Abstract:
Two-way radio semiconductor structures and methods for making such structures are provided. The integrated structure includes a single monolithic integrated circuit (401) on which processing circuitry, such as a CPU (420) and a DSP (418), is fabricated within a silicon substrate structure. Through appropriate use of an intervening layer, compound semiconductor material, such as GaAs, can be layered atop the silicon substrate. That compound material can then be utilized for the RF circuits in the radio. Thus, the RF circuits and the processing circuits may be fabricated on a single IC, thereby reducing power and size requirements of the assembled device.
Abstract:
There is provided a mechanism for networking satellite and terrestrial networks. It comprises: maintaining subscriber-received power levels of terrestrial network transmissions about one order of magnitude above co-channel satellite transmissions to overcome interference and maintaining subscriber transmissions to terrestrial networks at power levels about one order of magnitude of the below co-channel transmissions to satellite networks to avoid causing interference at the satellite. Such power level maintenance is provided by the network in communication with such subscriber. Moreover, a non-orbiting ('grounded') satellite (311) cooperates as a switching node of both the satellite network and a terrestrial network to relay information between a terrestrial subscriber and the satellite radiotelephone network over a terrestrial network. The terrestrial network and the satellite network may communicate via either the inter-sattellite spectrum (305, 306) or the terrestrial-to-satellite spectrum (343).
Abstract:
A common communication controller (17) is linked to a plurality of peripheral devices (28) by a network interface bus (26). Packets containing information is communicated between the controller and the peripherals over the bus which consists of a parallel packet bus and a plurality of control lines utilized to implement a communication protocol which increases the efficiencies of packet communications by the utilization of additional direct command lines between the communications controller (17) and peripherals (28).
Abstract:
A wireless in-building telecommunications system for voice and data communications is disclosed having at least one node (101) arranged for linking to the PSTN (151) and at least one digital information source (153, 155, 157, 159) multiplicity of user modules (103) (UM's) linked to the node via a shared RF communications path (107). Each UM is coupled to a voice telephone instrument (127) and to one or more data terminals (165). The UM's communicate with the node by exchanging fast packets via the common RF path (107). The node also includes a fast-packet-switched mechanism controlled by a bandwidth allocating scheme to prevent collisions of packets as they are transmitted between the various units (101, 103) (nodes and/or user modules) that may be accessing the RF path (107). Also disclosed is a method for allocating the required bandwidth to each of the users of the common communications path in a wireless in-building telephone system. The invention provides for the combination of both voice and data in a single switch using a common packet structure. It allows for the dynamic allocation of bandwidth based on system loading. This includes not only bandwidth within the voice or data areas of the frame, but also between the voice and data portions. It also synchronizes the transfer of the data and the allocation of bus bandwidth.
Abstract:
A node within a communication system periodically broadcasts its interference status to neighboring nodes within the communication system. Additionally, the node receives an interference status from all neighboring nodes. If communication is desired with a neighboring node, the node accesses the stored table for the particular neighboring node and determines an optimal time for transmission to the neighboring node. This is accomplished by utilizing the table received from the neighboring node and determining the neighboring node's optimal times for reception.
Abstract:
A node within a communication system periodically broadcasts its interference status to neighboring nodes within the communication system. Additionally, the node receives an interference status from all neighboring nodes. If communication is desired with a neighboring node, the node accesses the stored table for the particular neighboring node and determines an optimal time for transmission to the neighboring node. This is accomplished by utilizing the table received from the neighboring node and determining the neighboring node's optimal times for reception.
Abstract:
In this invention a hierarchical addressing technique is employed in a packet communications system to enhance flexibility in handling packet information. This method permits packet message data (Fig. 3) and certain packet control data (Fig. 3) to be stored in memory locations (32, 34) without having to be duplicated at a different memory location prior to transmission of the packet. This method is preferably employed in a ring configuration in which a series of packets have addressing mechanisms which points sequentially to each other to form a ring of packets.
Abstract:
An antenna selection technique is used in an RF communication system in which user modules (UM1-UM5) communicate with at least one node (N1-N2). The UM's (UM1-UM5) and nodes (N1, N2) each have multiple antennae. The combination of each UM and node antenna is evaluated at the UM. Based on at least signal quality, the UM (UM1-UM5) selects its antenna and the best node antenna for use. An alternate antenna is selected if a person is determined to be present in a predetermined area adjacent a UM (UM1-UM5) corresponding to a predetermined RF power level.
Abstract:
There is provided a mechanism for networking satellite and terrestrial networks. It comprises: maintaining subscriber-received power levels of terrestrial network transmissions about one order of magnitude above co-channel satellite transmissions to overcome interference and maintaining subscriber transmissions to terrestrial networks at power levels about one order of magnitude of the below co-channel transmissions to satellite networks to avoid causing interference at the satellite. Such power level maintenance is provided by the network in communication with such subscriber. Moreover, a non-orbiting ("grounded") satellite cooperates as a switching node of both the satellite network and a terrestrial network to relay information between a terrestrial subscriber and the satellite radiotelephone network over a terrestrial network. The terrestrial network and the satellite network may communicate via either the inter-satellite spectrum or the terrestrial-to-satellite spectrum.
Abstract:
A wireless infrared (IR) communications system (100) for communicating packetized information (302) between a Control Module (12) and a plurality of User Modules (14) via infrared transceivers (300/320) and having a selectable communications path. In this system at least the User Modules (14) have a plurality of IR device arrays (A1-A6) for receiving IR signals (312/312') in relatively narrow IR field of view sectors, and a selector (20), coupled to said plurality in IR device arrays (A1-A6), for selecting a communication path between the Control Module (12) and one of said plurality of IR device arrays (A1-A6), based at least partly on received signal (302') integrity, so as to overcome reception errors caused by multipath interference.