Subscriber RF telephone system for providing multiple speech and/or data signals simultaneously over either a single or a plurality of RF channels

• US 6,954,470 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Handzel, Mark J., Paneth, Eric, Morley, Steven Allan, Avis, Graham M.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US10/145,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20030067895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 370/347, 370/337, 370/348, 370/341, 370/478, 370/330
• US Class Current: 370/478
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0865 Independent weighting, i.e. weights based on own antenna reception parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0647 Synchronisation among TDM nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0682 by delay compensation, e.g. by compensation of propagation delay or variations thereof, by ranging
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0001 Systems modifying transmission characteristics according to link quality, e.g. power backoff adaptive data allocation for multicarrier modulation H04L5/0044; controlling transmission power for radio systems H04W52/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0003 by switching between different modulation schemes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0007 by modifying the frame length
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0026 Transmission of channel quality indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0057 Block codes H04L1/0061, H04L1/0064 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0061 Error detection codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0084 Formats for payload data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1642 Formats specially adapted for sequence numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/18 Automatic repetition systems, e.g. Van Duuren systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/188 Time-out mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/1887 Scheduling and prioritising arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/143 for modulated signals H04L5/1469 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/14 : using intermediate storage
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/12 : Reselecting a serving backbone network switching or routing node
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 : Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0216 : using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/20 : using error rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 : Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/02 : Selection of wireless resources by user or terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 : Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/044 : based on the type of the allocated resource
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0446 : Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 : Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/12 : Wireless traffic scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 : in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/04 : Scheduled access hybrid access H04W74/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/00 : Network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/14 : WLL [Wireless Local Loop]; RLL [Radio Local Loop]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 : Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communication between a plurality of subscriber units and a base station, the base station communicating information signals from an originating source to a destination subscriber unit over a channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies using repetitive time frames, each said time frame comprising a sequence of time slots. The channel is defined as having the same one or more time slots from the sequence of time slots in one or more of the time frames. The base station includes a central processing unit capable of assigning a duration of time for the information signals being sent to the destination subscriber unit. The duration equals the duration of one or more time slots in the same frame. The central processing unit maintains a memory of which time slots of each time frame have been assigned and provides the time slot assignment, and therefore channel assignment, by consulting said memory. The system includes a multiplexer for multiplexing the information signals onto the assigned channel; and a transmitter for transmitting the information signals to the destination subscriber unit using the assigned channel.

Claims

1. A base station for wireless communication with a plurality of subscriber units, the base station communicating information signals from an originating source to a destination one of said subscriber units over a channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies, said channel being divided into a sequence of repetitive time slots with a group of consecutive time slots defining a frame, said base station comprising:

a remote central processing unit for assigning a duration of time for the information signals being sent to said destination subscriber unit, wherein said duration equals the duration of one or more time slots in the same frame, said central processing unit maintaining a memory of which slots in each frame of each channel have been assigned and providing said assignment by consulting said memory;

a multiplexer for multiplexing the information signals onto the assigned channel; and

a transmitter for transmitting the information signals to said destination subscriber unit using the assigned slots within the frame over the assigned channel.

2. The base station as in claim 1, wherein the subscriber units are mobile subscriber units.

3. A base station as in claim 1, wherein within the same frame other information signals from other originating sources are assigned time slots other than the said timeslots.

4. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

5. A base station as in claim 3, wherein other information signals comprise voice information.

6. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said information signals have a coding rate, and wherein different information signals may have different respective coding rates.

7. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said central processing unit is capable of assigning information signals having respective different coding rates to slots within the same frame.

8. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said information signals are modulated onto a carrier frequency of the channel, and wherein different information signals may have different modulation types.

9. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said base station comprises a modulator for modulating the information signals onto the carrier frequency of the channel, said modulator being capable of modulating different information signals having respective different modulation types, said central processing unit assigning information signals having respective different modulation types to slots in the same frame.

10. A base station as in claim 9, wherein a modulation type comprises PSK modulation.

11. A base station as in claim 1, wherein said base station further comprises a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

12. A base station as in claim 9, wherein said modulator uses modulation to transmit at least 2 bits/symbol.

13. A base station as in claim 1, further comprising a receiver for receiving reverse information signals from an originating one of said mobile subscriber units to a destination over a reverse channel at an assigned frequency, said reverse information signal is present on multiple time slots within the same frame.

14. A base station as in claim 13, wherein said base station further comprises a demodulator for demodulating said reverse information signals from the carrier frequency of the reverse channel, said demodulator being capable of demodulating reverse information signals having respective different modulation types.

15. A mobile subscriber station for a wireless communication system for providing information signals on a channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies within said wireless communication system, the specific channel to be used by the subscriber station being assigned to it by a base station in the wireless communication system, each of said channels being divided into a sequence of time slots with a group of consecutive time slots defining a frame, the subscriber station comprising;

set up means for placing the information signals into time slots within a frame corresponding to a duration assigned in response to the subscriber station receiving such time slot assignment for said information signals, wherein said set up means can accommodate information signals of different respective coding rates; and

a transmitter for transmitting the information signals to the base station over the channel at the assigned frequency.

16. A subscriber station as in claim 15 further comprising a modulator for modulating the information signals onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the channel.

17. A subscriber station as in claim 15, wherein within the same frame other information signals from other subscriber stations are assigned time slots of said other duration.

18. A subscriber station as in claim 15, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

19. A subscriber station as in claim 16, wherein said modulator is capable of modulating information signals having different modulation types such that different modulation types can be accommodated within a single frame.

20. A subscriber station as in claim 19, wherein at least one of said modulation types comprises PSK modulation.

21. A subscriber station as in claim 16, wherein said modulator comprises a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

22. A subscriber station as in claim 16, wherein said modulator uses modulation to transmit at least 2 bits/symbol.

23. A subscriber station as in claim 15, further comprising a receiver for receiving forward information signals on a forward channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies, said set up means being capable of processing the forward information signals from time slots corresponding to an assigned duration within the same frame.

24. A subscriber station as in claim 16 and further comprising a demodulator for demodulating said forward information signals from the carrier frequency of the forward channel, said demodulator being capable of demodulating forward information signals having respective different modulation types.

25. A wireless communication system for processing a plurality of information signals each from a respective originating source to a respective destination mobile subscriber unit over a respective forward channel at an assigned one of a plurality of forward frequencies and for receiving information signals from an originating mobile subscriber unit to a destination over a respective reverse channel at an assigned one of a plurality of reverse frequencies, said forward and reverse channels being divided into a respective sequence of repetitive time slots with a group of consecutive time slots on each channel defining a respective frame, all of the respective frames being synchronized within the system, said system having at least one base station comprising a remote connection central processing unit capable of assigning a respective duration of time for the respective information signals being sent on both the forward and reverse channels, wherein said duration equals the duration of one or more time slot in the same frame, said system having a plurality of mobile subscriber units with each mobile subscriber unit comprising set up means for placing information signals into time slots within a frame corresponding to a duration assigned on a reverse channel and for receiving information signals from time slots within a frame corresponding to an assigned duration on a forward channel, both in response to an assignment from the at least one base station.

26. A system as in claim 25, wherein within the same frame other information signals from other originating sources are assigned time slots other than said time slots.

27. A system as in claim 25, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

28. A system as in claim 25, wherein the information signals also comprise voice information.

29. A system as in claim 25, wherein said information signals have a coding rate, and wherein different information signals may have different respective coding rates.

30. A system as in claim 25, wherein said central processing unit is capable of assigning information signals having respective different coding rates to slots within the same frame.

31. A system as in claim 25, wherein information signals are modulated onto a carrier frequency of the forward channel, and information signals are demodulated from the carrier frequency of the reverse channel, and wherein different information signals may have different modulation types.

32. A system as in claim 25, wherein at least one of said at least one base station further comprises a modulator for modulating information signals onto the carrier frequency of the forward channel, and a demodulator for demodulating information signals from the carrier frequency of the reverse channel, said modulator and demodulator each being capable of respectively modulating and demodulating different information signals with different modulation types, said central processing unit being capable of assigning information signals having respective different modulation types to slots within the same frame.

33. A system as in claim 32, wherein at least one of said modulation types comprises PSK modulation.

34. A system as in claim 25, wherein at least one of said at least one base station further comprises a modulator for modulating information signals onto the carrier frequency of the forward channel, and a demodulator for demodulation information signals from the carrier frequency of the reverse channel, and said modulator and demodulator respectively comprise a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

35. A system as in claim 25, wherein each mobile subscriber unit further comprises a modulator for modulating information signals onto the carrier frequency of the reverse channel and a demodulator for demodulating information signals from the carrier frequency of the forward channel, said modulator and demodulator each capable of respectively modulating and demodulating different information signals with different modulation types, said central processing unit being capable of assigning information signals having respective different modulation types to slots within the same frame.

36. A system as in claim 35, wherein a modulation type comprises PSK modulation.

37. A system as in claim 35, wherein each said mobile subscriber unit further comprises a modulator for modulating information signals onto the carrier frequency of the reverse channel, and a demodulator for demodulating information signals from the carrier frequency of the forward channel and said modulator and demodulator respectively comprise a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

38. A base station for wireless communication with a plurality of mobile subscriber units, the base station simultaneously communicating respective information signals each from one or more originating sources to a respective mobile destination subscriber unit over channels respectively assigned to the information signals, each channel assigned to one of a plurality of frequencies with multiple channels being assigned to the same frequency, each channel being divided into a sequence of time slots with a group of consecutive time slots defining a frame, said base station comprising a modulator for modulating each information signal onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the channel communicating that information signal, said modulator handling more than one modulation type, whereby different modulation types are used in the same frame.

39. A base station as in claim 38, wherein all of said time slots are of equal duration.

40. A base station as in claim 38, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

41. A base station as in claim 38 wherein said information signals each have a coding rate, and wherein different information signals may have different respective coding rates, whereby different coding rates may be used within the same frame.

42. A base station as in claim 38, wherein at least one modulation type comprises PSK modulation.

43. A base station as in claim 38, wherein said modulator comprises a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

44. A mobile subscriber station for a communication system, which system simultaneously provides a plurality of information signals on respective channels in said communication system, each channel assigned to one of a plurality of frequencies with multiple channels capable of being assigned to the same frequency, each of said channels being divided into a sequence of time slots with a consecutive group of time slots defining a frame, each of said information signals being modulated onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the channel communicating the respective information signals, with different modulation types occurring within the same frame, the subscriber station comprising a modulator for modulating information signals it is transmitting onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the channel on which it is transmitting the information signals, whereby said modulator being capable of handling more than one type of modulation.

45. The subscriber station as in claim 44 and further comprising a demodulator for demodulating information signals it is receiving from a frequency assigned to the channel on which it is receiving the information signals, said demodulator handling more than one type of modulation.

46. The subscriber station as in claim 44, wherein all said time slots are of equal time duration.

47. The subscriber station as in claim 44, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

48. The subscriber station as in claim 44, further comprises set up means which can accommodate information signals of different respective coding rates within the same frame in the system.

49. The subscriber station as in claim 44, wherein at least one of said modulation types comprises PSK modulation.

50. The subscriber station as in claim 44, wherein said modulator and said demodulator respectively comprise a linear modulator and a linear demodulator respectively including a linear amplifier.

51. The subscriber station as in claim 44, wherein said modulator and demodulator respectively uses modulation to transmit and receive at least 2 bits/symbol.

52. A communication system for processing a plurality of information signals each from a respective originating source to a respective destination mobile subscriber unit over a respective forward channel at an assigned one of a plurality of forward frequencies, and for receiving information signals from an originating mobile subscriber unit to a destination over an assigned reverse channel at an assigned one of a plurality of reverse frequencies, said forward and reverse channels being divided into respective sequence of time slots, a consecutive group of time slots on each channel defining a respective frame, all of the respective frames being synchronized within the system, said system having at least one base station with at least one of said at least one base station comprising a modulator for modulating information signals from an originating source onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the forward channel communicating the information signals it is modulating, said modulator handling more than one modulation type, said system also having a plurality of mobile subscriber units with each mobile subscriber unit comprising a subscriber modulator for modulating information signals it originates onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the reverse channel communicating the information signals it is modulating, said subscriber modulator also handling more than one modulation type, whereby the system handles different modulation types within the same frame.

53. A system as in claim 52, wherein at least one of said at least one base station further comprises a demodulator for demodulating information signals from the carrier of the frequency assigned to the reverse channel, and each said mobile subscriber units further comprising a subscriber demodulator for demodulating information signals from the carrier of the frequency assigned to the forward channel, both said demodulators handling more than one modulation type.

54. A system as in claim 52, wherein all of said time slots are of equal time duration.

55. A system as in claim 52, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

56. A system as in claim 52, wherein other information signals comprise voice information.

57. A system as in claim 52, wherein said information signals have a coding rate and wherein different information signals may have different respective coding rates, said system handling different coding rates within the same frame.

58. A system as in claim 52, wherein said modulation type comprises PSK modulation.

59. A system as in claim 52, wherein said modulator and said subscriber modulators use modulation to transmit at least 2 bits/symbol.

60. A system as in claim 52, wherein said modulator and said subscriber modulators each comprise a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.

61. A method for communication of a plurality of information signals each from a respective originating source to a respective destination mobile subscriber unit over a respective channel assigned to the respective information signals, each channel being assigned one of a plurality of frequencies with more than one channel being assigned to the same frequency, each channel being divided into a sequence of time slots, with a consecutive group of time slots defining a frame, the method comprising:

modulating the information signals from an originating source onto the carrier of the frequency assigned to the channel communicating those information signals with one of a plurality of modulation types, whereby different modulation types are used within the same frame.

62. The method as is claim 61, wherein all of said time slots are of equal duration.

63. The method as in claim 61, wherein said information signals comprise data information.

64. The method as in claim 61, wherein said information signals each have a coding rate, and further comprising the step of modulating information signals with different coding rates within the same frame.

65. The method as in claim 61 wherein a modulation type comprises PSK modulation.

66. The method as in claim 61 wherein the modulation is such as to provide at least 2 bits/symbol.