Adaptive omni-modal radio apparatus and methods

• US 6,134,453 A
• Filed: 09/09/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anton Innovations Inc. (Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Charles M. Leedom Jr
• Inventors: Leedom, Jr., Charles M., Robinson, Eric J., Sainton, Joseph B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US09/149,292
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 455/74, 455/84, 455/86, 455/432, 455/434, 455/435, 455/552, 455/524, 455/553, 455/426, 455/557, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/06 Hybrid resource partitioning, e.g. channel borrowing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/22 Negotiating communication rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/24 Accounting or billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/08 Access restriction or access information delivery, e.g. discovery data delivery signalling during connection H04W76/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/00 Wireless channel access, e.g. scheduled or random access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A frequency and protocol agile wireless communication product, and chipset for forming the same, including a frequency agile transceiver, a digital interface circuit for interconnecting the radio transceiver with external devices, protocol agile operating circuit for operating the radio transceiver in accordance with one of the transmission protocols as determined by a protocol signal and an adaptive control circuit for accessing a selected wireless communication network and for generating the frequency control signal and the protocol control signal in response to a user defined criteria. Among the possible user defined criteria would be (1) the cost of sending a data message, (2) the quality of transmission link (signal strength, interference actual or potential), (3) the potential for being bumped off of the system (is service provider at near full capacity), (4) the security of transmission, (5) any special criteria which the user could variably program into his omni-modal wireless product based on the user'"'"'s desires or (6) any one or more combinations of the above features that are preprogrammed, changed or overridden by the user. The disclosed invention allows wireless service providers to broadcast electronically as part of any "handshaking" procedure with a omni-modal wireless product information such as (1) rate information and (2) information regarding system operating characteristics such as percent of system capacity in use and/or likelihood of being dropped. The disclosed invention creates a user oriented source enrollment and billing service in the wireless data market by establishing uniform standard for "handshakes" to occur between cell service providers and omni-modal wireless products. In addition, the disclosed invention can be implemented on a standard chip or chipset including a radio transceiver specifically designed to be used in all types of omni-modal wireless products.

Claims

1. A multi-modal device for facilitating wireless communication over any one of a plurality of wireless communication networks at least some of which may be available and operating at a given time and location using differing radio frequency modulation protocols and over differing radio frequencies, comprising:

a frequency agile radio transceiver operating at any frequency of a plurality of radio frequencies appropriate for each of the plurality of wireless communication networks, said frequency selected in response to a frequency control signal;

an interface circuit for interconnecting said frequency agile radio transceiver with an external signal circuit to allow signal information to be sent and received over said frequency agile radio transceiver;

a protocol agile operating circuit for operating said frequency agile radio transceiver and said interface circuit in accordance with any one modulation protocol of a plurality of modulation protocols, said one modulation protocol selected in response to a protocol control signal;

adaptive control circuit for determining which wireless communications networks are available at a given location and time, for accessing a selected wireless communication network, for communicating with said selected wireless communication network to determine on a real time basis the operating characteristics of the wireless communication network, and for generating the frequency control signal and the protocol control signal in response to a user defined criteria to cause the device to communicate with the selected wireless communication network using the frequencies and modulation protocol suitable for transmission of said signal information over said selected wireless communications network; and

input means for receiving said user defined criteria, said user defined criteria comprising at least one of the cost of using the wireless communication network, the quality of the wireless communication network, the potential for being dropped by the wireless communication network, and the security of the wireless communication network;

wherein said adaptive control means operates to generate said frequency control signal and said modulation protocol control signal by comparing said operating characteristics with said user defined criteria.

2. The multi-modal device of claim 1, wherein said adaptive control selects the wireless communication network based on the least cost.

3. The multi-modal device of claim 1, wherein said adaptive control control circuit selects the wireless communication network based on the quality of the radio transmission link connecting said frequency agile transceiver and the selected wireless communication network.

4. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adaptive circuit means selects the wireless communication network based on the probability of being dropped from the network.

5. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adaptive control means selects the wireless communication network based on the security of the radio transmission link connecting said frequency agile transceiver and the selected wireless communication network.

6. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adaptive control circuit selects the wireless communication network based on prior experience with specific wireless communication networks.

7. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adaptive control circuit selects the wireless communication network based on the combined determination of two or more of the following:

the cost of using the wireless communication network;

the quality of the transmission link connecting said frequency agile transceiver and the selected wireless communication network;

prior experience with specific wireless communication networks;

the potential for being dropped by the network; and

the security of the radio transmission link connecting said frequency agile transceiver and the selected wireless communication network.

8. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, wherein said adaptive control circuit is adapted to communicate in accordance with an electronic handshake with selected wireless communication networks to determine on a real time basis the cost for desired services and operating characteristics of the corresponding wireless communication network.

9. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 1, further including a modem means for modulating and/or demodulating a carrier signal with user data.

10. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 9, further including a data processor means for processing digital data sent and/or received over said frequency agile transceiver.

11. The multi-modal device as defined in claim 10, wherein said protocol agile operating circuit means is adapted to cause said frequency agile transceiver to control telephone call placement and call answering functions over wireless communication networks having such telephone functions.