Abstract: A millimeter-wave point-to-multipoint LMDS radio system for broadband wireless access having frequency reuse that includes a cell area divided into an integer number k sub-sectors of equal angular arc 360/k degrees each; a hub having antennas each configured to generate an antenna beam that covers an integer number j sub-sectors, an angular gap i being defined between edges of coverage of one of the antennas where i is an integer number of sub-sectors; a total integer number of n channel sets each of at least one radio channel and each configured independent and free of interference from other ones of the channels in other ones of the channel sets, each of the channel sets having a number of uses defined by a quantity k/(i+j) that is an integer equal or greater than two, each channel set being deployed with a common re-use pattern with an angular stagger between antennas of (i+j)/n sub-sectors.

Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting software to a subscriber device in a communication network, which includes a processor, a database coupled to the processor, and a communication device for providing software to a subscriber device. The database contains information about subscribers of a communication network. A method for transmitting software to subscriber devices in a communication network, comprising identifying a subscriber device which requires a software update, transmitting a first signal from a processor to the subscriber device, initiating a communication channel between the subscriber device and the processor, and transmitting a second signal to the subscriber device. The second signal contains software.

Abstract: The invention provides a means by which a radio system in a multipath propagation environment may improve the probability of successful reception of a message by the application of diversity. It is applicable to such applications as paging, cordless telephones, cellular telephones, and radio identification tags. The transmitter sends the message repeatedly, each repetition transmitted from a different antenna. The antennas are separated so that multipath fading of the signal arriving at the receiver from each transmit antenna is substantially uncorrelated with the multipath fading of the signal arriving at the receiver from the other transmit antennas. The receiver examines the radio channel for an incoming message for a time period long enough for it to potentially receive the message from each antenna.

Abstract: The call set-up technique of this invention is characterized by the use of channel information from both base station and subscriber terminal in determining the radio traffic channel upon which to set-up a new call. Communication between the base station and subscriber terminal is carried out on a signalling channel until the traffic channel is chosen. Calls are set-up so that they proceed on the radio channel which, of a set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal, contains the least amount of interference as measured at the subscriber terminal. The set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal is a subset of the entire set of channels allocated to the service. This subset is comprised of those channels having little interference, as measured by the base station. The call set-up technique thereby assures that calls proceed on channels containing little interference from the viewpoints of both base station and subscriber terminal.

Abstract: The intra-cell call hand-over technique of this invention is characterized by the use of channel information from both base station and subscriber terminal in determining a standby radio traffic channel upon which to hand over a call. Communication between the base station and subscriber terminal is carried out on an inband or associated signalling channel for the selection of the standby traffic channel. The standby radio channel is the channel, which, of a set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal, contains the least amount of interference as measured at the subscriber terminal. The set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal is a subset of the entire set of channels allocated to the service. This subset is comprised of those channels having little interference as measured by the base station. The call hand-over technique thereby assures that calls proceed on channels containing little interference from the viewpoints of both base station and subscriber terminal.

Abstract: The call hand-over technique of this invention is characterized by the use of channel information from both the target base station and subscriber terminal in determining which radio traffic channel will be used to hand over a call in progress from a serving base station to a target base station. Calls are handed over to the radio channel which, of a set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal, contains the least amount of interference as measured by the subscriber terminal. The set of channels under consideration by the subscriber terminal is a subset of the entire set of channels allocated to the service. This subset is comprised of those channels having little interference, as measured by the target base station. The hand-over technique thereby assures that calls proceed on channels containing little interference from the viewpoints of both the target base station and subscriber terminal.

Abstract: An improved radio link architecture for digital wireless communication systems which is characterized by the use of information and signalling channels on a number of RF carriers, thereby providing common signalling channels for call set-up and control functions. A first group of RF carriers are allocated as traffic channels between base stations and subscriber terminals. Each RF carrier in the first group comprises at least one traffic channel. A second group of RF carriers is allocated for providing common signalling channels between the base stations and the subscriber terminals. Each RF carrier having common signalling channels operates in time division multiple access mode, and each common signalling channel being time division duplexed.