External antenna for a wireless local loop system
OwnerFred Judson Heinzmanninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wireless local loop system is provided that includes a wireless base station that communicates with a subscriber station via a wireless link. The wireless link can carry a voice service, such as telephone calls, or a data service, such as internet browsing. The subscriber station is attached to an externally mounted steerable antenna. The antenna can be oriented in a desired direction during the transception of a voice or data service. A method of transceiving between a wireless local loop subscriber station and a wireless local loop base station is also provided.
Claims42
A wireless local loop system for carrying at least one subscriber service between a network and a subscriber terminal via a wireless link, said system comprising:
- at least one base station interconnecting said network and said wireless link, said base station operable to transceive said service over said link;
- and
- a subscriber station interconnecting said subscriber terminal and said wireless link, said subscriber station being connected to a steerable antenna that is mounted externally to said subscriber station and is operable to be oriented in a direction having a desired transception-quality of said service over said link.
A method of orienting a steerable antenna connected to a wireless local loop subscriber station, comprising the steps of:
- a. determining an appropriate time to orient said antenna;
- b. illuminating said steerable antenna in a given orientation and measuring a transception-quality of a wireless link in said given orientation;
- c. repeating said illuminating step until a desired number of orientations have been illuminated;
- and,
- d. orienting said antenna towards the one said orientation that has a desired transception-quality for a subscriber service transmitted over said link.
A subscriber station for a wireless local loop system that carries at least one subscriber service between a network and a subscriber terminal, said system including at least one base station interconnecting said network and a wireless link, said base station operable to transceive said service over said link, said subscriber station comprising:
- a microprocessor-assembly interconnecting said subscriber terminal and a modem, said microprocessor-assembly for processing said subscriber service, said modem for modulating and demodulating said service,
- a radio connected to said modem and for converting said service for tranception over said wireless link;
- and,
- a connection means for attaching a steerable antenna to said radio, said steerable antenna operable to be oriented in a direction that achieves a desired transception-quality of said service over said link.
An antenna for a wireless local loop subscriber station comprising:
- a connecting means for attaching said antenna to a radio of said subscriber station;
- a plurality of directional antennas each defining a different sector of coverage for said antenna, each of said directional antennas being switchable in relation to each other such that said antenna transceives a radio link in said direction.
A kit of parts for an antenna for a wireless local loop subscriber station, said kit comprising comprising:
- an externally mountable steerable antenna portion;
- a connecting means for interconnecting said antenna to a radio of said subscriber station;
- mounting hardware complementary to said antenna portion for affixing said antenna portion to a structure;
- and,
- a radome for protecting said antenna portion from weather.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.