Broadcast-centric cellular communication system
First Claim
1. A wireless multi-cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said system comprising:
- means for synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells;
means for transmitting individually from each base station in the group, cell-specific control information; and
a mechanism for cell identification, wherein a mobile station operating within one of the cells identifies the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, wherein the unique physical-layer cell characteristic is a unique synchronization pattern.
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Abstract
A broadcast-centric cellular communication system improves broadcast channel performance by exploiting the benefits of macro-diversity in a cellular communication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells. System-specific control information common to all cells is synchronously and simultaneously broadcast from multiple base stations using a broadcast channel that is identical across the entire system. Cell-specific control information is transmitted individually from each base station. Mobile stations use the broadcast information for initial synchronization to the system, and to obtain most relevant system information. After system synchronization, the mobile stations identify the connected cell through a physical layer characteristic, and perform initial access to the system.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A wireless multi-cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said system comprising:
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means for synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells; means for transmitting individually from each base station in the group, cell-specific control information; and a mechanism for cell identification, wherein a mobile station operating within one of the cells identifies the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, wherein the unique physical-layer cell characteristic is a unique synchronization pattern. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A wireless multi-cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said system comprising:
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means for synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells; means for transmitting individually from each base station in the group, cell-specific control information; and a mechanism for cell identification, wherein a mobile station operating within one of the cells identifies the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, wherein the unique physical-layer cell characteristic is a unique pilot pattern. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A wireless multi-cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said system comprising:
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means for synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells; means for transmitting individually from each base station in the group, cell-specific control information; and means for simultaneously transmitting an identical synchronization signal from multiple base stations, wherein the synchronization signal has good time and frequency localization properties even in the presence of significant Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI).
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12. A method of delivering broadcast information to mobile stations operating in a cellular communication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said method comprising:
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synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells; transmitting individually from each base station in the group, cell-specific control information; and identifying by a mobile station operating within one of the cells, the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, said unique physical-layer cell characteristic being selected from a group consisting of a unique synchronization pattern and a unique pilot pattern. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of delivering broadcast information to mobile stations operating in a cellular communication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said method comprising:
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synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells and a list of cell identifiers; broadcasting cell-specific information needed by a mobile station to make an initial system access, wherein a mobile station operating within one of the cells identifies the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, wherein the unique physical-layer cell characteristic is a unique synchronization pattern; and after the mobile station has made the initial system access, transmitting more detailed system information to the mobile station using a point-to-point link.
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21. A wireless multi-cellular telecommunication system having a plurality of base stations that transmit signals within a plurality of associated cells, said system comprising:
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means for synchronously and simultaneously broadcasting from a predefined group of base stations, system-specific control information common to all cells and a list of cell identifiers; means for broadcasting cell-specific information needed by a mobile station to make an initial system access, wherein a mobile station operating within one of the cells identifies the cell to which the mobile station is connected by detecting a unique physical-layer cell characteristic of the cell, wherein the unique physical-layer cell characteristic is a unique pilot pattern; and means responsive to the initial system access by the mobile station, for transmitting more detailed system information to the mobile station using a point-to-point link.
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Specification