U.S. patent application number 11/982458 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-30 for wireless communication system and device for coupling a base station and mobile stations.
This patent application is currently assigned to Raze Technologies, Inc.. Invention is credited to Paul F. Struhsaker.
Application Number | 20090111457 11/982458 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40583489 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090111457 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Struhsaker; Paul F. |
April 30, 2009 |
Wireless communication system and device for coupling a base
station and mobile stations
Abstract
A wireless communication system is provided that includes a
wireless communication device in wireless communication with a base
station and mobile stations. The wireless communication device
includes first and second transceivers coupled to each other. The
first transceiver is coupled to an antenna and is operable to
communicate with the base station, which is also in wireless
communication with other wireless communication devices. The second
transceiver is coupled to another antenna and is in wireless
communication with the plurality of mobile stations. The first
transceiver receives a first signal from the base station intended
for a one of the mobile stations, and in response the second
transceiver transmits the first signal to the mobile station. The
second transceiver receives a second signal from the mobile station
intended for the base station, and in response the first
transceiver transmits the second signal to the base station.
Inventors: |
Struhsaker; Paul F.; (Plano,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOCKET CLERK
P.O. DRAWER 800889
DALLAS
TX
75380
US
|
Assignee: |
Raze Technologies, Inc.
Plano
TX
|
Family ID: |
40583489 |
Appl. No.: |
11/982458 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/422.1 ;
455/552.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/14 20130101;
H04W 16/14 20130101; H04W 84/045 20130101; H04W 24/02 20130101;
H04W 88/06 20130101; H04W 84/12 20130101; H04L 12/66 20130101; H04M
1/72502 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/422.1 ;
455/552.1 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/20 20060101
H04Q007/20; H04M 1/00 20060101 H04M001/00 |
Claims
1-24. (canceled)
25. A wireless communication device, comprising: a first
transceiver in wireless communication with a base station, wherein
the base station is in wireless communication with a plurality of
wireless communication devices; and a second transceiver in
wireless communication with a plurality of mobile stations located
within a coverage area of the second transceiver, the second
transceiver being coupled to the first transceiver wherein: the
first transceiver receives a first signal from the base station,
the first signal intended for a first mobile station of the
plurality of mobile stations, and the second transceiver transmits
the first signal to the first mobile station; and the second
transceiver receives a second signal from the first mobile station,
the second signal intended for the base station, and the first
transceiver transmits the second signal to the base station.
26. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
second transceiver is a wireless local area network
transceiver.
27. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
second transceiver is removably coupled to the first
transceiver.
28. The wireless communication device of claim 27, further
comprising an antenna, wherein the second transceiver is removably
coupled to the antenna.
29. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
wireless communication device is a fixed-site subscriber
station.
30. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
plurality of mobile stations comprises one of a personal computer
and a telephone.
31. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
wireless communication device is mounted on the outside of a
building and at least some of the plurality of mobile stations are
located inside the building.
32. The wireless communication device of claim 25, further
comprising an AC power supply and a battery power supply.
33. The wireless communication device of claim 32, further
comprising a battery monitor operable to detect error conditions in
one of the AC power supply and the battery power supply and
transmit an alarm signal to the base station via the first
transceiver.
34. The wireless communication device of claim 25, wherein the
first transceiver is further operable to communicate via wireline
with one of a telephone and a personal computer.
35. A wireless communication system, comprising: a first wireless
communication device in wireless communication with a base station
and a plurality of mobile stations, the first wireless
communication device comprising: a first transceiver coupled to a
first antenna, the first transceiver operable to communicate with a
base station in wireless communication with a plurality of wireless
communication devices, wherein the first wireless communication
device is one of the plurality of wireless communication devices;
and a second transceiver coupled to a second antenna, the second
transceiver in wireless communication with the plurality of mobile
stations, the second transceiver being coupled to the first
transceiver wherein: the first transceiver receives a first signal
from the base station, the first signal intended for a first mobile
station of the plurality of mobile stations, and in response the
second transceiver transmits the first signal to the first mobile
station; and the second transceiver receives a second signal from
the first mobile station, the second signal intended for the base
station, and in response the first transceiver transmits the second
signal to the base station.
36. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
second transceiver in the wireless communication device is a
wireless local area network transceiver.
37. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
second transceiver is removably coupled to the first
transceiver.
38. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
second transceiver is removably coupled to the second antenna.
39. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
wireless communication device is a fixed-site subscriber
station.
40. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
plurality of mobile stations comprises one of a personal computer
and a telephone.
41. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
first wireless communication device is adapted for mounting to an
outside surface of a building.
42. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
wireless communication device further comprises an AC power supply
and a battery power supply.
43. The wireless communication system of claim 42, wherein the
wireless communication device further comprises a battery monitor
operable to detect error conditions in one of the AC power supply
and the battery power supply and transmit an alarm signal to the
base station via the first transceiver.
44. The wireless communication system of claim 35, wherein the
first transceiver is further operable to communicate via wireline
with one of a telephone and a personal computer.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/839,499 filed on Apr.
20, 2001 and entitled "APPARATUS, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR
PROVIDING WLAN SERVICE IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM". The present application may share common subject matter
and figures with the above United States patent application, which
is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully
set forth herein
[0002] This application claims priority to: provisional U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/262,712 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled
"WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING BLOCK FILTERING AND FAST
EQUALIZATION DEMODULATION AND METHOD OF OPERATION"; provisional
U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,825 filed on Jan. 19, 2001
and entitled "APPARATUS AND ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR OPERATING UPON
DATA SIGNALS RECEIVED AT A RECEIVING STATION OF A FIXED WIRELESS
ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM"; provisional U.S. Patent Application
Ser. No. 60/262,698 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled "APPARATUS
AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SUBSCRIBER INTERFACE IN A FIXED WIRELESS
SYSTEM"; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,827
filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled "APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING
SIGNAL AND PROFILES AT A RECEIVING STATION"; provisional U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,826 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and
entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INTERFACE BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER
MODEM AND SUBSCRIBER PREMISES INTERFACES"; provisional U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/262,951 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled
"BACKPLANE ARCHITECTURE FOR USE IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS
SYSTEMS"; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,824
filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON LINE
INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS
SYSTEMS"; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/263,101
filed on Jan. 19, 2001 entitled "SYSTEM FOR COORDINATION OF TDD
TRANSMISSION BURSTS WITHIN AND BETWEEN CELLS IN A WIRELESS ACCESS
SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION"; provisional U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/263,097 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled
"REDUNDANT TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING MEMORY EQUALIZATION
APPARATUS AND METHOD OF OPERATION"; provisional U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/273,579 filed Mar. 5, 2001 and entitled
"WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING AND SYNCHRONIZING UPLINK AND
DOWNLINK OF TDD FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION"; provisional U.S.
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/262,955 filed Jan. 19, 2001 and
entitled "TDD FDD AIR INTERFACE"; provisional U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/262,708 filed on Jan. 19, 2001 and entitled
"APPARATUS, AND AN ASSOCIATED METHOD, FOR PROVIDING WLAN SERVICE IN
A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM"; Ser. No. 60/273,689,
filed Mar. 5, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE
MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION";
provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/273,757 filed Mar.
5, 2001 and entitled "WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM AND ASSOCIATED METHOD
USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES ACCORDING TO
SUBSCRIBER SERVICE TYPE"; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser.
No. 60/270,378 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and entitled "APPARATUS FOR
ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS
COMMUNICATION SYSTEM"; provisional U.S. Patent Application Ser. No.
60/270,385 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and entitled "APPARATUS FOR
REALLOCATING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A PRIORITY CALL
IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM"; and provisional
U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 60/270,430 filed Feb. 21, 2001 and
entitled "METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED
WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM. The above Provisional U.S.
patent applications are incorporated herein by reference for all
purposes as if fully set forth herein.
[0003] The present application may share common subject matter and
figures with the following United States patent applications, which
are incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully
set forth herein: [0004] 1) Copending Ser. No. 10/042,705, filed on
Nov. 15, 2000, entitled "SUBSCRIBER INTEGRATED ACCESS DEVICE FOR
USE IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS"; [0005] 2) Ser. No.
09/838,810, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
SYSTEM USING BLOCK FILTERING AND FAST EQUALIZATION-DEMODULATION AND
METHOD OF OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,967; [0006] 3) Ser.
No. 09/839,726, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "APPARATUS AND
ASSOCIATED METHOD FOR OPERATING UPON DATA SIGNALS RECEIVED AT A
RECEIVING STATION OF A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM",
now U.S. Pat. No. 7,099,383; [0007] 4) Copending Ser. No.
09/839,729, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR
OPERATING A SUBSCRIBER INTERFACE IN A FIXED WIRELESS SYSTEM";
[0008] 5) Ser. No. 09/839,719, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled
"APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CREATING SIGNAL AND PROFILES AT A
RECEIVING STATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,947,477; [0009] 6) Ser. No.
09/838,910, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR
INTERFACE BETWEEN A SUBSCRIBER MODEM AND SUBSCRIBER PREMISES
INTERFACES", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,564,051; [0010] 7) Copending Ser.
No. 09/839,509, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "BACKPLANE
ARCHITECTURE FOR USE IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS";
[0011] 8) Ser. No. 09/839,514, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ON-LINE INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS
IN WIRELESS AND WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS", now U.S. Pat. No.
7,069,047; [0012] 9) Ser. No. 09/839,512, filed Apr. 20, 2001,
entitled "SYSTEM FOR COORDINATION OF TDD TRANSMISSION BURSTS WITHIN
AND BETWEEN CELLS IN A WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM AND METHOD OF
OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,804,527; [0013] 10) Ser. No.
09/839,259, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "REDUNDANT
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEM USING MEMORY EQUALIZATION APPARATUS AND
METHOD OF OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,065,098; [0014] 11) Ser.
No. 09/839,457, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS ACCESS
SYSTEM FOR ALLOCATING AND SYNCHRONIZING UPLINK AND DOWNLINK OF TDD
FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,002,929;
[0015] 12) Ser. No. 09/839,075, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "TDD
FDD AIR INTERFACE", now U.S. Pat. No. 6,859,655; [0016] 13) Ser.
No. 09/839,458, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS ACCESS
SYSTEM USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD FRAMES AND METHOD
OF OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,173,916. [0017] 14) Ser. No.
09/839,456, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS ACCESS SYSTEM
AND ASSOCIATED METHOD USING MULTIPLE MODULATION FORMATS IN TDD
FRAMES ACCORDING TO SUBSCRIBER SERVICE TYPE", now U.S. Pat. No.
6,891,810; [0018] 15) Copending Ser. No. 09/838,924, filed Apr. 20,
2001, entitled "APPARATUS FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A
FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM"; [0019] 16) Ser. No.
09/839,727 filed Apr. 20, 2001 and entitled "APPARATUS FOR
REALLOCATING COMMUNICATION RESOURCES TO ESTABLISH A PRIORITY CALL
IN A FIXED WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM", now U.S. Pat. No.
7,031,738; [0020] 17) Ser. No. 09/839,734, filed Apr. 20, 2001,
entitled "METHOD FOR ESTABLISHING A PRIORITY CALL IN A FIXED
WIRELESS ACCESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,035,241;
[0021] 18) Ser. No. 09/839,513, filed Apr. 20, 2001, entitled
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN IMPROVED COMMON CONTROL BUS FOR
USE IN ON-LINE INSERTION OF LINE REPLACEABLE UNITS IN WIRELESS AND
WIRELINE ACCESS SYSTEMS", now U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,925,516; and [0022]
19) Ser. No. 09/948,059, filed Sep. 5, 2001, entitled "WIRELESS
ACCESS SYSTEM USING SELECTIVELY ADAPTABLE BEAM FORMING IN TDD
FRAMES AND METHOD OF OPERATION", now U.S. Pat. No. 7,230,931.
[0023] The above provisional and non-provisional applications are
commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0024] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless
communication systems and more particularly, to a wireless
communication system and associated method for routing
messages.
BACKGROUND
[0025] Advancements in communication technologies have permitted
the development, and implementation, of new types of communication
systems. Such communication systems are able to permit the
communication of increased amounts of data at increased thruput
rates relative to conventional communication systems. And, such new
communication systems have permitted communication of information
at, and between, communication stations positioned at locations
from which communications have conventionally been inconvenient or
impractical.
[0026] Radio communication systems, for instance, are exemplarily
of communication systems of which new types, and improvements to
existing types, have been made possible as a result of advancements
in communication technologies. Similar to other types of
communication systems, in a radio communication system, information
is communicated between a sending station and a receiving station
by way of a communication channel. In a radio communication system,
unlike other types of communication systems, a communication
channel formed between the sending and the receiving stations and
upon which information is communicated by the sending station to
the receiving station, is formed of a portion of the
electromagnetic spectrum. Radio links are defined upon the portion
of the electromagnetic spectrum allocated to the radio
communication system.
[0027] Because a radio link is utilized upon which to form
communication channels, a fixed, or wireline, connection is not
required to be formed between the sending and receiving stations to
form a communication channel. Information can be communicated
between the sending and receiving stations at, and between,
locations at which conventional wireline communications would not
be permitted. Additionally, the infrastructure costs associated
with the installation of a radio communication system are also
generally lower than the corresponding costs which would be
required to install a conventional, wireline communication system.
And, as the advancements in communication technologies have
permitted the bandwidth allocated to a radio communication system
to be utilized more efficiently, a radio communication can
increasingly be utilized effectuate a communication service which
require relatively significant data thruput capability.
[0028] A wireless broadband communication system has been proposed,
for instance, by which to permit the effectuation of any of various
communication services by way of radio links with fixed-site
subscriber stations. Radio links are formed with the subscriber
stations by fixed-site base stations. The base stations are
installed at spaced-apart locations throughout the geographical
area which is to be encompassed by the wireless broadband
communication system. Several subscriber stations are capable of
communicating with a single base station.
[0029] Communication of data is effectuated between the subscriber
stations and an associated base station by way of radio links upon
which communication channels are defined. Because radio links are
utilized between the subscriber stations and the base stations, the
infrastructure costs associated with the formation of wireline
connections between the subscriber stations are obviated.
[0030] Broadband communications, and communication services which
require the communication of broadband data, as well as
communication services necessitating smaller data thruput rates are
effectuable through use of the wireless broadband communication
system.
[0031] Advancements in communication technologies have also
permitted the development, and introduction, of other types of
radio communication systems. Wireless communication systems,
sometimes referred to as micro-cellular networks, private networks,
and WLANs (wireless local area networks) are exemplary of such
systems. Such networks, generally, provide for radio communications
with mobile stations positioned within communication range of such
networks.
[0032] Generally, the communication ranges of the mobile stations
operable in such systems is relatively small as relatively
low-power signals are originated at the mobile stations and,
correspondingly, originated at the network infrastructure of such
systems to be terminated at the mobile stations. The network
infrastructure of such systems typically include fixed-location
transceivers, sometimes referred to as access points. The access
points are capable of communicating with a group of mobile stations
positioned within a micro-cellular, or other, area defined by the
access point. In some of such systems, the access points are
coupled to a conventional, local area network, also used to
interconnect the processing stations of an office computer system.
In other such systems, the access points are connected in other
manners.
[0033] Installation of a wireless broadband communication system to
provide broadband services with a plurality of subscriber stations
provides a radio infrastructure throughout a geographical area
throughout which wireless broadband communication services are
effectuable. If a manner could be provided by which to utilize the
communication capabilities of a wireless broadband communication
system to provide additional communication services, additional
benefits of a wireless broadband communication system would be
provided.
[0034] It is in light of this background information related to
radio communication systems that the significant improvements of
the present disclosure have evolved.
SUMMARY
[0035] Aspects of the disclosure may be found in a wireless
communication system that includes a wireless communication device
in wireless communication with a base station and mobile stations.
The wireless communication device includes first and second
transceivers coupled to each other. The first transceiver is
coupled to an antenna and is operable to communicate with the base
station, which is also in wireless communication with other
wireless communication devices. The second transceiver is coupled
to another antenna and is in wireless communication with the
plurality of mobile stations. The first transceiver receives a
first signal from the base station intended for a one of the mobile
stations, and in response the second transceiver transmits the
first signal to the mobile station. The second transceiver receives
a second signal from the mobile station intended for the base
station, and in response the first transceiver transmits the second
signal to the base station.
[0036] A more complete appreciation of the present disclosure and
to the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings
which are briefly summarized below, the following detailed
description of the presently-preferred embodiments of the
disclosure, and the appended claims.
[0037] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and
technical advantages of the present disclosure so that those
skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description
of the disclosure that follows. Additional features and advantages
of the disclosure will be described hereinafter that form the
subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art
should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the
specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing
other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present
disclosure. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such
equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of
the disclosure in its broadest form.
[0038] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be
advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases
used throughout this patent document: the terms "include" and
"comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without
limitation; the term "or," is inclusive, meaning and/or; the
phrases "associated with" and "associated therewith," as well as
derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within,
interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or
with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with,
interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have,
have a property of, or the like; and the term "controller" means
any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one
operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware
or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It
should be noted that the functionality associated with any
particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether
locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are
provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill
in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances,
such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such
defined words and phrases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0039] FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary fixed wireless access network
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0040] FIG. 2 illustrates a functional block diagram of a fixed
wireless access (FWA) communication system in which an embodiment
of the present disclosure is operable;
[0041] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary subscriber premises in which
subscriber integrated access device (IAD) according to the
principles of the present disclosure is installed;
[0042] FIG. 4 depicts exemplary subscriber integrated access device
(IAD) in greater detail according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates a representation of a fixed wireless
access communication system similar to that shown in FIG. 2 here
also illustrating a plurality of cellular coverage areas defined by
about a plurality of subscriber stations of the fixed wireless
access communication system;
[0044] FIG. 6 illustrates another representation of the fixed
wireless access communication system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
and
[0045] FIG. 7 illustrates a method flow diagram listing the method
of operation of the method of an embodiment of the present
disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates exemplary fixed wireless access network
100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Fixed
wireless network 100 comprises a plurality of transceiver base
stations, including exemplary transceiver base station 110, that
transmit forward channel (i.e., downstream) broadband signals to a
plurality of subscriber premises, including exemplary subscriber
premises 121, 122 and 123, and receive reverse channel (i.e.,
upstream) broadband signals from the plurality of subscriber
premises. Subscriber premises 121-123 transmit and receive via
fixed, externally-mounted antennas 131-133, respectively.
Subscriber premises 121-123 may comprise many different types of
residential and commercial buildings, including single family
homes, multi-tenant offices, small business enterprises (SBE),
medium business enterprises (MBE), and so-called "SOHO" (small
office/home office) premises.
[0047] The transceiver base stations, including transceiver base
station 110, receive the forward channel signals from external
network 150 and transmit the reverse channel signals to external
network 150. External network 150 may be, for example, the public
switched telephone network (PSTN) or one or more data networks,
including the Internet or proprietary Internet protocol (IP) wide
area networks (WANS) and local area networks (LANs). Exemplary
transceiver base station 110 is coupled to RF modem 140, which,
among other things, up-converts baseband data traffic received from
external network 150 to RF signals transmitted in the forward
channel to subscriber premises 121-123. RF modem 140 also
down-converts RF signals received in the reverse channel from
subscriber premises 121-123 to baseband data traffic that is
transmitted to external network 150. In an exemplary embodiment of
the present disclosure in which external network 150 is the public
switched telephone network (PSTN), RF modem 140 transmits baseband
data traffic to, and receives baseband data traffic from, access
processor 165, which is disposed in central office facility 160 of
the PSTN.
[0048] It should be noted that network 100 was chosen as a fixed
wireless network only for the purposes of simplicity and clarity in
explaining a subscriber integrated access device according to the
principles of the present disclosure. The choice of a fixed
wireless network should not be construed in any manner that limits
the scope of the present disclosure in any way. As will be
explained below in greater detail, in alternate embodiments of the
present disclosure, a subscriber integrated access device according
to the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in
other types of broadband access systems. In one embodiment of the
present disclosure, such access systems may include wireline
systems (i.e. digital subscriber line (DSL), cable modem, fiber
optic, and the like) in which a wireline connected to the
subscriber integrated access device carries forward and reverse
channel signals.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a fixed wireless access (FWA)
communication system 210 provides for radio communications between
fixed-site base stations, of which the base station 212 is
exemplary and fixed-site subscriber stations 214 of which the
subscriber station 214 is exemplary. A radio link 216 upon which
forward link channels 218 and reverse link channels 222 is of a
bandwidth permitting broadband communication services to be
effectuated with devices located at the subscriber station 214.
[0050] In the exemplary implementation, an integrated access device
(IAD) 224 forms a transceiver located at the subscriber station and
at which forward link signals transmitted upon the forward link
channels of the radio link are detectable and which generate
reverse link signals for transmission upon the reverse link
channels of the radio link. A separate IAD 224 is located at each
subscriber station of the communication system.
[0051] In the exemplary implementation, each base transceiver
station includes a remote modem (modulator-demodulator) capable of
communicating with seven separate subscriber stations located
within a radial sector. In other implementations, the circuitry of
the base transceiver station is configured in other manners.
[0052] The base station 212, and the set of remote modems thereof,
is coupled to an access process 228 which is operable, amongst
other things, to perform control operations to control operation of
the communication system. The access process 228 is, in turn,
coupled to a communication network 232 such as a public-switched
telephonic network or a packet data network. And, a correspondent
node 234 is coupled to the communication network. A communication
path is formable between the correspondent node and the IAD 224
positioned at the subscriber station by way of the communication
network, the access process 228, the base station 212, and the
radio link 216. Communication of information by the correspondent
node to the integrated access device and from the integrated access
device to the correspondent node is effectuable by way of the
communication path.
[0053] Pursuant to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a WLAN
(wireless local area network) transceiver 238 is positioned at the
subscriber station 214 at the integrated access device 224 to be
connected to the transceiver circuitry of the integrated access
device. The WLAN transceiver defines a coverage area 242 defining a
cell. A mobile station 244 positioned within the cell 242 is
capable of communicating with the transceiver 238. That is to say,
the radio link 246 is formable between the transceiver 238 and the
mobile station 244 upon which forward and reverse link signals are
communicated therebetween. Signals originated at the mobile station
are communicated upon reverse link channels of the radio link 246
to the WLAN transceiver 238. And, communication signals to be
terminated at the mobile station 244 are communicated upon forward
link channels of the radio link 246.
[0054] Because of the connection of the WLAN transceiver to the
transceiver of the integrated access device 224, signals originated
at the mobile station and communicated to the WLAN transceiver can,
in turn, be provided to the transceiver of the integrated access
device to be communicated upon reverse link channels of the radio
link 216 and, thereafter, be communicated to another device, such
as the correspondent node 234. Analogously, signals originated at
the correspondent node, or elsewhere, can be communicated to the
mobile station by way of forward link channels of the radio links
216 and 246 to the mobile station. Thereby communications are
effectuable with a mobile station in the fixed wireless access
communication system.
[0055] In the exemplary implementation, the integrated access
device 224 forms a rack-assembly having expansion slots to receive
expansion cards thereat. And, the WLAN transceiver is mounted upon,
or is otherwise formed at, an expansion card connectable to the
expansion slot of the rack-assembly. Thereby the integrated access
device together with the WLAN transceiver form an integrated device
providing for two-way communication upon the radio link 216 as well
as two-way communication upon the radio link 246.
[0056] FIG. 3 illustrates exemplary subscriber premises 121 in
which subscriber integrated access device (IAD) 310 according to
the principles of the present disclosure is implemented.
[0057] Subscriber IAD 310 is connected to one or more communication
devices in subscriber premises 121 via network termination (NT) 320
or (optionally) via a wireless local area network (LAN) connection.
Subscriber premises 121 may contain one or more processing devices,
such as exemplary personal computers 331, 332, 333 and 334, and one
or more telephones, including exemplary telephones 341, 342 and
343, that are capable of communicating via the broadband access
capability of fixed wireless access network 100.
[0058] NT 320 is the external point to which data lines and phone
lines within a residence or office are brought in order to be
connected to the local telephone service provider. AC/DC converter
390 converts the main AC power in subscriber premises 121 to
primary DC power that powers subscriber IAD 310. In order to comply
with government regulations for telephone service to one or more
telephones in subscriber premises 121, DC battery 361 is charged
from the DC output of AC/DC converter 390 in order to provide at
least eight hours of backup power in case of a failure of the AC
main power in subscriber premises 121. Battery monitor (BM) 362 in
subscriber IAD 310 detects main AC power failures and detects low
power conditions on DC battery 361 and transmits alarms to fixed
wireless access network 100 through subscriber IAD 310.
[0059] In an alternate embodiment of the present disclosure, DC
battery 361 may be located inside subscriber premises 121 (as shown
by dotted lines), rather than mounted on the outside of subscriber
premises 121. However, in a preferred embodiment of the present
disclosure, DC battery 361 is externally mounted in order to give
maintenance personnel easy access to nearly all components of the
subscriber access system (i.e., subscriber IAD 310, DC battery 361
antenna 131) without requiring the homeowner to be present.
Although AC/DC converter 390 is disposed in subscriber premises
121, this does not present a problem. Conventional AC/DC converters
have very large mean time between failure (MTBF) ratings, so that
failures are rare. Furthermore, AC/DC converters are common,
inexpensive commercial products that may be purchased and easily
installed by the subscriber without the assistance of maintenance
personnel. As will be described below in greater detail, since DC
battery 361 is often mounted on the outside of subscriber premises
121, DC battery 361 may comprise an internal tamper alarm circuit
that transmits an alarm to battery monitor 362 if DC battery 361 is
opened or otherwise tampered with by someone other than maintenance
personnel.
[0060] FIG. 4 depicts exemplary subscriber integrated access device
(IAD) 310 in greater detail according to one embodiment of the
present disclosure. Subscriber IAD 310 is an external unit capable
of, for example, radio frequency down-conversion, protocol
conversion, voice decompression and control functions. As noted
above, the entire subscriber IAD system comprises three major
elements: [0061] 1) external antenna 131 allows for multiple
antenna options for increased gain or multiple element antenna
subsystems; [0062] 2) subscriber IAD 310 main assembly contains the
integrated printed circuit board (PCB) motherboard and a mezzanine
interface into which an optional expansion module may be inserted
to provide, for example, two additional voice frequency (VF) pairs,
a T1/E1 module, or a TE/E3 module for use in a SOHO premises, a
small/medium enterprise (SME) premises, or a multi-tenant unit
(MTU) premises; and [0063] 3) DC battery 361 and AC/DC converter
390, which may be deployed inside or (preferably) outside
subscriber premises 121 to provide at least eight (8) hours of
operation without AC main power.
[0064] Subscriber IAD 310 is connected directly to some subscriber
premises equipment (i.e., PC 331-333, telephones 341-343) to
provide direct access to voice and broadband data in fixed wireless
access network 100 at the NT 320 demarcation point at the customer
premise. Both product cost and life-cycle/installation costs are
reduced by integrating voice and data interfaces into a single
external unit that connects to the standard NT 320 interface at the
subscriber premises. optionally, subscriber IAD 310 may also
communicate wirelessly with some subscriber premises equipment,
such as PC 334, via a wireless LAN connection. As will be explained
below, subscriber IAD 310 may wirelessly transmit data to and
receive data from PC 334 via antenna 395. Similarly, PC 334 may
wirelessly transmit data to and receive data from subscriber IAD
310 via antenna 392.
[0065] In an advantageous embodiment of the present disclosure,
subscriber IAD 310 may provide at least four data interface
options, including: [0066] 1) separate Cat-5 twisted pairs for 10
Base-T Ethernet; [0067] 2) one of the VF pairs may be used with,
for example, a 1 Mbps or 10 Mbps Home Phone Network Alliance (HPNA)
interface or other shared voice/data home wiring twisted pair
system; [0068] 3) home power line interface with release of higher
bandwidth implementations (>1 Mbps); and [0069] 4) wireless LAN
connection to subscriber premises equipment.
[0070] In an advantageous embodiment, subscriber IAD 310 comprises
RF interface (IF) 405, control/networking PAD/voice processing
circuitry 410, DC/DC converter 415, battery monitor 362, and
mezzanine interface 420. In a fixed wireless embodiment, RF IF 405
provides modulation and demodulation of forward and reverse channel
signals between transceiver base station 110 and subscriber IAD
310. DC/DC converter 415 converts the external DC power received
from battery 361 to the necessary internal DC power levels used by
the components of subscriber IAD 310. Battery monitor 362 monitors
the battery power from DC battery 361 and receives alarm signals,
if any, from DC battery 361.
[0071] If main AC power fails, or if DC battery 361 is tampered
with, DC battery 361 transmits alarm signals to battery monitor
362. If the DC power level from DC battery falls too low after an
AC power failure, battery monitor 362 detects the low DC power
level condition and generates an alarm. The alarms generated by or
received by battery monitor 362 are sent to control/networking
PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 in order to be transmitted back
to the fixed wireless service provider.
[0072] In a standard (and low cost) configuration,
control/networking PAD/voice processing circuitry 410 comprises,
among other things, two voice frequency (VF) pair interface (IF)
412 and data interface (IF) 325. Control/networking PAD/voice
processing circuitry 410 performs the overall control functions of
subscriber IAD 310 and converts reverse channel voice and data
signals received from telephones 341-343 and PC 331-333 to the
necessary protocols for transmission to transceiver base station
110 via RF IF 405. Similarly, control/networking PAD/voice
processing circuitry 410 converts forward channel signals received
from transceiver base station 110 via RF IF 405 to voice and data
signals that are used by telephones 341-343 and PC 331-333.
[0073] In alternate wireline embodiments of the present disclosure,
subscriber IAD 310 may also comprise an expansion slot for one or
more wireline interfaces, including for example, cable modem 430.
Alternative wireline interfaces may include an optical interface, a
DSL router, or the like, in addition to, or in place of, RF IF 405.
Cable modem 430 (or an optical interface or a DSL router) provide
external interface connection points for a cable modem data line, a
fiber optic line, and a DSL line, respectively.
[0074] As noted above, in an advantageous embodiment of the present
disclosure, mezzanine IF 420 receives expansion module 421 in order
to provide additional capabilities to subscriber IAD 310,
particularly to meet the needs of small-medium business enterprises
and multi-tenant units. For example, expansion module 421 may
comprise a voice frequency pair interface, similar to two VF IF
412, providing subscriber IAD 310 with a total capability or four
voice lines and one data line (4V/1D).
[0075] In a second embodiment, expansion module 421 may comprise a
T1/E1 interface. In a third embodiment, expansion module 421 may
comprise a T3/E3 interface. In a fourth embodiment, expansion
module 421 may comprise a DSL or cable modem interface.
[0076] Finally, in a wireless LAN embodiment, expansion module 421
may comprise a wireless transceiver interface that communicates
with PC 334 via antenna 395. In the illustrated embodiment, antenna
395 is an integral component of subscriber IAD 310 that is coupled
to a connection pin on mezzanine IF 420. In such an embodiment,
expansion module 421 comprises conventional RF transceiver
circuitry, but does not require its own antenna. However, in an
alternate embodiment, antenna 395 may be an integral component of
expansion module 421, such that subscriber IAD 310 does not contain
a separate antenna for wireless LAN purposes.
[0077] FIG. 5 illustrates another view of the communication system
210, here illustrating an implementation in which a plurality of
subscriber stations 214 include WLAN transceivers 238 (shown in
FIG. 2) connected to corresponding integrated access devices 224
(also shown in FIG. 2). The coverage areas 242 defined by
respective ones of the WLAN transceivers are shown in the figure.
Adjacent ones of the coverage areas overlap with one another. The
remote modems of the base transceivers are again shown in the
Figure as is the access process. An arrangement in which the remote
modems communicate with subscriber stations positioned within a
radio sector is shown in the figure. In other implementations,
other arrangements are utilized.
[0078] A mobile station initially positioned within, or approximate
to, a coverage area 242 defined by a WLAN transceiver positioned at
a first subscriber station is permitted movement, such as out of
the coverage area defined by the transceiver positioned at a first
subscriber station and into the coverage area defined by a WLAN
transceiver of another subscriber station. Through operation of an
embodiment of the present disclosure, a handover of communications
is effectuated from the first WLAN transceiver to another WLAN
transceiver, thereby to permit continued communications with the
mobile station.
[0079] Determination of when to initiate handover of communications
is made responsive to measurements of signal characteristics of
communication signals communicated between the WLAN transceiver and
the mobile station. In one implementation signal characteristics
are measured, or otherwise determined, at the mobile station and
results of such measures or determinations of are reported back to
the WLAN transceiver and appropriate control circuitry. Thereafter,
if appropriate, the handover of communications is effectuated.
[0080] A routing map 252 is further shown in the figure. The
routing map is functionally connected to the access process 228.
The routing map includes a listing of the mobile stations, such as
the mobile station 246 operable to transceive communication signals
pursuant to the WLAN service. Indexed together with the listing of
the mobile stations are the locations at which the mobile stations
are positioned. When communications are to be effectuated with a
particular mobile station, such as communications originated by the
correspondent node 234, the routing map is accessed and the
communication signals are routed to the mobile stations at the
position indicated in the routing map. And, when a handover is
effectuated, information routed to a mobile station but not yet
delivered is rerouted to the WLAN transceiver to which
communications have been handed over.
[0081] FIG. 6 again illustrates the communication system 210, here
showing a plurality of base stations 212 and subscriber stations
214 associated with various ones of the base stations. Each of the
subscriber stations includes a WLAN transceiver (shown in FIG. 2)
various of the base transceiver stations are here shown also to be
coupled by way of the communication network 232, again either a
PSTN, a packet data network, or a combination of such networks.
Movement of a mobile station between the coverage areas is defined
by different ones of the subscriber stations are shown in the
figure. For instance, movement of a mobile station indicated by the
arrow 656 represents movement of the mobile station between
subscriber stations associated with separate cells of separate base
stations. Such movement results in access process routing of
subsequent communication signals to a new cell of the fixed
wireless access communication system, access process routing to a
separate remote mode sector, and remote modem routing to a new
subscriber integrated access device. The arrow 658 is
representative of movement of a mobile station within a single
sector of a single base station. Here, the result is a subscriber
integrated access device to a remote modem routing change.
[0082] The arrow 662 is representative of movement of a mobile
station between adjacent sectors defined by a single base station.
Such movement results in access process routing of the
communication signal to the new remote modem sector transceiver.
And, the arrow 664 is representative of movement of a mobile
station between sectors of different cells defined by two different
base stations. Such movement results in access process to access
process routing resolution, access processing routing to the new
cell, access process routing to the new remote modem sector, and
remote modem routing to the new subscriber access integrated
device. Thereby, handovers of communications are effectuable
through any movement of a mobile station between coverage areas
defined by WLAN transceivers forming a portion of a fixed wireless
access communication system.
[0083] FIG. 7 illustrates a method, shown generally at 772 of an
embodiment of the present disclosure. The method facilitates radio
communications with the mobile station in a fixed wireless access
communication system having at least a first base station and at
least a first subscriber station capable of communicating with the
base station. First, and as indicated by the block 774, a
local-network radio transceiver is positioned at the fixed-site
subscriber station. Then, and as indicated by the block 776,
communication signals are selectably transceived with the mobile
station upon a first local radio link between the local-network
radio transceiver and a mobile station when the mobile station is
positioned within a coverage area defined by the local-network
radio transceiver.
[0084] Through operation of the method of an embodiment of the
present disclosure, WLAN service is provided in a fixed wireless
access in a communication system. A mobile station operable in a
wireless local area network is thereby able to communicate in the
WLAN coverage area encompassing the subscriber station at which the
local-network radio transceiver is positioned.
[0085] The previous descriptions are of preferred examples for
implementing the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure should
not necessarily be limited by this description. The scope of the
present invention is defined by the following claims.
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