Basestation RSSI and BER feedback signal quality display and transmit diversity

Claim 3

A method according to claim 1 wherein step d) comprises displaying the link quality metric in bar graph form with a resolution of 2 dB per pixel or greater.

Claim 4

A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of c1) determining whether the reverse link is limiting or the forward link is limiting and wherein in step d), the RSSI for the limiting link is displayed in bar graph form.

Claim 5

A method according to claim 3 wherein step c1) is performed by comparing the forward link RSSI with the reverse link RSSI to determine which link has the worse RSSI, and selecting that as the limiting link.

Claim 6

A method according to claim 4 further comprising the step of the terminal displaying a limiting link identifier which identifies which of the forward link and the reverse link is the limiting link.

Claim 7

A method according to claim 5 wherein the link quality information is a reverse link RSSI measurement and a reverse link BER measurement and further comprising the steps of: the basestation comparing the reverse RSSI measurement and BER measurement to respective predetermined levels; if either the reverse RSSI measurement is below its predetermined level, or if the BER measurement is above its predetermined level, the basestation sending a toggle message to the terminal; the terminal performing said switch from one antenna to the other antenna on the basis of the toggle message.

Claim 8

A method according to claim 3 wherein in step c1) is performed by comparing the forward link BER with the reverse link BER to determine which link has the worse BER, and selecting that as the limiting link.

Claim 9

A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of displaying a course link quality indicator, the course link quality indicator having at least two discrete values each representing a defined range of RSSI and BER values.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 8 wherein the course link quality indicator has either two, three, four or five discrete values.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 9 further comprising the step of periodically receiving in a message from the basestation containing a redefinition of the range of RSSI and BER values for each of said discrete values.

Claim 12

A method according to claim 1 wherein the link quality metric is only displayed when it is below a predetermined threshold.

Claim 13

A method according to claim 10 wherein the display of the link quality metric turns off after a delay period if the link quality metric exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of: a) the basestation determining a link quality for the reverse link; b) the basestation sending a message to the terminal on the basis of the link quality information; c) the terminal receiving the message from the basestation, and on the basis of its contents either performing a switch from one transmit antenna to another transmit antenna, or not.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 13 wherein the link quality information is a reverse link RSSI measurement and a reverse link BER measurement and wherein said message contains these measurements, the method further comprising the steps of: the terminal comparing the reverse RSSI measurement and BER measurement to respective predetermined levels; if either the reverse RSSI measurement is below its predetermined level, or if the BER measurement is above its predetermined level, performing said switch from one antenna to the other antenna, and otherwise not performing the switch.

Claim 16

A fixed wireless access terminal for wireless connection to a basestation over a mobile communications link including a forward link from the basestation to the terminal, and a reverse link from the terminal to the basestation, the terminal comprising: a display; circuitry for receiving a message from said basestation containing a reverse link RSST and a reverse link BER; circuitry for measuring a forward link DER and RSSI, determining a link quality metric on the basis of the forward link DER and RSSI and the reverse link DER and RSSI, and displaying the link quality metric on the display.

Claim 17

A fixed wireless access terminal for wireless connection to a basestation over a mobile communications link including a forward link from the basestation to the terminal, and a reverse link from the terminal to the basestation, the terminal comprising: a display; circuitry for receiving a message from said basestation containing a reverse link RSST and a reverse link BER; circuitry for measuring a forward link DER and RSSI, determining a link quality metric on the basis of the forward link DER and RSSI and the reverse link DER and RSSI, and displaying the link quality metric on the display.

Claim 18

A terminal according to claim 15 wherein said display comprises a high resolution bar graph field for displaying an RSSI measurement.

Claim 19

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein the bar graph has a resolution of 2 dB or better.

Claim 20

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein said circuitry determines whether the reverse link is limiting or the forward link is limiting and wherein the RSSI for the limiting link is displayed in the graph.

Claim 21

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein the limiting link is identified by comparing the forward link RSSI with the reverse link RSSI to determine which link has the worse RSSI, and selecting that as the limiting link.

Claim 22

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein the limiting link is identified by comparing the forward link BER with the reverse link BER to determine which link has the worse BER, and selecting that as the limiting link.

Claim 23

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein said display further comprises a course link quality indicator field, wherein said circuitry updates the course link quality indicator to display one of at least two discrete values each representing a defined range of RSSI and BER values.

Claim 24

A terminal according to claim 16 wherein the display further comprises a limiting link identifier field, and the circuitry updates the limiting link identifier field to identify which link is the limiting link.

Claim 25

A fixed wireless access terminal for wireless connection to a basestation over a mobile communications link including a forward link from the basestation to the terminal, and a reverse link from the terminal to the basestation, the terminal comprising: a first transmit antenna and a second transmit antenna; a switch for alternatively connecting the first antenna and said second antenna to said wireless connection; circuitry for receiving a message from the basestation respecting the quality of the reverse link, and for, on the basis of contents of the message, instructing said switch to switch from one transmit antenna to another transmit antenna, or not; wherein the message contains link quality information consisting of a reverse link RSSI measurement and a reverse link BER measurement, wherein said circuitry compares the reverse RSSI measurement and BER measurement to respective predetermined levels, and if either the reverse RSSI measurement is below its predetermined level, or if the BER measurement is above its predetermined level, instructs said switch to switch from one antenna to the other antenna.

Claim 26

A fixed wireless access terminal for wireless connection to a basestation over a mobile communications link including a forward link from the basestation to the terminal, and a reverse link from the terminal to the basestation, the terminal comprising: a first transmit antenna and a second transmit antenna; a switch for alternatively connecting the first antenna and said second antenna to said wireless connection; circuitry for receiving a message from the basestation respecting the quality of the reverse link, and for, on the basis of contents of the message, instructing said switch to switch from one transmit antenna to another transmit antenna, or not; wherein the message contains link quality information consisting of a reverse link RSSI measurement and a reverse link BER measurement, wherein said circuitry compares the reverse RSSI measurement and BER measurement to respective predetermined levels, and if either the reverse RSSI measurement is below its predetermined level, or if the BER measurement is above its predetermined level, instructs said switch to switch from one antenna to the other antenna.