Sprint Communications Comapny L.p.

Sprint Communication Cômpany L.p.

John W Linebarger

Durga P Satapathy

Fred S Cook

Michael J Gettles

Tommie L Holmes

Thomas F Brown

A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to die unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

System and method for selecting spectrum

A system and method use multiple access technologies at an access device to increase capacity and throughput. The system comprises an access device configured to communicate with a wireline switch and a wireless switch. The access device may use one or more access technologies, including digital subscriber line protocols (xDSL), multipoint multichannel distribution system (MMDS), hybrid fiber coax (HFC), satellite, and other access technologies. Preferably the access device uses inverse multiplex asynchronous transfer mode (IMA) to inversely multiplex and multiplex wireline communications and wireless communications. The wireline switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireline communications. The wireless switch is configured to communicate with the access device using wireless communications.

System and method for multiple access communications

A system and method comprise a spectrum selector, an unlicensed transceiver, and a licensed transceiver. The spectrum selector determines whether communications will be transmitted over unlicensed spectrum or licensed spectrum. Based upon the determination, the spectrum selector transmits the communications to the unlicensed transceiver or the licensed transceiver. In addition, the spectrum selector may transmit a first portion of the communications to the unlicensed transceiver and a second portion of the communications to the licensed transceiver. On the receiving side, the spectrum selector monitors the unlicensed transceiver and the licensed transceiver, receives the communications from the licensed transceiver and/or the unlicensed transceiver, and transmits the communications to an access device. The unlicensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over unlicensed spectrum. The licensed transceiver transmits and/or receives communications over licensed spectrum.

A wireless communication system includes first and second communication systems and a controller. The first communication system receives a first control signal indicating a first power level and receives first communications. The first communication system formats the first communications into a first communication signal having the first power level and a first communication protocol, and transfers the first communication signal. The second communication system receives a second control signal indicating a second power level and receives second communications. The second communication system formats the second communications into a second communication signal having the second power level and a second communication protocol, and transfers the second communication signal. The controller transfers the control signals, and combines the first communication signal and the second communication signal to form a wireless communication signal, and transfers the wireless communication signal.

Wireless telecommunications overlay system

A communication system and method enable the dynamic use of multiple access technologies and multiple standards using a software functionality approach. An access device configured to communicate dynamically using multiple access technologies and multiple standards has a network interface, a central core, and a service hub with a premises interface. The network interface is configured to transmit communications to, and/or receive communications from, a network using multiple network access technologies. The service hub with the premises interface is configured to transmit communications to, and/or receive communications from, a premises device using multiple premises access technologies. The central core is configured to format communications received or to be transmitted for multiple access technologies and multiple standards and to control the interface from which the communication will be transmitted.

System and method for communicating using multiple access technologies and multiple standards

A wireless communication device automatically and periodically monitors each of a plurality of wireless links in a public wireless communication network to generate a set of link metrics for each of the wireless links. The wireless communication device then processes the link metrics to generate historical performance data for the wireless links. The wireless communication device selects a selected wireless link from the plurality of wireless links based on the historical performance data. The wireless communication device then uses the selected wireless link to communicate over the public wireless communication network.

Selecting a wireless link in a public wireless communication network

A method for transmitting a communication signal comprises transmitting a data signal over a wavelength on a single fiber strand and transmitting a radio frequency signal over another wavelength on the same single fiber strand. A system for transmitting the data signal and the radio frequency signal over wavelengths in a single fiber strand include one or more nodes in which at least one node transmits the data signal over a wavelength on the single fiber strand and transmits the radio frequency signal over another wavelength on the same single fiber strand. Another node receives the data signal and the radio frequency signal over the wavelengths on the single fiber strand. A cross connect for connecting the data signal and the radio frequency signal includes a data matrix configured to cross connect the data signal and a radio frequency matrix configured to cross connect the radio frequency signal.

System and method for transmitting signals over a fiber strand

A system and method for overlaying signals comprises an incumbent system, an overlay system, and a multi-access controller. The incumbent system is configured to format a first signal according to a protocol used with an incumbent protocol, such as a protocol used with a hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) system, and transmits the formatted first signal as an incumbent signal to the controller. The overlay system is configured to format a second signal according to a protocol used for an overlay protocol, such as a protocol used with a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and transmits the formatted second signal to the controller as an overlay signal. The controller overlays the incumbent signal with the overlay signal to create a wireline complementary signal and transmits the wireline complementary signal via a network. Other access signals may be mixed with the complementary signal, such as by the controller, to create a mixed complementary signal.

Telecommunications overlay system

A system and method for overlaying signals comprises an incumbent system, an overlay system, and a multi-access controller. The incumbent system is configured to format a first signal according to a protocol used with an incumbent protocol, such as a protocol used with a multi-point multi-channel distribution service (MMDS) system, and transmits the formatted first signal as an incumbent signal to the controller. The overlay system is configured to format a second signal according to a protocol used for an overlay protocol, such as a protocol used with a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, and transmits the formatted second signal to the controller as an overlay signal. The controller overlays the incumbent signal with the overlay signal to create a wireless complementary signal and transmits the wireless complementary signal via a network.

A communication system comprises a central service node, a plurality of base stations, and a fiber network. The central service node is configured with a baseband data system, a central RF system, and a central optical system. The base stations are each configured with a base station optical system, a base station RF system, and a base station transceiver system. The baseband data system in the central service node processes baseband data. The central RF system converts the baseband data into electronic RF data. The central optical system converts the electronic RF data into optical RF data. The fiber network exchanges the optical RF data between the central service node and the base stations. The base station optical system converts the optical RF data into the electronic RF data. The base station RF system modifies frequencies of the electronic RF data. The base station transceiver system converts the electronic RF data into wireless RF data and exchanges the wireless RF data over an air interface with customer premise equipment.

Hybrid fiber wireless communication system

A communication system comprises a wireless transceiver and a control system. The wireless transceiver scans its memory addresses for frequencies in response to a wireless transceiver boot. The wireless transceiver then determines signal levels for the frequencies in response to the scan and transfers a first message indicating the signal levels for the frequencies. The control system receives the first message and determines a selected set of the frequencies based on the signal levels. The control system transfers a second message indicating the selected set of the frequencies. The wireless transceiver receives the second message and stores the selected set of the frequencies for subsequent use in wireless communication.

Automatic configuration for a wireless communication system

A communication system comprises a plurality of wireless transceivers and a control system. The wireless transceivers periodically monitor transmit signals from the wireless transceivers to determine transmit signal strengths and transmit signal frequencies. The wireless transceivers transfer messages associating the wireless transceivers with the transmit signal strengths and transmit signal frequencies. The control system receives the messages. The control system generates an alarm if one of the transmit signal strengths at one of the transmit signal frequencies for one of the wireless transceivers exceeds a threshold.

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Charlotte, NC, United States of America

John W Linebarger