Method and apparatus for beacon discovery in a spread spectrum cellular radio communication system
US7019691B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 2005 |
| Grant date | Mar 28, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/5009
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus (and corresponding methodology) for discovering beacon signals in a spread spectrum radio communication system is selectively operable in one of two modes. The first mode employs a local reference timing signal, while the second mode employs a GPS-derived reference timing signal. Preferably, the first mode identifies a baseline beacon signal that satisfies a constraint based upon time delays for detected beacon signals which are indicative of the relative distance of the transmitting base stations, thus providing selection of a baseline beacon signal that originates from a relatively close base station. The index of the baseline beacon signal is recovered and then used together with relative timing derived from the local reference timing signal to assign indices to other detected beacon signals. In another aspect, control means is provided for selectively switching between the first and second modes in accordance with a plurality of user-selectable modes, which preferably include a GPS-priority mode (whereby the control means automatically switches between the first and second modes based upon GPS signal receive status) and an Indoor mode (whereby the control means ope…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.