station utilizes a plurality of frequencies within a pre-defined coverage area, the coverage area divided into N concentric regions with in turn are divided into M sectors to define M×

N concentric sector areas, the subscriber unit comprising;

means for communicating with the base station over a set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the subscriber unit is located, each concentric sector area being assigned one of the plurality of frequency sets such that for any given concentric sector area, a different frequency set is assigned than the frequency sets assigned to all other adjacent concentric sector areas.

2. A subscriber unit according to claim 1 wherein the subscriber unit is a remote unit and the communicating means communicates with the base station as the remote unit travels from one concentric sector area to another over the set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the remote unit is located.

3. A subscriber unit according to claim 1, having a receiver including:

an antenna to receive a frequency-hopping signal communicated between the subscriber unit and the base station; and

receiver means responsive to the frequency set associated with the concentric sector area in which the subscriber unit is located for recovering data from the frequency-hopping signal.

4. A subscriber unit according to claim 3, wherein the receiver means comprises:

a down convertor for converting the frequency-hopping signal to an intermediate frequency signal;

mixing means responsive to the frequency set associated with the subscriber unit'"'"'s concentric region to produce a mixed signal; and

demodulating means for recovering data from the mixed signal.

5. A subscriber unit according to claim 1, having a transmitter including:

modulator means for modulating data being communicated between the base station and the subscriber unit;

hopping means for frequency-hopping the modulated data over the set of frequencies associated with a concentric sector area in which the subscriber unit is located; and

antenna means for transmitting the frequency-hopping modulated data.

6. A subscriber unit according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter further comprises power means for amplifying the frequency-hopping modulated data prior to transmission.

7. A subscriber unit according to claim 6, further comprising an antenna coupled to a low noise amplifier for receiving the frequency-hopped signal.

8. A subscriber unit according to claim 7, having a deinterleaver coupled between the demodulator and decoder for deinterleavering data demodulated by the demodulator prior to decoding.

9. A subscriber unit according to claim 8, having a fade detector to compensate for fading in the frequency-hopped signal.

10. A subscriber unit according to claim 9, having a down convertor, coupled to the linear noise amplifier, for converting the frequency-hopped signal into an intermediate frequency signal.

11. A subscriber unit for communication with a base station in a frequency hopping communication system, the base station utilizes a plurality of frequencies within a pre-defined coverage area, the coverage area divided into N concentric regions which in turn are divided into M sectors to define M×

N concentric sector areas, the subscriber unit comprising;

an acquisition-and-tracking circuit and an associated mixer for acquiring and tracking a frequency-hopped signal from the base station over the set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the subscriber unit is located, to generate a de-hopped signal, each concentric sector area being assigned one of said plurality of frequency sets such that for any given concentric sector area, a different frequency set is assigned than the frequency sets assigned to all other adjacent concentric sector areas; and

a demodulator and a decoder, operatively coupled to the mixer, for demodulating and decoding the de-hopped signal to recover data.

12. A subscriber unit according to claim 11 wherein the subscriber unit is a remote unit and communicates with the base station as the remote unit travels from one concentric sector area to another over the set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the remote unit is located.

13. A subscriber unit for communication with a base station in a frequency hopping communication system, the base station utilizes a plurality of frequencies within a pre-defined coverage area, the coverage area divided into N concentric regions which in turn are divided into M sectors to define M×

N concentric sector areas, the subscriber unit comprising;

a modulator and an encoder modulating and encoding data for communication with the base station;

a frequency-hopping generator and an associated mixer, having an input configured to receive the modulated and encoded data, for frequency-hopping the modulated and encoded data over a set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that said subscriber unit is located, to generate a frequency-hopping signal, each concentric sector area being assigned one of said plurality of frequency sets such that for any given concentric sector area, a different frequency set is assigned than the frequency sets assigned to all other adjacent concentric sector areas; and

an antenna for transmitting the frequency-hopping signal.

14. A subscriber unit according to claim 13 wherein the subscriber unit is a remote unit and communicates with the base station as the remote unit travels from one concentric sector area to another over the set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector that the remote unit is located.

15. A subscriber unit according to claim 13, further comprising a power amplifier coupled to the antenna amplifying the frequency-hopped signal prior to transmission.

16. A subscriber unit according to claim 14, having a controller, operatively coupled to the frequency hopping generator, for assigning the set of frequencies associated with the respective concentric sector area that the subscriber unit is located.

17. A subscriber unit according to claim 14, having an interleave device, coupled to the encoder, for interleaving encoded data prior to modulation.