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US 7,443,864 B1Granted
Wireless communication system backhaul architecture
AssigneeSprint Communications Company L.P.
InventorHarold W. Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A communication system utilizes point-to-multipoint wireless links between base stations and wireless hubs that are co-located at some of the base stations. Bonded circuits may be used between the wireless hubs and a communication ring. A mobile switching center is coupled to the communication ring. The base stations and the mobile switching center exchange user communications in the Ethernet format over the point-to-multipoint wireless links, bonded circuits, and the communication ring.
Claims28
A communication system comprising:
- a plurality of first wireless base stations configured to exchange user communications with mobile users over first wireless access links;
- a plurality of second wireless base stations configured to exchange the user communications with mobile users over second wireless access links;
- a first wireless hub co-located with a first one of the first wireless base stations, wherein the first one of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications, and wherein other ones of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications in an Ethernet format over first point-to-multipoint wireless links;
- a second wireless hub co-located with a first one of the second wireless base stations, wherein the first one of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications, and wherein other ones of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over second point-to-multipoint wireless links;
- a communication ring including a plurality of ring access nodes, wherein the first wireless hub and a first one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over a first connection, wherein the second wireless hub and a second one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over a second connection, wherein the first ring access node and a third one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over the communication ring, and wherein the second ring access node and the third ring access node are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over the communication ring;
- and
- a mobile switching center configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format with the third ring access node, and to exchange the user communications with a local telephone network, a long distance telephone network, and an Internet.
4 more elements
A method of operating a communication system, the method comprising:
- exchanging user communications over first wireless access links between a plurality of first wireless base stations and mobile users and over second wireless access links between a plurality of second wireless base stations and the mobile users;
- exchanging the user communications between a first one of the first wireless base stations and a first wireless hub and between a first one of the second wireless base stations and a second wireless hub, wherein the first one of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub are co-located and the first one of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub are co-located;
- exchanging the user communications in an Ethernet format over first point-to-multipoint wireless links between other ones of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub and over second point-to-multipoint wireless links between other ones of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub;
- exchanging the user communications in the Ethernet format over a first connection between the first wireless hub and a first ring access node of a communication ring and over a second connection between the second wireless hub and a second ring access node of the communication ring;
- and
- exchanging the user communications between the first ring access node and a third ring access node and between the second ring access node and the third ring access node over the communication ring;
- exchanging the user communications in the Ethernet format between the third ring access node and a mobile switching center;
- and
- exchanging the user communications between the mobile switching center and a local telephone network, a long distance telephone network, and an Internet.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.