Hewlett-packard Corporation

Hans George Mattes

Aly F Elrefaie

A first embodiment of the present invention discloses a system for extending the range of Personal Communication Services (&ldquo;PCS&rdquo;) band wireless local loop services. A frequency translation unit at both the user's residence and at the central hub translates the PCS signal from the PCS frequency band to the Local Multipoint Distribution System (&ldquo;LMDS&rdquo;) band and back. As LMDS has a significant range advantage over DECT and PHS without greatly increased costs, this frequency translation allows DECT and PHS telephones to be used over greater ranges, without the necessity of constructing a large number of cellular transceiver sites. A second embodiment of the present invention uses a frequency translation unit to permit the use of either PCS or known cellular telephones inside a user's residence without the call being routed through the more expensive cellular network. The frequency translation unit translates from PCS or cellular frequencies to LMDS frequencies. The user's calls are then completed over the less expensive LMDS network. When outside the user's residence, the PCS or cellular telephone operates in its original known fashion.

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Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Hans George Mattes