Patents Assigned to Airnet Communications Corporation
  • Publication number: 20090013317
    Abstract: A method for installing software to software-defined radio equipment. The method includes the step of transferring software to one or more software-defined radio devices from a remotely located software server. The software server can be a computer operatively connected to the software-defined radio device via a communications network. The transferring step can occur while the software-defined radio device continues to perform software-defined radio functions. The software can be stored to a portion of a data store associated with the software-defined radio device which is not being used as a storage for currently running software. The software can be loaded on a restart of the software defined device. An error indication can be provided if a fault occurs in the transferring step or the loading step. The method also can include the step of reverting from the selected software to a previous software version upon a fault occurrence.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: AIRNET COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Scott A. Abfalter, Terry L. Williams, Thomas L. Jordan, John J. Uberbacher
  • Publication number: 20070183479
    Abstract: A method for calibration of RF paths of a frequency hopping adaptive base transceiver station is provided. The method of calibration calibrates a wireless cellular telecommunication system with a frequency hopping adaptive base transceiver station including an adaptive antenna array with two or more RF traffic transceiver apparatus chains. The wireless cellular telecommunication system communicates with mobile units on a frequencies defined by a hop list. The method of calibration includes the step of periodically interrupting a frequency hopping process of the frequency hopping adaptive base transceiver station while calls are in progress. The method of calibration further includes the step of calibrating an antenna transmit path for a RF traffic transceiver apparatus chain at a frequency selected to include one or more frequencies in the hop list to determine a set of weighting parameters for the antenna transmit path at the one or more frequencies.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Publication date: August 9, 2007
    Applicant: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: John Noll, Jeffrey Smith, Shannon Tomarchio, Brady Gaughan
  • Publication number: 20070178901
    Abstract: A wireless cellular telecommunication system with an internet protocol network is provided. The wireless cellular telecommunication system comprises one or more base transceiver stations. The base transceiver stations can selectively provide a radio resource management processing. The radio resource management processing can provide a means for performing an inter-base transceiver station handover. A base transceiver station can communicate with another base transceiver station for the radio resource management processing without assistance from a centralized controller to perform control processing for the base transceiver stations. The base transceiver stations can further selectively provide a radio resource management processing, such as allocating a radio channel, deallocating a radio channel, changing a radio channel, or activating ciphering, without the assistance from a centralized controller to perform control processing for the base transceiver stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2006
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Applicant: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Terry Williams
  • Publication number: 20070161374
    Abstract: Method for transferring service for a mobile station call signal from a first base transceiver station to a second base transceiver station in a wireless mobile telecommunication system. The first base transceiver station can automatically terminate RF transmissions from the first base transceiver station to the mobile station on a pre-handover RF channel. Thereafter, telecommunication service for the mobile station can be automatically continued using the second base transceiver station. Advantageously, the second base transceiver station can provide the telecommunication service for the mobile station on a post-handover radio frequency channel that is the same as the pre-handover radio frequency channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Kip Kienstra, Terry Williams
  • Publication number: 20070123257
    Abstract: Method for transferring service for a mobile station call signal from a first base transceiver station to a second base transceiver station in a wireless mobile telecommunication system, while a call is in progress. The method can include receiving at a base transceiver station an access burst from a mobile station with a call already in progress and requiring service from the base transceiver station. Based on the received access burst, the base transceiver station can electronically steer a beam of an adaptive antenna array of the base transceiver station toward a location of the mobile station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: May 31, 2007
    Applicant: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: John Noll, Jeffrey Smith, Mark Nelson, John Schwaller
  • Patent number: 7092714
    Abstract: A spectrally efficient wireless communication system that includes a plurality of base stations communicating indirectly with a plurality of wireless communications devices through a plurality of repeaters. The method can generally comprise communicating indirectly between a first base station and a wireless communication device using a first repeater and a first RF backhaul link. A control processor associated with the first base station can control a first smart antenna system. The system selectively configures the first smart antenna system to spatially isolate communications on the first RF backhaul from communications on a second RF backhaul of a second repeater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Noll, Christopher J. Peters, Jeffrey W. Smith, Terry L. Williams
  • Patent number: 7047042
    Abstract: A method (100) for amplitude equalization in transmit and receive levels in a base station wideband transceiver (50) includes the step of assigning (102) a plurality of transmit and receive carrier frequencies to the base station wideband transceiver and the step of flattening (104) the power in the plurality of transmit and receive carrier frequencies in the plurality of base wideband transceivers using software amplitude pre-distortion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Komara, Thomas R. Schmutz, John R. Noll
  • Publication number: 20060092865
    Abstract: The invention can include a base station for use with a land mobile radio network. The base station can include a controller (225) selecting an initial communication protocol and at least one target communication protocol that is different from the initial communication protocol. The base station also can include one or more transceivers (205, 210, 215) configured to send and receive a communication within a particular frequency band. The transceiver(s) can receive a communication formatted according to the initial communication protocol. A waveform processor (220) can be programmatically configurable to translate the communication to the target communication protocol(s) and format the communication as a communication originating from a mobile radio. The translated communication can be transmitted through the transceiver(s) to a node of a target communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2004
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: AIRNET COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Terry Williams
  • Patent number: 7020436
    Abstract: A method for managing a plurality of mobile units in a wireless cellular communication system having a plurality of repeater stations includes the step of receiving a signal on an uplink communication channel from a mobile transceiver unit at one of the repeaters. The method also measures at the repeater station a power level of the signal as received by the repeater station. The method further includes the step of transmitting a backhaul signal from the repeater station to the base transceiver station on a backhaul communication link, where the backhaul signal is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels providing an indication of the power level as measured by the repeater station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schmutz
  • Patent number: 6970709
    Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating signal processing resources in a wireless multichannel broadband base station (BBS) for a cellular communications network including determining a number of available channel processor (CP) resources which are unused in a BBS. In response to notification of a subscriber call to be processed by a cell of the BBS, a determination is made as to whether the number of available CP resources is at least one. If so, then the call is assigned to any available CP resource in the BBS. Each of the CPs in the BBS process any of a plurality of traffic channels contained on any frequency channel assigned to the BBS. In addition, an apparatus for practicing the method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Terry L. Williams
  • Publication number: 20050246312
    Abstract: A method for managing a flow of information in an object oriented software environment. A master MOM (130) and at least a second MOM (135) can be initialized. A third MOM (140) also can be initialized. A change resolution (150), which includes data correlating to a change in a device in a system, can be automatically propagated from the second MOM to the master MOM. The change can be a change in configuration data or a change in a run-time state of the device. Data in the master MOM correlating to the change resolution can be updated. In response to the change resolution, a change publication (160), which includes data correlating to the change resolution, can be automatically propagated from the master MOM to at least the third MOM. Data in the third MOM correlating to the change publication can be updated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2004
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Applicant: AirNet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Jordan, Ronald Adkins
  • Patent number: 6957042
    Abstract: A method and system for improved backhaul efficiency dynamically assigns packet based backhaul channels in a cellular communications system which includes at least one wireless repeater and a base station. The method and system can perform packet based backhaul communications regardless of the translating repeater to mobile communications format used. The method and system can also use a single backhaul channel to transmit packets between multiple repeaters and the base station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Terry L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6952408
    Abstract: A method of frequency hopping is supported by a basestation having a broadband transceiver. The method permits changing physical channels upon which mobile subscribers communicate with the basestation, wherein the broadband transceiver is operated using static transceiver frequencies, the method exclusive of switching communication signals between transceivers. In one embodiment, the method maps baseband output signals from a digital channelizer which represent physical channels to ones of digital signal processors representing logical channels and baseband input signals of a digital combiner to ones of logical outputs of digital signal processors according to a mapping signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: John F. Schwaller, Jeffrey Wilson Smith, Terry L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6748212
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for diagnosing a backhaul communications link between a repeater station and a base transceiver station of a wireless communication system. Adjacent and co-channel interference can severely degrade the performance of the backhaul communication link. As a result, the conditions on the backhaul link channels can be continually monitored to ensure optimal performance of the link. Each RF channel on the backhaul communication link is individually diagnosed. A signal is then sent over the RF channel and the signal strength is measured along with any adjacent and co-channel interference. The measured statistics are then sent back to the base transceiver station. In a further embodiment of the invention, the power level of a RF carrier signal on the backhaul communication link is measured and the carrier signal is then turned off. The power levels on the adjacent channels—above and below are then measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schmutz, Michael A. Komara
  • Patent number: 6690662
    Abstract: An approach to improving TDMA system operation is disclosed wherein in-band translator components are located in the center of remote cells which would normally contain a base transceiver system (BTS). The in-band. translators employ wireless in-band signaling for downlink transmission of commands from an operation and maintenance center (OMC) and uplink transmission of status-indicating and alarm signal data. The remotely located repeaters of the present invention have frequency shift key detection and demodulation capability incorporated in the downlink path, while also incorporating FSK modulation capability into the uplink path. This allows the repeater to extract commands from the serving BTS downlink signal and act on them. It also allows for the repeater to transmit status-indicating signals and alarms to the OMC via the uplink path to the serving BTS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Komara, Thomas R. Schmutz, Roger L. Overton
  • Patent number: 6687509
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling signal power levels in a bi-directional backhaul communication link between a base station and a repeater station is provided. The signal power level of a signal transmitted between a base station and a repeater station is measured at the receiver of the signal. Once the received signal power level has been measured, the power level data based on the received signal power level is automatically transmitted from the receiving station back to the source of the measured signal over the backhaul link. Upon receipt at the source, the power level data is extracted and analyzed to determine if the source needs to alter its transmitted power. Once the power level data is analyzed to determine if a change in the transmitted power is required, the source can automatically respond by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the transmitted power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schmutz, Michael A. Komara
  • Patent number: 6574476
    Abstract: A sectorized wireless broadband base station (BBS) having two or more assigned absolute RF channel numbers (ARFCNs) for communications with mobile subscribers in a cellular communications network. The system includes a central processing unit for exclusively allocating one or more of the ARFCNs to each of the sectors, each sector providing a communication link for subscriber calls in one or more communication cells serviced by the BBS. Further, the system includes programming and hardware for exclusively allocating an additional one of the ARFCNs to the sector upon a number of the subscriber calls in any such sector reaching a predetermined limit which exceeds a capacity for the ARFCN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Terry L. Williams
  • Patent number: 6487187
    Abstract: In a conventional Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) wireless system, the specified distance between a mobile unit and the base transceiver system (BTS) cannot exceed predetermined distances because of time slot synchronization constraints. Furthermore, the varying distances between mobile units and the BTS create timing differences in the random access control channel (RACCH) bursts in the initial uplink signal from the mobile stations. In this approach to extending TDMA system coverage, in-band translator components are located in the center of remote cells which would normally contain a base transceiver system. The in-band translators include a loop back circuit that permits a host BTS to measure the backhaul propagation time delay by sending test access signals between the host BTS and the distant in-band translators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schmutz, Michael A. Komara, Roger L. Overton, Jeffrey W. Smith, David D. Coons, Jeffrey R. Nuckols
  • Patent number: 6477388
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to manage RF power in a broadband transceiver station (BTS) that includes a multi-carrier common RF power source such as a multi-carrier power amplifier (MCPA), for maintaining carrier power at a prescribed level. The power is managed by a power banking agent which is a module of the BTS system software. On a new channel request, the power banking agent determines if the request can be satisfied at the requested level. Otherwise, the power banking agent determines if the channel request can be satisfied at a lower power level. The power banking agent also manages active channels by reclaiming power from channels requiring less power and/or by allocating more power to the channels requiring more power. If the power banking agent cannot satisfy a request, the power banking agent will queue the request until a later time in the event that additional power becomes available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schmutz
  • Patent number: 6463093
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to perform the real-time correction of differential non-linearities in a broadband wireless transceiver system using a digital look-up table. Initially, the values for the digital look-up table are determined prior to full operational use of the broadband transceiver system. The one set of values represents inverse response of the transfer function of the D/A converter. The other sets of values represents the inverse response of the transfer function for each A/D converter. The inverse response values for the D/A and A/D converters are stored in a non-volatile memory. During initialization of the broadband transceiver system, the values of the inverse response of the transfer function for the D/A converter are transferred from the non-volatile memory to a high speed memory. The values of the inverse response of the transfer function for each A/D converter is also transferred to another set of high speed memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Airnet Communications Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Komara, John R. Noll