Overlapping spectrum cellular communication networks
The overlapping spectrum cellular communication network functions to provide multiple cellular communication systems in the same spectrum as the existing NATS-based cellular communication system, while also providing wideband services to subscribers. This is accomplished by enabling two system operators to each have a dedicated 1.25 MHz slice of the NATS spectrum. However, given that there is only 2 MHz available, this results in a 0.50 MHz overlap of 1.25 MHz carriers. To mitigate the inter-network overlap and the potential for interference between the two systems, the overlapping spectrum cellular communication network swaps forward and reverse path allocations on a per system basis.
1. A network for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising;
air-to-ground network means having at least one transceiver located on the ground for radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band and a second band, said air-to-ground network means comprising:
first cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path in said first band and a reverse path in said second band;
second cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a reverse path in said first band and a forward path in said second band.
2. The network of claim 1 wherein said first cellular system means generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said first band.
3. The network of claim 2 wherein said second cellular system means generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said first band.
4. The network of claim 3 wherein said first cellular system means and said second cellular system means generate said radio frequency communication signals in said first band in a manner wherein said radio frequency communication signals generated by said first cellular system means and said radio frequency communication signals generated by said second cellular system means overlap in frequency.
5. The network of claim 1 wherein said first cellular system means generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said second band.
6. The network of claim 5 wherein said second cellular system means generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said second band.
7. The network of claim 6 wherein said first cellular system means and said second cellular system means generate said radio frequency communication signals in said second band in a manner wherein said radio frequency communication signals generated by said first cellular system means and said radio frequency communication signals generated by said second cellular system means overlap in frequency.
8. A method for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising:
establishing radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band and a second band, using at least one transceiver located on the ground, said step of establishing radio frequency communications comprising:
generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path in said first band and a reverse path in said second band;
generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a reverse path in said first band and a forward path in said second band.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said first band.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said first band.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals and said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals generate said radio frequency communication signals in said first band in a manner wherein said radio frequency communication signals generated by said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals and said radio frequency communication signals generated by said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals overlap in frequency.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said second band.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals generates radio frequency communication signals having a carrier of bandwidth greater than one half of the bandwidth of said second band.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals and said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals generate said radio frequency communication signals in said second band in a manner wherein said radio frequency communication signals generated by said step of generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals and said radio frequency communication signals generated by said step of generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals overlap in frequency.
15. A network for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising:
air-to-ground network means having at least one transceiver located on the ground for radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via the NATS spectrum comprising two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band at approximately 849–851 MHz and a second band at approximately 894–896 MHz, said air-to-ground network means comprising:
first cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path within a band of approximately 849–851 MHz and a reverse path within a band of approximately 894–896 MHz;
second cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a reverse path within a band of approximately 849–851 MHz and a forward path within a band of approximately 894–896 MHz.
16. A method for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising:
generating, using at least one transceiver located on the ground, radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via the NATS spectrum comprising two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band at approximately 849–851 MHz and a second band at approximately 894–896 MHz, said step of generating comprising:
generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a forward path within a band of approximately 849–851 MHz and a reverse path within a band of approximately 894–896 MHz;
generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a reverse path within a band of approximately 849–851 MHz and a forward path within a band of approximately 894–896 MHz.
17. A network for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising:
air-to-ground network means having at least one transceiver located on the ground for radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band and a second band, said air-to-ground network means comprising:
a plurality of cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices, using a combination of forward and reverse paths in said first band and said second band as well as first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations of said radio frequency communication signals including: first cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a first forward path in said first band and a first reverse path in said second band, using a first one of said first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations, and
second cellular system means for generating radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a second forward path in said first band and a second reverse path in said second band, using a second one of said first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations, wherein said second forward path in said first band overlaps at least in part with said first forward path in said first band and said second reverse path in said second band overlaps at least in part with said first reverse path in said second band.
18. A method for providing wireless communication services to a plurality of wireless subscriber devices that are located in an aircraft, comprising:
generating, using at least one transceiver located on the ground, radio frequency communications between said aircraft and a ground-based communications system via two frequency separated bands, comprising a first band and a second band, said step of generating comprising:
generating a plurality of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices, using a combination of forward and reverse paths in said first band and said second band as well as first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations of said radio frequency communication signals including:
generating a first set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a first forward path in said first band and a first reverse path in said second band, using a first one of said first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations, and
generating a second set of radio frequency communication signals to communicate with at least one of said plurality of wireless subscriber devices via a second forward path in said first band and a second reverse path in said second band, using a second one of said first and second substantially orthogonal polarizations, wherein said second forward path in said first band overlaps at least in part with said first forward path in said first band and said second reverse path in said second band overlaps at least in part with said first reverse path in said second band.