Mobile communication system and switching apparatus

• US 7,003,321 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsu, Toru, Aburakawa, Yuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Trinh, Sonny
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHAI MINH
• Application Number:
  US10/004,885
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 455/560, 455/450, 455/561, 455/555, 455/550.1, 455/403, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/73, 359/172, 359/173, 375/130, 375/135, 379/419, 379/56.2, 379/56.1, 379/429
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

When a signal is sent from a wireless base station 3-1, a wireless modem 10-1 converts the signal to a signal of a unified transmission form. The switch 11-1 switches the signal to one of wireless transceivers 12-1, 12-2 and the optical transceiver 13-1. The wireless transceiver 12-1 or 12-2 sends the signal to a control station 4 or a wireless base station 3—3 via a wireless circuit 20. The optical transceiver 13-1 converts the signal into an optical signal and sends the optical signal to a wireless base station 3-2 via an optical fiber circuit 30.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations, a control station which controls said base stations, and switching apparatuses each of which is a part of one of said base station or said control station, wherein said switching apparatuses are connected with each other by a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus in a sending side comprising:

a modulation part configured to modulate a first signal into a second signal of a unified transmission form;

a first switching part configured to switch an output destination of said second signal from said modulation part according to a sending destination of said second signal; and

a wireless signal transmission part configured to send said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal transmission part configured to send said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via an optical fiber circuit,

said switching apparatus in a receiving side comprising;

a wireless signal receiving part configured to receive a third signal via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal receiving part configured to receive a third signal via an optical fiber circuit; and

a demodulation part configured to demodulating said third signal.

2. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a sending side further comprising:

a frequency control part configured to control a frequency of said second signal output from said modulation part according to said sending destination;

wherein said first switching part switches said output destination according to said frequency of said second signal.

3. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a sending side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to send said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

4. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 2, said switching apparatus in a sending side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to send said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

5. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a receiving side further comprising a second switching part configured to switch an output destination of said third signal to a demodulation part.

6. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second switching part switches said output destination of said third signal according to a frequency of said third signal.

7. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a receiving side further comprising a selection part configured to select a fourth signal and outputting said fourth signal to said demodulation part when a plurality of signals are received.

8. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a receiving side further comprising a frequency control part configured to control said demodulation part such that said demodulation part can demodulate said third signal according to a frequency of said third signal.

9. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus in a receiving side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to receive said third signal from said wireless circuit and outputting said third signal to said wireless signal receiving part;

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control apparatus in a sending side.

10. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said beam forming part directs said variable directional antenna to an antenna according to a frequency of said third signal.

11. A switching apparatus in a mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations and a control station which controls said base stations, each of said base stations and said control station having said switching apparatus, said switching apparatus being connected to another switching apparatus via a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus comprising:

a modulation part configured to modulate a first signal into a second signal of a unified transmission form;

a first switching part configured to switching an output destination of said second signal from said modulation part according to a sending destination of said second signal; and

a wireless signal transmission part configured to send said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via a wireless circuit; and

an optical signal transmission part configured to send said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via an optical fiber circuit.

12. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a frequency control part configured to control a frequency of said second signal output from said modulation part according to said sending destination;

wherein said first switching part switches said output destination according to said frequency of said second signal.

13. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to send said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side.

14. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to send said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

15. A switching apparatus in a mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations and a control station which controls said base stations, each of said base stations and said control station having said switching apparatus, said switching apparatus being connected to another switching apparatus via a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus comprising:

a wireless signal receiving part configured to receive a first signal of a unified transmission form suitable for transmission through a wireless circuit and an optical fiber circuit via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal receiving part configured to receive a first signal of a unified transmission form suitable for transmission through a wireless circuit and an optical fiber circuit via an optical fiber circuit; and

a demodulation part configured to demodulate said first signal of a unified transmission form suitable for transmission through a wireless circuit and an optical fiber circuit when received by the wireless signal receiving part and also when received by the optical signal receiving part.

16. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a switching part configured to switch an output destination of said first signal to a demodulation part.

17. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said switching part switches said output destination of said first signal according to a frequency of said first signal.

18. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a selection part configured to select a second signal and outputting said second signal to said demodulation part when a plurality of signals are received.

19. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a frequency control part configured to control said demodulation part such that said demodulation part can demodulate said first signal according to a frequency of said first signal.

20. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna configured to receive said first signal from said wireless circuit and outputting said first signal to said wireless signal receiving part;

a beam forming part configured to direct said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control apparatus in a sending side.

21. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said beam forming part directs said variable directional antenna to an antenna according to a frequency of said first signal.