Method of baseband frequency hopping utilizing time division multiplexed mapping between a radio transceiver and digital signal processing resources

• US 6,952,408 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2001
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Inventors: Smith, Jeffrey Wilson, Schwaller, John F., Williams, Terry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Van
• Application Number:
  US09/789,023
• Publication Number:
  US 20010046225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,687 Days
• Field of Search: 370/314, 370/277, 370/328, 370330-337, 370342-347, 455/509, 455561-563, 455446-450, 375/132, 375136-138
• US Class Current: 370/314
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

A method of frequency hopping is supported by a basestation having a broadband transceiver. The method permits changing physical channels upon which mobile subscribers communicate with the basestation, wherein the broadband transceiver is operated using static transceiver frequencies, the method exclusive of switching communication signals between transceivers. In one embodiment, the method maps baseband output signals from a digital channelizer which represent physical channels to ones of digital signal processors representing logical channels and baseband input signals of a digital combiner to ones of logical outputs of digital signal processors according to a mapping signal.

Claims

1. A method for frequency hopping in a cellular communications system having multiple mobile subscribers communicating on a plurality of different physical RF channels on any time division multiplexed scheme with a basestation having a broadband transceiver, said method comprising the steps of:

operating said broadband transceiver using a plurality of transceiver RF frequencies, each of which represents one of said physical RF channels; and

changing from a first of said physical RF channels upon which said mobile subscribers communicate with said basestation to a second of said physical RF channels, while maintaining a same logical channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a mapping signal to a structure for allocating ones of baseband outputs from a digital channelizer to ones of logical inputs of digital signal processors and allocating ones of baseband inputs of a digital combiner to ones of logical outputs of said digital signal processors according to said mapping signal, said mapping signal directing allocation according to a frequency hopping schedule characterized by a hopping period, said frequency hopping schedule synchronizable to said physical RF channels.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said structure for allocating comprises a time division multiplexed (TDM) bus, wherein said TDM bus is remapped each said hopping period.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of utilizing dynamic TDM mapping of said physical RF channels to said logical channel.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of storing current mapping signals and next mapping signals using at least one dual port memory device.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the step of providing at least one control processor, said control processor coupled to said dual port memory device for changing said processors to simultaneously remap said physical RF channels to said logical channel.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of operatively coupling said at least one control processor to said dual port memory device for said changing said processors.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of enabling said at least one control processor to configure said dual port memory device with said current and said next mapping signals.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of writing at least one new mapping signal to said dual port memory device to effect a desired frequency hopping sequence.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of synchronizing said at least one control processor to a frequency hopping interval determined by the framing of an air interface communication between said basestation and said mobile units.

11. The method according to claim 10, where said synchronization is effected by use of a GPS receiver.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of enabling at least one control processor to effect remapping of said physical RF channels to said logical channel synchronous to said frequency hopping interval.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of compensating for offset and propagation delay differences of said frequency hopping interval between transmit and receive channels.

14. The method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of providing at least one delay device for compensating for offset and propagation delay differences of said frequency hopping interval between transmit and receive channels.

15. The method according to claim 13, further comprising the step of adjusting for time differences between framing of air interface signals, channel sampling of said digital channelizer and said digital combiner, and said TDM bus.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of providing at least one synchronizing device, said synchronizing device for adjusting for time differences between framing of air interface signals, channel sampling of said digital channelizer, said digital combiner, and said TDM bus.