Multi-connection, non-simultaneous frequency diversity in radio communication systems
View Patent ↗A radio communication system includes a remote device radio, and a base station radio operable to communicate with the remote device radio at a first channel and at a second channel using non-simultaneous frequency diversity. The base station is operable to communicate with a device other than the remote device at the second channel while the remote device radio and the base station radio are communicating at the first channel. A radio using non-simultaneous frequency diversity includes an antenna, a radio frequency module coupled to the antenna such that the radio frequency module is operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a first channel and signals at a second channel using the antenna, and a baseband module coupled to the radio frequency module. The baseband module operable to transmit or receive signals through the radio frequency module, such that signals transmitted or received by the radio employ non-simultaneous frequency diversity using the first channel and the second channel. Additional devices are operable to use the second channel while the radio is transmitting or receiving radio frequency signals at the first channel.
1. A radio using non-simultaneous frequency diversity, the radio comprising:
an antenna;
a radio frequency module coupled to the antenna such that the radio frequency module is operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a first channel and radio frequency signals at a second channel using the antenna, the radio frequency module comprising:
a first local oscillator operable to generate a signal;
a second local oscillator operable to generate a signal;
an intermediate frequency receiver;
an intermediate frequency transmitter;
a receiver mixer coupled to the intermediate frequency receiver and at least one local oscillator;
a transmit mixer coupled to the intermediate frequency transmitter, the first local oscillator, and the second local oscillator such that the transmit mixer is operable to convert signals between an intermediate frequency and a tranmission frequency, and transmit using non-simultaneous frequency diversity by using the first local oscillator to transmit data at a first frequency and by using the second local oscillator to transmit data at a second frequency; and
a baseband module coupled to the radio frequency module, the baseband module operable to transmit or receive signals through the radio frequency module, such that signals transmitted or received by the radio employ non-simultaneous frequency diversity using the first channel and the second channel,
wherein additional devices are operable to use the second channel while the radio is transmitting or receiving radio frequency signals at the first channel.
2. The radio of claim 1 further comprising a second antenna coupled to the radio frequency module.
3. The radio of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency module comprises:
a zero-if mixer coupled to the first local oscillator such that the zero-if mixer is operable to convert signals from baseband frequencies to transmission frequencies using the first local oscillator.
4. The radio of claim 1 wherein the radio is operable to transmit data using non-simultaneous frequency diversity by using the first local oscillator to transmit data at a first frequency and by using the first local oscillator to transmit data at a second frequency.
5. The radio of claim 1 wherein the receive mixer, the first local oscillator and the intermediate frequency receiver from receive path such that the radio employs non-simultaneous frequency diversity using a single receive path.
6. The radio of claim 1 wherein the baseband module uses orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM).