US 6,246,713 B1 · Frequency-hopping in a bandwidth-on-demand system

Abstract

A radio communication system that utilizes an available frequency spectrum that is divided up into a plurality of channels to be used by the radio communication system is operated in accordance with a frequency hopping strategy that permits a user to simultaneously utilize more than one channel during each hop period, wherein it is permissible, but not mandatory, for at least one of the channels utilized by the user during a first hop period to again be used by the user during an immediately following second hop period, so long as at least one of the channels utilized by the user during the second hop period is different from all of the channels utilized by the user during the first hop period. In some embodiments, the number of channels simultaneously utilized by any one user need not be the same as the number of channels simultaneously utilized by any other user.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating a radio communication system that utilizes an available frequency spectrum that is divided up into a plurality of channels to be used by the radio communication system, the method comprising the steps of:

allocating a number, n, of the channels to be simultaneously used during a first hop period for communicating with a user of the radio communication system, wherein the allocated channels occupy adjacent frequency bands of the available frequency spectrum, and wherein the number n is greater than one;
and
allocating n of the channels to be simultaneously used during a second hop period for communicating with the user of the radio communication system, wherein:
the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period occupy adjacent frequency bands of the available frequency spectrum;
at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period is the same as at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the first hop period;
and
at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period is different from all of the channels allocated for use during the first hop period.

4 more elements

An apparatus for use in a radio communication system that utilizes an available frequency spectrum that is divided up into a plurality of channels to be used by the radio communication system, the apparatus comprising:

means for allocating a number, n, of the channels to be simultaneously used during a first hop period for communicating with a user of the radio communication system, wherein the allocated channels occupy adjacent frequency bands of the available frequency spectrum, and wherein the number n is greater than one;
and
means for allocating n of the channels to be simultaneously used during a second hop period for communicating with the user of the radio communication system, wherein:
the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period occupy adjacent frequency bands of the available frequency spectrum;
at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period is the same as at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the first hop period;
and
at least one of the n channels allocated for use during the second hop period is different from all of the channels allocated for use during the first hop period.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Frequency-hopping in a bandwidth-on-demand system

Life of this patent

Frequency-hopping in a bandwidth-on-demand system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20