Patent US4932049A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4932049A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cellular telephone system
Assignee: Cellco Partnership
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Filing: 1989-02-06
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Granted: 1990-06-05
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Expires: 2009-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone system is described of the type wherein a plurality of contiguous cells, each having a different assigned set of transmission frequency channels, are arranged with handoff circuitry for maintaining continuous communication with mobile telephones moving from cell to cell. The system includes at least one cell having a plurality of transmitting and receiving antenna sets. Each set is positioned at a respective antenna sub-site at the perpihery of the cell or other suitable location, and is configured so that propagation and reception of signals is limited to substantially within the boundaries of the cell. Control circuitry monitor the strength of the signal received by each of the antenna sets at each frequency channel in the assigned set. Transmission, at each frequency channel in the assigned set, is confined to the antenna set at one sub-site in the cell having the strongest received signal at each frequency.
Inventors
- 👤 William C. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 04:50
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W16/00; H04W16/24; H04B; H04B7/00; H04B7/02; H04B7/04; H04B7/08; H04B7/0802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
In a cellular telephone system wherein a plurality of contiguous cells, each having a different assigned set of transmission frequencies, are arranged with handoff means for maintaining continuous communication with mobile telephones moving from cell to cell, at least one of said cells comprising: a cell having a plurality of antenna sets, each set being positioned and having transmitting and receiving means directionally configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to substantially within the boundaries of said cell, control means including means for monitoring the strength of the signal received by each of said antenna sets at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, and means for confining transmission, at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, to the antenna set in said cell having the strongest received signal at each such frequency.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a cellular telephone system wherein a plurality of contiguous cells, each having a different assigned set of transmission frequencies, are arranged with handoff means for maintaining continuous communication with mobile telephones moving from cell to cell, at least one of said cells comprising: a cell having a plurality of antenna sets, each set being positioned and having transmitting and receiving means directionally configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to substantially within the boundaries of said cell, control means including means for monitoring the strength of the signal received by each of said antenna sets at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, and means for confining transmission, at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, to the antenna set in said cell having the strongest received signal at each such frequency.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said monitoring means include frequency scanning receiver means for determining the strength of the signal at each of said antenna sets for each frequency in the assigned set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A cell according to claim 2 wherein said control means include means for generating a handoff signal when the signal strength at all of said antenna sets determined by said monitoring means falls below a predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the number of said antenna sets is at least three.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for setting up calls comprising a control signal antenna located at one of said antenna sets, said control signal antenna being configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to and from the others of said antenna sets in said cell.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein each of said antenna sets comprises a transmitting antenna and two receiving antennas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cellular telephone system including a plurality of contiguous cells, each of said cells having different assigned sets of transmission frequencies, said cells being arranged with handoff means for maintaining continuous communication with mobile telephones moving from cell to cell, at least one of said cells comprising, a cell having a plurality of antenna sets, each set being positioned and having transmitting and receiving means directionally configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to substantially within the boundaries of said cell, control means including means for monitoring the strength of the signal received by each of said antenna sets at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, and means for confining transmission, at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, to the antenna set in said cell having the strongest received signal at each such frequency.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
A cellular telephone system including a plurality of contiguous cells, each of said cells having different assigned sets of transmission frequencies, said cells being arranged with handoff means for maintaining continuous communication with mobile telephones moving from cell to cell, at least one of said cells comprising, a cell having a plurality of antenna sets, each set being positioned and having transmitting and receiving means directionally configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to substantially within the boundaries of said cell, control means including means for monitoring the strength of the signal received by each of said antenna sets at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, and means for confining transmission, at each frequency in the assigned set of transmission frequencies for said cell, to the antenna set in said cell having the strongest received signal at each such frequency.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said monitoring means include frequency scanning receiver means for determining the strength of the signal at each of said antenna sets for each frequency in the assigned set.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 8 wherein said control means include means for generating a handoff signal when the signal strength at all of said antenna sets determined by said monitoring means falls below a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein the number of said antenna sets is at least three.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said control means includes means for setting up calls comprising a control signal antenna located at one of said antenna sets, said control signal antenna being configured to limit propagation and reception of signals to and from the others of said antenna sets in said cell.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein each of said antenna sets comprises a transmitting antenna and two receiving antennas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein each of said antenna sets is located at a separate sub-site, and wherein said control means and said confining means are located at a single one of said sub-sites.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 13 including cable means interconnecting sub-sites.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
A system according to claim 8 including a mobile telephone switching office, wherein said control means inform said switching office of the one of said frequencies which is unused which said scanning receiver means determines has the lowest interference level.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-06-04 | 1993-12-04 | 1994-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-06-04 | 1997-12-04 | 1998-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-06-04 | 2001-12-04 | 2002-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |