Radio network system

• US 6,690,937 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Radio Tower Networks, LLC
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey C. Pfeiffer
• Inventors: Pfeiffer, Jeffrey C.
• Primary Examiner(s): VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/715,512
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 455/403, 455/426, 455/445, 455/524, 455/561, 455/456, 455/560, 455/562
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

The invention is directed to an improved two-way radio network system (15). In the preferred embodiment, the system comprises a radio (16), a first tower (17) having a defined first coverage area (23) and capable of communicating with the radio when the radio is in the first coverage area, a second tower (18) communicating with the first tower and having a defined second coverage area (24) and capable of communicating with the radio when the radio is in the second coverage area, a local hub (53) communicating with the first tower and the second tower, the first tower, second tower, and local hub so configured and arranged that a signal from the radio when the radio is in the first coverage area may be received by the first tower and communicated either to the second tower or to the local hub and communicated from the local hub to the second tower, whereby the communication capacity of the system may be increased.

The communication network system may include a third tower (29) having a defined third coverage area (35) capable of communicating with the radio when the radio is in the third coverage area, a second local hub (54) communicating with the third tower, a first regional hub (56) communicating with the first local hub and the second local hub, the first regional hub, the first local hub and the second local hub so configured and arranged that a signal received by the second local hub may be communicated to the first regional hub and communicated from the first regional hub to the first local hub.

The communication network system may include a second regional hub (58), a first district hub (62) communicating with the first regional hub and the second regional hub, the first regional hub, second regional hub, and first district hub so configured arranged that a signal received by the first regional hub may be communicated to the first district hub and communicated from the first district hub to the second regional hub.

Claims

1. A communication network system comprising:

at least two two-way radios;

at least one source radio;

a first tower having a defined first coverage area and capable of communicating with said source radio when said source radio is in said first coverage area;

a second tower having a defined second coverage area and capable of communicating with said two-way radios when said radios are in said second coverage area;

a local hub communicating with said first tower and said second tower;

said first tower, said second tower, and said local hub so configured and arranged that a signal from said source radio when said source radio is in said first coverage area may be received by said first tower and communicated to said local hub, communicated from said local hub to said second tower, and communicated from said second tower to at least two of said two-way radios at substantially the same time when said radios are in said second coverage area.

2. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

a third tower having a defined third coverage area and capable of communicating with said two-way radio when said radio is in said third coverage area;

a second local hub communicating with said third tower and said first local hub;

said third tower, said first local hub, and said second local hub so configured and arranged that a signal from said source radio when said source radio is in said first coverage area may be received by said first tower and communicated to said first local hub, communicated from said first local hub to said second local hub, and communicated from said second local hub through said first and/or second towers to at least two of said two-way radios at substantially the same time when said radios are in said first and/or second coverage areas respectively.

3. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

a third tower having a defined third coverage area and capable of communicating with said two-way radio when said radio is in said third coverage area;

a second local hub communicating with said third tower;

a first regional hub communicating with said first local hub and said second local hub;

said first regional hub, said first local hub, and said second local hub so configured and arranged that a signal received by said first local hub may be communicated to said first regional hub and communicated from said first regional hub to said second local hub.

4. The communication network system set forth in claim 3 and further comprising:

a second regional hub;

a first district hub communicating with said first regional hub and said second regional hub;

said first regional hub, said second regional hub, and said first district hub so configured and arranged that a signal received by said first regional hub may be communicated to said first district hub and communicated from said first district hub to said second regional hub.

5. The communication network system set forth in claim 4, and further comprising:

a third regional hub;

said first district hub communicating with said third regional hub;

said first regional hub, second regional hub, third regional hub, and said first district hub so configured and arranged that a signal received by said first regional hub may be communicated to said first district hub and communicated from said first district hub to said second and third regional hubs at substantially the same time.

6. The communication network system set forth in claim 3, wherein said first local hub and said first regional hub communicate by a T-1 connection.

7. The communication network system set forth in claim 3, wherein said first regional hub includes a T-1 router.

8. The communication network system set forth in claim 3, wherein said first regional hub includes a microwave radio.

9. The communication network system set forth in claim 3, and further comprising:

a fourth tower having a defined fourth coverage area and capable of communicating with said two-way radio when said radio is in said fourth coverage area;

a third local hub communicating with said fourth tower;

said first regional hub communicating with said third local hub;

said first regional hub, said first local hub, said second local hub, and said third local hub so configured and arranged that a signal received by said first local hub may be communicated to said first regional hub and communicated from said first regional hub to said second local hub and said third local hub at substantially the same time.

10. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower and said second tower communicate by a T-1 connection.

11. The communication network system set forth in claim 10, wherein said T-1 connection is a microwave connection.

12. The communication network system set forth in claim 11, wherein said local hub includes a microwave radio.

13. The communication network system set forth in claim 10, wherein said T-1 connection is a fiber-optic connection.

14. The communication network system set forth in claim 10, wherein said T-1 connection is a copper wire connection.

15. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower and said local hub communicate by a T-1 connection.

16. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower includes an antenna and an antenna feedline.

17. The communication network system set forth in claim 16, wherein said first tower includes an antenna combiner system.

18. The communication network system set forth in claim 16, wherein said first tower includes a polyphasor.

19. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower includes a base station.

20. The communication network system set forth in claim 19, wherein said base station transmits and receives at a YG licensed frequency.

21. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower includes a site controller.

22. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said first tower includes a T-1 level switcher.

23. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, wherein said local hub includes a T-1 router.

24. The communication network system set forth in claim 1, and further comprising:

a third tower communicating with said local hub and having a defined third coverage area and capable of communicating with said two-way radio when said radio is in said third coverage area;

said first tower, said second tower, said third tower and said local hub so configured and arranged that a signal from said source radio when said source radio is in said first coverage area may be received by said first tower and communicated to said local hub, communicated from said local hub to both said second tower and said third tower at substantially the same time, and communicated from said second tower to at least one of said two-way radios when said radio is in said second coverage area and at substantially the same time communicated from said third tower to at least one of said two-way radios when said radio is in said third coverage area.