Radiotelephone apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus and methods for a wireless telecommunication system to provide a wireless interface. A plurality of modems is used for processing wireless communications with a plurality of subscriber line circuits, each for providing a telecommunication connection. A control processor assigns a modem for each communication, selects one of the line circuits and associates that line circuit with the assigned modem for that communication. Thus, any of the line circuits can be used to communicate via any of the modems.

1 . An apparatus for use in conducting multiple concurrent wireless communications comprising: 
 a plurality of selectively controllable modems, each configured for processing wireless communications received by and transmitted from the apparatus;    a plurality of line circuits, each for providing a telecommunication connection for a wireless communication; and    a control processor configured to connect any of said line circuits with any of said modems and to assign a modem for each wireless communication such that a selected one of said line circuit is used with an assigned communication whereby multiple concurrent wireless communications received by and transmitted from the apparatus are conduced over selected line circuits.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  further comprising a first user device coupled with a first of said line circuits and a second user device coupled with a second of said line circuits whereby a first concurrent wireless communication is assignable by said control processor to a first of said modems with the first line circuit being selected for use such that the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device and a second concurrent wireless communication is assignable by said control processor to a second of said modems with the second line circuit being selected for use such that the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second user devices are subscriber units.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  where wireless communication with said modems is conducted with synchronized timing wherein the controller is configured to control a first of said modems to establish timing synchronization with a first assigned wireless communication and to assign a subsequently initiated second wireless communication is to a second of said modems such that the second modem utilizes the timing synchronization established by said first modem.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  where wireless communication with said modems is conducted with synchronized timing wherein the controller is configured to control a first of said modems to establish timing synchronization with a first assigned wireless communication and using a first of said line circuits, the controller is configured to assign a subsequently initiated second wireless communication is to a second of said modems using a second of said line circuits such that the second modem utilizes the timing synchronization established by said first modem and further comprising a first user device coupled with the first line circuit and a second user device coupled with the second line circuit whereby the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device and the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein said first and second user devices are subscriber units.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1  where wireless communication with said modems is in a predefined time slot format such that each communication is communicated in a select time slot or set of time slots wherein the control processor is configured to assign one of said modems for first and second concurrent wireless communications with a first of said line circuits used for the first wireless communication and a second of said line circuits used with the second wireless communication.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  wherein said processor tracks and assigns a priority to all available time slots of said modems and selects one of available time slots based on the assigned priority for each wireless communication.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus according to  claim 7  further comprising a first user device coupled with the first of said line circuits and a second user device coupled with the second of said line circuits whereby the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device and the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9  wherein said first and second user devices are subscriber units.  
   
   
       11 . A method for use in conducting multiple concurrent wireless communications comprising: 
 providing a plurality of selectively controllable modems in a wireless apparatus, each configured for processing wireless communications received by and transmitted from the apparatus;    providing a plurality of line circuits, each for providing a telecommunication connection for a wireless communication; and    for each wireless communication, assigning a modem, selecting a line circuit and connecting the selected line circuit with the assigned modem such that a selected one of said line circuits is used with an assigned communication.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising coupling a first user device with a first of said line circuits and a second user device with a second of said line circuits whereby a first concurrent wireless communication is assigned to a first of said modems with the first line circuit being selected for use such that the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device and a second concurrent wireless communication is assigned to a second of said modems with the second line circuit being selected for use such that the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       13 . The method according to  claim 12  wherein first and second subscriber units are coupled to said respective first and second line circuits as said first and second user devices.  
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein wireless communication with said modems is conducted with synchronized timing, a first of said modems establishes a timing synchronization with a first assigned wireless communication, and a subsequently initiated second wireless communication is assigned to a second of said modems such that the second modem utilizes the timing synchronization established by said first modem.  
   
   
       15 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein wireless communication with said modems is conducted with synchronized timing, a first of said modems establishes a timing synchronization with a first assigned wireless communication and uses a first of said line circuits, a subsequently initiated second wireless communication is assigned to a second of said modems using a second of said line circuits such that the second modem utilizes the timing synchronization established by said first modem, a first user device is coupled with the first line circuit, a second user device is coupled with the second line circuit, the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device, and the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 15  wherein first and second subscriber units are coupled to said respective first and second line circuits as said first and second user devices.  
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein wireless communication with said modems is in a predefined time slot format such that each communication is communicated in a select time slot or set of time slots and one of said modems is assigned for first and second concurrent wireless communications with a first of said line circuits used for the first wireless communication and a second of said line circuits used with the second wireless communication.  
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 17  further comprising tracking and assigning a priority to all available time slots of said modems and selecting one of available time slots based on the assigned priority for each wireless communication.  
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 17  wherein a first user device is coupled with the first of said line circuits and a second user device is coupled with the second of said line circuits such that the first wireless communication is conducted with said first user device and the second wireless communication is conducted with said second user device.  
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 19  wherein first and second subscriber units are coupled to said respective first and second line circuits as said first and second user devices.