Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for providing an improved common control bus for use in the on-line insertion of line replaceable units (such as circuit board cards) into a backplane of a processor shelf, a modem shelf, or a similar type of equipment. The present invention increases the number of device locations that a common control bus can access. The present invention comprises a complex programmable logic device on a circuit board card that is coupled to a common control bus. The complex programmable logic device is capable of selectively coupling to the common control bus each one of a plurality of device locations on the circuit board card. The complex programmable logic device controls data access to and from each device that is coupled to the common control bus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a radio frequency (RF) modem shelf for use in a fixed wireless access network comprising a plurality of base stations capable of bidirectional time division duplex (TDD) communication with wireless access devices disposed at a plurality of subscriber premises.

Abstract: Downlink and uplink frequencies in a wireless access system are time-shared by adjacent sectors, but remain dedicated to downlink or uplink transmission and may utilize FDD-only bandwidth within the MMDS spectrum. TDD wireless access equipment need only be modified by introducing a frequency change at the normal TDD guard point, with respective downlink or uplink periods for adjacent sectors offset to form overlapping frames. Cyclo-stationary processing, block equalization, and burst timing coordination allow the boundary between downlink and uplink portions of both frames to be set dynamically, improving spectral efficiency. Fast frequency switching within an allotted physical slot enables synchronization of time-sharing the dedicated frequencies to be maintained among sectors and cells.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved backplane architecture for devices such as processors and modems used in wireless, cable, and wired voice frequency (VF) access systems. The present invention comprises a backplane comprising (1) a low tier that is capable of aggregate traffic rates of up to approximately two gigabits per second, and (2) a high tier that is capable of aggregate traffic rates of up to approximately twenty gigabits per second. The backplane of the present invention also comprises a plurality of bus structures and clock and framing resources. The backplane of the present invention is capable of being used in more than one type of electronic equipment.

Abstract: There is disclosed, for use in a first radio frequency (RF) modem shelf associated with a first one of a plurality of base stations in a fixed wireless access network, a timing distribution apparatus for synchronizing the operations of a plurality of RF modems in the first RF modem shelf. The timing distribution apparatus comprises: a) a primary master clock source for generating an internal master clock signal and an internal master framing signal; b) a plurality of interface control processors capable of synchronizing a downlink transmission of one of the plurality of RF modems; c) a synchronization bus; d) an external interface input port capable of receiving an external master synchronization signal from a second RE modem shelf; and e) an external interface output port for transmitting at least one of the internal master clock signal and the internal master framing signal to the second RF modem shelf.

Abstract: A transceiver for use in a wireless access network comprising a plurality of base stations, each of the plurality of base stations capable of bidirectional time division duplex (TDD) communication with wireless access devices disposed at a plurality of subscriber premises in a corresponding cell site of the wireless access network. The transceiver is associated with a first base station and comprises transmit path circuitry associated with a beam forming network for transmitting directed scanning beam signals in a sector of a cell site of the first base station. The transmit path circuitry transmits at a start of a TDD frame a broadcast beam signal comprising a start of frame field and subsequently transmits downlink data traffic in a downlink portion of the TDD frame to at least one of the wireless access devices using at least one directed scanning beam.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for a fixed wireless access communication system, by which to initiate a call to an emergency dispatch center, or other priority call to a priority location. When communication resources are initially unavailable to permit establishment of the call, normal call set-up procedures are emulated at a subscriber station from which the call is to be originated. Communication resources are reallocated in the communication system to permit the establishment of the call and the call is thereafter established.

Abstract: Apparatus, and an associated method, for a fixed wireless access communication system, by which to initiate a call to an emergency dispatch center, or other priority call to a priority location. When communication resources are initially unavailable to permit establishment of the call, normal call set-up procedures are emulated at a subscriber station from which the call is to be originated. Communication resources are reallocated in the communication system to permit the establishment of the call and the call is thereafter established.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for providing an improved common control bus for use in the on-line insertion of line replaceable units (such as circuit board cards) into a backplane of a processor shelf, a modem shelf, or a similar type of equipment. The present invention increases the number of device locations that a common control bus can access. The present invention comprises a complex programmable logic device on a circuit board card that is coupled to a common control bus. The complex programmable logic device is capable of selectively coupling to the common control bus each one of a plurality of device locations on the circuit board card. The complex programmable logic device controls data access to and from each device that is coupled to the common control bus.