Spread-spectrum changeable base station

Details Spread-spectrum changeable base station Spread-spectrum changeable base station

1998-08-13

2001-09-25

Cangialosi, Salvatore (Department: 2661)

Multiplex communications

Communication over free space

Combining or distributing information via code word channels...

C370S343000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06295288

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to spread-spectrum communications, and more particularly, to a method and system for handing off a base station among a plurality of users in a spread-spectrum network.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELEVANT ART
Spread-spectrum modulation is a well developed art, in terms of generating chipping sequences, and spread-spectrum processing data signals with the chipping sequences. Using this technology, communication links may be established among a transmitter and a receiver in remote locations. Also, networks may be established, using a conference calling spread-spectrum technique. Conference calling spread-spectrum techniques are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,572 entitled SPREAD SPECTRUM CONFERENCE CALLING SYSTEM AND METHOD, to Schilling, and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,045, entitled SPREAD SPECTRUM CONFERENCE CALL SYSTEM AND METHOD, to Schilling.
A problem may exist where a spread-spectrum conference calling system is set up, but the base station may need to change hands. For example, in a military environment, a platoon may use spread-spectrum modulation for conference calling among the members of the platoon. A particular unit in the platoon may be designated as the base station. The cited prior art does not teach how to change a base station from one platoon to another or what would happen among units in the platoon in the event it became necessary to effectuate such a change.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A general object of the invention is a conference calling spread-spectrum communications system and method, where the base station may be changed upon demand.
Another object of the invention is a spread-spectrum conference calling technique where any unit may serve as a base station.
According to the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a spread-spectrum system having a plurality of spread-spectrum units is provided. Each spread-spectrum unit is capable of operating as a base station and as a remote station. Each spread-spectrum unit includes a base subunit, a remote subunit, and a command subunit.
The method of the present invention includes receiving in the base subunit at a first frequency a plurality of spread-spectrum signals transmitted from the plurality of spread-spectrum units. The plurality of spread-spectrum signals are despread and demodulated in the base subunit to generate a plurality of demodulated signals. The plurality of demodulated signals are combined, and a local signal, such as data signal or a voice signal from the user of the unit, is also combined to generate a combined signal. The base subunit converts the combined signal to a base-data signal. The base subunit spread-spectrum processes the base-data signal, and transmits using radio waves the spread-spectrum-processed-base-data signal at a second frequency as a base-spread-spectrum signal.
At each of the spread-spectrum units, in the respective remote subunit, at the second frequency, the base-spread-spectrum signal is received. The remote subunit includes circuitry for despreading the base-spread-spectrum signal, and demodulating the despread-base-spread-spectrum signal as a base-analog signal. The remote subunit also may take the local voice signal, designated herein as a remote-analog signal, and convert the remote-analog signal to a remote-data signal. The remote subunit spread-spectrum processes the remote-data signal and transmits the remote-data signal at the first frequency as one of the plurality of spread-spectrum signals.
An operator may initiate from the command subunit, a command signal to activate the base subunit. Accordingly, upon initiating the command signal, the command signal is broadcast to the plurality of spread-spectrum units. At each of the spread-spectrum units, in the respective remote subunit, the command signal is received, and in response to receiving the command signal, the remote subunit is activated.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention are set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part are obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention also may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


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