Microcellular communications system using macrodiversity

Claim 2

A communications system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas created by electromagnetic radiators each radiator controlled by an area controller and serving a plurality of remote stations within each coverage area, comprising: a first radiator transmitting a first electromagnetic signal during at least a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; a second radiator transmitting a second electromagnetic signal during at least a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means at a remote station for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals and communicating said selection to the area controller; and means at the area controller for selecting, in response to said communication of said selection between said first and second electromagnetic signals, a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of at least a portion of a first message to said remote station.

Claim 3

A communications system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means, responsive to said remote station electromagnetic signal selection, for enabling during said third time slot the radiator transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal.

Claim 4

A communications system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means at said remote station for transmitting at least a portion of a second message to a receiver means associated with the radiator transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal, said at least a portion of said second message transmitted in a time slot on a second electromagnetic frequency associated with said third time slot on said first electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 5

A communications system in accordance with claim 3 further comprising means at the area controller for measuring signal quality received in said time slot on said second electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 6

A communications system in accordance with claim 4 further comprising means at the area controller for determining that said measured signal quality indicates that said remote station should be handed off to another area controller in another electromagnetic coverage area.

Claim 7

A communications system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for cyclically repeating said plurality of time slots including said first, second, and third time slots.

Claim 8

A communications system in accordance with claim 6 wherein said means at a remote station for selecting further comprises means for determining signal quality of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 9

A communications system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means at a remote station for selecting further comprises: means for determining, after transmission during said third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; means for newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and means for communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 10

A communications system in accordance with claim 8 further comprising: means at the area controller for enabling the radiator of said newly selected electromagnetic signal for transmitting at least a portion of said first message to said remote station in said third time slot; and means for disabling during said third time slot the radiator of electromagnetic signals not newly selected.

Claim 11

A remote station for a communications system having a plurality of electromagentic coverage areas with fixed electromagnetic transceivers controlled by an area controller in each coverage area, comprising: means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal from a first transceiver during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency and for receiving a second electromagnetic signal from a second transceiver during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency; means for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals; means for communicating said selection to the area controller; and means for receiving from the area controller said selected electromagnetic signal which conveys at least a portion of a message to the remote station during a third one of said plurality of time slots, said third one of said plurality of time slots selected by the area controller.

Claim 12

A remote station for a communications system having a plurality of electromagentic coverage areas with fixed electromagnetic transceivers controlled by an area controller in each coverage area, comprising: means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal from a first transceiver during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency and for receiving a second electromagnetic signal from a second transceiver during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency; means for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals; means for communicating said selection to the area controller; and means for receiving from the area controller said selected electromagnetic signal which conveys at least a portion of a message to the remote station during a third one of said plurality of time slots, said third one of said plurality of time slots selected by the area controller.

Claim 13

A remote station in accordance with claim 10 further comprising means for transmitting at least a portion of a second message on a second electromagnetic frequency to the transceiver transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal in a time slot associated with said selected third time slot.

Claim 14

A remote station in accordance with claim 10 wherein said means for selecting further comprises means for determining signal quality of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 15

A remote station in accordance with claim 12 wherein said means for selecting further comprises: means for determining, after transmission of said selected third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; means for newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and means for communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 16

Fixed site control and transceiving apparatus for a communications system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas serving a plurality of remote stations having transceivers within each coverage area, comprising: means for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal during at least a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means for transmitting a second electromagnetic signal during at least a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means for receiving a transmission from a remote station which identifies a selected one of said first and second electromagnetic signals; and means, responsive to said means for receiving, for selecting a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of at least a portion of a first message to said remote station by said selected one of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 17

Fixed site control and transceiving apparatus for a communications system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas serving a plurality of remote stations having transceivers within each coverage area, comprising: means for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal during at least a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means for transmitting a second electromagnetic signal during at least a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means for receiving a transmission from a remote station which identifies a selected one of said first and second electromagnetic signals; and means, responsive to said means for receiving, for selecting a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of at least a portion of a first message to said remote station by said selected one of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 18

Fixed site control and transceiving apparatus in accordance with claim 14 further comprising means for measuring signal quality of at least a portion of a second message received from said remote station in a time slot on a second electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 19

Fixed site control and transceiving apparatus in accordance with claim 15 further comprising means for determining that said measured signal quality indicates that said remote station should be handed off to another fixed site control and transceiving apparatus in another electromagnetic coverage area.

Claim 22

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 17 further comprising the step of enabling during said third time slot the radiator which transmitted said selected electromagnetic signal, in response to said remote station selection.

Claim 23

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 18 further comprising the step of transmitting, at said remote station, at least a portion of a second message in a time slot on a second electromagnetic frequency associated with said third time slot on said first electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 24

A method in accordance with the method of claim 19 further comprising the step of measuring signal quality received in said time slot on said second electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 25

A method in accordance with the method of claim 20 further comprising the step of determining, at the area controller, that said measured signal quality indicates that said remote station should be handed off to another area controller in another electromagnetic coverage area.

Claim 26

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 18 further comprising the step of cyclically repeating at least said first, second, and third time slots.

Claim 27

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with claim 22 wherein said step of selecting, at a remote station, further comprises the step of determining signal quality of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 28

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with claim 23 wherein said step of selecting, at a remote station, further comprises the steps of: determining, after transmission during said third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 29

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of: enabling, at the area controller, the radiator of said newly selected electromagnetic signal for transmitting at least a portion of said first message to said remote station in said third time slot; and disabling that radiator of electromagnetic signals not newly selected during said third time slot.

Claim 32

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 26 further comprising the step of transmitting at least a portion of a second message on a second electromagnetic frequency to the transceiver transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal in a time slot associated with said selected third time slot.

Claim 33

A method in accordance with the method of claim 27 further comprising the step of measuring signal quality received in said time slot on said second electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 34

A method in accordance with the method of claim 28 further comprising the step of determining, at the area controller, that said measured signal quality indicates that said remote station should be handed off to another area controller in another electromagnetic coverage area.

Claim 35

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 26 wherein said step of selecting further comprises the step of determining signal quality of said first and second electromagnetic signals.

Claim 36

A method of communications channel selection in accordance with the method of claim 30 wherein said step of selecting further comprises the steps of: determining, after reception of said at least a portion of a first message during said third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 39

A method in accordance with the method of claim 32 further comprising the step of measuring signal quality of at least a portion of a second message received from said remote unit in a time slot on a second electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 40

A method in accordance with the method of claim 33 further comprising the step of determining that said measured signal quality indicates that said remote station should be handed off to another fixed site control and transceiving apparatus in another electromagnetic coverage area.

Claim 41

A cellular telephone system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas created by electromagnetic radiators each radiator controlled by an area controller and serving a plurality of remote stations within each coverage area, comprising: a first radiator transmitting a first electromagnetic signal during at least a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; a second radiator transmitting a second electromagnetic signal during at least a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means at a remote station for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals based on electromagnetic signal quality to establish a selected signal and an unselected signal, and communicating said selection to the area controller; means at the area controller for selecting, in response to said remote station selection, a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of at least a portion of a first message to said remote station during said third time slot; means for determining, after transmission during said third time slot, that said unselected signal has a better signal quality than said selected signal; means for newly selecting said unselected signal and for communicating said new selection to the area controller; and means at the area controller, responsive to said communication of said new selection, for enabling the radiator of said newly selected unselected signal for transmitting at least a portion of said first message to said remote station in said third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 42

A cellular telephone system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas created by electromagnetic radiators each radiator controlled by an area controller and serving a plurality of remote stations within each coverage area, comprising: a first radiator transmitting a first electromagnetic signal during at least a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; a second radiator transmitting a second electromagnetic signal during at least a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means at a remote station for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals based on electromagnetic signal quality to establish a selected signal and an unselected signal, and communicating said selection to the area controller; means at the area controller for selecting, in response to said remote station selection, a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of at least a portion of a first message to said remote station during said third time slot; means for determining, after transmission during said third time slot, that said unselected signal has a better signal quality than said selected signal; means for newly selecting said unselected signal and for communicating said new selection to the area controller; and means at the area controller, responsive to said communication of said new selection, for enabling the radiator of said newly selected unselected signal for transmitting at least a portion of said first message to said remote station in said third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 43

A cellular telephone system in accordance with claim 35 further comprising means, responsive to said communication of said new selection, for disabling during said third time slot the radiator of said selected signal.

Claim 44

A cellular telephone system in accordance with claim 35 further comprising means at said remote station for transmitting at least a portion of a second message to the radiator associated with said selected signal, said at least a portion of a second message transmitted in a time slot on a second electromagnetic frequency associated with said third one of a plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency.

Claim 45

A remote station for a cellular telephone system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas with fixed electromagnetic transceivers controlled by an area controller in each coverage area, comprising: means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal from a first transceiver during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency and for receiving a second electromagnetic signal from a second transceiver during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency; means for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals based on electromagnetic signal quality; means for communicating said selection to the area controller; means for receiving from the area controller said selected electromagnetic signal which conveys at least a portion of a message to the remote station during a thrd one of said plurality of time slots; means for transmitting at least a portion of a second message on a second electromagnetic frequency to the transceiver transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal in a fourth time slot associated with said selected third time slot; means for determining, after transmission during said selected third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; means for newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and means for communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 46

A remote station for a cellular telephone system having a plurality of electromagnetic coverage areas with fixed electromagnetic transceivers controlled by an area controller in each coverage area, comprising: means for receiving a first electromagnetic signal from a first transceiver during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency and for receiving a second electromagnetic signal from a second transceiver during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency; means for selecting between said first and second electromagnetic signals based on electromagnetic signal quality; means for communicating said selection to the area controller; means for receiving from the area controller said selected electromagnetic signal which conveys at least a portion of a message to the remote station during a thrd one of said plurality of time slots; means for transmitting at least a portion of a second message on a second electromagnetic frequency to the transceiver transmitting said selected electromagnetic signal in a fourth time slot associated with said selected third time slot; means for determining, after transmission during said selected third time slot, that said electromagnetic signal not selected has a better signal quality than said selected electromagnetic signal; means for newly selecting said electromagnetic signal previously not selected; and means for communicating said new selection to the area controller.

Claim 47

A cellular communications system having a plurality of coverage areas each illuminated from an electromagnetic energy radiator, each radiator controlled by an area controller and serving a plurality of remote stations within each coverage area, the system comprising: means, at a first radiator, for transmitting at least a first information signal during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means, at a second radiator, for transmitting at least a second information signal during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means at a remote station for selecting between said first and second signals and communicating said selection to the area controller; and means at the area controller for selecting, in response to said communication of said selection between said first and second signals, a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of a message comprising control and message information data bits to said remote station.

Claim 48

A cellular communications system having a plurality of coverage areas each illuminated from an electromagnetic energy radiator, each radiator controlled by an area controller and serving a plurality of remote stations within each coverage area, the system comprising: means, at a first radiator, for transmitting at least a first information signal during a first one of a plurality of time slots on a first electromagnetic frequency into at least a first portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means, at a second radiator, for transmitting at least a second information signal during a second one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency into at least a second portion of the electromagnetic coverage area; means at a remote station for selecting between said first and second signals and communicating said selection to the area controller; and means at the area controller for selecting, in response to said communication of said selection between said first and second signals, a third one of said plurality of time slots on said first electromagnetic frequency for transmission of a message comprising control and message information data bits to said remote station.