The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 27, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2000
Karl J. Molnar, Cary, NC (US);
Gregory E. Bottomley, Cary, NC (US);
Sandeep Chennakeshu, Cary, NC (US);
Ericsson Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC (US);
Abstract
A radio communication system includes a base station having a directional antenna for generating a plurality of beams. A first set of the beams is used to receive signals which are decoded at the base station. A second set of the beams is used for interrogating a cell to identify beams which should be added to the first set of beams (for example, in response to mobile terminals entering the cell). In one embodiment, the second set of beams comprises a plurality of searcher beams produced by a fixed-beam phased array antenna. In a second embodiment, the second set of beams comprises a single searcher beam which is scanned through the cell by an adaptive phased array antenna. The radio communication system can be used to communicate with indoor mobile terminals through a plurality of radio heads, and also can be used to communicate with orbiting satellites.