Apparatus and method for modifying a frequency hopping sequence of a cordless telephone operating in a frequency hopping system
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsMark E. Gillis, Kenneth W. Leland, William J. Nealon, Hon Yu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cordless telephone arranged for operation in a frequency hopping system automatically modifies a frequency hopping sequence in the presence of interference detected on its in-use communication channels. Substitute alternative communication channels are identified and then substituted for those communication channels experiencing the interference without disruption of communications between a handset unit in the cordless telephone and its associated base unit.
Claims15
A method of communicating between a base unit and a handset unit in a cordless telephone employed in a frequency hopping system, the base unit and the handset unit being capable of communicating over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising the steps of:
- detecting in the handset unit interference occurring between the base unit and the handset unit while communicating on at least one of a first group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels, the first group of predetermined communication channels being used for communication between the base unit and the handset unit during a frequency hopping cycle, and wherein the detecting step includes a step of determining a quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit, and the determining step includes a step of examining a set of received parameters contained in a signal received during communications on each one of the first group of predetermined communication channels, the quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit being determined by a comparison of this set of received parameters with a set of stored parameters within the handset unit and base unit, a favorable comparison of the set of received parameters with the set of stored parameters being indicative of a correctly received and good quality signal and an unfavorable comparison of these two sets of parameters being indicative of an incorrectly received and poor quality signal containing interference;
- transmitting from the handset unit to the base unit information indicative of communication channel interference detected at the handset unit for requesting at least one substitute communication channel for said at least one communication channel upon which interference is detected;
- and
- selecting in the base unit one or more communication channels from a second group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels for substituting for each communication channel in the first group of predetermined communication channels upon which interference is detected during the frequency hopping cycle.
An arrangement for providing communications between a base unit and a handset unit in a cordless telephone employed in a frequency hopping system, the base unit and the handset unit being capable of communicating over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the arrangement comprising:
- means in the handset unit for detecting interference occurring between the base unit and the handset unit while communicating on at least one of a first group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels, the first group of predetermined communication channels being used for communication between the base unit and the handset unit during a frequency hopping cycle, the detecting means including means for determining the quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit, and the determining means including means for examining a set of received parameters contained in a signal received during communications on each one of the first group of predetermined communication channels, the determining means further including comparison means for comparing the quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit by comparing the set of received parameters with a set of stored parameters within the handset unit and base unit, a favorable comparison of the set of received parameters with the set of stored parameters being indicative of a correctly received and good quality signal and an unfavorable comparison of these two sets of parameters being indicative of an incorrectly received and poor quality signal containing interference;
- means in the handset unit for transmitting to the base unit information indicative of communication channel interference detected at the handset unit for requesting at least one substitute communication channel for said at least one communication channel upon which interference is detected;
- and
- means in the base unit for selecting one or more communication channels from a second group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels for substituting for each communication channel in the first group of predetermined communication channels upon which interference is detected during the frequency hopping cycle.
An arrangement for providing communications between a base unit and a handset unit in a cordless telephone employed in a frequency hopping system, the base unit and the handset unit being capable of communicating over any one of a plurality of communication channels, the arrangement comprising:
- means in the base unit for detecting interference occurring between the base unit and the handset unit while communicating on at least one of a first group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels, the first group of predetermined communication channels being used for communication between the base unit and the handset unit during a frequency hopping cycle;
- means in the base unit for selecting one or more communication channels from a second group of predetermined communication channels within the plurality of communication channels for substituting for each communication channel in the first group of predetermined communication channels upon which interference is detected during the frequency hopping cycle;
- and
- the detecting means including means for determining the quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit, the determining means including means for examining a set of received parameters contained in a signal received during communications on each one of the first group of predetermined communication channels, the determining means further including comparison means for comparing the quality of signal communications between the base unit and the handset unit by comparing the set of received parameters with a set of stored parameters within the handset unit and base unit, a favorable comparison of the set of received parameters with the set of stored parameters being indicative of a correctly received and good quality signal and an unfavorable comparison of these two sets of parameters being indicative of an incorrectly received and poor quality signal containing interference.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.