EP1347584A2

PCS pocket phone/microcell communication over-air protocol

Abstract

A simple and flexible over-air protocol for use with a mobile telephone system, having hand-held telephones in a microcell or other type of cellular communication system. A method in which user stations communicate with one or more base stations to place and receive telephone calls, in which the user stations are provided a secure voice or data link and have the ability to handoff calls between base stations while such calls are in progress. Each base station has a set of "air channels" to which it transmits in sequence. The air channels supported by each base station are called that base station's "polling loop". A user station receives general polling information on an unoccupied air channel, transmits responsive information to the base station, and awaits acknowledgment from the base station. Each base station may therefore simultaneously maintain communication with as many user stations as there are air channels in its polling loop. The ability of a user station to communicate on any unoccupied air channel makes the protocol air-channel agile, while the stability of user station and base station clocks may define air channels, gaps, and minor frames. <IMAGE>

EP1347584A2, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 128

Term

Term ended

Projected expiry passed 20 March 2015, 11.5 years ago.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Published
  4. Projected expiry
  5. Today

13 claims: 2 independent, 11 dependent

  1. 1
    A time division multiple access communication system, comprising a plurality of major time frames,in each of said major time frames, a plurality of minor times frames, andin a first minor time frame, a base transmission interval during which a base station transmits in a spread spectrum format a base-to-user message;characterised in that said base-to-user message comprises both a data message intended for a user station and a control message intended for said user station, said control message comprising an ISDN communication.
  2. 8
    A method for time division duplex communication comprising the steps of transmitting over a designated frequency, during each of a plurality of minor time frames in a major time frame, a plurality of spread spectrum data messages from a base station, each spread spectrum data message directed to a single one of a plurality of user stations;receiving, during a first minor time frame, a first spread spectrum data message at a first user station;transmitting over said designated frequency, during each of said minor time frames, a plurality of spread spectrum control messages from said base station, each spread spectrum control message directed to a single one of said user stations;receiving, during said first minor time frame, a first spread spectrum control message at first user station;transmitting over said designated frequency, during said first minor time frame, a spread spectrum user data message from said first user station to said base station;receiving, during said first minor time frame, said spread spectrum user data message at said base station;transmitting over said designated frequency, during said first minor time frame, a spread spectrum user control message from said first user station to said base station;receiving, during said first minor time frame, said spread spectrum user control message at said base station; characterised in that:said first spread spectrum control message comprises a first ISDN communication;andsaid spread spectrum user control message comprises a second ISDN communication.