Cellular/satellite communications system with improved frequency re-use

Claim 2

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a plurality of receivers using the same radio frequency channel, comprising: channel processing means for converting each of said signals to a numerical sample stream representative of a modulated radio wave; matrix processing means for forming numerical combinations of said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients; conversion means for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding analog modulated radio signals on a designated frequency and amplifying said modulated radio signals to a transmit power level; antenna means, coupled to said conversion means, for transmitting said modulated radio signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means such that each of said receivers receives an intended one of said plurality of signals with reduced interterence from remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 3

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a plurality of receivers using the same radio frequency channel, comprising: channel processing means for converting each of said signals to a numerical sample stream representative of a modulated radio wave; matrix processing means for forming numerical combinations of said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients; conversion means for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding analog modulated radio signals on a designated frequency and amplifying said modulated radio signals to a transmit power level; antenna means, coupled to said conversion means, for transmitting said modulated radio signals; control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means to maximize at a worst case receiver a received signal level of an intended one of said plurality of signals relative to a received interference level of the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 4

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a plurality of receivers using the same radio frequency channel, comprising: channel processing means for converting each of said signals to a numerical sample stream representative of a modulated radio wave; matrix processing means for forming numerical combinations of said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients; conversion means for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding analog modulated radio signals on a designated frequency and amplifying said modulated radio signals to a transmit power level; antenna means, coupled to said conversion means, for transmitting said modulated radio signals; control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means to maximize at a worst case receiver a received signal level of an intended one of said plurality of signals relative to a received interference level of the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 5

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitters using the same radio frequency channel and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said transmitted signals and producing a received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna; multi-channel radio-frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying and converting each of said received signals from respective antenna elements into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for combining said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients to produce a plurality of separated signals; channel processing means for processing each of said separated signals to produce said output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means such that each of said output signals corresponds to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended transmitted signals.

Claim 6

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals transmitted from a plurality of transmitters using the same radio frequency channel and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said transmitted signals and producing a received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna; multi-channel radio-frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying and converting each of said received signals from respective antenna elements into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for combining said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients to produce a plurality of separated signals; channel processing means for processing each of said separated signals to produce said output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means such that each of said output signals corresponds to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended transmitted signals.

Claim 7

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters using the same radio frequency channel and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said transmitted signals and producing a received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna; multi-channel radio-frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying and converting each of said received signals from respective antenna elements into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for combining said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients to produce a plurality of separated signals; channel processing means for processing each of said separated signals to produce said output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said numerical matrix processing means to maximize agreement between each of said output signals and a respectively intended one of said transmitted signals.

Claim 8

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a plurality of transmitters using the same radio frequency channel and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said transmitted signals and producing a received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna; multi-channel radio-frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying and converting each of said received signals from respective antenna elements into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for combining said numerical sample streams using a set of matrix coefficients to produce a plurality of separated signals; channel processing means for processing each of said separated signals to produce said output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said numerical matrix processing means to maximize agreement between each of said output signals and a respectively intended one of said transmitted signals.

Claim 9

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers using a plurality of radio channels, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission using a same radio channel for each member of a subset and different radio channels for different subsets; channel processing means for processing said signals into numerical signals representative of modulated radio signals; matrix processing means, for each of said subsets, for forming numerical combinations of said signals belonging to the same subset using a set of matrix coefficients for each subset; conversion means, for each subset, for converting said numerical combinations into corresponding analog modulated radio signals on the radio channel designated for each subset; a plurality of combining means for combining one of said analog modulated signals from each subset to form an antenna element drive signal and amplifying said antenna element drive signal to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled to a respective one of said combining means, for transmitting said antenna element drive signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and said matrix coefficients such that each of said receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 10

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers using a plurality of radio channels, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission using a same radio channel for each member of a subset and different radio channels for different subsets; channel processing means for processing said signals into numerical signals representative of modulated radio signals; matrix processing means, for each of said subsets, for forming numerical combinations of said signals belonging to the same subset using a set of matrix coefficients for each subset; conversion means, for each subset, for converting said numerical combinations into corresponding analog modulated radio signals on the radio channel designated for each subset; a plurality of combining means for combining one of said analog modulated signals from each subset to form an antenna element drive signal and amplifying said antenna element drive signal to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled to a respective one of said combining means, for transmitting said antenna element drive signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and said matrix coefficients such that each of said receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 11

The transmitting apparatus of claim 5, wherein said control means is also for minimizing a sum of said transmit power levels.

Claim 12

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters using a plurality of radio channel's frequencies and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna means; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, splitting and converting each of said composite received signals into a numerical sample streams, each numerical sample stream corresponding to a portion of a respective composite signal received on a corresponding radio frequency channel; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical sample streams corresponding to a same radio channel frequency using a set of matrix coefficients associated with each channel frequency; channel processing means for processing said numerical combinations to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for controlling said matrix coefficients such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 13

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters using a plurality of radio channel's frequencies and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each antenna element of said multiple-element antenna means; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, splitting and converting each of said composite received signals into a numerical sample streams, each numerical sample stream corresponding to a portion of a respective composite signal received on a corresponding radio frequency channel; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical sample streams corresponding to a same radio channel frequency using a set of matrix coefficients associated with each channel frequency; channel processing means for processing said numerical combinations to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for controlling said matrix coefficients such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 14

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers by dividing a transmission time on a same radio frequency channel into a plurality of timeslots, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission in a same designated timeslot on said radio channel, whereby signals in a same subset use a same timeslot and signals in different subsets use different timeslots; channel processing means for processing said signals for transmission in their designated timeslots; multiplexing means for multiplexing one signal from each subset into its respective timeslot to form Time Division Multiplex signals; matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said Time Division multiplex signals using a different set of matrix coefficients for each timeslot; a plurality of conversion means for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding modulated analog radio signals on said radio channel and amplifying them to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled respectively to one of said conversion means, for transmitting said analog radio signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and said matrix coefficients such that each of said plurality of receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 15

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers by dividing a transmission time on a same radio frequency channel into a plurality of timeslots, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission in a same designated timeslot on said radio channel, whereby signals in a same subset use a same timeslot and signals in different subsets use different timeslots; channel processing means for processing said signals for transmission in their designated timeslots; multiplexing means for multiplexing one signal from each subset into its respective timeslot to form Time Division Multiplex signals; matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said Time Division multiplex signals using a different set of matrix coefficients for each timeslot; a plurality of conversion means for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding modulated analog radio signals on said radio channel and amplifying them to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled respectively to one of said conversion means, for transmitting said analog radio signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and said matrix coefficients such that each of said plurality of receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 16

The transmitting apparatus of claim 8, wherein said control means is also for minimizing a sum of said transmit power levels.

Claim 17

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters on a same radio channel frequency using a plurality of timeslots in a Time Division multiple Access (TDMA) frame period and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each element; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, and converting each of said composite received signals into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical samples streams using a different set of matrix coefficients for each of said TDMA timeslots; demultiplexing means to divide each of said numerical combinations into said plurality of timeslots to produce decimated signal streams; channel processing means for processing said decimated signal streams to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for controlling said matrix coefficients such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 18

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters on a same radio channel frequency using a plurality of timeslots in a Time Division multiple Access (TDMA) frame period and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each element; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, and converting each of said composite received signals into a corresponding numerical sample stream; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical samples streams using a different set of matrix coefficients for each of said TDMA timeslots; demultiplexing means to divide each of said numerical combinations into said plurality of timeslots to produce decimated signal streams; channel processing means for processing said decimated signal streams to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for controlling said matrix coefficients such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 21

the apparatus of claim 11, wherein said matrix processing means further comprises: matrix multiplication means for multiplying an inverse of a matrix having said matrix coefficients with a matrix having coefficients related to sampled beams.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said matrix processing means further comprises: means for inverting a matrix having said matrix coefficients every sample period.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said matrix processing means further comprises: means for inverting a matrix having said matrix coefficients when a new call is connected.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said control means further comprises: means for preventing a matrix having said matrix coefficients from becoming numerically ill-conditioned.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said preventing means further comprises: means for changing a radio channel of a mobile unit when at least two mobile units approach a common location.

Claim 28

A method of allocating a communications channel according to claim 17 in which said figure of merit for a group is related to the total transmitter power of said transmitter-antenna element combinations if said signal is allocated the same communications channel as said group.

Claim 29

The method of claim 17 in which said communications channel is one of a number of timeslots of a time-division-multiplex transmission frame each timeslot being used by one of said groups of receivers.

Claim 30

The method of claim 17 in which said communications channel is one of a number of radio frequency channels used by one of said groups of receivers.

Claim 31

The method of claim 17 in which said communications channel is one of a number of combinations of radio frequency channel and TDM timeslot each combination being used by one of said groups of receivers.

Claim 34

A method according to claim 22 in which said antenna pattern rotation is accomplished by physically spinning the antenna.

Claim 35

A method according to claim 22 in which said antenna pattern rotation is accomplished electronically by means of phased array antenna signal processing.

Claim 38

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers using a plurality of radio frequency channels and by dividing the transmission time on each radio frequency channel into a plurality of timeslots, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission in a same timeslot and frequency channel whereby signals in a same subset use a same timeslot and frequency and signals in different subsets use different frequencies or timeslots; channel processing means for processing said signal transmissions in their designated timeslots and on their designated frequencies; multiplexing means for multiplexing one signal from each subset using the same frequency into its respective timeslot to form a plurality of Time Division Multiplex signals for transmission on each of said frequency channels; matrix processing means, associated with each radio frequency channel, for producing numerical combinations of said Time Division Multiplex signals using a different set of matrix coefficients for each timeslot and frequency channel; conversion means, associated with each radio frequency channel, for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding modulated analog radio signals; a plurality of combining means for combining one of said analog radio signals from each frequency channel and amplifying the combined signal to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means comprising multiple antenna elements, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled to a respective one of said combining means, to transmit said amplified, combined signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means such that each of said receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 39

A transmitting apparatus for transmitting a plurality of signals to a corresponding plurality of receivers using a plurality of radio frequency channels and by dividing the transmission time on each radio frequency channel into a plurality of timeslots, comprising: grouping means for grouping selected ones of said signals into subsets for transmission in a same timeslot and frequency channel whereby signals in a same subset use a same timeslot and frequency and signals in different subsets use different frequencies or timeslots; channel processing means for processing said signal transmissions in their designated timeslots and on their designated frequencies; multiplexing means for multiplexing one signal from each subset using the same frequency into its respective timeslot to form a plurality of Time Division Multiplex signals for transmission on each of said frequency channels; matrix processing means, associated with each radio frequency channel, for producing numerical combinations of said Time Division Multiplex signals using a different set of matrix coefficients for each timeslot and frequency channel; conversion means, associated with each radio frequency channel, for converting said numerical combinations to corresponding modulated analog radio signals; a plurality of combining means for combining one of said analog radio signals from each frequency channel and amplifying the combined signal to a transmit power level; multiple-element antenna means comprising multiple antenna elements, wherein each of said antenna elements is coupled to a respective one of said combining means, to transmit said amplified, combined signals; and control means for controlling said grouping means and for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said matrix processing means such that each of said receivers receives an intended signal at a desired signal strength with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 40

The transmitting apparatus of claim 26 wherein said control means is also for minimizing a sum of transmit power levels of said multiple-element antenna means.

Claim 41

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters using a plurality of timeslots in a Time Division Multiple Access frame period and a plurality of radio channel frequencies and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each element; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, splitting and converting each of said composite received signals into a number of numerical sample streams corresponding to said plurality of radio channel frequencies; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical samples streams associated with a same radio channel using sets of matrix coefficients associated with each timeslot and frequency combination; demultiplexing means for dividing each of said numerical combinations into said plurality of timeslots to produce decimated signal streams; channel processing means for processing said decimated signal streams to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said numerical matrix processing means such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.

Claim 42

A receiving apparatus for receiving a plurality of signals from a corresponding plurality of transmitters using a plurality of timeslots in a Time Division Multiple Access frame period and a plurality of radio channel frequencies and producing a plurality of output signals, comprising: multiple-element antenna means for receiving said plurality of transmitted signals and producing a composite received signal from each element; multi-channel radio frequency processing means for filtering, amplifying, splitting and converting each of said composite received signals into a number of numerical sample streams corresponding to said plurality of radio channel frequencies; numerical matrix processing means for producing numerical combinations of said numerical samples streams associated with a same radio channel using sets of matrix coefficients associated with each timeslot and frequency combination; demultiplexing means for dividing each of said numerical combinations into said plurality of timeslots to produce decimated signal streams; channel processing means for processing said decimated signal streams to produce said plurality of output signals; and control means for selecting or adjusting said matrix coefficients for use by said numerical matrix processing means such that said output signals each correspond to an intended one of said transmitted signals with reduced interference from the remaining, unintended signals.