Over-the-air re-programming method of radio transceivers

• US 6,912,256 B1
• Filed: 02/05/1999
• Issued: 06/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Noblet, Charles Marie Herve
• Primary Examiner(s): Bocure, Tesfaldet
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, KHANH C
• Application Number:
  US09/245,354
• Time in Patent Office: 2,335 Days
• Field of Search: 370/312, 370328-329, 370348-349, 370/486, 370/491, 370/389, 375/219, 375/220, 455/418, 455/419, 455/420, 455/67, 455/70, 455/88, 455/426, 455/432, 455/461, 455/422, 455/515, 455/520, 455/517, 455/434, 455/552
• US Class Current: 375/260
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

An over-the-air (OTA) re-programming method of a radio transceiver to make the transceiver compliant with arbitrary one of a plurality of networks. According to the method, a pilot channel for dedicated use and a bootstrap channel having a bandwidth enough to download the re-programming data are provided. The bandwidth of the pilot channel is narrower than the bandwidth of the bootstrap channel. First, at least frequency and radio access parameters of the bootstrap channel are broadcasted on the pilot channel and then the re-programming data to the radio transceiver is downloaded on the second channel based on the broadcasted parameters.

Claims

1. A method of downloading re-programing data from a network for installation in a radio transmitter/receiver comprising:

receiving communication from a first dedicated channel; and

broadcasting, on the first dedicated channel, at least the frequency and radio access parameters of a second channel from which re-programming data is downloaded,

wherein the radio access parameters comprise parameters indicative of communication standards supported by the network,

wherein a bandwidth of the first dedicated channel is narrower than the bandwidth of the second channel,

wherein the first dedicated channel is a pilot channel that is a channel separate from a traffic channel and a control channel, and

wherein the second channel is a bootstrap channel comprising;

a first subchannel; and

a second sub-channel,

wherein the re-programming data is downloaded via the first sub-channel, and a signal control for error reduction during communication is performed via the second sub-channel.

2. A method for downloading re-programming data over-the-air from a network for installation in a radio transmitter/receiver, comprising:

providing a first channel for dedicated use and a second channel to download the re-programming data, a bandwidth of the first channel being narrower than the bandwidth of the second channel;

broadcasting on the first channel, at least frequency and radio access parameters of the second channel, wherein the radio access parameters comprise parameters indicative of communication standards supported by the network; and

downloading the re-programming data to the radio transmitter/receiver on the second channel based on the broadcasted parameters,

wherein the first channel is a pilot channel that is a channel separate from a traffic channel and a control channel, and

wherein the second channel is a bootstrap channel comprising;

a first sub-channel; and

a second sub-channel,

wherein the re-programming data is downloaded via the first sub-channel, and a signal control for error reduction during communication is performed via the second sub-channel.

3. A method of downloading re-programming data from a network for installation in a radio transmitter/receiver comprising:

receiving communication from a first dedicated channel;

broadcasting, on the first dedicated channel, at least the frequency and radio access parameters of a second channel from which re-programming data is downloaded,

wherein the radio access parameters comprise parameters indicative of communication standards supported by the network,

wherein a bandwidth of the first dedicated channel is narrower than the bandwidth of the second channel, and

wherein the first dedicated channel is a pilot channel that is a channel separate from a traffic channel and a control channel;

the method further comprising;

checking if a programming of the radio transmitter/receiver is compliant with the parameters indicative of the communication standards supported by the network;

if the programming of the radio transmitter/receiver is not compliant with the parameters indicative of the communication standards supported by the network, terminating processing of the radio transmitter/receiver; and

if the programming of the radio transmitter/receiver is compliant with the parameters indicative of the communication standards supported by the network, establishing communication between the radio transmitter/receiver and the network on the second channel.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising

if the programming of the radio transmitter/receiver is compliant with the parameters indicative of the communication standards supported by the network, determining if a communication change has been requested;

if the communication change has not been requested, releasing communication on the second channel; and

if the communication change has been requested, performing the requested communication change.

5. The method according to claim 4,

wherein the performing of the requested communication change comprises:

maintaining communication between the radio transmitter/receiver and the network on the second channel;

determining if the radio transmitter/receiver is configured to support the requested communication change;

if the radio transmitter/receiver is not configured to support the requested communication change, reconfiguring the radio transmitter/receiver to support the requested communication change; and

downloading to the transmitter/receiver, on the second channel, the re-programming data for performing the requested communication change.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein the reconfiguring of the radio transmitter/receiver comprises downloading to the radio transmitter/receiver, on the second channel, a scheme/protocol required to support the requested communication change.