Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for supporting increased capacity on a backhaul communications link carrier frequency of a wireless communication system the uses a repeater station. Uplink RF carrier signals from a plurality of mobile units each having a first modulation scheme, are received at a serving repeater station. These uplink signals containing traffic and control information are demodulated and then re-modulated by a second modulation scheme having a higher-order modulation than the first modulation scheme. The re-modulated signal containing a plurality of uplink carrier signals within a single RF carrier signal is then transmitted over an uplink channel of a backhaul communication link. Additionally, the invention discloses a method for aggregating data on the uplink channel of a backhaul communications link. A plurality of uplink RF carrier signals from a plurality of mobile units are each received at a repeater station.

Abstract: A method for dynamically allocating signal processing resources in a wireless multichannel broadband base station (BBS) for a cellular communications network. The method includes the steps of determining a number of available channel processor (CP) resources which are unused among a set of RF processing chain (RFP) resources allocated to a communications cell. Each RFP processes a single frequency channel and contains a plurality of CPs. The plurality of CPs process at least one of a plurality of traffic channels contained on said frequency channel. In response to notification of a subscriber call to be processed by the BBS, a determination is made as to whether the number of available CP resources is at least one. If so, the call is assigned to the available CP resource. In addition, an apparatus for performing the method is disclosed.

Abstract: A novel improved frequency re-use planning which allows the most efficient bandwidth utilization and a larger coverage area in a wireless communications network utilizing translating repeaters is described. The wireless communications network has an available radio frequency bandwidth divided into a number of radio frequency communication channels. The channel assignments according to the frequency re-use plan described by this invention makes possible to achieve larger service coverage area using one or more base transceiver system, and efficient utilization of the limited bandwidth allocated to the network. According to the inventive frequency re-use planning, two adjacently located frequency channels are utilized while still meeting the signal isolation requirement between the adjacent channels by assigning the adjacent channels to cells that are remotely located from each other.

Abstract: A method and apparatus employing automatic radio frequency (RF) muting and wireless remote control of RF downlink transmission is disclosed for the protection of a downlink amplifier of a wireless repeater system. The present invention has broad application in systems where a RF controller controls the function of a remote RF re-transmitter. A control module in the remote RF re-transmitter disables a downlink amplifier when a initial power-up, power reset, or transmission lull occurs. A control signal from the RF controller enables the downlink amplifier when the RF controller is ready to transmit. In another embodiment of the present invention, a control module disables a downlink amplifier and automatic level control (ALC) of the remote RF re-transmitter during a initial power-up, power reset or transmission lull. When an enable signal is sent by the RF controller the control module enables the downlink amplifier and initializes the ALC with an initial attenuation values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for power management that controls the overflow of a digital combiner used in the transmit path for a broadband transceiver station (BTS) is disclosed. Power is managed by a digital word banking agent which is a part of the BTS system software. If a new channel request is received, the digital word banking agent determines if the request can be satisfied at the requested power level. Otherwise, the digital word banking agent determines if the channel request can be satisfied at a lower power request. The digital word banking agent also manages active channels by reclaiming power from channels requiring less power and/or by allocating more power to the channels requesting more power. If the digital word banking agent cannot satisfy a request, the digital word banking agent will queue the request for submission at a later time in the event that additional power becomes available.

Abstract: A technique for converting a non-sectorized cell to a sectorized cell having multiple sectors utilizing a single broadband processing unit. The spectrum of a given frequency band having a center frequency ′&OHgr;o is divided into multiple bands (three, for example) having center frequencies ′&OHgr;o, ′&OHgr;o−&agr; and ′&OHgr;o+&agr;. In the receive path, respective sub-bands are used to convey analog RF signals from a subscriber in respective sectors to an associated transceiver. Each of the transceivers includes a front end for receiving incoming RF signals and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital data stream. The digital data streams from transceivers are combined, i.e., processed by digitally adding, and supplied to a single channelizer which, in turn, supplies the data to a TDM bus for transmission to a PSTN network.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for using a loopback capability of a radio frequency (RF) repeater to provide for end-to-end testing without a wireline connection is disclosed. A RF source sends a signaling waveform to the RF repeater. Upon receiving the signaling waveform, the RF repeater enters the loopback mode. The RF source sends another identical signaling waveform to the RF repeater to end the loopback mode. In another embodiment, a base transceiver station (BTS) sends a signaling waveform to an intelligent RF repeater-translator upon detection of a lack of activity. The received signaling waveform places the intelligent RF repeater translator into a loopback mode. If alarms are present in the intelligent RF repeater-translator, the intelligent RF repeater-translator ceases processing and the BTS informs the OMC of the error condition. Otherwise, the loopback mode is entered and BTS initiates testing of the intelligent RF repeater-translator.

Abstract: A wireless telephone architecture employs a broadband transceiver that is coupled to a digital channelizer and digital combiner, such as may employ a real-time Fast Fourier Transform, to extract or combine a set of simultaneous baseband signals. The baseband signals which represent physical channels are mapped to a bank of digital signal processors representing logical channels according to a mapping instituted at the initialization of the call. The mapping is changed on a periodic basis to follow a predetermined frequency hopping schedule. Frequency hopping is thus enabled in a statically tuned broadband transceiver.

Abstract: An apparatus for a cellular communications network including a broadband transceiver for providing upconversion and downconversion between an RF band-of-interest and an intermediate frequency (IF); a transmultiplexer (XMUX) interfacing with the transceiver. The XMUX demultiplexes a single wideband IF receive signal to form a set of individual frequency channels on a receive path of the transceiver, and multiplexes the frequency channels into a single wideband IF transmit signal on a transmit path. The BBS also includes a rate converter processor (RCP) that interfaces with the XMUX for converting at least one of the frequency channels from a first data rate of the XMUX to a second data rate, and a communications bus that transports the modulated IF signals for each of the frequency channels between the RCP and a plurality of channel processors (CP). Each CP processes any of a plurality of traffic channels contained on any of said IF signals. An alternative architecture for the apparatus is disclosed.

Abstract: A broadband multi-carrier base station for wireless communication, such as cellular telephone or personal communication systems has three sets of broadband transceivers and antennas forming a standard tri-sector or tri-cell coverage pattern. A fourth broadband transceiver coupled to a substantially omni-directional fourth antenna that has a coverage area overlapping the tri-sector or tri-cell coverage pattern. Thus the fourth broadband transceiver and fourth antenna provide redundant communication in the event of a malfunction of one of the other broadband transceivers.

Abstract: A control message communication mechanism for use in a broadband transceiver system that includes multiple digital signal processors for performing real time signal processing tasks. One of the digital signal processor (DSPs) is designated as a master DSP. The remainder of the DSPs are arranged in rows and columns to provide a two-dimensional array. A pair of bit-serial interfaces on each DSP are connected in a vertical bus and horizontal loop arrangement. The vertical bus arrangement provides a primary mechanism for the master DSP to communicate control messages to the array DSPs. The horizontal loop mechanism provides a secondary way for DSPs to communicate control information with one another, without involving the master DSP, such as may be required to handle a particular call, without interrupting the more time critical primary connectivity mechanism.

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, varying distances between mobile units and the BTS, as well as Rayleigh fading, caused by destructive interference effects between direct and reflected signals, create extreme signal strength variations in the initial uplink signal from the mobile stations. The use of spatially-diverse antennas for receiving uplink signals provides diversity gain and mitigates deep fades. Furthermore, selecting the stronger of the spatially-diverse uplink signals mitigates deep fades and reduces frequency usage in the backhaul frequency band. 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 (BTS).

Abstract: A wireless system architecture whereby high efficiency broadband transceiver systems can be deployed at an initial build out stage of the system in a cost-efficient manner. A home base station location is identified within each cluster of cells and rather than deploy a complete suite of base station equipment at each of the cells in the cluster, inexpensive translator units are located in the outlying cells serviced by the home base station in which low traffic density is expected. The translators are connected to directional antennas arranged to point back to the home base station site. The translators are deployed in such a way which meshes with the eventually intended frequency reuse for the entire cluster of cells. The translator to base station radio links operate in-band that is, within the frequencies assigned to the service provider. The available frequency bands are divided into at least two sub-bands, with frequency translations ocurring entirely within a given sub-band.

Abstract: A wireless communication system basestation making use of a wideband, multichannel digital transceiver having incorporated therein a time division multiple-access (TDM) bus for providing digital samples of a plurality of wireless communication channels, wherein the TDM bus is used as a cross-bar switch to permit dynamic allocation of modulator and demodulator signal processing resources. The invention allows various standards, even those having different channel bandwidths, to be serviced by the same basestation, with automatic redistributed of signal processing resources, eliminating the need to reconfigure the basestation when the loading of different types of wireless signaling traffic changes.

Abstract: A frequency allocation plan for a wireless communication system that accommodates growth in demand from a low density reuse pattern of twelve cells to a high efficiency reuse pattern of three cells. The available radio spectrum is first divided into three ranges and each range is further divided into four groups. The frequencies in each range are sequentially assigned to the four groups, and the groups are further identified as even and/or odd index groups. The twelve cell groups are laid out in rectangular shapes of four cells across by three cells high, with a first set of three cells in the upper left portion being assigned to use a first even index frequency group. A second group of three cells in a lower left portion are assigned to use a second even index frequency group. A third and fourth group of three cells associated with upper right and lower right positions are assigned the first and second odd index frequency group.

Abstract: A distributed processing architecture for a wireless communication system in which handover intelligence is distributed between the Base Station Subsystem (BSS), Base Station Controller (BSC) and Base Transceiver System (BTS). Mapping between air-interface traffic (Um) channels and Abis-interface traffic channel connections is dynamically assigned. This permits the BTS to manage information concerning active frequency channel assignments, individual channel measurement data, and intra-cell handover. The BTS therefore need only escalate the handover decision to the BSC level when the situation requires inter-cell handover.

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. 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 (BTS). The in-band translators include a loop back circuit that permits a host BTS to measure the propagation time delay by sending test access signals between the host BTS and each in-band translator. The measurements are then used to adjust a time delay in an uplink signal as received from each in-band translator by the BTS in normal operation.

Abstract: A wireless communication system basestation making use of a wideband, multichannel digital transceiver having incorporated therein a time division multiple-access (TDM) bus for providing digital samples of a plurality of wireless communication channels, wherein the time slot duration and frame rate of the TDM bus may be reconfigured. The invention allows various air interface standards, even those having different channel bandwidths, to be serviced by the same basestation, without having to install additional or different equipment, and by automatically redistributing signal processing resources, eliminating the need to reconfigure the basestation when different types of wireless signaling must be accommodated.

Abstract: A physically compact, multichannel wireless communication transceiver architecture employs overlap and add or polyphase signal processing functionality, previously applied to narrowband speech analysis research, for wideband signal processing. A receiver section receives a plurality of multiple frequency communication channels and outputs digital signals representative of the contents of the plurality of multiple frequency communication channels. The receiver section contains an FFT-based channelizer that processes the digital signals output by a wideband digital receiver and couples respective channel outputs to a first plurality of digital signal processor units, which process (e.g. demodulate) respective ones of the digital channel signals and supply processed ones of the digital channel signals at respective output ports for distribution to an attendant voice/data network.

Abstract: A single-cell wireless communication system is partitioned into n sectors, to which channels are allocated from two groups of non-adjacent channels. If the available channels are consecutively numbered from lowest to highest frequency, or vice versa, the groups are, respectively, the even-numbered channels and the odd-numbered channels. These two groups are each subdivided into n/2 sets, with the first set of each group including the lowest numbered channels of the group, the next set including the next lowest-numbered channels of the group, and so forth. The sets are then allocated to the sectors such that the first set of one of the groups is allocated to a first sector, the next set of the same group is allocated to a contiguous sector and so forth, with the last set of the second group allocated to the nth sector.