Frequency overlay technique for a pico cell system

• US 20070258417A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Richard, Stone, William, Haynberg, Sean
• Granted Patent: US 7,907,578 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18506 Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18508 with satellite system used as relay, i.e. aeronautical mobile satellite service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/16 for PBS [Private Base Station] arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/32 Hierarchical cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks

Abstract

To ameliorate interference between an indoor wireless pico cell system, for example in an aircraft, and public wireless communications systems operating in a surrounding or over-flown area, frequencies of operation of the indoor system are coordinated with those used by the public wireless systems in the surrounding area. The pico cell system operates one type of service on all or a portion of a band used for a different type of service by the public system. In the aircraft example, a pico cell system might support GSM narrowband service and CDMA broadband service. The airborne GSM operations use a portion, e.g. corresponding to a guard band, of CDMA service spectrum in the terrestrial network. The airborne CDMA service uses a band used for GSM service by the terrestrial network. The pico cell system dynamically changes its frequency band(s), as the aircraft flies over different areas.

Claims

1. A method of operating a pico cell system in an indoor service area to provide wireless communications for narrowband and broadband mobile stations, comprising:

controlling the pico cell system to provide narrowband wireless communication service for one or more narrowband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a first frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a surrounding outdoor region; and

controlling the pico cell system to provide broadband wireless service for one or more broadband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a second frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the indoor service area is the interior of a moving vehicle.

3. The method as in claim 2, further comprising dynamically changing the first frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as the vehicle moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

monitoring position of the vehicle and detecting from that monitoring when the vehicle moves into the different surrounding region,

wherein the step of dynamically changing is responsive to the detection of movement into the different surrounding region.

5. The method as in claim 2, further comprising dynamically changing the second frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as the vehicle moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring position of the vehicle and detecting from that monitoring when the vehicle moves into the different surrounding region,

wherein the step of dynamically changing is responsive to the detection of movement into the different surrounding region.

7. The method as in claim 2, further comprising:

dynamically changing the first frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as the vehicle moves into the different surrounding outdoor region; and

dynamically changing the second frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in the different surrounding outdoor region, as the vehicle moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

8. The method as in claim 7, wherein at least one step of dynamically changing is responsive to a determination of a change of position of the moving vehicle into the different surrounding outdoor region.

9. The method as in claim 2, wherein the moving vehicle is an aircraft.

10. The method as in claim 1, wherein:

the narrowband wireless service provided via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region is a Global System for Mobile (GSM) service, and the one or more narrowband mobile devices are compatible with GSM operation; and

the broadband wireless service provided via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region is a code division multiple access (CDMA) service, and the one or more broadband mobile devices are compatible with CDMA operation.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first frequency band corresponds to a guard band of the CDMA service operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

12. A pico cell system for use in an indoor service area to provide wireless communications for narrowband and broadband mobile stations, comprising:

one or more base stations configured for narrowband and broadband communication with narrowband and broadband mobile stations respectively within the indoor service area;

a base station controller for controlling wireless operations of the one or more base station; and

a communication interface coupled to the one or more base stations for providing two-way communications to and from a public communication network,

wherein the base station controller is configured to control operations of the one or more base stations so as to;

(a) provide narrowband wireless communication service for one or more narrowband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a first frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a surrounding outdoor region; and

(b) provide broadband wireless service for one or more broadband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a second frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

13. The pico cell system of claim 12, wherein:

the one or more base stations provide Global System for Mobile (GSM) type narrowband communication service within the indoor service area and provide code division multiple access (CDMA) type broadband communication service within the indoor service area;

the first frequency band corresponds to at least a portion of a band allocated to a CDMA service provided by a public mobile communication network in the surrounding outdoor region; and

the second frequency band corresponds to a frequency band assigned to a GSM service operating in the surrounding outdoor region provided by a public mobile communication network.

14. The pico cell system of claim 13, wherein the first frequency band corresponds to a guard band of a CDMA service provided by a public mobile communication network in the surrounding outdoor region.

15. The pico cell system of claim 13, wherein the base station controller is also configured so as to communicate with CDMA and GSM mobile stations operating within the indoor service area to dynamically control transmission power levels and operating frequencies of CDMA and GSM mobile stations operating within the indoor service area.

16. The pico cell system of claim 12, wherein:

the pico cell system is for use in a moving vehicle; and

the base station controller is configured to control operations of the one or more base stations so as to dynamically change one or more of the first and second frequency bands based on position of the moving vehicle.

17. The pico cell system of claim 16, wherein the pico cell system is for use in an aircraft.

18. The pico cell system of claim 16, wherein the base station controller is also configured so as to communicate with mobile stations operating within the indoor service area to dynamically change frequencies of operations of the mobile stations operating within the indoor service area based on position of the moving vehicle.

19. A program product comprising a machine readable medium and executable code embodied on the medium, wherein execution of the code by a programmable controller of a pico cell system operating in an indoor service area will cause the controller to control operations of the pico cell system to provide wireless communications for narrowband and broadband mobile stations in the indoor service area, the controlled operations including steps comprising:

operating the pico cell system to provide narrowband wireless communication service for one or more narrowband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a first frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a surrounding outdoor region; and

operating the pico cell system to provide broadband wireless service for one or more broadband mobile devices within the indoor service area, on a second frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

20. The product of claim 19, wherein the controlled operations steps further comprise dynamically changing the first frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as a vehicle bearing the pico cell system moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

21. The product of claim 20, wherein the step of dynamically changing is responsive to a determination of a change of position of the moving vehicle into the different surrounding outdoor region.

22. The product of claim 19, wherein the controlled operations steps further comprise dynamically changing the second frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as a vehicle bearing the pico cell system moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

23. The product of claim 22, wherein the step of dynamically changing is responsive to a determination of a change of position of the moving vehicle into the different surrounding outdoor region.

24. The product of claim 19, wherein the controlled operations steps further comprise:

dynamically changing the first frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for broadband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in a different surrounding outdoor region, as a vehicle bearing the pico cell system moves into the different surrounding outdoor region; and

dynamically changing the second frequency band from that corresponding to at least a portion of the frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service so as to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for narrowband wireless service via a public mobile communication network operating in the different surrounding outdoor region, as the vehicle moves into the different surrounding outdoor region.

25. The product of claim 24, wherein the steps of dynamically changing are responsive to a determination of a change of position of the moving vehicle into the different surrounding outdoor region.

26. A method of providing wireless communications in an indoor service area, comprising:

operating a pico cell system to provide two-way wireless communication over a wireless link for one or more mobile devices within the indoor service area, in accord with a first public wireless communication protocol;

providing two-way coupling of communications over the wireless link for the one or more mobile stations to and from a public communication network; and

mitigating interference between the two-way wireless communication in the indoor service area and wireless communication in accord with the first public wireless communication protocol provided by a public mobile communication network operating in a surrounding outdoor region, by controlling the pico cell system to operate on a frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for mobile wireless communication in accord with a second public wireless communication protocol via a public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region;

wherein the second public wireless communication protocol is different from the first public wireless communication protocol.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the first public wireless communication protocol is a narrowband protocol;

the second public wireless communication protocol is a broadband protocol; and

the controlling causes the pico cell system to operate on a frequency band corresponding to a guard band portion of the frequency band allocated for mobile wireless communication in accord with the second public wireless communication protocol in the surrounding outdoor region.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein:

the first public wireless communication protocol is a broadband protocol; and

the second public wireless communication protocol is a narrowband protocol.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the controlling includes dynamically changing the frequency band of operation of the pico cell system to correspond to at least a portion of a different frequency band allocated for mobile wireless communication in accord with the second public wireless communication protocol, in response to movement of the pico cell system into a different surrounding outdoor region.

30. A pico cell system for use in an indoor service area to provide wireless communications, comprising:

one or more base stations configured for providing mobile wireless communication with a mobile station operating within the indoor service area;

a base station controller for controlling wireless operations of the one or more base station; and

a communication interface coupled to the one or more base stations for providing two-way communications to and from a public communication network, wherein;

the one or more base stations provide the mobile wireless communication service in accord with a first public wireless communication protocol within the indoor service area, on a frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for mobile wireless communication in accord with a second public wireless communication protocol via a public mobile communication network operating in a surrounding outdoor region; and

the second public wireless communication protocol is different from the first public wireless communication protocol.

31. The pico cell system of claim 30, wherein:

the first public wireless communication protocol is a narrowband protocol; and

the one or more base stations provide the mobile wireless communication service in accord with the narrowband protocol within the indoor service area, on a frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for broadband mobile wireless communication via the public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

32. The pico cell system of claim 31, wherein the one or more base stations provide the mobile wireless communication service in accord with the narrowband protocol within the indoor service area, on a frequency band corresponding to a guard band of the broadband mobile wireless communication in the surrounding outdoor region.

33. The pico cell system of claim 30, wherein:

the first public wireless communication protocol is a broadband protocol; and

the one or more base stations provide the mobile wireless communication service in accord with the broadband protocol within the indoor service area, on a frequency band corresponding to at least a portion of a frequency band allocated for narrowband mobile wireless communication via the public mobile communication network operating in the surrounding outdoor region.

34. The pico cell system of claim 30, wherein the base station controller controls operational frequency of the one or more base stations in response to changes in position of a vehicle containing the indoor service area, to reflect changes in the frequency band allocated for mobile wireless communication in accord with the second public wireless communication protocol via the public mobile communication network as the vehicle moves to a different surrounding outdoor region.