CZ200076A3 - Multipurpose subscriber radio unit, communication system and circumferential plate for personal computer - Google Patents

Abstract

The multipurpose subscriber radio unit includes: an antenna (518); a receiver / transmitter (505) that is operatively connected said antenna; a modem (506) that is operatively connected with said receiver / transmitter (505); packet control a unit (502) that provides ascending multi-service packet data to the modem (506) and receives the downlink data multi-service packet data, wherein the packet control the unit (502) is further adapted to remove the packetized specific service data from the downlink multi-service packet data and for generating said data of ascending multi-service packet data from the quantity specific service data through mergers listed packed data from the amount of customer building equipment inside a remote location into one ATM data stream + a number of service interface units adapted for providing and receiving packet-specific service data; and a distribution control unit (507) operatively connected with said packet control unit (502) and said a plurality of service interface units (510), the latter being the distribution control unit (507) is adapted to route data specific services to and from said interface units (510) services.

Description

Multipurpose subscriber radio unit, communication system and circuit board for personal computer

Technical field

The present invention generally relates to wireless communication systems, and more specifically, to a wireless system using millimeter microwave radio frequencies to provide symmetrical, bi-directional, broadband telecommunications and multimedia services to remote terminals that distribute these services around remote terminal locations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This application follows U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60 / 052,057 entitled Wireless System for Delivering Symmetric, Two-Way, Broadband Telecommunication and Multimedia Services Using a Personal Computer Radio (Radio Frequency) Card, filed July 9, 1997.

There is an ever-increasing demand for multi-bandwidth telecommunications services for commercial or residential buildings. This demand is driven by the development of trade in telecommunications, pay-per-view television programs, on-demand video programs and the Internet. Services such as the above have different data types (such as voice, broadband multimedia, and video) with widely changing traffic patterns, quality of service (QoS) limitations, and bandwidth requirements. As the need for more different services in higher bandwidth addresses a larger number of homes, telecom service providers are faced with the task of providing consumers in residential homes with common access to these services in a fast, cost-effective and cost-effective way. in an easy to maintain way.

Fixed wireless technology is gaining popularity as a means of transmitting telecommunications services due to its low cost, quick installation and easy operation. The connection of two sites by a wireless service can usually consist of installing roof antennas at the top of these sites and connecting the antennas with associated interior equipment. Physical wires do not have to be interconnected between sites, which represents a significant advantage over copper or fiber optic technology. Because the use of broadband fixed wireless systems in most cases does not require construction work, it is therefore faster and more cost-effective to install this technology than traditional last-mile, office, and telecom networking.

Another reason for the growing interest in millimeter microwave radio (high frequency) technology is its performance. When properly managed, broadband wireless links provide a large broadband path for voice data, narrowband data, broadband multimedia data, and video data whose performance may be functionally equivalent to optical fibers. In addition, current technology makes it possible to connect distances of up to five miles (approximately 8 km).

Providing traditional telecommunications (i.e., telephone) services to residential homes via wireless systems is well known. The provision of wireless services, such as broadband multimedia and video services, to customer homes has only recently emerged and developed. For example, multipoint distribution systems (MDS) and later multipoint multipoint distribution systems (MMDS) • | · «·« *

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'provide wireless television services to residential homes having MDS or MMDS compatible equipment. Initial so-called wireless cable systems operated in the MDS frequency range from 2150 MHz to 2162 MHz. At these MDS frequencies, limited television programs were provided over one or two channels. With the development of MMDS, operating in the frequency range from 2500 MHz to 2686 MHz, a number of channels can be simultaneously provided to a microwave antenna located on the roof of the customer's home.

in » ^'J Along with the development of television programming system, as described above, the need arose to provide customer feedback to the source providing the program, such as, for example, payment systems seeing. Initially, as far as wireless cable systems are concerned, there was no such reverse link, and the customer had to rely on a telephone connection to the program source to communicate its program selection. Later, television set-up units were produced that provided a standard telephone connection to send data back to the provider's computer for billing programs. However, it is costly to connect a telephone line to each adjustment unit.

The Instructional Television Fixed Service (ITFS) operating at frequencies (2686.0625 MHz to 2689.8125 MHz) was considered by the US Federal Telecommunications Authority (FCC) for use as a return link frequency. However, due to the fact that the receive (MMDS) and the send (ITFS) frequencies are so close to each other, separate receive and transmit antennas were initially required to implement such an approach. This increased the cost and complexity of such a solution.

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A system for providing a forward wireless program path as well as an airborne information / data path that attempts to overcome the above problem is suggested in US Patent Nos. 5,394,559 and 5,437,057 (both

Hemmie et al.). The systems of these US patents provide two-way air-guided transmission of programs and information / data between a common broadcasting point, such as a broadcast tower, and each of a number of remote locations, such as customer houses. This is accomplished by using the same microwave antenna at the customer's home for receiving programs and transmitting data. A bi-directional converter and bipolar isolated delivery system is used for receiving and descending conversion of MMDS microwave program signals and for uplink transmission and transmission of microwaves data signals

ITFS response.

However, although such a system provides a two-way transmission path, it should be noted that both the forward transmission path and, and more seriously, the return transmission path are limited by service capacity and the system architecture fails to ensure compatibility with services other than services related to television programs.

Two-point narrowband, multi-point narrowband and two-point broadband fixed wireless systems are generally known in the art. Multi-point radio (radio frequency) technology is also a known technology that has been widely used for narrowband communications such as voice transmission.

Narrowband systems are usually systems that are capable of generating 1.544 megabits of data per second or less in one 30 circuit or channel, while broadband systems are

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Capable of generating data rates of 1.544 megabits per second per circuit or channel. While narrowband multipoint systems were used for voice communications, multipoint systems were generally not applied to broadband telecommunications networks.

One example of a typical wireless point-to-point broadband commercial application is the interconnection of multiple servers (service channels) in a local, for example, college (LAN) network. Another such application is the urban long-distance network. In this case, ^u n more school LANs in the same city is connected via wireless devices. Dedicated (dedicated) access to Inter-Switch Carriers (IXCs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and other alternative access arrangements are common point-to-point business applications for wireless links. In the millimeter microwave radio frequency range, cellular and personal communication service (PCS) operators can take advantage of the high availability of wireless devices in their backbone networks to support reverse transmission between antenna sites, base stations, and mobile telephone switching centers (MTOs). Wireless point-to-point technology is also used to provide missing critical protection channels and other point-to-point alternate paths where expansion from a wired network to locations that are not serviced by wires or fibers is required. Finally, interconnection with the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to provide a local ringing tone through the corresponding local point exchange (CLEC) using point-to-point wireless technology is becoming increasingly popular.

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Fig. 1 illustrates a basic spectrum management problem associated with the use of prior art point-to-point wireless systems in an urban area. Because in an urban area the buildings are close to each other, the spread of information over wireless links may overlap, making it impossible to use the same channel, for example channel 1A / 1B, in adjacent systems. In Figure 1, one antenna from one building transmits its signal to the antenna of the designated receiver, but part of the signal is also received by the antenna on the adjacent building.

Such signal corruption is called interference of shared channels.

In Fig. 1, the host building 101, including the switch 102, is connected via four roof antennas 10A, 103B,

103C and 103D, respectively, with distant buildings 104A, 104B, 104C,

respectively 104D. each with its own corresponding roof antenna. Between these buildings, a schematic representation of the spectrum used by each of these point-to-point wireless systems is shown. When buildings are placed close to each other, the transmitted signals between buildings n begin

overlap. To avoid interference with shared channels, different channels must be used to connect buildings that are in close proximity. For example, channel 1A / 1B is used for building 104D and channel 2A / 2B is used for building 104C. Although the channel

1A / 1B Partially exceeds through the transmission of channel 2A / 2B, use.

different frequencies (channels) by these two systems provide protection against interference of shared channels. Thus, an antenna from one building may transmit part of its signal to the wrong reception antenna, but each system is tuned to a different frequency and transmission from neighboring systems using other frequencies is ignored.

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The spectrum management technique shown in Fig. 1 avoids interference of shared shared channels in wireless networks used in densely populated areas, but the use of FCC channels to prevent shared shared channel interference does not maximize the capacity of the allocated spectrum information transmission and is therefore ineffective. A solution to this problem is therefore needed.

Giant. 2 illustrates another prior art spectrum management problem associated with point-to-point systems. Building 201 connects to building 202 via channel 1. Building 203 connects to building 204 via channel 2. The full link lines 205, 206 represent the wireless transmission that is intended. However, since the transmit beam has about 2 degrees in the source, the signals can be received by other systems that are not designated recipients, but are within the transmit beam range of the source system. The dashed line 207 represents a case where the system in building 204 unintentionally receives the system transmission in building 201. If two different frequencies were used, there would be minimal interference to the shared channels. Thus, again, frequency management in point-to-point wireless networks requires the use of more interference prevention channels than to allow the use of spectrum to increase bandwidth.

Space on the antenna tower is expensive, and in many cases there are restrictions on the number, size, and location of the antennas used on the tower. Because point-to-point systems use separate antennas for each wireless connection, space is becoming a rapidly limiting factor on PBXs or PBXs. As the number of point-to-point systems placed on a building increases, they do not only limit the requirements for:

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0 0 0 · · 0 · 00 · 0 spectrum management The number of systems that can be used, but the physical space available for each antenna on the central building or central tower also limits the number of such systems. Thus, a solution is needed which allows the capacity of the wireless networks to be expanded and thus the number of users without correspondingly increasing the number of antennas.

Two-point systems provide users with what is called a permanent or permanent connection. These permanent connections are always switched on (connected and active) and expect the transmission of information. Permanent wireless connections use an allocated spectrum that, once assigned, is unavailable to other users. Thus, point-to-point wireless systems are suitable for applications involving continuous or long transmissions. Point-to-point systems do not effectively support variable bit rate or burst data services where bandwidth requirements are not constant but rather variable. The bandwidth used by point-to-point systems for variable bit rate applications is unused because each system uses the assigned channel on a permanent basis at all times, regardless of the amount of information or the duration of transmissions on the link. Thus, there is a need for a more efficient use of spectrum for burst data services, such as LAN-to-LAN data transfers.

It would therefore be highly advantageous to provide a wireless system using millimeter microwave radio frequencies to provide symmetrical, bi-directional, broadband telecommunications and multimedia services between the central radio terminal and the remote terminal. To enable such a system to be created, an affordable remote data transfer terminal with a central radio is required. · · · · «* * * * * * * * Požad * požad požad požad požad Terminal and distribution of multipurpose (multi-service) broadband telecommunications and multimedia services at the remote terminal location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 5

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wireless system using millimeter microwave radio frequencies to provide symmetrical, bi-directional, broadband telecommunications and multimedia services to in-remote terminals.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a millimeter microwave computer controlled radio (high frequency) system at a remote terminal location.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a 15 millimeter microwave computer controlled radio system at a remote terminal location in the form of a circuit board installed in a personal computer that receives and transmits signals in a millimeter microwave frequency range and distributes broadband telecommunications and multimedia services. place a remote terminal.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a millimeter microwave computer controlled radio system at a remote terminal location, which is in the form of a standalone system that receives and transmits signals in a millimeter microwave frequency range and distributes broadband telecommunications and multimedia services at the remote terminal location.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide symmetrical, broadband, bidirectional telecommunications and telecommunications and telecommunications. · ····, and ·· multimedia services between the central radio terminal and remote terminals.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of eliminating interference of shared shared channels 8 between remote subscribers using the same PBX radio terminal.

Yet another object of the present invention is to increase the effective range of consumer devices using a broadband wireless link.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide multiple access or multipoint access between a central radio terminal and a plurality of remote terminals.

Yet another object of the present invention is to establish a connection between one central radio terminal and a remote customer terminal.

According to one embodiment of the system according to the present invention, the multipurpose subscriber radio unit comprises an antenna and a transmitter / receiver which is operatively connected to the antenna. The radio unit further comprises a modem that is interposed between the receiver / transmitter and the packet control unit. The packet control unit provides multi-service packet data for transmission (uplink) to the modem and receives the multi-service packet data 25 from the modem (downlink). The packet control unit extracts the packet-specific service data from the received multi-service (multipurpose) packet data and also generates the transmitted multi-service packet data from the plurality of specific service data from the customer building equipment. It incorporated many units interface services that ensure • · · v> _«w • · · *" * • · · · · · · · ···· 4 4 4 • · · 4 4 4 4 4 ·· · A suitable electrical interface between the customer building equipment and the radio unit. The distribution control unit is interposed between the packet control unit and the plurality of service interface units. This distribution control unit routes specific service data to and from service interface units.

Preferably, the packet data has the form of an asynchronous transfer mode data protocol. In another preferred embodiment, the plurality of service interface units comprises at least one of an Internet service interface, a television set unit interface, and a telephone interface.

A receiver / transmitter, modem, packet control unit, distribution control unit, and a plurality of service interface units may be in the form of a printed circuit board for insertion into a standard socket of the computer interface. Alternatively, a dedicated control unit and a receiver / transmitter, a modem, a packet control unit, a distribution control unit, a plurality of service interface units, and a dedicated control unit may be formed as a separate unit. In yet another alternative embodiment, the antenna and receiver / transmitter are integrated as an outdoor unit and modem, the packet control unit, the distribution control unit, and the plurality of service interface units are integrated as the indoor unit. The indoor unit may be formed as a standard computer card or as a single unit with a dedicated control unit. In either case, the outdoor unit and the indoor unit are connected by a high-frequency bandwidth line, which may be wireless, copper wire or fiber optic.

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In the above embodiments, it is preferred that the receiver / transmitter supports the multiple access protocol. One such protocol is a time multiplex.

In another embodiment, a communication system is provided that provides access between remote customer building equipment and service providers. This system includes a central location that is associated with a number of service providers with which it transmits packetized service data. The focal point introduces packet service data into multi-service data that is forwarded to the central radio terminal to establish bi-directional multi-service wireless data communication in the covered sector. The system also includes a remote subscriber unit. The remote subscriber unit comprises a subscriber radio terminal for transmitting multi-service data to the central radio terminal. The remote subscriber unit extracts the plurality of service-specific signals from the multi-service data and routes the specific service signals to the plurality of customer building equipment. The remote subscriber unit also receives a plurality of specific service signals from the customer building equipment and sends a multi-service signal to the central radio terminal, thereby providing two-way multi-service communication.

The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages will become more apparent upon reading the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration showing a prior art point-to-point wired wireless system in which there is a one-to-one relationship between a central radio terminal and a customer building, overlapping areas illustrating the phenomenon of common shared channel interference that occurs with these point-wired sewing;

Fig. 2 is a diagram that illustrates another phenomenon of common-shared channel interference that occurs in point-to-point fixed

Prior art wireless systems IS;

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a fixed wireless multipoint implementation in which there is a one-to-many relationship between the central radio terminal and customer systems in the sector as used in the present system of the invention;

Giant. 4 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a two-way, broadband, wireless multi-service system according to the present invention using a computer based radio (high frequency) card;

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Giant. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a computer controlled radio (high frequency) system used at remote subscriber locations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Giant. 3 illustrates a two-way, broadband, wireless multi-service system that includes at least one PBX 301 and a plurality of remote terminals

306-1. 306-2, 306-3 and 306-4 multi-service subscribers that are located in the coverage area of the central location 301. The central location 301 is preferably connected in a network to other central radio sites 301 and service provider nodes via high bandwidth links , such as wireless or fiber optic links. Each central location 301 provides a variety of telecommunications, data and multimedia services for a plurality of remote customer terminals (subscribers). The central site 301 preferably includes one or more antennas 302, 303 and

304 to provide sectored antenna beams for communication with remote terminals 306 of multi-service subscribers. Sector widths may vary from about 15 degrees to about 90 degrees of width, depending on the density of the subscribers, the desired operating range, and the desired bandwidth.

The remote terminals 306 of multi-service subscribers located in the sector use one channel to communicate with the PBX 301 (unless additional bandwidth is required), so that interference from shared shared channels is no longer possible for buildings in the same sector. When · · »· požad ována požad ována požad požad ována požad požad požad požad požad požad požad požad požad požad požad požad is required additional bandwidth, one or more additional channels may be added by a central location 30 in the sector. In such a case, it is preferable that the remote terminals 306 of the multi-service subscribers are frequency resilient, so that each terminal is dynamically controlled to communicate on a channel within a sector to ensure optimal bandwidth allocation. Alternatively, remote subscriber terminals within a sector may be fixed frequency devices that are set to one of the channels within the sector in which the terminal is located.

To prevent interference of shared shared channels at the edges of sectors, the central location 301 allocates frequencies to neighboring sectors so that these frequencies are far apart from each other. For example, sector 302 may be allocated

5, channel 1A / 1B and sector 304 can then be assigned channel 2A / 2.B. Thus, a multipoint system allows full utilization of each channel allocated in the information transfer sector as opposed to spectrum management requirements for point-to-point systems that require the use of many channels in the same geographical area only to avoid interfering with shared channels.

Many switch sites 301 may be interconnected by wire or fiber links or wireless links and may be equipped with a multiplexing device to bridge two or more point-to-point links to the same or different customer

5 terminals at different PBX locations. In this way, networking is used to substantially increase the effective range of customer facilities and to enable communication between subscribers within the sector.

The system of the present invention employs millimeter microwaves for radio (high frequency) transmission such as radio frequency (radio frequency) transmission such as Means for incorporating a multiple access scheme to allow a many-to-one relationship between the remote terminals 306 of the multi-service subscriber and the switching points. Designed as multiple access or multipoint technology, this technology supports traditional voice and data telephony services as well as commercial and personal broadband multimedia services by combining improvements in spectrum efficiency and available bandwidth with improved intelligence in the long-distance network.

θ Multipoint switching points are generally connected via a backbone network, preferably a fiber optic network such as SONET (synchronous optical network arranged in a ring, or microwave radio (high frequency) network connecting each exchange). using a protocol for packet-based, such as ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switching and routing of customer traffic to destinations within the network. ATM is packetized transmission technology that organizes information into groups or packets. the data group ⁰ ATM have a header and a payload The header describes what type of data is in the payload and where the data is to end The groups are distributed across the network in different ways and can run out of order to the central location 301. The header information contained in the groups 306 participants of multi-services before delivery to customer building equipment.

ATM groups can transmit many standard voice, data and video services by incorporating data into useful content. ATM is therefore able to integrate voice, data and video services in a single telecommunications transmission network.

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The key to the unique nature of this network architecture is the integration of multipoint spectrum management with the ATM-based transport layer. The exchange site 301 receives ATM groups from a plurality of services that are routed to the remote subscriber terminal 306. The exchange sites integrate data from these services into a multi-service ATM data stream that is transmitted in a sector containing suitable remote terminals 30 ' -services.

Multipoint radio transmission at millimeter microwave frequencies can support any and all services that can be supported by wired technologies. These services include two broadly defined categories:

traditional telecommunications services and emerging broadband multimedia services.

Traditional telecommunications services for the commercial market include voice local and long distance services, point-to-point dedicated devices at DS-1, η x DS-1 and DS-3 for voice and data, switched data services such as 56 kbps and frame rate, and high-capacity point-to-point data devices operating at speeds of PC-3 and above. Commercial customers, such as merchants, office buildings, and schools that are connected via millimeter microwave wireless links to long-distance networks, also have access to a group of emerging broadband multimedia services. These services include high-speed Internet access, website and information placement, proprietary LAN-LAN services such as Ethernet and Token Ring, and video services such as video conferencing, commercial video programs related to business, video teaching according to requirements and the like. Wireless Customer Access Lines •. T t 9 9 9 9 «» 9 9 9 9 9

1Us to the network are provided at virtually any data rate.

Residential consumers that are connected to the network have available services that include a subset of the above services for telecommunications and small office / home office (SOHO) applications. For non-business customers, a service group is available that includes local and long distance telephone services, high-speed Internet access and information services, and optional video program services.

Customer's remote terminal unit

A two-way, broadband, wireless, multi-service system 410 using a computer-based multi-service radio (high frequency) system is shown in Figure 4, which illustrates an exemplary connection between a central location 412 (corresponding to location 301 in Figure 3). ) and terminal

414 of the multi-service subscriber (corresponding to terminal 306 in FIG. 3) within the central location sector. The multi-service subscriber terminal 414 is equipped with a computer controlled radio (high frequency) system 420 which includes a millimeter microwave radio apparatus connected to a computer within the remote subscriber terminal 414. The remote subscriber terminal 414 in the residential environment is generally the customer's home.

The computer may be a personal computer or a dedicated computer made in a separate housing. The radio (RF) card is operatively coupled to an antenna 418, preferably mounted on the roof of a customer's house, which provides both reception of signals from the central radio terminal and broadcasting. The signals are returned to the central radio terminal via line 424, such as a coaxial cable.

The multi-service subscriber terminal also includes a means for distributing traditional telecommunications and multimedia services to both internal and external control devices / units (e.g., telephone equipment 430, television set-up unit 432 and other peripheral devices 434, such as application software running on a computer and alike). The computer-based radio card is controlled by software running on the computer which allows the customer to utilize and / or communicate with specific services. In particular, the computer-based radio system 420 receives the transmitted microwave signal from the central radio site 412, demodulates the signal, and then distributes the appropriate service signals demodulated from the transmitted signal to suitable control devices / units. For example, assuming that the transmitted signal includes signals associated with traditional telephone services, Internet video services, the computer-based radio card receives and demodulates the multi-service signal into service signals and then distributes them appropriately to appropriate control devices / units, for example, a telephone to phone service, a video service to a TV set-up unit, while Internet services may remain inside the computer. In a similar manner, the radio system can then modulate customer generated data, information and responses for transmission back to the central radio site 412 and backbone for the respective service provider. It should be noted that while only one remote terminal is shown in Fig. 4, a number of similar remote terminals can be used within the system. »9 · 9 9999999 99 ·

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99999 99 9 99 99 terminals. In addition, although a residential remote terminal is illustrated, a similar internal architecture (i.e., antenna, cabling, computer-based radio card, control devices / units) can also be used for commercial office business environments.

Giant. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a computer-controlled multi-service radio system 520 having several functional sections for performing system functions. Radio system 520 includes a receiver / transmitter section 505 for receiving θ and transmitting millimeter microwave signals from and to the antenna 518. Such a receiver / transmitter section 505 preferably includes a frequency synthesizer section to provide frequency flexibility to allow dynamic channel allocation. The receiver / transmitter section 505 converts the received $ millimeter microwave signal into a modulated bandwidth signal that represents multi-service ATM packet data from a central location. Similarly, for transmitting a signal, the receiver / transmitter section 505 receives a modulated signal having in itself encoded ATM packet data from the customer building equipment, and θ transmits the modulated signal to millimeter microwave carriers. The receiver / transmitter section preferably supports higher order modulation, such as quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), 16 QAM with the like. In addition, the transceiver section preferably includes a control unit (not shown) for implementing a signal multiplex, such as time multiplex protocols, that are required to provide multiple access to the central location for subscribers.

The radio system 520 further includes a modem section 506 that is operatively connected to a receiver / transmitter section 505. Modem section 506 receives modulated bandwidth signals from ·· 0 0 0 «00000 * 00 0 00 · 00 0 0 0 0 0

0 · 0 00 · 0 0 00 ·· the receiver / transmitter section 505 and demodulates these received signals. The modem section 506 also receives ATM packet data originating from the customer building equipment and generates a modulation / signal for the receiver / transmitter section 50.5.

The control unit 502 is coupled to the modem section 506, the control unit 502 providing ATM packet data for uplink transmission and receiving downlink ATM packet data from the central radio site. This control unit 502 functions as an ATM interface that incorporates data

1 ^{n for} a number of customer premises equipment within a remote location to a single ATM data stream for transport to the radio ústřednového place. The control unit 502 also receives a multi-service ATM data stream from the modem section 506 and routes packets in the data stream to the appropriate equipment of the customer building 15 based on the information in the packet header.

To enable data distribution, the controller 502 forwards data to the distribution controller 507, which reassembles the data packets from the controller 502 to an ordered data stream for each service. Distribution control unit

507 is operatively associated with a plurality of service interfaces that convert ATM data streams into suitable signals for selected services.

Such interfaces include the telephone interface 508, the television set-up unit interface 509, and other service interfaces 510 such as home security services, computer-based LAN 25 for further signal distribution and the like. These interfaces allow the customer to take advantage of and / or connect with certain services provided by the system.

Controller 502 is further operatively coupled to 30 computer interface 501 which provides a mechanism for computer 503, which executes control software, to communicate with

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The computer interface may take the form of a standard 1/0 interface, such as PCMCIA, ISA, EISA or PCI in the case where computer 503 is a personal computer. In the case where the computer 503 is a dedicated computer in a separate embodiment, the computer interface 501 may take the form of any of a number of standard I / O buses, or one designed specifically for this purpose to provide a suitable interface to the dedicated controller and controller 502.

illustrated at a location that is separated from the axis of the antenna 418, 518 and connected thereto via a microwave line, such as a coaxial cable 424. This arrangement allows the receiver / transmitter section 505 to be integrated into the computer-controlled radio system 520, and provides cost benefits due to integration, choice of components and environmental requirements such as temperature humidity. However, the coaxial cable 424 entails having signal losses that may adversely affect system performance, especially at millimeter microwave frequencies. While these signal losses are tolerable at remote terminal locations that are close to the central location, an alternative embodiment may be used for remote terminal locations that are further away from the central location. In an alternative embodiment, the transceiver 505 and the antenna 518 are integrated into an outdoor unit that is mounted in a convenient location on the customer building. This outdoor unit is then connected to the modem section 506 via a suitable line, such as an optical fiber or coaxial cable. Because the signals now transmitted over this line are at bandwidth frequencies (i.e., less than a few hundred megahertz),

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444 4 · 4 * · · 4 • •• 44 4 4 4 »4 4« the losses on this line are much smaller. Moreover, the cost of a suitable line for bandwidth frequencies is much lower than the cost for millimeter microwave frequencies.

It will now be explained by way of example how the present invention works. Referring again to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, according to the types of services with which the central radio site 412 is in communication over a backbone network, the central radio site 412 provides data relating to these services to the customer terminal 414 via a two-way connection. Assuming the availability of services such as traditional telephone service, Internet access and video programs, the PBX 412 transmits the composite multi-service signal to the customer terminal 414. Antenna 418 receives this composite signal, thereby securing the signal For example, the modem section receives the composite signal from the receiver / transmitter section and then demodulates the composite signal into service signals, i.e., telephone signals, Internet signals, video signals, and the like. These signals are appropriately distributed by the distribution section of the radio system 420 to the appropriate facilities of the customer building, allowing the customer two-way access to the services.

For example, if one of the services includes customer selectable video programs, then the bidirectional link allows the customer to make his program choices and then receive the selected video programs through the television set-up unit 432. Similarly, if Internet services are broadcast by the PBX 412, directly on the computer (that is, through the use of application software running on the computer) in which it is located in the computer. A radio card 420 is installed. For a standalone embodiment, a suitable personal computer interface, such as Ethernet, RS-232, and the like, can be formed as one of the service interface 510. The telephone service is provided in a similar way. Other peripheral devices 434 may also be operatively coupled to multi-service subscriber radio system 420 to provide additional customer service.

while the system of the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications of form and detail may be made to these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (14)

PATENTOVÉ Claims 1. A multipurpose subscriber radio unit comprising: antenna; a transceiver operably connected to said antenna; a modem that is operatively connected to said receiver / transmitter; a packet control unit that provides uplink multi-service packet data to said modem and receives downlink multi-service packet data from said modem, wherein the packet control unit is further adapted to extract packet-specific service data from said downlink multi-service packet data and for generating said uplink multi-service packet data from a plurality of service-specific data by merging said packet data from a plurality of customer building equipment within a remote location into a single ATM data stream; a plurality of service interface units adapted to provide and receive packet-specific service data; and a distribution control unit operatively connected to said packet control unit and said plurality of service interface units, said distribution control unit adapted to route specific service data to and from said service interface units. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 1, wherein said packet data has the form of an asynchronous transfer mode data protocol. 4 · 4 · 4 44 44 · 4 · 4 4 4 4 493 94 4 · · 4 4 44444 4 · 44 44 4 · The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of service interface units comprises at least one of an Internet service interface, a television set-up unit interface, and a telephone set. 5 interfaces. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 1, wherein said transceiver, said modem, said packet control unit, said distribution control unit, and said plurality of service interface units are formed as an integrated printed circuit board that is plugs into a standard computer interface jack. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 1, 25 wherein said antenna and said receiver / transmitter are integrated as an outdoor unit and said modem, said packet control unit, said distribution control unit, and said plurality of service interface units are integrated as indoor unit, 20 wherein said outdoor unit and said indoor unit are connected by a high-frequency bandwidth line. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 1, wherein said receiver / transmitter is adapted to support a multiple access protocol. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 6, wherein said multiple access protocol is a time multiplex. 8. A communication system providing access between customer building equipment 30 and service providers, 9 * 99 9 9 999 «« 9 9 · 9 • 4 4 4 9 9 4 9 9 9 9 that includes: a central location that is operationally associated with a number of service providers, which central location is adapted to exchange packet service data with these 5, and is further adapted to merge said packaged service data into multi-service data, the central location comprising a central radio terminal adapted to establish bi-directional, multi-service wireless data communication in the covered sector; and 10 is a remote subscriber terminal comprising a subscriber radio apparatus adapted to communicate with said central radio terminal, said remote subscriber terminal having means for receiving said multi-service data from said central radio radio 15, means for extracting a plurality of specific service signals from the data and means for routing said specific service signals to a plurality of customer building equipment, the remote subscriber terminal also having means for receiving a plurality of signals. 20 specific services from said plurality of customer building equipment and means for merging data from the plurality of customer building equipment into one ATM data stream and transmitting said one ATM data stream to said central radio terminal, thereby providing two-way 25 multi-service communication. 9. A circuit board for a personal computer providing multi-service radio communication, comprising: a receiver / transmitter having an input for operational communication with the antenna; a modem that is operatively connected to said receiver / transmitter; a packet control unit that is adapted to provide uplink multi-service packet data to 5 of said modem and for receiving downlink multi-service packet data from said modem, wherein the packet control unit is further adapted to extract specific service packet data from said downlink multi-service packet data and to generate said 10 uplink multi-service packet data from a plurality of service-specific data by merging said packet data from a plurality of customer building equipment into a single ATM data stream, said packet control unit operably connected to a personal computer for 15 receiving spoken signals from said computer and providing data to said computer; a plurality of service interface units adapted to provide and receive packet-specific service data; and 20 is a distribution control unit operably connected to said packet control unit and said plurality of service interface units, said distribution control unit adapted to route specific service data to and from said service interface units. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 9, wherein said packet data has the form of an asynchronous transfer mode data protocol. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 9, 30, characterized in that said plurality of service interface units comprise at least one of an Internet service interface; * TV interface and telephone interface. 12. A multipurpose subscriber radio unit comprising: an outdoor unit comprising: an antenna; and a receiver / transmitter having an input for operational communication with the antenna; and an indoor unit operatively connected to said outdoor unit, the indoor unit comprising: a modem that is operatively connected to said receiver / transmitter; a packet control unit adapted to provide uplink multi-service packet data to said modem and to receive downlink multi-service packet data from said modem, wherein the packet control unit is further adapted to extract packet-specific service data from said downlink multi-service packet data. service packet data and for generating said uplink multi-service packet data from a plurality of service-specific data by merging said packet data from a plurality of customer building equipment into a single ATM data stream, said packet control unit operably connected to a personal computer to receive control signals from of this computer and providing data to this computer; a plurality of service interface units adapted to provide and receive packet-specific service data; and a distribution control unit that is operatively connected 9 9 9 9 9 · 9999 9 9 9 9 9 • 99 9 9 9 999 · 99. 99 99 9 99 · with said packet control unit and said plurality of service interface units, said distribution control unit adapted to route specific service data to and from said service interface units. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 12, wherein said packet data has the form of an asynchronous transfer mode data protocol. The multipurpose subscriber radio unit of claim 12, wherein said plurality of service interface units comprises at least one of an Internet service interface, a television set-up unit interface, and a telephone interface.