Movable access points and repeaters for minimizing coverage and capacity constraints in a wireless communications network and a method for using the same
View Patent ↗A system and method for improving the ability of a wireless communications network, such as a packet-switched data communications network, to provide service to mobile user terminals. The system and method employs a mobile access point, adapted for use with the packet-switched communications network, to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, and a method for using the same. The mobile access point can be mounted to a mobile vehicle and receives substantially constant power from the vehicle, and is adapted to transmit and receive communications signals to and from wireless user terminals, fixed access points and other networks and mobile access points. The mobile access point includes at least one or more transceivers, which allows the access point to support multiple wireless communication protocols. A first protocol may be supported allowing network access, and a second protocol may be used for backhaul service.
1. A moving access point, adapted for use within an adhoc communications network to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, said moving access point comprising:
a first transceiver, adapted to select a first communication protocol and use said first protocol to transmit and receive communications signals to and from a fixed access point to provide said mobile wireless user terminal with access to said adhoc communications network;
a second transceiver, adapted to select a second communication protocol and use said second protocol to transmit and receive communications signals to and from at least one mobile terminal in response to a hole in communication with said fixed access point to provide said mobile wireless user terminal with access to the adhoc communications network;
a structure, adapted to house said first and second transceiver, and being adapted to mount on or in a mobile vehicle; and
a power connection, adapted to couple to a substantially constant power supply, to provide substantially constant power to said first and second transceiver.
2. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said selected first communication protocol is adapted to support network access by wireless user terminals and said selected second communication protocol is adapted to support network backhaul service.
3. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of a plurality of wireless transmission techniques.
4. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of QDMA, CDMA, TDMA and FDMA modulation formats.
5. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said moving access point further comprises:
a first and second antenna, said first antenna located in said mobile vehicle, said first antenna electrically coupled to said first transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from said fixed access point; and
said second antenna located outside said mobile vehicle, said second antenna electrically coupled to said second transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from at least one mobile terminal.
6. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
said power connection is adapted to couple to said substantially constant power supply of said mobile vehicle.
7. A moving access point as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said mobile vehicle is a bus.
8. A method for providing a moving access point in an adhoc communications network to provide a mobile wireless user terminal with access to the network, said method comprising:
coupling said moving access point to a mobile vehicle;
providing said mobile wireless user terminal with access to said adhoc communications network by transmitting and receiving communications signals between said moving access terminal and a fixed access point using a first communication protocol;
detecting a hole in communications with said fixed access point;
providing said mobile wireless user terminal with access to the adhoc communications network by transmitting and receiving communications signals between said moving access terminal and at least one mobile terminal using a second communication protocol; and
providing substantially constant power to said moving access point.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:
said first communication protocol supports network access by wireless user terminals and said second communication protocol supports network backhaul service.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:
said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of a plurality of wireless transmission techniques.
11. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:
said first and second communication protocol supports at least one of QDMA, CDMA, TDMA and FDMA modulation formats.
12. A method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising:
locating a first antenna in said mobile vehicle, said first antenna electrically coupled to said first transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from said fixed access point; and
locating a second antenna outside said mobile vehicle, said second antenna electrically coupled to said second transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from said at least one mobile terminal.
13. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein:
said providing provides said substantially constant power supply from a power supply of said mobile vehicle.
14. A method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein said mobile vehicle is a bus.