US6323980B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hybrid picocell communication system
Assignee: Air Fiber Inc
•
Filing: 1998-03-05
•
Granted: 2001-11-27
•
Expires: 2018-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A free-space laser communication system. The system is comprised of a large number of picocells. Each picocell comprises a base station providing conventional communication with at least one user but typically several or many users. Each base stations comprise at least two laser transceivers each transceiver having a pointing mechanism for automatic alignment. These transceivers provide communication with other base stations, relay information between other base stations or transmit information to conventional communication systems. The picocells cover relatively small geographical ranges such as about 100 meters. Applicant has demonstrated that at these distances atmospheric effects attenuating laser beams are not a serious problem. In a preferred embodiment the base stations generally comprise four laser transceivers with micro processor controlled pointing equipment which are aligned automatically to point at other base stations and an RF transceiver to provide communication with users. The present invention is especially suited for providing a communication system, which can be almost immediately installed to compete with established local monopoly (or near monopoly) telephone systems. Systems according to the present invention can be installed within a few hours or a very few days. These systems can provide, for a local area, its first communication system, or provide communication services in a local area in the event an existing local system is damaged such as in a natural disaster or provide a quick temporary expansion of existing communication capacity.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott H. Bloom
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:07
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/08; H04W88/085; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/11; H04B10/112; H04B10/1123; H04B10/1125; H04B10/25; H04B10/2575; H04B10/25752; H04B10/25753
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
428 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with one of said second plurality of optical transceivers, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with a user within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers, and said first picocell assembly also including a control element that controls communication between said second communicating element and said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers to one of said second plurality of optical transceivers; and a second picocell assembly, said second picocell assembly including a second base station with said second plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first base station of said first picocell assembly, said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly with said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly, and said second picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with a user within an area of said second picocell assembly, said second communicating element of said second picocell assembly connected with at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers, and said second picocell assembly also including a second control element that controls communication between said second communicating element of said second picocell assembly and said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers and to said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
428 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with one of said second plurality of optical transceivers, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with a user within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers, and said first picocell assembly also including a control element that controls communication between said second communicating element and said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers to one of said second plurality of optical transceivers; and a second picocell assembly, said second picocell assembly including a second base station with said second plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first base station of said first picocell assembly, said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly with said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly, and said second picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with a user within an area of said second picocell assembly, said second communicating element of said second picocell assembly connected with at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers, and said second picocell assembly also including a second control element that controls communication between said second communicating element of said second picocell assembly and said at least one of said second plurality of optical transceivers and to said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 1 , wherein said second communicating element operates using radio frequency.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as in claim 1 , wherein said second communicating element operates using a wired connection.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A system as in claim 3 , wherein said wired connection is a coaxial cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 3 , wherein said wired connection is a twisted wire connection.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as in claim 3 , wherein said wired connection is a fiber optic connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system as in claim 1 , wherein said control element comprises a microprocessor running a program to aim said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly to one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly and to control communications therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as in claim 1 , wherein said second communication element of each of said picocell assemblies includes the capability of communication with a plurality of separated user communication devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as in claim 1 , wherein each said picocell assembly includes four transceivers, each aiming in different directions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of additional picocell assemblies, each having the same construction as said first picocell assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
171 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers in a second picocell assembly, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a plurality of pointing mechanisms adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with said one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with at least a plurality of users within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over any of said first plurality of optical transceivers to said second picocell assembly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
171 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers operating to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers in a second picocell assembly, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a plurality of pointing mechanisms adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with said one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with at least a plurality of users within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over any of said first plurality of optical transceivers to said second picocell assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as in claim 11 , wherein said first picocell assembly also includes a control element that controls communication between said second communicating element and said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers with said plurality of users.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system as in claim 11 , wherein the second communicating element communicates using packeted communications.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
203 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers adapted to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers in a second picocell assembly or a third plurality of optical transceivers in a third picocell assembly, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with said one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly or with said one of said third plurality of optical transceivers of said third picocell assembly, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with at least a plurality of users within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over any of said first plurality of optical transceivers to said second picocell assembly or to said third picocell assembly.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
203 words
A communications system, comprising: a first picocell assembly, said first picocell assembly including a first base station with a first plurality of optical transceivers that are connected to one another, at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers adapted to establish an optical communication link with one of a second plurality of optical transceivers in a second picocell assembly or a third plurality of optical transceivers in a third picocell assembly, said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers including a pointing mechanism adapted to independently align said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers of said first picocell assembly with said one of said second plurality of optical transceivers of said second picocell assembly or with said one of said third plurality of optical transceivers of said third picocell assembly, and said first picocell assembly also including a second communicating element operating to communicate with at least a plurality of users within an area of said first picocell assembly, said second communicating element connected with said first plurality of optical transceivers and allowing communication over any of said first plurality of optical transceivers to said second picocell assembly or to said third picocell assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The communication system of claim 14 , wherein said first picocell assembly also includes a control element that controls communication between said second communicating element and said at least one of said first plurality of optical transceivers with said plurality of users.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4730310A
Cited
US4789983A
Cited
US5264955A
Cited
US5493436A
Cited
GB2261575A
Cited
US5710652A
Cited
WO1998032250A2
Cited
US6049593A
Cited
EP0859478A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-11-26 | 2005-05-28 | 2005-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-11-26 | 2009-05-28 | 2009-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-11-26 | 2013-05-28 | 2013-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |