US 6,011,784 A · Communication system and method using asynchronous and isochronous spectrum for voice and data

Abstract

In a time division, multiple access system, a base station (102) transmits an isochronous beacon (404, 422) at the start of each frame (400), conveying control and timing information. Following the isochronous beacon (404), isochronous time slots (414, 416, 418, 420) are dynamically allocated for communication of isochronous data. After communication of the isochronous data, the remainder of the frame (400) before the next isochronous beacon (422) is used for transmission of packets of asynchronous data. This technique gives priority to the isochronous data, which is real time, while also maximizing the bandwidth allocated for asynchronous data. A single transmitter circuit (124, 158) and receiver circuit (122, 156) at each station are used for communication of both isochronous data and asynchronous data.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A method for radio frequency communication of isochronous data and asynchronous data in a communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) broadcasting an isochronous beacon at a predetermined frequency;
(b) thereafter, communicating isochronous data on an isochronous frequency band during one or more isochronous time slots, the one or more isochronous time slots having predetermined timing and slot structure;
(c) hopping from the isochronous frequency band to an asynchronous frequency band having access slots synchronized to the isochronous beacon, wherein the asynchronous frequency band is a different frequency band from the isochronous frequency band;
and
(d) following communication of isochronous data, communicating asynchronous data on the asynchronous frequency band until the isochronous beacon is next broadcast.

2 more elements

A method for radio frequency communication of isochronous data and asynchronous data in a communication system, the communication system including a base station and at least one mobile station which communicate according to a predefined communication protocol, the predefined communication protocol including communication frames occurring at predetermined frequencies in an isochronous frequency band and an asynchronous frequency band, the communication frames including a plurality of predefined time slots, the method comprising the steps of:

at the base station,
at a predetermined location in each communication frame, broadcasting on a frequency of the isochronous frequency band an isochronous beacon to the at least one mobile station;
after broadcasting the isochronous beacon, monitoring one or more frequencies of the asynchronous frequency band for receipt of asynchronous data from one or more mobile stations for a predetermined time;
if no asynchronous data is received during the predetermined time, transmitting on a frequency of the asynchronous frequency band one or more packets of asynchronous data to a mobile station;
and
at the mobile station,
receiving on the frequency of the asynchronous frequency band the one or more packets of asynchronous data, wherein access slots of the asynchronous frequency band are synchronized to the isochronous beacon.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Communication system and method using asynchronous and isochronous spectrum for voice and data

Life of this patent

Communication system and method using asynchronous and isochronous spectrum for voice and data

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15