Wireless point to multipoint system

A point to multipoint wireless communication system, said system comprising:

• an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• and
• a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point for communication with external systems,
• wherein the access point allocates data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units, and
• wherein, for each said subscriber unit, of the plurality of subscriber units the access point assigns to the subscriber unit a priority for access to the data bandwidth, and wherein the access point advances the priority assigned to at least one first said subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit uses the data bandwidth and lowers the priority assigned to the first subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit does not use the data bandwidth within a predetermined time period.

A point to multipoint wireless communication system, said system comprising:

• an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• and
• a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point for communication with external systems,
• wherein the access point allocates data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units,
• wherein the access point assigns a timer to each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units, wherein the timer has an expiration period, and wherein expiration of the timer makes the subscriber unit eligible for data bandwidth allocation,
• wherein the access point selects a first subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to which to allocate the data bandwidth from among those subscriber units, if any, to which are assigned respective said timers that have expired,
• wherein the access point reduces the expiration period of the timer assigned to the first subscriber unit, up to a minimum expiration period, when the first subscriber unit uses the data bandwidth, and
• wherein the access point increases the expiration period of the timer assigned to the first subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit fails to use the data bandwidth for a predetermined period of time.

A point to multipoint wireless communication system, said system comprising:

• an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• and
• a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point for communication with external systems,
• wherein the access point allocates data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units,
• wherein each said subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units is assigned an information rate corresponding to a rate at which data bandwidth between the access point and said subscriber unit is used, wherein the access point tracks an actual rate at which data bandwidth between the access point and the subscriber unit is used, and wherein the access point selects a subscriber unit for allocation of the data bandwidth only among those first said subscriber units having a respective said actual rate within the information rate respectively assigned to the first subscriber unit.

A point to multipoint wireless communication system, said system comprising:

• a plurality of access points configured to receive data signals from an external system, each access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• and
• a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area for each access point, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the subscriber unit's access point for communication with external systems,
• wherein each access point defines discrete first groups of subscriber units, assigns the subscriber units of the plurality of subscriber units in the access point area to the first groups based at least in part on frequency of use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units in the access point area, and assigns a priority for access to the data bandwidth to subscriber units in the first groups based on the first groups to which the subscriber units are respectively assigned,
• wherein, when a first subscriber unit in a first group below a highest priority first group uses the data bandwidth, the access point assigns the first subscriber unit to a higher priority first group and, when a second subscriber unit in a first group above a lowest priority first group fails to use the data bandwidth within a predetermined time, assigns the second subscriber unit to a lower priority first group.

A method of allocating bandwidth availability within a point to multipoint wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• providing a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point;
• and
• allocating data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units,
• wherein the allocating step includes, for each said subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units, assigning to the subscriber unit a priority for access to the data bandwidth and advancing the priority assigned to at least one first said subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit uses the data bandwidth and wherein the allocating step further includes allocating the data bandwidth to the subscriber units based on the priorities assigned to the subscriber units.

A method of allocating bandwidth availability within a point to multipoint wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• providing a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point;
• and
• allocating data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units,
• wherein the allocating step includes
• assigning, to each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units, a priority for access to the data bandwidth,
• advancing the priority assigned to at least one first said subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit uses the data bandwidth, and
• lowering the priority assigned to the first subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit does not use the data bandwidth within a predetermined time period.

A method of allocating bandwidth availability within a point to multipoint wireless communication system, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing an access point configured to receive data signals from an external system, the access point having an antenna, a processor, and circuitry in communication with the access point antenna and controlled by the access point processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals corresponding to the data signals to, and to receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, a geographic area;
• providing a plurality of subscriber units disposed within the area, each said subscriber unit having an antenna, a processor and circuitry controlled by the subscriber unit processor to transmit wireless electromagnetic signals to, and receive wireless electromagnetic signals from, the access point;
• and
• allocating data bandwidth among the subscriber units based at least in part on past use of bandwidth to transmit data between the access point and the subscriber units,
• wherein the allocating step includes
• assigning a timer to each subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units, wherein the timer has an expiration period, and wherein expiration of the timer makes the subscriber unit eligible for data bandwidth allocation,
• selecting a first subscriber unit of the plurality of subscriber units to which to allocate the data bandwidth from among those subscriber units, if any, to which are assigned respective said timers that have expired,
• reducing the expiration period of the timer assigned to the first subscriber unit, up to a minimum expiration period, when the first subscriber unit uses the data bandwidth, and
• increasing the expiration period of the timer assigned to the first subscriber unit when the first subscriber unit fails to use the data bandwidth for a predetermined period of time.