Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for dynamically sizing sectors of a multi-sectored radiation pattern. The disclosed invention teaches the use of multiple narrow beams composited to form a radiation pattern. Signals associated with each such narrow beam may be provided to inputs of a scan receiver or signaling radio which inputs are associated with a particular sector of the radiation pattern. The number of narrow beam signals provided inputs associated with a particular sector defines the azimuthal width of that sector. By altering the number of narrow beam signals provided each such input, the azimuthal width of the sectors may be adjusted. The disclosed invention also teaches the use of attenuators in the signal path between the narrow beams and the scan receiver or signalling radio. By adjusting these attenuators, the effective length of the sectors may be adjusted.

Abstract: Systems and methods are taught whereby amplification of narrowband signals may be accomplished by linear power amplifiers requiring the presence of a communicated broadband signal in order to make internal adjustments necessary for linear operation. A preferred embodiment is described utilizing an input of a distributed amplifier assembly unused by the signals of interest in order to inject an emulated CDMA tone operable as a pilot tone for use by the linear power amplifiers.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately determining the position of a mobile unit operating within a predefined service area is disclosed. Three embodiments of the present invention are disclosed which teach the use of one, two and three narrow beam base transceiver stations in the determination of a mobile unit's position. Where one base station is utilized, an information map of signal attributes is used in the position determination. Where two and three base stations are used, signal strength measurements in combination with the time difference of arrival of a signal at the various base stations are used in the position determination.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for adaptive downlink beamforming in a wireless communication system. The technique involves using an antenna array to transmit downlink control signals from the base station to the subscribers in the cell. Rather than transmitting the control signals in a given direction continuously, the control signals in the present system are transmitted for only a short time interval using one of a sequence of specified directional beams. After a predetermined sweep cycle period, the control signal beam is then retransmitted again in the same direction. Typically, during this cycle period control signal beams are also transmitted in other specified directions. In one embodiment, for example, the control signal beams sweep around the base station once during each cycle. A subscriber located in the cell will receive a repeating pattern of signal pulses corresponding to the periodic beams directed toward the subscriber.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for improving trunking efficiency of a sectored cell by providing overlapping sectors. The disclosed invention teaches the use of multiple narrow beams composited to form a radiation pattern. Signals associated with each such narrow beam may be provided to inputs of a base station signal quality measuring device for assigning a mobile to a particular sector during call origination which inputs are associated with a particular sector of the radiation pattern. The number of narrow beam signals provided inputs associated with a particular sector defines the azimuthal width of that sector. By providing a same antenna beam signal to multiple sector inputs, overlapping sectors are defined.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing antenna beams having reduced grating and side lobes when steered off of the antenna broadside are disclosed. According to the present invention an arrangement of antenna elements suitable for use in generating antenna beams steered at greater angles off of the antenna broadside is utilized with a beam feed network consistent with the antenna beams being steered at the greater angles and reduced antenna element spacing to provide the reduced grating and side lobes. A preferred embodiment utilizes a 2n+1 Butler matrix coupled to 2n+1 antenna columns spaced according to the present invention to provide 2n antenna beams.

Abstract: A system and method for accurately determining the position of a mobile unit operating within a predefined service area is disclosed. Three embodiments of the present invention are disclosed which teach the use of one, two and three narrow beam base transceiver stations in the determination of a mobile unit's position. Where one base station is utilized, an information map of signal attributes is used in the position determination. Where two and three base stations are used, signal strength measurements in combination with the time difference of arrival of a signal at the various base stations are used in the position determination.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing elevation scanning for a multiple beam antenna system on a per antenna beam basis. In a preferred embodiment columns of antenna elements are divided into sub-groups each having a beam forming matrix associated therewith. Phase differentials are introduced into the antenna beam signals of each sub-group of antenna elements in order to provide a phase progression which steers the antenna beam a predetermined angle from the broadside. The phase differentials are independently provided for each antenna beam signal to thereby allow independent steering of each antenna beam. Additionally, dielectric material placed in the signal feed path may be utilized to alter radiation characteristics of certain antenna elements of the antenna system. Placing the dielectric material with outer elements of an array may be used for aperture tapering and side lobe control. Additionally, wind loading, due to the antenna system is reduced by using a gridded ground plane system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing transition between sector configurations of a multi-sectored cell wherein the subscriber units may detect the impending change in sector configuration and react accordingly. Sector transitions accomplished according to the present invention include the use of time dithering old and new sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, amplitude tapering of old and new sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, blending of sector signals on antenna beams of the transition area, phase adjustment of antenna beams of the transition area, as well as combinations thereof. Accordingly, subscriber units in the transition area are able to detect the impending sector reconfiguration and react in order to avoid degradation or loss of communication.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for avoiding nulls in a composite radiation pattern synthesized from a plurality of antenna beams. The disclosed invention teaches the use of delays in the signal paths associated with ones of the antenna beams utilized to synthesize the desired radiation pattern in order to avoid destructive combining of the signals. In a preferred embodiment delays are introduced in each antenna beam signal having a common attribute such as a common phase center. Accordingly, a minimum number of phase differential boundaries are introduced in order that certain communications, such as CDMA, are not adversely affected.

Abstract: An omni directional coverage multibeam antenna relief on a ground surface having simple conical shapes to provide beam steering. One advantage of such a system is that the projected area is always constant and broadside to the intended direction resulting in limited scan loss effects. In the case of a cylinder as the conical shape, z-axis symmetry provides a constant antenna aperture projection in any azimuthal direction. Using this geometry, high level, side lobes are reduced considerably because of the natural aperture tapering from dispersion effects. Coverage area and power can be controlled by changing the ground surface angle and by selectively activating different antenna beam positions around the circumference of the ground surface, and by selectively changing the phase relationship between a given set of antenna beams.

Abstract: Systems and methods for continuously providing network parameters to various network elements in a cellular PCs or other wireless communication network in order to optimize operation of the network are disclosed. According to one embodiment, network parameters are provided based on predicted or historical network conditions. In another embodiment, network parameters are provided based on monitored network conditions. A database of network parameters optimized for particular network conditions is provided which may be updated with parameters optimized in real-time.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing calibration of the phase relationships of signals simulcast from a transmission system. In a preferred embodiment, a calibration signal is introduced into the transmission system and provided to various antenna elements. Samples of the calibration signal are taken at a point very near the antenna elements so as to sample phase shifts introduced by the transmission system. The signals of sets of the antenna elements are combined after sampling for transmission down the antenna mast to the active circuitry of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention operates to selectively energize antenna elements of the sets so as to provide a single calibration signal down the combined signal path. Through reference to sampled signals one at a time, the present invention determines a necessary phase adjustment to result in the desired phase relationship of the signals at the antenna elements.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing mitigation of interference in a CDMA cellular network caused by excessive in band energy are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, multiple narrow antenna beams are used to isolate the excessive energy from that of signals from mobile units. Control circuitry measures the power level on each of these multiple beams, compares this measurement to an estimated number of mobiles operating in the associated antenna beam, and determines if excessive energy is present in the beam. If excessive energy is determined to exist, the present invention causes the gain of particular antenna beams to be adjusted so as to mitigate the effect of the excessive energy.

Abstract: An omni directional coverage multibeam antenna relief on a ground surface having simple conical shapes to provide beam steering is disclosed. One advantage of such a system is that the projected area is always constant and broadside to the intended direction resulting in limited scan loss effects. In the case of a cylinder as the conical shape, z-axis symmetry provides a constant antenna aperture projection in any azimuthal direction. Using this geometry, high level, side lobes are reduced considerably because of the natural aperture tapering from dispersion effects. Coverage area and power can be controlled by changing the ground surface angle and by selectively activating different antenna beam positions around the circumference of the ground surface, and by selectively changing the phase relationship between a given set of antenna beams. Likewise, beam down-tilt may be electrically realized by providing a phase differentiated signal to different antenna sections associated with an antenna beam.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for independently adjusting the forward channel power level of each time division burst period of a frame of a time divided signal. The disclosed invention teaches the splitting of the time divided signal for provision to independently controllable circuits associated with each burst period of the frame. Each independently controllable circuit includes a controllable attenuator/amplifier and switching device. The attenuator/amplifier is operated to adjust the power level of its associated burst period to a predetermined magnitude. Thereafter, the switching device operates to direct each power adjusted burst period to be transmitted within a predetermined beam of a multi-beam antenna array.

Abstract: A system and method for providing independent sector mapping of signals associated with a first and second service utilizing a same multibeam antenna system is disclosed. In a preferred embodiment switch matrixes associated with each service are manipulated to selectably map sector patterns of each service. Additionally, to mitigate destructive cancellation caused by combining signals of multiple antenna beams having a signal associated with a particular sector, adjustable phase shifters and/or attenuators are provided in the signal paths.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a re-transmitted signal substantially free of feedback is disclosed. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a delay is utilized with select burst periods of a TDMA signal so as to re-transmit these burst periods coincident with a subsequent burst period of the original signal. Accordingly, the re-transmitted signal of the present invention is decoupled from the input of the original signal.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system utilizing a multi-beam antenna and switches the beams to a CDMA demodulation receiver in such a way that the best beams are selected. The transmit path takes the traffic channel outputs from the CDMA modulators and maps each traffic channel to the subset of beams that have the best path to the mobile in the forward link. According, the system operates to reduce interference on both the forward and reverse links, as well as to increase the capacity of both the forward and reverse links. The system also is capable of providing flexible dynamic shaping of the cell and the sectors by mapping the appropriate overhead channels on the forward link and the reverse link in different combinations of beams to sectors in order to shape the cell.

Abstract: A system for monitoring and adapting radio signals at a cell site to enable improved call management for mobiles active therein. Matrix switches, advantageously separate ones for the receive side and the transmit side of the cell site's radios, have extra ports to which other devices are connected. These devices include signal modifiers such as amplifiers, filters, attenuators or interference cancelers, through which the radio signals may be routed within the switches to enable modification of said signals on a per-channel basis. These devices further include signal generators which may inject signals such as tones or noise to ports in the switches to create pretextual radio conditions that may trigger desired call management results. An air interface controller, advantageously in combination with a cell neighborhood host controller, governs operation of the system.