Wireless access unit utilizing adaptive spectrum exploitation

• US 6,385,434 B1
• Filed: 09/16/1998
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Dynamics C4 Systems Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Beaudry, Bennett C., Tarver, Byron, Chuprun, Jeffery Scott, Bergstrom, Chad S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/153,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/15, 455/16, 455/20, 455/22, 455/427, 455/428, 455/429, 455/430, 455/431, 455/62, 455/67.1
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]

Abstract

A wireless access unit (12) for providing an interface between a satellite communications system (32) and a plurality of terrestrial user devices (14-26) in a centralized or distributed architecture includes a spectrum allocation unit (92) for dynamically allocating spectrum to the plurality of terrestrial user devices (14-26) based on a spectral environment about the wireless access unit (12). A spectrum scan unit (60) scans the spectral environment about the wireless access unit (12) and generates a spectrum signal indicative thereof. An environment understanding unit (61) provides signal information corresponding to signal emitters in proximity to the distributed or centralized network. A spectrum table (90) assembles data related to the spectral environment and the proximity emitters for use by the spectrum allocation unit (92) in dynamically allocating spectrum.

Claims

1. A wireless access unit (WAU) for use in providing high data rate information services to a plurality of terrestrial user devices distributed within a coverage region, said WAU comprising:

a spectrum scan unit for scanning a spectral environment about said WAU;

a multi-channel transceiver, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for use in communicating with the plurality of terrestrial user devices via a plurality of terrestrial wireless links, said multi-channel transceiver determining transmit signal parameters for said plurality of terrestrial wireless links based on information related to said spectral environment; and

a satellite transceiver for use in communicating with a satellite communications system via a wireless satellite communications link, said satellite transceiver being coupled to said multi-channel transceiver for use in establishing a connection between one of the plurality of terrestrial user devices and the satellite communications system.

2. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said multi-channel transceiver includes a spectrum allocation unit for allocating a portion of the electromagnetic spectrum to each of said plurality of terrestrial wireless links based on said information related to said spectral environment.

3. The WAU, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said information related to said spectral environment includes historical data related to said spectral environment.

4. The WAU, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said historical data related to said spectral environment includes communications traffic pattern data.

5. The WAU, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said multi-channel transceiver includes means for identifying spectral gaps in said spectral environment about said WAU using said historical data, said spectral gaps comprising portions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are less likely to be used by other systems surrounding said WAU than other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

6. The WAU, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said spectral gaps identified by said means for identifying change with time.

7. The WAU, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said spectrum allocation unit allocates said spectral gaps to said plurality of terrestrial wireless links.

8. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a spectrum table, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for use in assembling data related to said spectral environment.

9. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

an environment understanding processor, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for identifying non-network emitters in a vicinity about said WAU based on an output signal of said spectrum scan unit.

10. The WAU, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said environment understanding processor provides an estimated location of each of said non-network emitters.

11. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a wired interface for use in communicating with at least one external wired communications system via a wired communications link.

12. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a protocol transformation processor for use in converting communications signals between different signal formats, said protocol transformation processor being coupled to said multi-channel transceiver and said satellite transceiver for providing an interface therebetween.

13. The WAU, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said multi-channel transceiver is capable of communicating with a terrestrial user device at a data rate equal to or exceeding 800 kilobits per second.

14. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of terrestrial user devices distributed within a service region, each of said plurality of terrestrial user devices including a wireless transceiver for use in communicating with other wireless entities within said geographic region;

a communications platform, located outside said service region, that is capable of providing high data rate information services; and

a wireless access unit (WAU) for use in providing a communications connection between said plurality of terrestrial user devices and said communications platform, said WAU including;

a spectrum scan unit for scanning a spectral environment about said WAU;

a multi-channel transceiver, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for use in communicating with said plurality of terrestrial user devices via a plurality of terrestrial wireless links, said multi-channel transceiver determining transmit signal parameters for said plurality of terrestrial wireless links based on information related to said spectral environment; and

an interface device, coupled to said multi-channel transceiver, for use in communicating with said communications platform.

15. The communications system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of terrestrial user devices includes at least one other WAU.

16. The communications system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said plurality of terrestrial user devices includes a personal computer having a subscriber interface module (SIM).

17. The communications system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said communications platform includes a satellite in a satellite communications system; and

said interface device includes a satellite transceiver.

18. The communications system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said communications platform includes a wired communications system; and

said interface device includes a wired interface device for communicating with said wired communications system via a wired connection.

19. The communications system, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

said wired connection includes commercial power lines as a transmission medium.

20. The communications system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said WAU includes means, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for identifying portions of the electromagnetic spectrum in spectral environment about said WAU that are less likely to be used by other systems surrounding said WAU than other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

21. The communications system, as claimed in claim 20, wherein:

said WAU includes a spectrum allocation unit for allocating said spectral gaps to said plurality of terrestrial wireless links.

22. A wireless access unit (WAU) for use in providing high data rate information services to a plurality of terrestrial user devices via a plurality of terrestrial wireless links, said plurality of terrestrial user devices being distributed within a coverage region, said WAU comprising:

a spectrum scan unit for scanning a spectral environment about said WAU;

a spectrum allocation unit for allocating spectrum to each of the plurality of terrestrial wireless links based upon information related to said spectral environment, said spectrum allocation unit generating an allocation control signal; and

a radio channel, coupled to said spectrum allocation unit, for use in generating a transmit signal for delivery to a first terrestrial user device in the plurality of terrestrial user devices, said radio channel being responsive to said allocation control signal for setting a frequency of said transmit signal.

23. The WAU, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said radio channel includes a frequency hopping apparatus for use in varying a center frequency of said transmit signal in accordance with a frequency hopping sequence indicated by said allocation control signal.

24. The WAU, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said frequency hopping apparatus includes a frequency code generator that is coupled to said spectrum allocation unit for generating at least one frequency hopping control signal in response to said allocation control signal.

25. The WAU, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said frequency hopping apparatus includes a direct digital synthesis (DDS) unit for use in generating said transmit signal, said DDS unit being responsive to said at least one frequency hopping control signal.

26. The WAU, as claimed in claim 23, wherein:

said frequency hopping apparatus includes a mixer for use in generating said transmit signal, said mixer being responsive to said at least one frequency hopping control signal.

27. The WAU, as claimed in claim 22, further comprising:

a signaling transceiver, coupled to said spectrum allocation unit, for use in delivering spectrum allocation information to said plurality of terrestrial user devices via a wireless signaling channel.

28. The WAU, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said radio channel includes a direct sequence spread spectrum apparatus for setting a processing gain of said transmit signal in accordance with said allocation control signal.

29. The WAU, as claimed in claim 22, wherein:

said spectrum allocation unit adapts to a changing spectral environment.

30. A communications system comprising:

a plurality of wireless access units (WAU) distributed within a terrestrial coverage region, each of said plurality of WAUs for use in providing high data rate information services to other WAUs in said plurality of WAUs, at least one of said plurality of WAUs comprising;

a spectrum scan unit for scanning a spectral environment about said at least one WAU;

an environment understanding processor, coupled to said spectrum scan unit, for assembling and providing signal information related to signal emitters in proximity to said at least one WAU; and

a multi-channel transceiver, coupled to said environment understanding processor, for use in communicating with other WAUs via a plurality of terrestrial wireless links, said multi-channel transceiver determining transmit signal parameters for said plurality of terrestrial wireless links using said signal information.

31. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said spectrum scan unit scans said spectral environment synchronous with a second spectrum scan unit associated with another WAU in said plurality of WAUs to produce spectrum event data.

32. The communications system, as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

said spectrum scan unit scans said spectral environment synchronous with a second spectrum scan unit associated with another WAU in said plurality of WAUs in a periodic time share mode with radio communication functions to produce spectrum event data intermittently with radio functions.

33. The communications system, as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

said at least one WAU includes means for transmitting said spectrum event data to other WAU units to provide network awareness of spectrum events.

34. The communications system, as claimed in claim 31, wherein:

said environment understanding processor performs data reduction of said spectrum event data to produce reduced spectrum event data.

35. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said at least one WAU includes a spectrum allocation unit for allocating portions of the useable spectrum to each of said plurality of terrestrial wireless links based on said signal information.

36. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said at least one WAU includes means for performing automatic spectrum planning and cosite contention resolution.

37. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

a satellite transceiver for use in communicating with a satellite communications system via a wireless satellite communications link, said satellite transceiver being coupled to said multi-channel transceiver for use in establishing a connection between a selected one of the plurality of terrestrial user devices and the satellite communications system.

38. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, further comprising:

an aircraft transceiver for use in communicating with an aircraft via a wireless aircraft communications link, said aircraft transceiver being coupled to said multi-channel transceiver for use in establishing a connection between a selected one of the plurality of terrestrial user devices and the aircraft.

39. The communications system, as claimed in claim 38, wherein the aircraft is an unmanned airborne vehicle (UAV).

40. The communications system, as claimed in claim 38, wherein the aircraft is a lighter-than-air vehicle.

41. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes time-difference-of-arrival information (TDOA) for an external emitter.

42. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes direction-of-arrival (DOA) information for an external emitter.

43. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes geolocation information for an external emitter.

44. The communications system, as claimed in claim 43, wherein said geolocation information includes information defining regions corresponding to probable locations of signal emitters.

45. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes targeting information corresponding to an external emitter.

46. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes hostile alert information corresponding to an external emitter.

47. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes signal modulation type used by an external emitter.

48. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes at least one of the following;

language identification, dialect identification, keyword identification, radio identification, network identification, and speaker identification corresponding to an external emitter.

49. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal information includes at least one of the following;

friend-or-foe identification for an emitter, signal emitter velocity, signal emitter direction of movement, and signal emitter predicted path.

50. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said signal emitters in proximity to said at least one WAU are not part of said communications system.

51. The communications system, as claimed in claim 30, wherein:

said at least one WAU comprises system configuration memory for storing a plurality of system configurations for use in configuring individual channels of said multichannel transceiver.

52. The communications system, as claimed in claim 51, wherein:

said plurality of system configurations include operating parameter designations for at least one of the following;

modulation type, signal power level, signal hop set, signal processing gain, signal center frequency, and signal data rate.