US 7,477,694 B2Granted

Enhanced wireless packet data communication system, method, and apparatus applicable to both wide area networks and local area networks

AssigneeM&FC Holding, LLC

InventorsH. Britton Sanderford, Jr., Robert E. Rouquette, Gary A. Naden, Marc L. Reed, Gordon J. Boudreaux, Michael R. Brown

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Abstract

A cellular wireless packet data communication system containing transmit-only endpoint devices which transmit to receive-only base stations. The system is configured to allow for large area coverage (e.g., a metropolitan area) with far fewer number base stations than are required with conventional two-way cellular systems. The base station coverage areas are configured to overlap, allowing for reception of packets at multiple base stations. A data concentrator resolves redundantly received messages. The network is configurable as a WAN, a LAN, or a combination of the two. Novel modulation techniques (e.g., a 16QAM submodulation together with a 7FSK modulation) are used such that low cost components can be used in the transmitters and receivers while achieving outstanding probability of success performance. The endpoint devices are battery operated and accordingly, are designed for low power consumption and multi-year battery life. The system is used in a variety of applications including remote monitoring and mobile communications.

Claims30

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit a signal, the transmitter including
a 2P-state quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) submodulator configured to receive an original data stream and to produce an encoded data stream of symbols,
wherein P is a length of sequence of tones,
a M-ary frequency shift keying modulator configured to receive the encoded data stream and to modulate each symbol as the length four sequence of tones, each tone of the length four sequence having a frequency corresponding to one of M frequencies, wherein M is a number of frequencies, and each unique length four sequence of tones corresponding to a respective unique symbol, and
a mechanism for transmitting each of the length four sequence of tones as the signal;
and
a receiver configured to receive the signal and to incoherently demodulate the signal to recover the original data stream, the receiver including
a M-ary frequency shift keying demodulator configured to receive the signal and to demodulate the signal to produce a demodulated sequence of tones, each tone corresponding to one of the M frequencies, and
a 2 P-state quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) subdemodulator configured to receive the demodulated sequence of tones, to correlate the demodulated sequence of tones into the encoded data stream of symbols, and to decode the encoded data stream of symbols to produce the original data stream.

6 more elements

A cellular one-way communication network, comprising:

a plurality of first nodes configured to transmit a first data packet on a predetermined frequency;
a first base station configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency;
a second base station locationally dispersed from the first base station and configured to receive signals transmitted on the predetermined frequency;
and
a data concentrator, wherein
the plurality of first nodes are configured to transmit using a duty cycle of less than 0.1 % and to transmit a unique identification parameter,
the first base station and the second base station are arranged in a configuration such that a first coverage area of the first base station at least partially overlaps a second coverage area of the second base station,
the first base station and the second base station each receives the first data packet transmitted by at least one of the plurality of first nodes, and
the data concentrator is configured to collect the first data packet received by the first base station and the first data packet received by the second base station.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/662,530Filed 16 Sep 2003 · continuation
Priority: 30 Mar 2001
Published: US 2004/0131125 A18 Jul 2004
Granted: 13 Jan 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

H03L 7/08
Using a reference signal applied to a frequency- or phase-locked loop: details of the phase-locked loop
H03B 21/00
Generation of oscillations by combining unmodulated signals of different frequencies
H04L 5/06
Channels characterised by the type of signal: the signals being represented by different frequencies
H04L 5/16
Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex: half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals…