Cellularized packetized voice and data

• US 7,388,846 B1
• Filed: 02/16/2000
• Issued: 06/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qwest Communications International Incorporated (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cook, Charles I., Hohnstein, Donald L., Dougherty, Angus O., Wells, Guy M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): MEHRA, INDER P
• Application Number:
  US09/505,271
• Time in Patent Office: 3,044 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/349, 370352-356, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/462, 370/465, 370/466, 370/312, 370/328, 370/350
• US Class Current: 370/312
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/72 of terrestrial networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/10 Routing in connection-oriented networks, e.g. X.25 or ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/44 Distributed routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

Distributed routing provides a robust, scalable communication system free of bottlenecks associated with traditional wireless systems. The system includes subscriber units sending and receiving information packets using wireless communication links. The system also includes access points with each access point forming a coverage area for exchanging information packets with subscriber units within the coverage area. The system further includes distribution points receiving packets from access points. Distribution points form a distributed routing network. Each distribution point receives an information packet for distribution to a specified destination. If the destination is to a subscriber unit within the coverage area of the access point in communication with the distribution point, the information packet is forwarded to the access point. Otherwise, the information packet is forwarded to one of the additional distribution points.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of subscriber units, each subscriber unit sending and receiving information packets using a wireless communication link;

a plurality of access points, each access point forming a coverage area for exchanging information packets with subscriber units within the coverage area through at least one wireless communication link; and

a plurality of distribution points, each distribution point in communication with at least one access point and with at least one additional distribution point, each distribution point operative to

(a) receive an information packet for distribution to a destination within the communication system,

(b) determine if the information packet destination is to one of the plurality of subscriber units within the coverage area of an access point in communication with the distribution point,

(c) forward the information packet to the access point defining the coverage area containing the subscriber unit if the information packet destination is to one of the plurality of subscriber units within the coverage area of the access point in communication with the distribution point, and

(d) forward the information packet to one of the additional distribution points in communication with the distribution point if the information packet destination is not to one of the plurality of subscriber units within the coverage area of the access point in communication with the distribution point.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein each information packet includes at least one of voice, video, and data information.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one information packet comprises voice information.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one information packet comprises video information.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one information packet comprises data.

6. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one information packet comprises streaming audio.

7. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one information packet comprises streaming video.

8. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communication link is a symmetric link.

9. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the communication link is an asymmetric link.

10. The communication system of claim 1 wherein each distribution point is in wireless communication with at least one of the at least one access point.

11. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point is in wireline communication with at least one of the at least one access point.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the at least one access point is packaged with a distribution point.

13. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of access points is not collocated with any distribution point.

14. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the plurality of distribution points is in wireless communication with at least one additional distribution point of the plurality of distribution points.

15. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of distribution points forms a wireless network of distribution points.

16. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a communication system interface device operative to format information contained in the information packet to pass through a second communication system, the distribution point further operative to receive an information packet for distribution within the second communication system and to send the information packet to the communication system interface device.

17. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the second communication system comprises a wireless telecommunication system.

18. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the second communication system comprises a wireline telecommunication system.

19. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the second communication system comprises a data network.

20. The communication system of claim 16 wherein the second communication system comprises a video distribution system.

21. The communication system of claim 1 further comprising a telecommunication system interface device operative to format information contained in the information packet to pass through a telecommunication system, the distribution point further operative to:

receive at least one information packet from the telecommunication system interface device;

determine if the at least one information packet destination is to a subscriber unit within the coverage area of an access point in communication with the distribution point;

forward the at least one information packet to the access point defining the coverage area containing the subscriber unit if the information packet destination is to a subscriber unit within the coverage area of the access point in communication with the distribution point; and

forward the at least one information packet to one of the additional distribution points in communication with the distribution point if the information packet destination is not to a subscriber unit within the coverage area of the access point in communication with the distribution point.

22. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points is further in communication with an Internet gateway, the distribution point further operative to exchange packets with the Internet gateway.

23. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points comprises an asynchronous transfer mode switch.

24. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points comprises an Internet protocol router.

25. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points comprises an Ethernet router.

26. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points comprises a TDM switch.

27. The communication system of claim 1 wherein each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units is autonomously registered when the subscriber unit first enters the coverage area of a radio access point within the communication system.

28. The communication system of claim 27 wherein each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units maintains registration as the subscriber unit moves from one coverage area into another coverage area.

29. The communication system of claim 27 wherein each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units is autonomously deregistered when the subscriber unit leaves the communication system.

30. The communication system of claim 1 wherein a quality error bit rate is established for each subscriber unit based on the location of the subscriber unit within the communication system.

31. The communication system of claim 1 wherein a quality error bit rate is established for each subscriber unit based on a class of service.

32. The communication system of claim 1 wherein a quality error bit rate is established for each subscriber unit based on a grade of service.

33. The communication system of claim 1 wherein a quality error bit rate is established for each subscriber unit based on a rate of service.

34. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber unit is a fixed device.

35. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber unit is a non-fixed device.

36. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the distribution point dynamically allocates bandwidth when the information packet is forwarded to one of the additional distribution points in communication with the distribution point.

37. The communication system of claim 1 wherein bandwidth is dynamically allocated when an information packet is exchanged between one of the plurality of subscriber units and one of the plurality of access points.

38. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of distribution points, each distribution point in communication with at least one additional distribution point in the plurality of distribution points, each distribution point operative to rout information packets;

a plurality of subscriber units, each subscriber unit operative to communicate information packets to a destination subscriber unit through at least one distribution point in the plurality of distribution points; and

a supervisor in communication with each distribution point, the supervisor operative to identify the distribution point with which each subscriber unit is communicating and to provide each distribution point with a listing of to which of the at least one additional distribution point in communication with the distribution point information packets should be forwarded for each possible destination distribution point, the listing based on maintaining a minimum quality of service in a path to the destination distribution point.

39. A communication system comprising:

a plurality of distribution points, each distribution point in communication with at least one additional distribution point in the plurality of distribution points, each distribution point operative to forward each information packet received by the distribution point to another distribution point based on a destination address in the packet and on a logical address of each of the plurality of distribution points; and

a supervisor in communication with each distribution point, the supervisor operative to provide each distribution point with a listing of to which of the at least one additional distribution point in communication with the distribution point information packets should be forwarded for each possible destination distribution point, the listing based on maintaining a minimum quality of service in a path to the destination distribution point.

40. A method of automatically adding a new distribution point into a network of existing distribution points, each distribution point in the network of existing distribution points in communication with at least one additional distribution point in the network of existing distribution points, each distribution point in the network of existing distribution points operative to forward an information packet to one of the additional distribution points in the network of existing distribution points in communication with the distribution point in the network of existing distribution points based on a destination address in the information packet, the method comprising:

transmitting a sign-on signal from the new distribution point;

receiving the sign-on signal in at least one distribution point in the network of existing distribution points;

assigning a routing address to the new distribution point; and

providing each distribution point in the network of existing distribution points with an indication as to which additional distribution point in the network of existing distribution points each information packet having a destination address specifying the new distribution point is to be forwarded.

41. A method of automatically removing a distribution point from a network of distribution points, each distribution point in the network of distribution points in communication with at least one additional distribution point, each distribution point operative to forward an information packet to one of the additional distribution points in communication with the distribution point based on a destination address in the information packet, the method comprising:

detecting the absence of signal from a distribution point to be removed from the network;

determining a connectivity between distribution points remaining after removing the distribution point detected with the absence of signal; and

providing each remaining distribution point with an indication as to which distribution point in communication with the remaining distribution point each information packet having a destination address specifying the remaining distribution point is to be forwarded.

42. A distribution point for use in a communication system comprising a plurality of networked distribution points, the distribution point comprising:

at least one front end communication interface, each front end interface in communication with an access point, the access point in wireless communication with subscriber units currently assigned to the distribution point;

at least one back end communication interfaces, each back end interface in communication with a back haul communication device, at least one back haul communication device transferring packets with a back haul communication device in another of the plurality of networked distribution points; and

an intelligent packet switching device operative to

(a) determine a destination for each received packet,

(b) determine if the destination is to a subscriber unit currently assigned to the distribution point,

(c) send the packet to the subscriber unit if the subscriber unit is currently assigned to the distribution point,

(d) if the destination is not to a subscriber unit currently assigned to the distribution point, determine if the destination is to a subscriber unit currently assigned to any other distribution point in the communication system, and

(e) if the subscriber unit is currently assigned to any other distribution point in the communication system, identify another distribution point in back haul communication with the distribution point to which the packet should be forwarded and forward the packet to the identified distribution point.

43. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein at least one front end communication interface is connected to an antenna, thereby permitting the distribution point to be in wireless communication with at least one radio access point.

44. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein at least one front end communication interface is in wireline connection with a radio access point.

45. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein transferring packets between a back haul communication device within the distribution point and a back haul communication device in another of the plurality of networked distribution points is a wireless transfer.

46. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein transferring packets between a back haul communication device within the distribution point and a back haul communication device in another of the plurality of networked distribution points is through a wireline connection.

47. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein the intelligent packet switching device comprises an asynchronous transfer mode switch.

48. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein the intelligent packet switching device comprises an Internet protocol router.

49. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein the intelligent packet switching device comprises an Ethernet router.

50. The distribution point as in claim 42 wherein the intelligent packet switching device comprises a TDM switch.