SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRANSMITTING ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY OVER A WIRELESS CHANNEL HAVING SUFFICIENTLY WEAK MEASURED SIGNAL STRENGTH

• US 20090131046A1
• Filed: 01/27/2009
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ATC Technology Corporation (FedEx Corporation)
• Inventors: Karabinis, Peter D., Singh, Rajendra
• Granted Patent: US 7,792,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18563 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2041 Spot beam multiple access

Abstract

A signal strength that is associated with a first wireless communications channel is detected. Electromagnetic energy is transmitted over the first wireless communications channel in response to the signal strength being sufficiently weak. A determination is made whether a handoff should be made to a second wireless communications channel having a signal that is weaker than a signal of the first wireless communications channel. Related systems and methods are described.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a detector that is configured to detect a first signal strength that is associated with a first wireless communications channel; and

a transmitter that is configured to radiate electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel responsive to the detector having detected that the first signal strength is sufficiently weak,

wherein the detector is further configured to determine whether a handoff should be made to a second wireless communications channel having a signal that is weaker than a signal of the first wireless communications channel.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the detector is at the transmitter and/or spaced apart from the transmitter.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a satellite to provide space-based communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide terrestrial communications.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a terrestrial system to provide terrestrial communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide terrestrial communications.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a wireless communications system to provide wide-area communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide local-area communications.

6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the transmitter provides local-area communications based upon a Time-Division Duplex (TDD) air interface protocol.

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the TDD air interface protocol uses the first wireless communications channel to transmit and to receive information.

8. A method comprising:

detecting by a detector a first signal strength that is associated with a first wireless communications channel;

radiating by a transmitter electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel responsive to detecting that the first signal strength is sufficiently weak; and

determining whether a handoff should be made to a second wireless communications channel having a signal that is weaker than a signal of the first wireless communications channel.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a satellite to provide space-based communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide terrestrial communications.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a terrestrial system to provide terrestrial communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide terrestrial communications.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein the first wireless communications channel is used by a wireless communications system to provide wide-area communications and wherein the transmitter radiates electromagnetic energy over the first wireless communications channel to provide local-area communications.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the transmitter provides local-area communications based upon a Time-Division Duplex (TDD) air interface protocol.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the TDD air interface protocol uses the first wireless communications channel to transmit and to receive information.

14. A method according to claim 8, wherein the detector is at the transmitter and/or spaced apart from the transmitter.