Local wireless communication system with external communications link

• US 6,141,531 A
• Filed: 04/17/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wahoo Communications Corporation, Direct Wireless Corporation (Whitemark Homes, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Direct Wireless Corporation (Whitemark Homes, Inc.)
• Inventors: Williams, Bill G., Petermann, Jerry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gantt, Alan T.
• Application Number:
  US09/062,012
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 455/555, 455/7, 455/419, 455/420, 427/7
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

A wireless communication system using radio frequencies for transmitting and receiving voice and data signal with an internal network with multiple internal communication path, and an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external communications network and is suited to operate in remote locations that are isolated. The internal network contains transceivers that allow for decentralized communication along multiple communication paths within the internal network. If the transceivers are within range, they can communicate directly without the need for a central call switching and delivery center. If the transceivers are out of range, they can communicate via intermediate transceivers that relay the calls to the destination transceivers, eliminating the need for a central call switching and delivery center. The internal network has the capability of communicating with an external communications network, such as a public switched telephone network, a satellite communication system, an emergency radio system and a paging system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. remotely controlling the operational state of the entire internal network of transceivers in response to the receipt of an operational state command.

2. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the operational state command that is received by the internal network is selected from the group consisting of on, off, standby and emergency.

6. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the operational state command that is received by the internal network is sent from within the internal network.

7. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the operational state command that is received by the internal network is sent from the external network.

8. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals directly from an originating mobile station to a destination mobile station and receiving signals directly from the destination mobile station at the originating mobile station.

9. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals directly from the originating mobile station to a fixed base station and receiving signals from the fixed base station at the originating mobile station.

10. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals directly from an originating fixed base station to a destination fixed base station and receiving signals from the destination fixed base station at the originating fixed base station.

11. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals directly from the originating fixed base station to a repeater and receiving signals from the repeater at the originating fixed base station.

12. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals directly from the originating mobile station to a repeater and receiving signals from the repeater at the originating mobile station.

13. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals from a first repeater to a second repeater and receiving signals from the second repeater at the first repeater.

14. A method of operating a wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals from the originating repeater to the originating mobile station and receiving signals from the originating mobile station.

15. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising transmitting signals from the originating mobile station to the repeater, which in turn transmits signals to a destination mobile station and receiving signals at the originating mobile station from a destination mobile station via the repeater.

16. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path within the local wireless system comprising:

a. transmitting signals directly from an originating mobile station to a destination mobile station and receiving signals directly from the destination mobile station at the originating mobile station;

b. transmitting signals directly from the originating mobile station to a fixed base station and receiving signals from the fixed base station at the originating mobile station;

c. transmitting signals directly from an originating fixed base station to a destination fixed base station and receiving signals from the destination fixed base station at the originating fixed base station;

d. transmitting signals directly from the originating fixed base station to a repeater and receiving signals from the repeater at the originating fixed base station;

e. transmitting signals directly from the originating mobile station to a repeater and receiving signals from the repeater at the originating mobile station;

f. transmitting signals from a first repeater to a second repeater and receiving signals from the second repeater at the first repeater; and

g. transmitting signals from the originating repeater to the originating mobile station and receiving signals from the originating mobile station.

17. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an external communication path further comprising transmitting signals from an originating fixed base station to the external network and receiving signals from the external network at the originating fixed base station.

19. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communication path further comprising transmitting signals from an originating mobile station to the repeater, which in turn transmits signals to a destination mobile station, and receiving signals at the originating mobile station from a destination mobile station via the repeater.

22. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing an internal communications path further comprising:

a. transmitting signals from an originating mobile station to a destination mobile station via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network when the destination mobile station is out of transmission range of the originating mobile station and receiving signals from the destination mobile station at the originating mobile station via the intermediate transceiver;

b. transmitting signals from an originating mobile station to a destination fixed base station via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network when the originating mobile station is out of transmission range of the originating station and receiving signals from the destination fixed base station at the originating mobile station via the intermediate transceiver; and

c. transmitting signals from an originating fixed base station to a destination fixed base station via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network when the originating fixed base station is out of transmission range of the destination fixed base station and receiving signals from the destination fixed base station at the originating fixed base station via the intermediate transceiver.

24. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 22, wherein the intermediate transceiver is selected from the group consisting of a mobile station, a fixed base station and a repeater.

26. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, the establishing of the external communication path further comprising utilizing a first broadcast frequency pair for transmitting and by utilizing the second frequency in the broadcast frequency pair for receiving.

27. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 13, the transmitting from the first repeater to a second repeater further comprising transmitting signals over a land line connection.

28. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 22, further comprising activating the intermediate transceiver in response to a coded signal generated by the originating mobile station, fixed base station and repeater.

30. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 28, the activating the intermediate transceiver in response to a coded signal further comprising:

a. transmitting a coded signal and voice and data transmission from an originating mobile station, fixed base station and repeater;

b. receiving the coded signal and voice and data transmission at the intermediate transceiver whereby the intermediate transceiver rebroadcasts the signal to another mobile station, fixed base station and repeater within the internal network.

31. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 27, the activating the intermediate transceiver in response to a coded signal further comprising:

a. transmitting a coded signal and voice and data transmission from an originating station;

b. receiving the coded signal and voice and data transmission at the intermediate transceiver whereby the intermediate transceiver rebroadcasts the signal to the external network.

32. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, comprising the transceivers contain a data processor programmed to operate the transceiver in standby, call initiation, call receive and emergency mode.

33. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, comprising:

a. initializing an originating transceiver in response to an operator entry command;

b. performing a local call initiating procedure if the operator entry command is for transmission within the internal network;

c. performing an external mode call initiating procedure if the operator entry command is for transmission to the external network.

34. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 33, the performing the local call initiating procedure comprises:

a. transmitting a call initiation sequence from the originating transceiver, including the address of the originating transceiver and the address of a destination transceiver;

b. transmitting from the destination transceiver a call return sequence in response to the call initiation sequence; and

c. transmitting from the originating transceiver a call lock sequence in response to the call return sequence and establishing voice or data communication between the originating transceiver and the destination transceiver within the internal network.

35. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, wherein the external network comprises a paging system for transmitting paging signals from the external network directly to a transceiver in the internal network.

36. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 30, wherein the coded signal comprises a boost code sent by a user of the originating mobile station, fixed base station and repeater.

37. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 31, wherein the coded signal comprises a boost code sent by a user of the originating mobile station, fixed base station and repeater.

38. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, comprising:

a. controlling the operational state of the transceiver by supplying power to the transceiver using a battery power supply;

b. encoding a serial number in a nonvolatile programmable memory embedded in the battery power supply;

c. performing a check by a microprocessor-based program residing in the transceiver, of the serial number of the battery with a transceiver serial number embedded in the transceiver; and

d. allowing the mobile station, fixed base station and repeater to operate if the serial number in the battery matches the transceiver serial number.

39. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 38, comprising reprogramming the serial number encoded in the battery pack to match the transceiver serial number.

40. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, comprising:

a. controlling the operational state of the transceiver by checking a preprogrammed clock embedded within a microprocessor-based program residing in the transceiver; and

b. allowing the transceiver to operate if the clock has not timed out.

41. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 40, comprising remotely changing the preprogrammed clock of the transceiver upon receipt of a coded signal and clock update command in an operational state command received from within the internal network.

42. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 41, comprising remotely changing the preprogrammed clock of the transceiver upon receipt of a coded signal and clock update command in an operational state command received from the external network.

50. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 1, comprising establishing a three way calling communication path between three transceivers within the internal network.

3. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. remotely controlling the operational state of a selected group of transceivers within the internal network in response to the receipt of an operational state command selected from the group consisting of on, off, standby and emergency.

4. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. remotely controlling the operational state of an individual transceiver within the internal network in response to the receipt of an operational state command selected from the group consisting of on, off, standby and emergency.

5. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. remotely controlling the operational state of the entire internal network in response to the receipt of an operational state command;

e. remotely controlling the operational state of a selected group of mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters within the internal network in response to the receipt of an operational state command; and

f. remotely controlling the operational state of an individual mobile station, fixed base station and repeater within the internal network in response to the receipt of an operational state command.

18. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. transmitting signals from an originating mobile station to the external network via a repeater and receiving signals from the external network at the originating mobile station via the repeater.

20. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. transmitting signals from an originating fixed base station to the external network and receiving signals from the external network at the fixed base station;

e. transmitting signals from the repeater directly to the external network and receiving signals from the external network at the repeater; and

f. transmitting signals from the origination mobile station to the repeater, which in turn transmits the signals to the external network and receiving signals at the originating mobile station from the external network via the repeater.

21. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 20, wherein the external communications network is selected from the group consisting of a public switch telephone network, a paging network, a satellite network, and an emergency radio communication network.

23. A method of operating a local wireless communication system for transmitting and receiving voice and data signals comprising:

a. establishing an internal network with internal communication paths for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signals directly from the external network;

c. utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network; and

d. transmitting signals from an originating mobile station to the external network via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network and receiving signals from the external network at the originating mobile station via the intermediate transceiver;

e. transmitting signals from an originating fixed base station to the external network via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network and receiving signals from the external network at the originating fixed base station via the intermediate transceiver; and

f. transmitting signals from a repeater to the external communications network via an intermediate transceiver in the internal network and receiving signals from the external communications network at the repeater via the intermediate transceiver.

25. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 23, wherein the intermediate transceiver is selected from the group consisting of a mobile station, a fixed base station and a repeater.

29. A method of operating a local wireless communication system, according to claim 23, further comprising activating the intermediate transceiver in response to a coded signal generated by the originating mobile station, fixed base station and repeater.

43. A local wireless communication system comprising:

a. a wireless internal network with an internal communication path for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. means for establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signal directly from the external network;

c. means for utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network;

d. means for remotely controlling the operational state of the entire network of transceivers in response to the receipt of an operational state command;

e. means for controlling the operational state of the transceiver by supplying power to the transceiver using a battery power supply;

f. means for encoding a serial number in a nonvolatile programmable memory embedded in the battery power supply;

g. means for performing a check by a microprocessor-based program residing in the transceiver, of the serial number of the battery with a transceiver serial number embedded in the transceiver; and

h. means for allowing the transceiver to operate if the serial number in the battery matches the transceiver serial number.

44. A local wireless communication system, according to claim 43, comprising:

a. means for recharging the battery power supply;

b. the means for recharging contains a selected transceiver serial number stored in memory; and

c. the means for recharging contains a microprocessor based program that checks the selected transceiver number with the serial number in the battery power supply and allows the battery to be recharged only if the numbers match.

45. A local wireless communication system, according to claim 43, comprising means for reprogramming the serial number encoded in the battery pack to match the transceiver serial number.

46. A local wireless communication system, according to claim 45, wherein the means for reprogramming the serial number comprises means for recharging the battery power supply when the serial number in the nonvolatile programmable memory embedded in the battery power supply matches the serial number embedded in the transceiver.

47. A local wireless communication system comprising:

a. a wireless internal network with an internal communication path for transmitting and receiving signals within the local wireless communication system, the internal network comprising transceivers, the transceivers comprising mobile stations, fixed base stations and repeaters, wherein each transceiver can communicate directly with other transceivers in the internal network;

b. means for establishing an external communication path for linking the internal network to an external network for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the external network, wherein each transceiver in the internal network can transmit signals to and receive signal directly from the external network;

c. means for utilizing a first frequency of a broadcast frequency pair for transmitting signals within the internal network and a second frequency of the broadcast frequency pair for receiving signals within the internal network;

d. means for remotely controlling the operational state of the entire network of transceivers in response to the receipt of an operational state command;

e. means for controlling the operational state of the transceiver by checking a preprogrammed clock embedded within a microprocessor-based program residing in the transceiver; and

f. means for allowing the transceiver to operate if the clock has not timed out.

48. A local wireless communication system, according to claim 47, further means for remotely changing the preprogrammed clock of the transceiver upon receipt of a coded signal and clock update command in an operational state command received from within the internal network.

49. A local wireless communication system, according to claim 48, comprising

means for remotely changing the preprogrammed clock of the transceiver upon receipt of a coded signal and clock update command in an operational state command received from the external network.