TITLE OF INVENTION: SUBSCRIBER TERMINAL ARRANGEMENT
FIELD OF THF, INVENTION
The present invention relates to a subscriber terminal arrangement in a telecommunication system utilizing radio in the local loop. Radio in the Local Loop (RLL) is, substi- tuting the copper lines in the local loop, the part of the network which is between the local exchange and the sub¬ scriber at home, with radio. The market for these applica¬ tions is enormous, especially in the new growing economies like Far East, Russia and Brazil. Another growing market is the industrial countries where radio is the best solution for a new operator to compete with services in the local loop. Fixed subscriber terminals mean terminals which are not designed for mobility purpose. The terminal is placed in the home, office etc. and can be moved in the in the pre- mises but not like hand held portable telephone. Ordinary telephone equipment, telephone fax, answering machine, data modem, PCs etc, could be connected to the terminal. In some cases the radio parts and telephony parts would be inte¬ grated in the same unit .
STATE OF THF, ART
Today there are two main categories of radio subscriber terminals; for mobile use and fixed telephones connected to ordinary fixed network for telephony (POTS, Plain Ordinary Telephony System) .
Today's radio subscriber terminals are power-consuming, expensive (due to standardized POTS interface) , bad audio quality, no variable data rates etc. When the receiver is lifted there is a long delay before the dial tone is given. When mobile telephones are used, the subscriber have to
enter the number and thereafter have access to the radio channel (the send button is .pressed) .
The present invention solves the above-mentioned problem by providing an improved subscriber terminal arrangement . The unique features of the subscriber terminals are based on:
- 64 kb/s PCM coding, (Pulse Code Modulation) which can offer: + high quality audio 7, 2 kHz bandwidth compared with today's 3,1 kHz bandwidth for today's POTS (Plain Ordinary Telephony System)
+ by multiplexing several (3-4) PCM channels, high quality hi-fi audio is offered + variable data bit rates up to 64 kb/s
+ multiplexing of PCM channels to offer ISDN BRA, Inte¬ grated Services Digital Network, Basic Rate Access
a simplified version of POTS
- multi-user terminals with internal switch functionality in order to reduce the capacity requirement on the network.
- an independent power supply unit where there is no need of external power supply
- low power paging channel giving;
+ low power consumption
+ no delay for giving dial tone when receiver is lifted
an integrated radio head in the antenna
SUMMARY OF THF, INVENTION
Thus, the present invention provides a subscriber ter- minal arrangement in a telecommunication system utilizing radio in the local loop.
According to the invention, the arrangement comprises a subscriber terminal comprising a low power radio part, a pulse code modulation air interface and a low power paging channel for the call set-up procedure, a power supply part,
and a user terminal comprising a hand-set and a dialling device.
The invention is set forth in detail in the accompanying claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWTNCS
The invention is described below with reference to the attached drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the invention for ordinary POTS;
Figure 2 is a block- diagram of a second embodiment of the invention in which the subscriber terminal equipment and the telephony equipment are integrated in the same physical unit; Figure 3 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of the invention in which the radio part and the power supply unit are integrated in the same unit;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of a fourth embodiment of the invention including a multi-subscriber terminal; and Figure 5 is a block diagram of a further embodiment of the invention in which the RF part is integrated with the antenna.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS There are two main groups of digital radio fixed subscriber terminals:
- the single user terminal family
- a multi-user terminal family
All the terminals are based on low power radio with 0,1 W output. Both families could either be connected to an or¬ dinary power supply unit, utilising the mains power supply, or an independent power supply unit. This unit is utilising solar/wind energy and rechargeable batteries. All terminals are utilising a low power paging channel for implementing the alert function. This sleep mode function results in very low power consumption between calls. Therefore, the termi¬ nals could be used with powering from only solar/wind energy and batteries. The paging channel will be used in the call set up procedure i. e. the dialled number will transferred immediately to the network at the same time as the radio
speech channels is allocated. This will result in no delay when the receiver is lifted. and an immediate dial tone is given.
The paging function is similar to the POGSAG defacto standard which is capable to transfer 512 baud. For easy customer installation, the terminals are equipped with a LED indicator, showing red (no radio reception) , yellow (not enough reception) and green (good radio reception) .
In Figure 2, an embodiment of the single subscriber terminal family is shown.
As may be seen from Figure 1, the copper lines of an ordinary telephone network is replaced by an antenna equip¬ ment . The antenna equipment is connected to a subscriber terminal (Subs-terminal) which in turn is connected to the telephony equipment. The subscriber terminal includes the radio.
The terminal family is based on a digital radio with 0,1 W output. The service is based on 64 kb/s PCM coded radio channels. The telephony equipment at least consists of a hand-set and a dialling device, such as a key pad. The following services would be offered:
- Ordinary POTS, including DTMF signalling (Dual Tone Multifrequency)
- Data over modem; 9,6, 14,4 28,8 up to 64 kbit/s - Dedicated data up to 64 kb/s
The ordinary telephone equipment is connected to a line interface (CCITT recommendation) which would be able to sup¬ port an ordinary ringing generator and 2000 meter 2 wire copper cable i.e. 2/4 wire ordinary line interface. There are three different versions of antenna installa¬ tions :
- an antenna connected directly to the user terminal (omnidirectional, radiation in all directions)
- a separate antenna which could be placed in the window (omni/directional, radiation in a specific direction)
- an outdoor roof or wall/roof mounted antenna (directional)
There is an antenna connector at the subscriber terminal for connection of different types of antenna alternatives. The present invention also provides a simplified sub-
scriber terminal; "Proprietary POTS". There are three diffe¬ rent versions:
Version 1 The main difference is the subscriber telephone equip¬ ment. One possibility is a telephony equipment, which is specially adapted to the subscriber terminal, without ringing generator and no lightning protection i. e. no standard POTS interface. The ringing signal is generated by a piezoelectric ringer in the hand-set. This would lead to a less complex implementation and therefore a reduction in cost because there is no standard line interface circuitry. The distance between the radio subscriber terminal and pro¬ prietary telephone equipment is maximum 50 meters. The power supply is 2 W DC. This solution would need a proprietary telephone equipment.
The same services as above is offered.
Version 2 Another version is where the subscriber terminal equip¬ ment and the telephony equipment are integrated in the same physical unit . In order to save cost through simplicity there is no external line interface at all. The implementa¬ tion is shown in Figure 2.
Version 3
There is one version where the radio part and power equipment are integrated in the same unit. This unit should be plugged directly into the wall. There are three in- put/output connections for: external antenna connection, a connection for the telephone equipment and one for DC input (battery backup or in case of no main supply) see Figure 3.
There are two different versions of antenna installa¬ tions : - a separate antenna which could be placed in the window
(omni/directional, radiation in a specific direction) - an outdoor roof or wall/roof mounted antenna
(directional) There is an antenna connector at the radio terminal for connection of different antenna alternatives.
One embodiment of the invention features a radio termi¬ nal which would provide ISDN Basic Rate Access, BRA. As an alternative the terminal can offer two ordinary POTS lines in accordance with the first embodiment . Similarly, there are three different versions of an¬ tennas.
The invention provides a multi-subscriber family suit¬ able for apartment buildings or offices, where it is desired to connect several user terminals. This terminal family is also based on low power radio with 0,1 W output. The service is based on 64 kb/s PCM coded radio channel. There will be three different sizes serving up to 4 , 8, 16 and 16-32 subscribers. All versions would provide" the following services: - Ordinary POTS
- Data over modem; 9,6, 14,4 28,8 up to 64 kbit/s
- Dedicated data up to 64 kb/s
- One version combining ISDN and POTS.
The later could in a flexible way be tailored' for 16-32 subscribers . Depending on the number of subscribers there are 16-32 64 kb/s PCM radio channels which will basically serve up to 32 subscribers. There would even be a version which would be utilising concentration i. e. there are fewer radio channel connections than the number of subscribers connected to the terminal. For example 30 PCM channels can support 290 customers (Traffic requirements: 70 mE/customer, 0, 01 % blocking) .
The principles of the multi-subscriber terminal family is shown in Figure 4:
In order to not be independent of mains power supply (from the electricity company) there should be an option where the user terminals are connected to an independent power supply unit . The unit consists of :
- Power generator; solar panels or/and wind generator
- rechargeable batteries
- control unit, controlling the charging procedure
There would be one terminal version where the radio
frequency parts (RF parts) are moved from the subscriber terminal unit and are integrated together with the antenna. The radio parts in the RF unit are DC powered (Direct Current) by the subscriber terminal via the antenna cable. Thus, the present invention provides an improved sub¬ scriber terminal arrangement having the advantages stated above. Of course, many variations and modifications as well as combinations of the disclosed embodiments will be recog¬ nized by a person skilled in the art. The invention is only restricted by the claims below.