Mobile communication system

• US 5,875,183 A
• Filed: 12/26/1996
• Issued: 02/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Inphi Corporation
• Original Assignee: OKI Electric Industry Company Limited
• Inventors: Nitadori, Kazuhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US08/772,872
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/329, 370/334, 370/336, 370/346, 370/347, 370/349, 370/350, 455/440, 455/456, 455/461, 455/462, 342/357, 342/457, 342/450, 342/458
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096716 where the received information does not generate an automatic action on the vehicle control
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096741 where the source of the transmitted information selects which information to transmit to each vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096775 where the origin of the information is a central station
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A mobile communication system is provided which serves as an information infrastructure capable of providing intelligent information transmission and services. A mobile station on each vehicle traveling on a road includes first and second transceivers for carrying out radio communications with a third transceiver of a base station installed on a roadside. The first transceiver of a first mobile station is linked not only with the third transceiver of the base station through a first communication channel, but is also linked with the second transceiver of a second mobile station via a second communication channel. The first mobile station carries out information communications with the base station using the first communication channel, and at the same time with the second mobile station via the second communication channel. The first, second and third transceivers each have the function of measuring the incoming direction of the radio wave from the party, and calculating the distance to the party so that the location of each mobile station is identified in each station.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station comprising a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said party in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder,

wherein said transceiver of each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises;

a packet assembler for assembling data packet to which a synchronizing code is added;

transmitting means for modulating an output of said packet assembler and radiating a modulated signal as radio waves;

a timer for measuring a time period from transmitting said data packet to receiving a data packet transmitted from said party;

a first synchronization detector for detecting said synchronizing code from said output of said packet assembler to start said timer;

receiving means for demodulating said data packet from an output from said receiving antenna;

a second synchronization detector for detecting said synchronizing code from an output of said receiving means to stop said timer; and

a packet disassembler for extracting said data packet from the output of said receiving means, and

wherein said controller calculates the distance to said party in accordance with a difference between a transmitting time of a signal carrying said data packet and a received time of a response signal from said party to said data packet measured by said timer.

7. The mobile communication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said transceiver of said mobile station and said transceiver of said base station each transmit or receive said data packet within slots formed by dividing a predetermined frame duration such that collision of said data packet is avoided.

8. The mobile communication system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said base station comprises a first clock generator for generating a first clock signal in slave synchronism with master clock information fed through a time division multiplexed transmission line,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second clock generator for generating a second clock signal in slave synchronism with said first clock signal of said base station in response to timing information in a received signal transmitted from said base station, and

wherein said mobile communication system defines said slots in response to times indicated by said first and second clock signals.

2. A mobile communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station comprising a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said party in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder,

wherein said mobile station includes a third transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with another mobile station traveling behind,

wherein said third transmitting and receiving device comprises;

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

a plurality of receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said second transmitting and receiving device comprises a function to carry out communications with a third transmitting and receiving device of another mobile station traveling in front of said second transmitting and receiving device,

wherein said controller of each of said third and second transmitting and receiving devices measures a distance between said third and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to each other in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder,

wherein said transceiver of each of said first, second and third transmitting and receiving devices comprises;

a packet assembler for assembling a data packet to which a synchronizing code is added;

transmitting means for modulating an output of said packet assembler and radiating a modulated signal as radio waves;

a timer for measuring a time period from transmitting said data packet to receiving a data packet transmitted from said party;

a first synchronization detector for detecting said synchronizing code from said output of said packet assembler to start said timer;

receiving means for demodulating said data packet from an output from said receiving antenna;

a second synchronization detector for detecting said synchronizing code from an output of said receiving means to stop said timer; and

a packet disassembler for extracting said data packet from the output of said receiving means, and

wherein said controller calculates the distance to said party in accordance with a difference between a transmitting time of a signal carrying said data packet and a received time of a response signal from said party to said data packet measured by said timer.

3. A mobile communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station comprising a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said party in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder, and

wherein said direction finder comprises;

means for shifting a phase of an output of one of said receiving antennas;

means for adding an output of the other of said receiving antennas to an output of said shifting means;

first detecting means for carrying out square-law detection of an output of said adding means;

second detecting means for carrying out square-law detection of the output of the other of said receiving antennas; and

calculating means for calculating an angle of said party relative to the station to which said direction finder belongs in response to outputs of said first and second detecting means.

4. A mobile communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station comprising a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said part in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder,

wherein said mobile station includes a third transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with another mobile station traveling behind,

wherein said third transmitting and receiving device comprises;

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

a plurality of receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said second transmitting and receiving device comprises a function to carry out communications with a third transmitting and receiving device of another mobile station traveling in front of said second transmitting and receiving device,

wherein said controller of each of said third and second transmitting and receiving devices measures a distance between said third and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to each other in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder, and

wherein said direction finder comprises;

means for shifting a phase of an output of one of said receiving antennas;

means for adding an output of the other of said receiving antennas to an output of said shifting means;

first detecting means for carrying out square-law detection of an output of said adding means;

second detecting means for carrying out square-law detection of the output of the other of said receiving antennas; and

calculating means for calculating an angle of said party relative to the station to which said direction finder belongs in response to outputs of said first and second detecting means.

5. A mobile communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station comprising a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said part in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder, and

wherein said mobile station and said base station each comprise means for sharing connection information representing a connection state between said base station and said mobile station by exchanging the connection information with each other, and determine a transfer path of said data packet in response to the shared connection information such that said data packet is transferred to a desired destination through a said transfer path.

6. The mobile communication system in accordance with claim 5,

wherein said mobile station includes a third transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with another mobile station traveling behind,

wherein said third transmitting and receiving device comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

a plurality of receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said second transmitting and receiving device comprises a function to carry out communications with a third transmitting and receiving device of another mobile station traveling in front of said second transmitting and receiving device, and

wherein said controller of each of said third and second transmitting and receiving devices measures a distance between said third and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to each other in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder.

9. A communication system for providing radio communication channels for information transmission between a mobile station mounted on a vehicle traveling on a road and a fixed communication network installed on a roadside,

wherein said fixed communication network includes a base station includes a first transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said mobile station by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein said mobile station comprises a second transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with said first transmitting and receiving device by transmitting and receiving a data packet,

wherein each of said first and second transmitting and receiving devices comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

two or more receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said controller measures a distance between said first and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to said party in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder, and

wherein said mobile station and said base station each determine a transfer path of said data packet in response to position information of said party, and transfer said data packet to a desired destination through said transfer path.

10. The mobile communication system in accordance with claim 9,

wherein said mobile station includes a third transmitting and receiving device for carrying out radio communications with another mobile station traveling behind,

wherein said third transmitting and receiving device comprises:

a transceiver for carrying out radio communications with its party;

a plurality of receiving antennas separated apart by a predetermined distance;

a direction finder for determining, in response to a radio signal caught by each of said receiving antennas, an incident angle of the radio signal on said receiving antennas; and

a controller for controlling transmitting and receiving of a data packet to and from said party,

wherein said second transmitting and receiving device comprises a function to carry out communications with a third transmitting and receiving device of another mobile station traveling in front of said second transmitting and receiving device, and

wherein said controller of each of said third and second transmitting and receiving devices measures a distance between said third and second transmitting and receiving devices in response to a transmitting time of said data packet and a received time of said radio signal from said party, and a direction with respect to each other in response to said incident angle detected by said direction finder.