Subscriber RF telephone system for providing multiple speech and/or data signals simultaneously over either a single or a plurality of RF channels

Abstract

A system and method for wireless communication between a plurality of subscriber units and a base station, the base station communicating information signals from an originating source to a destination subscriber unit over a channel at an assigned one of a plurality of frequencies using repetitive time frames, each said time frame comprising a sequence of time slots. The channel is defined as having the same one or more time slots from the sequence of time slots in one or more of the time frames. The base station includes a central processing unit capable of assigning a duration of time for the information signals being sent to the destination subscriber unit. The duration equals the duration of one or more time slots in the same frame. The central processing unit maintains a memory of which time slots of each time frame have been assigned and provides the time slot assignment, and therefore channel assignment, by consulting said memory. The system includes a multiplexer for multiplexing the information signals onto the assigned channel; and a transmitter for transmitting the information signals to the destination subscriber unit using the assigned channel.

1 . A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising: 
 (a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a plurality of time slots; and    (b) a processor for (i) assigning a duration of time for said information signals, wherein said duration equals the duration of at least one of said time slots, (ii) maintaining a memory of assigned time slots in said channel, and (iii) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said assigned time slots in said memory.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a designated time frame includes other information signals from other originating sources that are assigned to time slots other than said at least one of said time slots.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said information signals include data information.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said information signals include voice information.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said voice information signals have a predetermined bit processing rate.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different bit processing rates to time slots in a designated time frame.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said information signals are communicated over said channel by modulating said information signals onto one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said channel.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising: 
 (c) a modulator for modulating said information signals onto said one frequency, and for modulating different information signals having respective different modulation types, wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different modulation types to said at least one of said time slots.    
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein said modulator uses modulation to transmit at least two bits per symbol.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein a first modulation type comprises phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) a linear modulator including a linear amplifier.    
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) a receiver for receiving reverse information signals from an originating one of said subscriber units to a destination over a reverse channel at an assigned frequency, said reverse information signal being present on at least one time slot within a designated time frame.    
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said subscriber units is a mobile subscriber unit.  
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 (c) a multiplexer for multiplexing said information signals onto said channel.    
     
     
         15 . A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising: 
 (a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a time division multiplex (TDM) channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a predetermined number of time slots, each time slot having a predetermined position in the time frame; and    (b) a processor for (i) assigning segments of each of said information signals to said time slots of said TDM channel, (ii) maintaining a memory of the predetermined positions of assigned time slots in said TDM channel, and (iii) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.    
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein a frequency assigned to said channel has N time slots per time frame where N is at least four and N TDM channels are assigned to said at least one frequency such that an ith TDM channel corresponds to the time slots of an ith time slot position of said time frames, for i=1 to N, and said processor unit assigns a series of segments, which series combine to constitute a given information signal, to the ith time slot of consecutive time frames of the frequency in order to communicate the given information signal to a subscriber unit via the ith TDM channel of the frequency.  
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 (c) a multiplexer for multiplexing said assigned segments into a series corresponding to said assigned time slots; and    (d) an information signal buffer unit for providing information signals in segments of a selected size to said multiplexer corresponding said assigned time slots.    
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said processor assigns segments of information signals intended for different subscriber units to different time slots of a designated TDM channel.  
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said processor assigns time slots of consecutive time frames for each segment of a given information signal.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising: 
 (c) a receiver for receiving signals on reception frequencies, wherein each frequency used for transmission has an associated frequency used for reception such that received signals on each respective reception frequency have time frames having the same predetermined number of time slots as signals transmitted on said associated frequency.    
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein each frequency used for transmission is different from said associated frequency used for reception and is separated therefrom by approximately 5 MHz.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said information signals include voice information signals, said system further comprising: 
 (c) a voice coder unit for compressing said voice information signals into compressed voice information signals, wherein said processor assigns time slots for segments of said compressed voice information signals output by said voice coder unit.    
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said information signals include command information signals, and said processor makes time slot assignments for segments of said command information signals to a TDM channel designated as a radio control channel (RCC) for said subscriber units.  
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said processor allocates and deallocates time slot positions of frequency time frames by consulting said memory to dynamically define TDM channels.  
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24  wherein at least one frequency has time frames which each have four time slots and wherein said processor allocates either one or two time slots per time frame for the frequency's TDM channels such that the processor allocates for the frequency a maximum of four TDM channels, each corresponding to the time slots of a respective first, second, third or fourth time slot position of each of the frequency's time frame and a minimum of two TDM channels, one corresponding to the time slots of first and second time slot positions of the frequency's time frames and the other corresponding to the time slots of third and fourth time slot positions of the frequency's time frames.  
     
     
         26 . A communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, said system comprising: 
 (a) a transmitter for transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units in selected time slots of time frames of assigned frequencies, wherein the time frames for each frequency have a predetermined position in the time frame, and channels are defined by a group of time slots having the same relative position in each of a frequency's time frames; and    (b) a processor which (i) assigns time slots for segments of each information signal being sent to a subscriber unit such that segments of a particular information signal are assigned to the time slots of a selected channel, (ii) maintains information in a memory indicating which time slot positions in the time frames of each frequency are allocated to which channels, and (iii) provides a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.    
     
     
         27 . In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising: 
 (a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a plurality of time slots;    (b) assigning a duration of time for said information signals, wherein said duration equals the duration of at least one of said time slots;    (c) maintaining a memory of assigned time slots in said channel; and    (d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said assigned time slots in said memory.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  wherein a designated time frame includes other information signals from other originating sources that are assigned to time slots other than said at least one of said time slots.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said information signals include data information.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said information signals include voice information.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30  wherein said voice information signals have a predetermined bit processing rate.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different bit processing rates to time slots in a designated time frame.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 27  wherein said information signals are communicated over said channel by modulating said information signals onto one of a plurality of frequencies assigned to said channel.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33  further comprising: 
 (e) modulating said information signals onto said one frequency, and for modulating different information signals having respective different modulation types, wherein said processor assigns information signals having respective different modulation types to said at least one of said time slots.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34  wherein said modulated information signals are transmitted at a rate of at least two bits per symbol.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34  wherein a first modulation type comprises phase shift keying (PSK) modulation.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving reverse information signals from an originating one of said subscriber units to a destination over a reverse channel at an assigned frequency, said reverse information signal being present on at least one time slot within a designated time frame.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 27  wherein at least one of said subscriber units is a mobile subscriber unit.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising: 
 (e) multiplexing said information signals onto said channel.    
     
     
         40 . In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising: 
 (a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units over a time division multiplex (TDM) channel including a plurality of time frames, each time frame including a predetermined number of time slots, each time slot having a predetermined position in the time frame;    (b) assigning segments of each of said information signals to said time slots of said TDM channel;    (c) maintaining a memory of the predetermined positions of assigned time slots in said TDM channel; and    (d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40  wherein a frequency assigned to said channel has N time slots per time frame where N is at least four and N TDM channels are assigned to said at least one frequency such that an ith TDM channel corresponds to the time slots of an ith time slot position of said time frames, for i=1 to N, and said processor unit assigns a series of segments, which series combine to constitute a given information signal, to the ith time slot of consecutive time frames of the frequency in order to communicate the given information signal to a subscriber unit via the ith TDM channel of the frequency.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising: 
 (e) multiplexing said assigned segments into a series corresponding to said assigned time slots; and    (f) providing information signals in segments of a selected size to said multiplexer corresponding said assigned time slots.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40  wherein segments of information signals intended for different subscriber units are assigned to different time slots of a designated TDM channel.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40  wherein time slots of consecutive time frames are assigned for each segment of a given information signal.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising: 
 (e) receiving signals on reception frequencies, wherein each frequency used for transmission has an associated frequency used for reception such that received signals on each respective reception frequency have time frames having the same predetermined number of time slots as signals transmitted on said associated frequency.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45  wherein each frequency used for transmission is different from said associated frequency used for reception and is separated therefrom by approximately 5 MHz.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said information signals include voice information signals, said method further comprising: 
 (e) compressing said voice information signals into compressed voice information signals; and    (f) assigning time slots for segments of said compressed voice information signals.    
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 40  wherein said information signals include command information signals, the method further comprising: 
 (e) assigning time slots for segments of said command information signals to a TDM channel designated as a radio control channel (RCC) for said subscriber units.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 40  further comprising: 
 (e) allocating and deallocating time slot positions of frequency time frames by accessing said memory to dynamically define TDM channels.    
     
     
         50 . The method of 49 wherein at least one frequency has time frames which each have four time slots, the method further comprising: 
 (f) allocating either one or two time slots per time frame for the frequency's TDM channels such the frequency is allocated a maximum of four TDM channels, each corresponding to the time slots of a respective first, second, third or fourth time slot position of each of the frequency's time frame and a minimum of two TDM channels, one corresponding to the time slots of first and second time slot positions of the frequency's time frames and the other corresponding to the time slots of third and fourth time slot positions of the frequency's time frames.    
     
     
         51 . In a communication system which wirelessly transmits multiple information signals between one or more base stations and a plurality of subscriber units, a method comprising: 
 (a) transmitting information signals from an originating source to at least one of said subscriber units in selected time slots of time frames of assigned frequencies, wherein the time frames for each frequency have a predetermined position in the time frame, and channels are defined by a group of time slots having the same relative position in each of a frequency's time frames;    (b) assigning time slots for segments of each information signal being sent to a subscriber unit such that segments of a particular information signal are assigned to the time slots of a selected channel;    (c) maintaining information in a memory indicating which time slot positions in the time frames of each frequency are allocated to which channels; and    (d) providing a time slot assignment signal to complete a communication connection based on said predetermined positions in said memory.