US5857154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multiprotocol mobile telephone network having high tier and low tier systems
Assignee: The AT&T MVPD Group LLC
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Filing: 1996-07-16
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Granted: 1999-01-05
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Expires: 2016-07-16
Abstract
Abstract A multiprotocol radio communications network that includes a first plurality of stationary transceivers for handling low-tier traffic and a second plurality of stationary transceivers for handling high-tier traffic. The stationary transceivers communicate information to a mobile transceiver at different information rates. A switching center automatically switches communication between the mobile transceiver and the stationary transceivers as the mobile transceiver moves between areas of different traffic density.
Inventors
- 👤 Enrique Laborde
- 👤 Lenard S. Golding
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 12:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W36/00; H04W36/08; H04W28/00; H04W28/16; H04W28/18; H04W28/22
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
173 words
A radio communications network having two systems comprising: in a first system having a first air interface, a first plurality of stationary transceivers operating in a low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call; in a second system having a second air interface, a second plurality of stationary transceivers operating in a high tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call; and a switching center, coupled to the first plurality of stationary receivers and to the second plurality of stationary transceivers for routing calls between mobile transceivers and between mobile transceivers and fixed telephones and operable when the mobile transceiver is receiving information from one of the first plurality of stationary transceivers, for causing the mobile transceiver to instead receive the information from a different selected one of the first plurality of stationary transceivers or from one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
173 words
A radio communications network having two systems comprising: in a first system having a first air interface, a first plurality of stationary transceivers operating in a low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call; in a second system having a second air interface, a second plurality of stationary transceivers operating in a high tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call; and a switching center, coupled to the first plurality of stationary receivers and to the second plurality of stationary transceivers for routing calls between mobile transceivers and between mobile transceivers and fixed telephones and operable when the mobile transceiver is receiving information from one of the first plurality of stationary transceivers, for causing the mobile transceiver to instead receive the information from a different selected one of the first plurality of stationary transceivers or from one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the mobile transceiver includes: means for determining a first signal strength of a signal from a determined one of the first plurality of transceivers; means for determining a second signal strength of a signal from a determined one of the second plurality of transceivers; means for transmitting to a selected one of the determined ones of the first or second plurality of transceivers, depending on the values of the first and second signal strength.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system of claim 2 wherein the means for transmitting includes: first communication means for transmitting to a selected one of the first plurality of stationary transceivers in a first power range having a first upper limit, and second communication means for transmitting to a selected one of the second plurality of stationary tranceivers in a second power range having a second upper limit greater than the first upper limit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the first upper limit does not exceed 1 watt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the second plurality of transceivers are located to communicate in a first area, and wherein the first plurality of transceivers are located to communicate in a portion of the first area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The network of claim 1 wherein the first rate is at least 32 kbps.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network of claim 6 wherein the second rate is substantially less than 32 kbps.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said first system is a wireless access communications system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said second system is a standardized analog cellular telephony system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The network of claim 1 wherein said second system is a standardized digital cellular telephony system.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of performing handoff from a low tier to a high tier in a mobile communications network having a first plurality of stationary transceivers in a first system having a first air interface operating in the low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call, a second plurality of stationary transceivers in a second system having a second air interface operating in the high tier each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call and a switching center coupled to the first and second pluralities of stationary transceivers, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining communications with the mobile transceiver in the low tier as long as the mobile transceiver is able to establish communications with a low tier carrier exceeding a predefined threshold; receiving a handoff request from the mobile transceiver at a current stationary transceiver when the mobile transceiver is unable to establish communications with low tier carrier exceeding the predefined threshold; assigning a channel on the high tier in response to the received handoff request; informing the mobile transceiver of the channel assigned; and switching the communication from the current stationary transceiver of the low tier to the assigned high tier channel.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
222 words
A method of performing handoff from a low tier to a high tier in a mobile communications network having a first plurality of stationary transceivers in a first system having a first air interface operating in the low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call, a second plurality of stationary transceivers in a second system having a second air interface operating in the high tier each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call and a switching center coupled to the first and second pluralities of stationary transceivers, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining communications with the mobile transceiver in the low tier as long as the mobile transceiver is able to establish communications with a low tier carrier exceeding a predefined threshold; receiving a handoff request from the mobile transceiver at a current stationary transceiver when the mobile transceiver is unable to establish communications with low tier carrier exceeding the predefined threshold; assigning a channel on the high tier in response to the received handoff request; informing the mobile transceiver of the channel assigned; and switching the communication from the current stationary transceiver of the low tier to the assigned high tier channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: determining a first signal strength of a carrier from a determined one of the first plurality of transceivers; determining a second signal strength of a carrier from a determined one of the second plurality of transceivers; transmitting to a selected one of the determined ones of the first or second plurality of transceivers, depending on the values of the first and second signal strength.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method network of claim 12 wherein the step of transmitting includes: transmitting in a first power range having a first upper limit, and transmitting in a second power range having a second upper limit greater than the first upper limit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the first upper limit does not exceed 1 watt.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method network of claim 11 wherein the second plurality of transceivers are located to communicate in a first area, and wherein the first plurality of transceivers are located to communicate in a portion of the first area.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of performing handoff from a high tier to a low tier in a mobile communications network having a first plurality of stationary transceivers in a first system having a first air interface operating in the low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call, a second plurality of stationary transceivers in a second system having a second air interface operating in the high tier each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call and a switching center coupled to the first and second pluralities of stationary transceivers, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring at one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers, the mobile transceiver radio connection with said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers for quality; when the quality of the radio connection deteriorates, commanding the mobile transceiver from said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers to scan for available low tier channels; reserving a low tier channel; and at the switching center, switching a communication corresponding to the monitored radio connection from said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers to the reserved low tier channel.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
212 words
A method of performing handoff from a high tier to a low tier in a mobile communications network having a first plurality of stationary transceivers in a first system having a first air interface operating in the low tier, each including means for sending information to and receiving information from a mobile transceiver at a first rate during a call, a second plurality of stationary transceivers in a second system having a second air interface operating in the high tier each including means for sending information to and receiving information from the mobile transceiver at a second rate during a call and a switching center coupled to the first and second pluralities of stationary transceivers, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring at one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers, the mobile transceiver radio connection with said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers for quality; when the quality of the radio connection deteriorates, commanding the mobile transceiver from said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers to scan for available low tier channels; reserving a low tier channel; and at the switching center, switching a communication corresponding to the monitored radio connection from said one of the second plurality of stationary transceivers to the reserved low tier channel.
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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) | 2002-01-04 | 2002-07-06 | 2003-01-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | 2007-01-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-01-04 | 2010-07-06 | 2011-01-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |