Method and apparatus for cellular communication over data networks

Abstract

Cellular signals or other wireless signals/messages are introduced into a building or to an outside location by transmitting packets corresponding to those signals over a data network and low cost cables to designated locations within the data network. Once the designated packets containing the signals reach the destination, they are then broadcast over the air to a terminal capable of receiving the wireless message. In a first embodiment, an in-building gigabit Ethernet network, such as that currently existing presently in many buildings, is used to distribute radio signals indoors. Instead of transmitting the radio signals over the air from a repeater connected to a base station, coded baseband signals generated by the coding processor (e.g., a CDMA Modem Unit) in the base station are packetized and sent over the Ethernet network to radio processing equipment and antennas distributed throughout the building. The radio processing equipment strips the packet headers from the baseband signal packets so those signals can be broadcast via the antennas to one or more mobile terminals.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 536871 filed Jan. 16, 2004.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention is related generally to wireless communications in buildings. BACKGROUNDS OF THE INVENTION [0003] Wireless communications systems are becoming an increasingly integral aspect of modern communications. In fact, recent trends show that an increasing number of users are replacing all wire-line methods of communications with their wireless counterparts such as, for example, cellular telephones in place of traditional wire-line telephones. Since such cellular telephones are essentially radios, it is well known that signal quality between a cellular base station and a handset degrades under certain circumstances. The most significant source of degradation occurs when a user moves from an outside location to an indoor location where the radio signals are required to pass through or a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] For uplink signals, the radio transceivers receive uplink signals from a mobile user, the transceivers convert it to a digital format and generate packets of the coded signals and forward them through the network to the aforementioned switches and then to the BSI and CMU for transmission through the traditional wireless network to an intended recipient. In another embodiment, lo in order to increase the possible number of available radio transceivers, one or more special summing nod

Problems solved by technology

Since such cellular telephones are essentially radios, it is well known that signal quality between a cellular base station and a handset degrades under certain circumstances.

The most significant source of degradation occurs when a user moves from an outside location to an indoor location where the radio signals are required to pass through or around various obstructions.

While DAS systems are advantageous in many aspects, they are limited in certain regards.

Thus, installation expense is relatively high.

Additionally, such systems are not flexibly expandable and there is typica

Images