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

A method for toll quality terrestrial wireless digital multiple access communication wherein a base station is in communication with telephone lines and with mobile subscriber stations, the method being capable of simultaneous transmission of forward information signals and reverse information signals over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, each of the forward and reverse frequency channels being divided into a plurality of time slots, the method comprising the steps of:

• switching at the base station and setting up at the subscriber stations with the base station switching coupled to the telephone lines for coupling first forward information from the telephone lines as first forward signals to a selected one of a plurality of compressors, and for coupling second reverse signals received from base station decompressors as second reverse information onto the telephone lines, and setting up at each subscriber station for setting up first reverse information as first reverse signals and for setting up second forward signals received from a subscriber station decompressor as second forward information for output to a user;
• signal compressing at the base station and at the subscriber stations, with the base station compressing step generating compressed first forward signals on a time slot in one of said forward frequency channels, said compressed forward signals may be reconstructed at a subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the first forward signals provided before being compressed with the compressing step at the subscriber station compressing first reverse signals from the setting up step and for generating compressed reverse signals that may be reconstructed at the base station to provide substantially the same information as the first reverse signals provided before being compressed;
• signal decompressing at the base station and at the subscriber stations, with the base station decompressing step receiving compressed reverse signals received from the subscriber stations over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel and for generating second reverse signals to be switched during said switching step that provide substantially the same information as the first reverse signals provided with the decompressing step at each subscriber station decompressing compressed forward signals received from the base station over the RF link on the forward frequency channel and for generating second forward signals for the subscriber station setting up step that provide substantially the same information as the first forward signals provided;
• assigning a channel/slot for one of the forward and reverse compressed information signals so that it can be transmitted over a respective one of said forward and reverse frequency channels to a respective one of said base station and subscriber stations, said assigning step including maintaining a memory of which channels/slots are so assigned and consulting said memory upon receipt by the base station of the information to be communicated;
• combining signals from the compressing step at the base station for application to the forward frequency channel with each of the respective compressed forward signals occupying a time slot within the forward frequency channel;
• and
• transmitting and receiving at the base station and at the subscriber stations, for providing direct communication between the base station and the subscriber stations over the RF link.

A base station system for toll quality digital wireless communication with multiple access terrestrial mobile subscriber stations, the base station system communicating at least one information signal from a public switched telephone line over one of a plurality of forward frequency channels at different RF frequencies, each of the forward frequency channels being divided into a plurality of time slots, the base station system comprising:

• compressors for compressing the information signal such that the compressed signal may be reconstructed at the subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the information signal provided before being compressed by the compressor;
• a switching matrix for coupling the information signal to a selected one of the compressors;
• assigning means for assigning a channel/slot for the compressed information signal so that it can be transmitted over one of the forward frequency channels to a subscriber station, said assigning means comprising memory means for maintaining a memory of which channels/slots are so assigned and consulting said memory upon receipt by the base station system of the information signal to be communicated and then providing said assignment of channel/slot that is not assigned;
• a multiplexer for multiplexing the compressed information signal from the selected compressor onto the assigned channel/slot;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting to the subscriber station over the assigned channel within the assigned slot the compressed signal representative of the information.

A method for communication of at least one digital information signal in a toll quality, wireless multiple access public switched radio telephone system between a base station and mobile terrestrial subscriber stations over an RF link having a plurality of forward frequency channels at different RF frequencies, each of the forward frequency channels being divided into a plurality of time slots, the method comprising the steps of:

• switching the information to a selective one of a plurality of compressors;
• compressing the information signal in the selected compressor such that the compressed signal may be reconstructed at the subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the information signal provided before being compressed;
• assigning a channel/slot for the compressed signal so that it can be transmitted over one of the forward frequency channels to a subscriber station, said assigning step including maintaining a memory of which channels/slots are assigned and consulting said memory upon receipt by the base station of the information signal to be communicated and then based upon a selection routine providing said assignment to a channel/slot that is not assigned;
• multiplexing the compressed signal from the selected compressor onto the assigned channel/slot wherein said multiplexing is a time division multiplexing in which the compressed signal is placed in the assigned slot on the assigned frequency;
• and
• transmitting over the forward frequency channel to the subscriber station the allocated channel/slot containing the compressed signal.

A base station system for wireless communication with multiple access terrestrial mobile subscriber stations, the base station system communicating at least one data information signal from a public switched telephone line over one of a plurality of forward frequency channels at different RF frequencies, each of the transmit channels being divided into a plurality of time slots, the base station system comprising:

• assigning means for assigning a channel/slot for the data information signal so that it can be transmitted over one of the forward frequency channels to a subscriber station, said assigning means comprising memory means for maintaining a memory of which channels/slots are so assigned and consulting said memory upon receipt by the base station of the data information signal to be communicated and then providing said assignment of a channel/slot that is not assigned;
• a multiplexer for multiplexing the data information signal onto the assigned channel/slot;
• a switching matrix for coupling the data information signal from the public switched telephone line to the multiplexer;
• and
• a transmitter for transmitting to the subscriber station over the assigned channel within the assigned slot the data information signal.

A digital toll quality terrestrial communication system for providing a plurality of voice signal channels on a plurality of forward and reverse direction carrier frequencies of a RF telephone system, each of said forward and reverse direction carrier frequencies containing a plurality of slots, each of said forward and reverse direction carrier frequencies having an associated predetermined bandwidth which is designed to accommodate one analog voice signal channel therein, said system comprising:

• a base station comprising:
• circuit paths for receiving a plurality of forward direction digitized voice signals from a public switched telephone network and at least one reverse direction digitized voice signal from a subscriber station;
• a plurality of compressors for respectively compressing each of said forward direction digitized voice signals to form compressed voice signals;
• a multiplexer for multiplexing the compressed voice signals onto a dynamically assigned frequency/slot within a single transmit channel bit stream;
• a plurality of modulators for modulating each of said forward direction carrier frequencies with said transmit channel bit stream;
• a transmitter for RF transmitting said forward direction modulated frequency carriers to at least one subscriber station;
• an exchange for switching the digitized voice signals through a respective compressor;
• means responsive to an incoming call request for providing a slot/frequency assignment signal indicating which slot and frequency a compressed voice signal is to occupy, thereby assigning a digitized voice signal, as compressed, to a time slot and frequency in said transmit channel bit stream, said means for providing a slot assignment signal including a memory which stores information concerning which slots/frequencies have been so assigned, said means for providing a slot/frequency assignment accessing said memory upon receipt of said incoming call request;
• means responsive to said slot/frequency assignment signal for causing said exchange to complete the necessary connections so that an incoming digitized voice signal is routed through a respective compression means to said dynamically assigned time slot in said transmit channel bit stream;
• a subscriber station comprising:
• a compressor for compressing the reverse direction digitized voice signal to form a compressed voice signal;
• a channel controller for placing the reverse direction compressed voice signal into a sequential time slot in a transmit channel bit stream;
• a modulator for modulating the reverse direction carrier frequency with said transmit channel bit stream;
• a transmitter for RF transmitting the reverse direction modulated frequency carrier to the base station.

A toll quality terrestrial wireless digital multiple access terrestrial communication system having a base station in communication with telephone lines and with mobile subscriber stations, the system being capable of simultaneous transmission of forward information signals and reverse information signals over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, comprising:

• a switching matrix at the base station and set-up means at the subscriber stations with the base station switching matrix being coupled to the telephone lines for coupling first forward information from the telephone lines as first forward signals, and for coupling second reverse signals received from the subscriber stations as second reverse information onto the telephone lines, and with set-up means at each subscriber station for setting up first reverse information as first reverse signals and for setting up second forward signals received from a subscriber station set-up means as second forward information for output to a user;
• set-up means at each of the subscriber stations for placing the reverse signals on a time slot of one of said reverse frequency channels, whereby said reverse signals may be reconstructed at the base station to provide substantially the same information as the reverse information provided from a user, the set-up means receiving forward information signals over the RF link on the forward frequency channel from the base station as forward signals;
• interconnection means at the base station for placing the forward signals on a time slot of one of said forward frequency channels, whereby said forward signals may be reconstructed at a subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the forward information provided on a telephone line, the interconnection means receiving reverse signals over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel from the subscriber stations as reverse signals;
• and
• means to provide a periodic exchange of information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status for the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A method for toll quality terrestrial wireless digital multiple access communication wherein a base station is in communication with telephone lines and with mobile subscriber stations, the method being capable of simultaneous transmission of forward information signals and reverse information signals over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, the method comprising the steps of:

• switching at the base station and setting up at the subscriber stations with the base station switching coupled to the telephone lines for coupling first forward information from the telephone lines as first forward signals, and for coupling second reverse signals received from the subscriber stations as second reverse information onto the telephone lines, and setting up at each subscriber station for setting up first reverse information as first reverse signals and for setting up second forward signals received from a subscriber station decompressor as second forward information for output to a user;
• setting up at each of the subscriber stations for placing the reverse signals on a time slot of one of said reverse frequency channels, whereby said reverse signals may be reconstructed at the base station to provide substantially the same information as the reverse information provided from a user, the set-up means receiving forward information signals over the RF link on the forward frequency channel from the base station as forward signals;
• interconnecting at the base station for placing the forward signals on a time slot of one of said forward frequency channels, whereby said forward signals may be reconstructed at a subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the forward information provided on a telephone line, the interconnection means receiving reverse signals over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel from the subscriber stations as reverse signals;
• and
• periodically exchanging information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status for the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A base station system for providing toll quality digital wireless multiple access terrestrial communication between telephone lines and subscriber stations, the system being capable of simultaneous wireless transmission of forward information and reverse information over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, the forward information from the telephone lines being applied to a transmitter and the transmitter transmitting forward signals over the RF link from the base station system to the subscriber stations, and a receiver receiving reverse signals from the subscriber station over the RF link and the reverse information being applied to the telephone lines, the base station system comprising:

• switching means for coupling the forward information from the telephone lines as forward signals to the transmitter, and the switching means coupling the reverse signals from the receiver as reverse information to the telephone lines;
• interconnection means placing the forward signals on a time slot of one of said forward frequency channels, whereby said forward signals may be reconstructed at a subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the forward information provided on a telephone line, the interconnection means receiving reverse signals over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel from the subscriber stations as reverse signals;
• and
• means to provide a periodic exchange of information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status of the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A method for providing toll quality digital wireless multiple access terrestrial communication using a base station between telephone lines and mobile subscriber stations, the system being capable of simultaneous wireless transmission of forward information and reverse information over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, the forward information from the telephone lines being applied to a transmitter and the transmitter transmitting forward signals over the RF link from the base station system to the subscriber stations, and a receiver receiving reverse signals from the subscriber station over the RF link and the reverse information being applied to the telephone lines, the base station method comprising the steps of:

• switching the forward information from the telephone lines as forward signals to the transmitter, and switching the reverse signals from the receiver as reverse information to the telephone lines;
• interconnecting the forward signals on a time slot of one of said forward frequency channels, whereby said forward signals may be reconstructed at a subscriber station to provide substantially the same information as the forward information provided on a telephone line, and interconnecting the received reverse signals over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel from the subscriber stations as reverse signals;
• and
• periodically exchanging information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status of the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A subscriber station for providing toll quality digital wireless multiple access terrestrial communication between telephone lines and a base station, the subscriber station and the base station being capable of simultaneous wireless transmission of forward information and reverse information over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber station on forward and reverse frequency channels, the forward information from the telephone lines being applied to a transmitter and the transmitter transmitting forward signals over the RF link from the base station to the subscriber station, and a receiver receiving reverse signals from the subscriber station over the RF link and the reverse information being applied to the telephone lines, the subscriber station comprising:

• set-up means placing the reverse signals on a time slot of one of said reverse frequency channels, whereby said reverse signals may be reconstructed at the base station to provide substantially the same information as the reverse information provided from a user, the set-up means receiving forward signals over the RF link on the forward frequency channel from the base station as forward signals;
• and
• means to provide a periodic exchange of information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status of the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A method of using a subscriber station for providing toll quality, digital, wireless multiple access terrestrial communication between telephone lines and a base station, the subscriber station and the base station being capable of simultaneous wireless transmission of forward information and reverse information over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber station on forward and reverse frequency channels, the forward information from the telephone lines being applied to a transmitter and the transmitter transmitting forward signals over the RF link from the base station to the subscriber station, and a receiver receiving reverse signals from the subscriber station over the RF link and the reverse information being applied to the telephone lines, the method comprising the steps of:

• setting up the reverse signals on a time slot of one of said reverse frequency channels, whereby said reverse signals may be reconstructed at the base station to provide substantially the same information as the reverse information provided from a user, and setting up forward signals over the RF link on the forward frequency channel from the base station as forward signals;
• and
• periodically exchanging information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status of the connection between the base station and the subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.

A base station system for providing wireless multiple access terrestrial data communication between telephone lines and subscriber stations, the system being capable of simultaneous wireless transmission of forward data information and reverse data information over a radio frequency (RF) link between the telephone lines and the subscriber stations on forward and reverse frequency channels, the forward data information from the telephone lines being applied to a transmitter and the transmitter transmitting the forward data information over the RF link from the base station system to the subscriber station, and a receiver receiving reverse data information from the subscriber station over the RF link and the reverse data information being applied to the telephone lines, the base station system comprising:

• a multiplexer;
• a switching matrix for coupling the forward data information from the telephone lines to the multiplexer, and the switching matrix coupling the reverse data information from the multiplexer to the telephone lines;
• the multiplexer placing the forward data information on the time slot of one of said forward frequency channels whereby said forward data information may be transmitted to a subscriber station, the multiplexer receiving from a subscriber station reverse data information over the RF link on the reverse frequency channel;
• and
• means to provide a periodic exchange of information during the course of communication operation concerning the present status of the connection between the base station and a subscriber station, the link quality, power, and timing adjustment thereof, and providing adjustment to the subscriber station based thereupon.