Method and apparatus for routing signals through a communication system having multiple destination nodes

A method for a wireless communication unit to communicate with a destination device through a system comprising multiple transceiver nodes, the method performed by the wireless communication unit comprising the step of maintaining a communication channel with the destination device through a path comprising a first transceiver node which communicates with the wireless communication unit and a destination transceiver node which provides service to the destination device, wherein the wireless communication unit maintains the communication channel by sending signals destined for the destination node using a particular carrier frequency, wherein the particular carrier frequency is a frequency that has been assigned only to the destination transceiver node and the first transceiver node knows to route the signals to the destination transceiver node because of the frequency of the particular carrier frequency of the signals which are sent by the wireless communication unit.

A method for controlling signal routing through a wireless communication system comprising multiple transceiver nodes which provide communication service to wireless communication units, the method performed by a control facility comprising the steps of:

• a) creating a table which assigns at least one unique carrier frequency to each of the multiple transceiver nodes, wherein each of the at least one unique carrier frequency indicates a destination transceiver node of a signal;
• and
• b) sending entries of the table to the multiple transceiver nodes, so that when a first transceiver node receives the signal from a communication unit at a particular carrier frequency, the first transceiver node can determine, by comparing the particular carrier frequency to the entries of the table, which of the multiple transceiver nodes is the destination transceiver node of the signal and the first transceiver node can route signals received at the particular carrier frequency to the destination transceiver node to which the particular carrier frequency is assigned.

A wireless communication unit for use in a communication system comprising multiple transceiver nodes which route a signal from the wireless communication unit to a destination device, the wireless communication unit comprising:

• a processor for attempting to place a call to the destination device, for receiving, as a result of attempting to place the call, an identification of an assigned carrier frequency which the wireless communication unit must use during at least a portion of the call, wherein the assigned carrier frequency represents a frequency assigned to a destination transceiver node which provides communication service to the destination device, the processor further for maintaining a communication channel defined by the assigned carrier frequency during the portion of the call;
• and
• a transceiver, coupled to the processor, for transmitting the signal using the assigned carrier frequency.

A gateway for use in a communication system comprising multiple transceiver nodes which route a signal from a wireless communication unit to a destination device, the gateway comprising:

• a transceiver for receiving an indication that the wireless communication unit wishes to place a call to the destination device;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the transceiver, for determining a destination transceiver node which provides service to the destination device, for determining a carrier frequency which has been assigned to the destination transceiver node, for sending a value identifying the carrier frequency to the wireless communication unit through the transceiver, and for maintaining the call at the carrier frequency during at least a portion of the call.

A control facility for use in a communication system comprising multiple transceiver nodes which route a signal from a wireless communication unit to a destination device, the control facility comprising:

• a processor for creating a table which assigns at least one unique carrier frequency to each of the multiple transceiver nodes, wherein each of the at least one unique carrier frequency indicates a destination transceiver node of the signal;
• and
• a transmitter, coupled to the processor, for sending entries of the table to the multiple transceiver nodes, so that when a first transceiver node receives the signal from the wireless communication unit at a particular carrier frequency, the first transceiver node can determine, by comparing the particular carrier frequency to the entries of the table, which of the multiple transceiver nodes is the destination transceiver node of the signal.