Wireless communications system utilizing directional wireless communication device

• US 6,980,772 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Skyworks Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Conexant Systems Incorporated (Synaptics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Yin, Guang-Ming, Ryan, Patrick D., Colles, Joseph H., Shamlou, Daryush, Levesque, Christian, Underbrink, Paul A., Hale, Kelly H.
• Primary Examiner(s): CRAVER, CHARLES R
• Application Number:
  US09/821,110
• Time in Patent Office: 1,734 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.5, 455/90.3, 455/25, 455/344, 455/347, 455/348, 455/501, 455/522, 455/63.1, 455/63.4, 455/271, 455/274, 455/283, 455/278.1, 455/286, 455/290, 455/414.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/66.1, 455436-454, 455/269, 455/300, 343/772, 343/775, 343/781.R, 343/834, 343/841, 370331-334
• US Class Current: 455/63.4
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/245 with means for shaping the antenna pattern, e.g. in order to protect user against rf exposure
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 9/0407 Substantially flat resonant element parallel to ground plane, e.g. patch antenna dipole H01Q9/285; monopole H01Q9/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system for wireless communications is provided. The system includes a hand-held wireless communications device, such as a cell phone. An antenna is connected to the cell phone. The antenna radiates radio waves over an area of less than 360 degrees of arc, such as in a cardioid or hemisphere. The antenna is oriented such that hemisphere is in the direction away from a head of a user of the cell phone.

Claims

1. A method for providing cellular communications comprising:

determining the location of a user having a directional wireless device;

allocating call resources at each cell encircling the user;

setting up a call channel with the user;

determining whether a change in orientation of the user is occurring; and

handing over the user to an optimal cell.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining whether the change in orientation of the user is occurring comprises monitoring the signal strength of the directional wireless device at two or more base stations.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises handing over the user to a cell which the user is turning the directional wireless device towards.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises:

transmitting a first signal from the directional wireless device to a first base station; and

receiving a second signal at the directional wireless device from a second base station.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises:

transmitting new call channel data to the wireless device from a first base station; and

changing the transmission characteristics at the directional wireless device to allow a transmitted signal from the directional wireless device to be received at a second base station.

6. A method for providing cellular communications comprising:

determining the location of a user having a directional wireless device;

allocating call resources at one or more adjacent cells;

setting up a call channel with the user;

determining whether a change in orientation of the user is occurring; and

handing over the user to a cell from a set of cells that encircle the user and that each have allocated call resources awaiting the handoff.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein setting up the call channel with the user is performed in parallel with the other steps.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein determining whether the change in orientation of the user is occurring comprises monitoring a signal strength of the directional wireless device at two or more base stations.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein handing over the user to to the cell from the set of cells that encircle the user and that each have allocated call resources awaiting the handoff comprises handing over the user to a cell which the user is turning the directional wireless device towards.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein handing over the user to to the cell from the set of cells that encircle the user and that each have allocated call resources awaiting the handoff comprises:

transmitting a first signal from the directional wireless device to a first base station; and

receiving a second signal at the directional wireless device from a second base station.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein handing over the user to to the cell from the set of cells that encircle the user and that each have allocated call resources awaiting the handoff comprises:

transmitting new call channel data to the wireless device from a first base station; and

changing the transmission characteristics at the directional wireless device to allow a transmitted signal from the directional wireless device to be received at a second base station.

12. A method for providing cellular communications comprising:

determining the location of a user having a directional wireless device;

allocating call resources at one or more adjacent cells;

setting up a call channel with the user;

determining whether a change in orientation of the user is occurring; and

handing over the user to an optimal cell.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein setting up the call channel with the user is performed in parallel with the other steps.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein determining whether the change in orientation of the user is occurring comprises monitoring a signal strength of the directional wireless device at two or more base stations.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises handing over the user to a cell which the user is turning the directional wireless device towards.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises:

transmitting a first signal from the directional wireless device to a first base station; and

receiving a second signal at the directional wireless device from a second base station.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein handing over the user to the optimal cell comprises:

transmitting new call channel data to the wireless device from a first base station; and

changing the transmission characteristics at the directional wireless device to allow a transmitted signal from the directional wireless device to be received at a second base station.