High bit rate communication system for overcoming multipath

Claim 2

For use in a digital RF communication system having a first terminal (110) and a second terminal (120) for communicating data therebetween, such communication being subject to the reception of multiple signals (a, b) having differential path delays exceeding a substantial fraction of the data symbol duration, at least the first terminal (110), characterized by: a plurality of directional antennas for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (A-F; 330, 1-6); receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (330), for receiving digital RF signals via each of said plurality of directional antennas (1-6); and selection means (360), coupled to said receiver means (310), for evaluating and selecting a communication path between the second terminal (120) and one of said plurality of directional antennas (330), based at least partly on the integrity (380) of the received digital RF signal, to minimize interference resulting from the differential path delays (a, b).

Claim 3

The terminal of claim 1, wherein the receiver means includes a time division multiplex switch (325) for switching the receiver means to alternately couple to the plurality of directional antennas (330).

Claim 4

The terminal of claim 1, wherein the selection means includes an interference detection circuit (380) for indicating the amount of multipath interference in each communication path.

Claim 5

The terminal of claim 1, wherein the selection means includes memory means (365) for continually tracking the best communication path.

Claim 6

A communication system for RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: an antenna (250), and transmitter means (235), coupled to said antenna (250), for transmitting an RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information (1′-6′); and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (210), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (1-6), for receiving RF signals via each of said plurality of directional antennas, and selection means (240), coupled to said receiver means (210), for evaluating and selecting, from the various antenna combinations, a communication path between the antenna of the first terminal and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity of the transmitted RF signal.

Claim 7

A communication system for RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: an antenna (250), and transmitter means (235), coupled to said antenna (250), for transmitting an RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information (1′-6′); and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (210), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (1-6), for receiving RF signals via each of said plurality of directional antennas, and selection means (240), coupled to said receiver means (210), for evaluating and selecting, from the various antenna combinations, a communication path between the antenna of the first terminal and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity of the transmitted RF signal.

Claim 8

A communication system, according to claim 5, wherein the second terminal (210) includes means for determining the signal strength (370) of the transmitted RF signal.

Claim 9

A communication system, according to claim 6, wherein the selection means (240) includes means for selecting the communication path based at least partly on the signal strength of the transmitted RF signal (370).

Claim 10

A communication system, according to claim 5, wherein the second terminal includes means for determining the signal strength of the transmitted RF signal (370).

Claim 11

A communication system for RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1′-6′), and transmitter means (235), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (250), for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, an RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information; and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (210), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (250), for receiving RF signals via each of said plurality of directional antennas, and selection means (240), coupled to said receiver means (210), for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector.

Claim 12

A communication system for RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1′-6′), and transmitter means (235), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (250), for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, an RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information; and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (210), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (250), for receiving RF signals via each of said plurality of directional antennas, and selection means (240), coupled to said receiver means (210), for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector.

Claim 13

A communication system for RF communication according to claim 9, wherein the selected communication path is a duplex communication path.

Claim 14

A communication system for RF communication, according to claim 9, wherein the selection means includes means for determining the strength of at least one of said received RF signals (370).

Claim 15

A communication system for RF communication, according to claim 11, wherein the selection means includes means for determining interference to at least one of said received RF signals (380).

Claim 16

A communication system for RF communication, according to claim 9, wherein the selection means includes means for determining interference (380) to at least one of said received RF signals from at least one of multipath interference and a signal from an undesired signal source.

Claim 17

A communication system for RF communication, according to claim 9, wherein the selection means includes means for determining the data integrity (380) of at least one of said received RF signals.

Claim 18

A communication system for relatively high data bit rate RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1′-6′), and receiver means (220), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving a first terminal designated digital RF signal via at least one of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (220), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, a second terminal designated digital RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information; and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (330), for receiving said second terminal designated digital RF signal via each of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (330), for transmitting a digital RF signal at a plurality of said of directional antennas, selection means (360), coupled to said receiver means, for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity (380) of the second terminal designated digital RF signal, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal, and means for transmitting a message (315) to the first terminal to indicate said selected communication path; whereby both the first terminal and the second terminal use data from respectively received digital RF signals which are communicated via the selected communication path.

Claim 19

A communication system for relatively high data bit rate RF communication, such communication being subject to substantial multipath interference, characterized by: a first terminal (230) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1′-6′), and receiver means (220), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving a first terminal designated digital RF signal via at least one of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (220), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, a second terminal designated digital RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information; and a second terminal (225) including: a plurality of directional antennas (250) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (330), for receiving said second terminal designated digital RF signal via each of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas (330), for transmitting a digital RF signal at a plurality of said of directional antennas, selection means (360), coupled to said receiver means, for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity (380) of the second terminal designated digital RF signal, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal, and means for transmitting a message (315) to the first terminal to indicate said selected communication path; whereby both the first terminal and the second terminal use data from respectively received digital RF signals which are communicated via the selected communication path.

Claim 20

For use in a digital RF communication system having a first terminal and a second terminal for communicating data therebetween, the second terminal having a plurality of antennas for communicating digital RF signals, such communication being subject to multipath interference, the first terminal, characterized by: a plurality of directional antennas (330) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6); receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving a first terminal designated digital RF signal via at least one preselected one of said plurality of directional antennas; and transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, a second terminal designated digital RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information to enable the second terminal to select, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal.

Claim 21

For use in a digital RF communication system having a first terminal and a second terminal for communicating data therebetween, the second terminal having a plurality of antennas for communicating digital RF signals, such communication being subject to multipath interference, the first terminal, characterized by: a plurality of directional antennas (330) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6); receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving a first terminal designated digital RF signal via at least one preselected one of said plurality of directional antennas; and transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting, at a plurality of said of directional antennas, a second terminal designated digital RF signal containing first terminal sector identifying information to enable the second terminal to select, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal.

Claim 22

For use in a digital RF communication system having a first terminal and a second terminal for communicating data therebetween, the second terminal having a plurality of antennas for communicating digital RF signals, such communication being subject to the reception of multiple signals having differential path delays exceeding a substantial fraction of the data symbol duration, at least the second terminal, characterized by: a plurality of directional antennas (330) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving said second terminal designated digital RF signal via each of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting a digital RF signal at a plurality of said of directional antennas, selection means (360), coupled to said receiver means, for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity of the second terminal designated digital RF signal, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal, and means for transmitting (315) a message to the first terminal to indicate said selected communication path.

Claim 23

For use in a digital RF communication system having a first terminal and a second terminal for communicating data therebetween, the second terminal having a plurality of antennas for communicating digital RF signals, such communication being subject to the reception of multiple signals having differential path delays exceeding a substantial fraction of the data symbol duration, at least the second terminal, characterized by: a plurality of directional antennas (330) for providing relatively narrow beam antenna sectors (1-6), receiver means (310), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for receiving said second terminal designated digital RF signal via each of said plurality of directional antennas, transmitter means (315), coupled to said plurality of directional antennas, for transmitting a digital RF signal at a plurality of said of directional antennas, selection means (360), coupled to said receiver means, for selecting, from among the various antenna combinations, a communication path between a first terminal sector and a second terminal sector, based at least partly on the integrity of the second terminal designated digital RF signal, so as to minimize reception errors caused by differential delays in the received RF signal, and means for transmitting (315) a message to the first terminal to indicate said selected communication path.