Wireless communication device with multiple external communication links

• US 6,842,617 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 01/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wahoo Communications Corporation, Direct Wireless Corporation (Whitemark Homes, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Wahoo Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Williams, Bill G., Petermann, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US10/063,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20020137517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 455/554.1, 455/554.2, 455/444, 455/7, 455/422, 370/279, 370/215
• US Class Current: 455/444
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A decentralized asynchronous wireless communication system is disclosed for providing voice and data communication that allows flexibility of communication paths for local communication or for communication to external networks. The system makes use of communication docking bays that may communicate in a local mode with other communication docking bays or handsets within a same microcell via signal extenders. In an extended mode, a communication docking bay located in a first microcell of a first macrocell may communicate with a second communication docking bay or handset in a second microcell of the first macrocell via signal extenders and a network extender. In a remote mode, a communication docking bay located in a first microcell of a first macrocell may communicate with a second communication docking bay or handset in a second microcell of a second macrocell via signal extenders and network extenders. The communication docking bays also provide a communication path to a Public Switch Telephone Network and other communication medium. This feature provides an alternate means of connecting a mobile handset to a Public Switch Telephone Network without communicating through a network extender. The system is particularly suitable for operation in rural areas having a low population density.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wireless communication system for voice and data signals, comprising:

establishing a local communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a local handset and a local communication docking bay within a same microcell via a signal extender;

establishing an extended communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between an extended handset and an extended communication docking bay located within different microcells positioned within a same macrocell via signal extenders and a network extender;

establishing a distant communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a distant handset and a distant communication docking bay located within different microcells positioned within different macrocells via signal extenders and network extenders; and

asynchronously transmitting and receiving half-duplex signals over the communication paths using pairs of assigned communication path frequencies stabilized by a GPS-based frequency reference source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a local communication path comprises:

transmitting signals from the local handset and the communication docking bay to the signal extender;

receiving and re-transmitting signals by the signal extender to the local handset and the communication docking bay; and

receiving signals from the signal extender by the local handset and the communication docking bay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing an extended communication path comprises:

transmitting signals from the extended handset and the extended communication docking bay to the signal extenders;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from the extended handset and the extended communication docking bay by the signal extenders to the network extender;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from the signal extenders by the network extender to the signal extenders;

receiving and retransmitting signals from the network extender by the signal extender to the extended handset and extended communication docking bay; and

receiving signals from the signal extenders by the extended handset and the communication docking bay.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a distant communication path comprises:

transmitting signals from the distant handset and the distant communication docking bay to the signal extenders;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from the distant handset and the distant communication docking bay by the signal extenders to the network extenders;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from the signal extenders by a network extender to another network extender;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from a network extender by another network extender to signal extenders;

receiving and re-transmitting signals from network extenders by signal extenders to the distant handset and the distant communication docking bay; and

receiving signals from signal extenders by the distant handset and the distant communication docking bay.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of receiving and re-transmitting signals by a network extender to another network extender is selected from the group consisting of transmitting signals over a Public Switch Telephone Network, transmitting signals over a fiber optic communication link, transmitting signals over a coaxial cable, transmitting signals over a public TCP/IP network, and transmitting signals over a satellite communication link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein half of the signals received by a signal extender in a microcell are transmitted by handsets and communication docking bays in the microcell in a low radio frequency band and half of the signals received by the signal extender in a macrocell are transmitted by a network extender in the macrocell in a low radio frequency band.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein half of the signals transmitted by a signal extender in a microcell are received by the handsets and docking bays in the microcell in a high radio frequency band and half of the signals transmitted by the signal extender in a macrocell are received a network extender in the macrocell in a high radio frequency band.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting and receiving signals between a handset and a communication docking bay is conducted asynchronously with transmitting signals between other handsets and docking bays.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing a local voice communication path between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies in a sub-band spectrum for establishing a local voice channel.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of establishing a local data communication path under a four channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of four times a bandwidth of a local voice channel by combining four contiguous voice channels.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of establishing a local data communication path under a twelve channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol Plus between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of twelve times a bandwidth of a local voice channel by combining twelve contiguous voice channels.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of establishing an extended voice communication path comprises using four fixed frequencies in a sub-band spectrum for establishing an extended voice channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of establishing an extended data communication path under a four channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using four fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of four times a bandwidth of an extended voice channel by combining four contiguous voice channels.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of establishing an extended data communication path under a twelve channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol Plus between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using four fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of twelve times a bandwidth of an extended voice channel by combining twelve contiguous voice channels.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a handset and an external network via a signal extender and a network extender connected to the external network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the external network is selected from the group consisting of a Public Switch Telephone Network, a fiber optic communication link, a coaxial cable, a public TCP/IP network, and a satellite communication link.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a handset and an external network via communication docking bay connected to the external network.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the external network is selected from the group consisting of a Public Switch Telephone Network, a fiber optic communication link, a coaxial cable, a public TCP/IP network, and a satellite communication link.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a communication docking bay and a local communication network.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the local communication network is selected from the group consisting of wireless handsets associated with the communication docking bay, local extension telephones connected to a Public Switch Telephone Network via the communication docking bay, an infrared link, a Bluetooth link, a wired computer local area network, a wireless local area computer network, a security system and another communication docking bay link.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the handsets are communication docking bays.

22. A method of operating a wireless communication system for voice and data signals, comprising:

establishing a local communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a local handset and a local communication docking bay within a same microcell comprising;

receiving and transmitting signals between the local handset and a signal extender;

receiving and transmitting signals between the signal extender, the local handsets and the local communication docking bay; and

receiving and transmitting signals between the local communication docking bay and the signal extender;

establishing an extended communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between an extended handset and an extended communication docking bay within different microcells positioned within a same macrocell comprising;

transmitting and receiving signals between the extended handset and a first signal extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the first signal extender and a network extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the network extender and a second signal extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the second signal extender and the extended communication docking bay; and

transmitting and receiving signals between the extended communication docking bay and the second signal extender;

establishing a distant communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between distant a handset and a distant communication docking bay within different microcells positioned within different macrocells comprising;

transmitting and receiving signals between the distant handset and a first signal extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the first signal extender and a first network extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the first network extender and a second network extender;

transmitting and receiving signals between the second network extender and a second signal extenders;

transmitting and receiving signals between the second signal extender and the distant communication docking bay; and

transmitting and receiving signals between the distant communication docking bay and the second signal extender; and

asynchronously transmitting and receiving half-duplex signals over the communication paths using pairs of assigned communication path frequencies stabilized by a GPS-based frequency reference source.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of transmitting signals between the first network extender and the second network extender is selected from the group consisting of transmitting signals over a Public Switch Telephone Network, transmitting signals over a fiber optic communication link, transmitting signals over a coaxial cable, transmitting signals over a public TCP/IP network, and transmitting signals over a satellite communication link.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the steps of:

transmitting signals from the handset and communication docking bay to the signal extenders is in a low radio frequency band and transmitting signals from the signal extenders to the handset and communication docking bay is in a high radio frequency band;

transmitting signals from the signal extenders to the network extenders is in a high radio frequency band and transmitting signals from the network extenders to the signal extenders is in the low radio frequency band; and

transmitting signals between the network extenders is on a high data rate system backbone.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein half of the signals received by a signal extender in a microcell are transmitted by handsets and communication docking bays in the microcell in a low radio frequency band and half of the signals received by the signal extender in a microcell are transmitted by a network extender in the macrocell in a low radio frequency band.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein half of the signals transmitted by a signal extender in a microcell are received by the handsets and communication docking bays in the microcell in a high radio frequency band and half of the signals transmitted by the signal extender in a microcell are received by a network extender in the macrocell in a high radio frequency band.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting and receiving signals between a handset and a communication docking bay are conducted asynchronously with transmitting signals between other handsets and communication docking bays.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the steps of transmitting and receiving signals comprises using Frequency Division Multiple Access techniques for determining sub-bands in the high and low radio frequency bands.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the steps of transmitting and receiving signals comprises using Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying modulation for producing a radio frequency waveform.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein transmitting and receiving signals from handsets and communication docking bays comprise a primary mode and a secondary mode of operation.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the primary mode of operation comprises a DW wireless frequency protocol.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the secondary mode of operation is selected from the group of wireless protocols consisting of AMPS, D-AMPS, IS-95, IS-136, and GSM1900.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising controlling an operational state of the wireless communication system by transmitting an operational state command to a network extender.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of establishing a local voice communication path between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies in a sub-band spectrum for establishing a local voice channel.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of establishing a local data communication path under a four channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of four times a bandwidth of a local voice channel by combining four contiguous voice channels.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of establishing a local data communication path under a twelve channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol Plus between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using two fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of twelve times a bandwidth of a local voice channel by combining twelve contiguous voice channels.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of establishing an extended voice communication path comprises using four fixed frequencies in a sub-band spectrum for establishing an extended voice channel.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of establishing an extended data communication path under a four channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using four fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of four times a bandwidth of an extended voice channel by combining four contiguous voice channels.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the step of establishing an extended data communication path under a twelve channel Contiguous Channel Acquisition Protocol Plus between a handset and a communication docking bay comprises using four fixed frequencies having a bandwidth of twelve times a bandwidth of an extended voice channel by combining twelve contiguous voice channels.

40. The method of claim 22, further comprising establishing a communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a handset and an external network via communication docking bay connected to the external network.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the external network is selected from the group consisting of a Public Switch Telephone Network, a fiber optic communication link, a coaxial cable, a public TCP/IP network, and a satellite communication link.

42. The method of claim 22, wherein the handsets are communication docking bays.

43. The method of claim 22, wherein:

transmitting signals comprise digitizing, buffering and encoding voice frames and transmitting the voice frames in packets at a date rate that is at least twice that required for real-time decoding, whereby transmitting time requires less than half of real time; and

receiving signals comprise receiving and decoding the voice frame packets at a data rate that is equal to that required for real-time decoding, whereby receiving time requires less than half of real-time.

44. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting and receiving information over a reference channel for providing handsets and a communication docking bays with time and date information, microcell and macrocell identification code, attention codes, and broadcast text messages.

45. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting and receiving information over a call initiation channel for handling handset and communication docking bay initial registration, periodic registration, authorization and short id assignment, call requests, call frequency assignment, call progress prior to voice and data channel use, and acknowledgement.

46. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting and receiving information over a call maintenance channel for call completion, call request, 911 position report, call handoff frequency, call waiting notification, voice message notification, text message notification, and acknowledgement.

47. A wireless communication system for voice and data signals, comprising:

means for establishing a local communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a local handset and a communication docking bay within a same microcell via a signal extender;

means for establishing an extended communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between an extended handset and an extended communication docking bay located within different microcells positioned within a same macrocell via signal extenders and a network extender;

means for establishing a distant communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a distant handset and a distant communication docking bay located within different microcells positioned within different macrocells via signal extenders and network extenders; and

means for asynchronously transmitting and receiving half-duplex signals over the communication paths using pairs of assigned communication path frequencies stabilized by a GPS-based frequency reference source.

48. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for establishing a local communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a local handset and a local communication docking bay within a same microcell via a signal extender comprises:

a local handset for encoding voice and data frame packets and transmitting these packets as radio frequency signals in a low radio frequency band;

a signal extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of the local handset and communication docking bay signals in the low radio frequency band to a high radio frequency band and transmitting the high radio frequency band signals;

a local communication docking bay for receiving signals in the high radio frequency band from the signal extender and decoding the received signals into a voice and data frame packet;

the local communication docking bay for encoding voice and data frame packets and transmitting these packets as radio frequency signals in a low radio frequency band; and

the local handset for receiving signals in the high radio frequency band from the signal extender and decoding the received signals into a voice and data frame packet.

49. The system of claim 47, wherein the means for establishing an extended communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between an extended handset and an extended communication docking bay within different microcells positioned within a same macrocell via signal extenders and a network extender comprises:

an extended handset for encoding voice and data frame packets and transmitting these packets as radio frequency signals in a low frequency band;

a first signal extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of the extended handset signals in the low radio frequency band to a high radio frequency band and transmitting the high radio frequency band signals from the first signal extender to the network extender;

the network extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of signal extender signals in the high radio frequency band to a low radio frequency band and transmitting the low radio frequency band signals from the network extender to selected signal extenders;

a second signal extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of the network extender signals in the low frequency band to a high radio frequency band and transmitting the high radio frequency band signals;

an extended communication docking bay for receiving the second signal extender signals in the high radio frequency band and decoding the received signals into a voice and data frame packet;

the extended communication docking bay for encoding voice and data frame packets and transmitting these packets as radio frequency signals in a low frequency band;

the second signal extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of the extended communication docking bay signals in the low radio frequency band to a high radio frequency band and transmitting the high radio frequency band signals from the second signal extender to the network extender;

the first signal extender for receiving, amplifying, and shifting a frequency of the network extender signals in the low frequency band to a high radio frequency band and transmitting the high radio frequency band signals; and

the extended handset for receiving the first signal extender signals in the high radio frequency band and decoding the received signals into a voice and data frame packet.

50. The system of claim 49, wherein the means for establishing a distant communication path for transmitting and receiving signals between a distant handset and a distant communication docking bay within different microcells positioned within different macrocells via signal extenders and network extenders further comprises:

a first network extender for receiving, amplifying the first signal extender signals and transmitting the first signal extender signals to a second network extender over a dedicated communication link; and

the second network extender for receiving and shifting a frequency of first signal extender signals in the high radio frequency band to a low radio frequency band and transmitting the low radio frequency band signals from the second network extender to the second signal extender.

51. The system of claim 47, wherein:

a microcell comprises a geographical area containing one or more handsets carried by mobile users, communication docking bays, and a signal extender; and

a macrocell comprises a geographical area containing between one and twenty one microcells, and a network extender.

52. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication docking bays comprise external communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals between the communication docking bays and an external communication network to enable handsets and devices associated with the docking bays to connect to the external network through the docking bays.

53. The system of claim 52, wherein the external network is selected form the group consisting of a Public Switch Telephone Network, a fiber optic communication link, a coaxial cable, a public TCP/IP network, and a satellite communication link.

54. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication docking bays comprise local communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals between the communication docking bays and a local communication network.

55. The system of claim 54, wherein the local communication network is selected from the group consisting of wireless handsets associated with the communication docking bay, local extension telephones connected to a Public Switch Telephone Network via the communication docking bay, an infrared link, a Bluetooth link, a wired computer local area network, a wireless local area computer network, a security system and another communication docking bay link.

56. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication docking bays comprise:

a processor for controlling communication docking bay operation comprising a digital signal processor, a controller, and memory;

a user interface comprising a display, a keypad, visual indicator, audio annunciator, microphone and speaker;

a vocoder connected to a microphone and speaker interface;

a power manager, mobile handset recharge bays, battery and power source;

an external data interface;

connections for fixed telephone handset extensions;

connections to a Public Switch Telephone Network;

a primary mode transceiver having a transmitter and two receivers connected to an omni-directional antenna for use with a DW protocol; and

a secondary mode transceiver for providing service using a standard protocol.

57. The system of claim 47, wherein the communication docking bays include optional interface connections selected from the group consisting of an infrared data interface, an external keyboard interface, an external monitor interface, a video camera interface, a Bluetooth interface, a LAN/cable modem interface, an E-911 position locator interface, a GPS position locator interface, a hard drive interface, a CD/DVD drive interface, a Public Switch Telephone Network modem interface, and an external antenna interface.

58. The system of claim 47, wherein the handsets and communication docking bays transmit voice and data packets half of the time and receive voice and data packets half of the time when in use.