Patent Abstract:
A wireless network including a plurality of base stations operating at a public spectrum frequency, each base station capable of generating an adjustable size coverage area. Each base station utilizes dedicating channels for each user to permit avoidance of one or more sources of interference. A server supplies data to the base stations, and managing billing and access to the wireless network. A plurality of base stations employs transmissions in the unlicensed spectrum (i.e. 3.6 and 5.7 GHz in the US) for permitting flexibility in transmission power and additional subchannel/subcarrier interleaving capability for mitigating interference.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §120 of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/404,644, filed on Apr. 14, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a system for a mobile broadband wireless access infrastructure extending across great distances that can operate in the licensed and unlicensed radio spectrum. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Currently, the model of providing wireless telecommunication services involves mobile service providers expending enormous amounts of capital to acquire network infrastructure equipment, and licenses to use the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulated operating frequencies. These capital expenditures can result in increased consumer billing rates that can often inflate far above the actual cost of service. 
         [0004]    In addition, the use of regulated licensed frequencies itself can be problematic, due to the lengthy, expensive, and uncertain regulatory review process. Oftentimes, the review process can be susceptible to political and commercial interests and pressures. For these same reasons, the regulatory review process can also be problematic, and difficult to navigate when a mobile service provider wishes to introduce new technologies and applications to the public. 
         [0005]    In recent years, unlicensed frequencies, primarily in the 2.4 GHz range have been used for wireless LANs. Examples include WiFi hot spots configured on a site-specific basis to provide on-site connectivity to access points. For the most part, the wireless LAN technologies do not have sufficient reach to extend beyond the site of the wireless network. Therefore, service may be often available only to a limited area within the relevant premises. For example, wireless LAN connectivity in a lobby, or business lounge of a hotel may not extend to the rooms on an upper floor or outside the building. 
         [0006]    The end result of these limitations is a wireless broadband market that cultivates high consumer retail prices, while delaying the introduction and implementation of new technologies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention provides in one embodiment, a wireless broadband network having a plurality of base stations that can operate at a public spectrum frequency. Each base station can allocate dedicated channels to one or more users for data transmission and to minimize interference. In one embodiment, each base station can be interspersed so that its coverage area, which can be adjustable in size, partially overlaps at least some of the adjacent coverage areas, thereby creating an expansive wireless broadband network, to which data can be transmitted, received, and managed. 
         [0008]    The present invention, in another embodiment, provides a method of utilizing a wireless network to transmit and receive broadband data communications. The method includes providing a plurality of base stations that can operate at a public spectrum frequency, and causing the base stations to generate overlapping coverage areas thereby forming an expansive network. The base stations can also generate one or more channels, each of which can be dedicated to a particular user for data transmission, and to minimize interference within a coverage area. Users may be allowed to access the network at any point in the network, in order to transmit and receive data on a channel from a base station to adjacent base station along the network. 
         [0009]    The present invention, in another embodiment, provides a method of billing wireless network subscribers. The method can include providing a plurality of base stations designed to operate at a public spectrum frequency. Each base station can generate overlapping coverage areas that are adjustable in size, so as to create an expansive network. Users may be allowed to access the network from within any coverage area in order to transmit and receive data. Each base station can generate one or more channels, which may then be assigned and dedicated to a particular user for data transmission and to minimize interference within the coverage area. Users may be monitored in order to credit all points of their network interaction and usage. Users can then be billed for their usage of the wireless network based on defined parameters, which may include user airtime, per content view, or by download. 
         [0010]    In another embodiment of the present invention, a cellular system of a user may be polled via the base stations to determine a home network access point of the user. Thereafter, the user may be billed for network usage taking into account, whether the network access occurred in the home network area or from a remote access point. 
         [0011]    In another configuration, disclosed herein are methods for lowering interference in the licensed and unlicensed spectrum by interleaving between unlicensed frequencies, using architectures for inter and intra base stations communication, smart antennas and Network Operation Centers in addition to the increased capacity using channels and sub channels modulations technologies based on OFDMA or CDMA. 
         [0012]    A WiMax implementation as disclosed herein encounters frequency spectrum usage issues with other transmissions on the same or adjacent frequencies. Interference occurs from other transmissions sufficiently close in frequency or geography. Governmental regulations typically impose a regulatory domain for frequency usage, imposing bandwidth and power guidelines, typically according to a licensing scheme, which limits available frequencies and usage. Entities such as the U.S. FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and its equivalent in other countries subdivide available bandwidth ranges (bands) according to prescribed usages. However, different sovereigns (governmental entities) often allocate different frequency ranges for similar types of compatible communications. For example, the US licenses WiMax communications according to IEEE 801.16e in the 2.5 GHz band range, while Europe typically employs the 3.6 GHz and 5.7 GHz range. Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that wireless communications employing WiMax and similar OFDMA transmissions in the unlicensed spectrum (i.e. 3.6 and 5.7 GHz in the US) allows flexibility in transmission power and additional subchannel/subcarrier interleaving capability for mitigating interference. 
         [0013]    Other configurations employ the unlicensed spectrum for OFDMA and similar transport mechanisms on platforms such as HSPA (High Speed Packet Access), HSPA+ LTE, (Long Term Evolution), LTE Advanced, 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and others as well as WiMax Packet Core. 
         [0014]    In an example arrangement, the disclosed wireless network includes a plurality of wireless base stations operating at a public spectrum frequency, such that the public spectrum frequency is selected to be outside a regulatory domain of frequencies in the location where the base stations are deployed. The wireless base stations each provide a plurality of overlapping coverage areas, in which each coverage area is generated by one of the base stations, thus forming a Wide Area Network (WAN). For each base station, at least one band in the public spectrum frequency is assigned. Each base station therefore provides subchannels generated by the base station in the assigned band, such that each sub channel has a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) sub-carriers, and each sub-channel being dedicated to a particular user for data transmission and to minimize interference within the coverage area, so that the base stations are configured to minimize interference by interleaving around the interference. 
         [0015]    In the example arrangement, the bands are WiMax bands, having a span sufficient to support a typical 32 subchannels each having 48 subcarriers, such as 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz and 5.7 GHz. Thus, each wireless base station is configured to operate in the assigned band according to the IEEE 802.16e standard. Alternatively, other bands supporting alternate transport mediums such as those outlined above may be employed. The wireless base stations are configured to identify bands available at other wireless base stations, and interleave by selecting an alternate band for transmission to the other wireless base station. 
         [0016]    A network operation center or other central gathering repository employs a processor to gather, from each wireless base station, usage data defining, for each user, subcarrier, subchannel and band usage, the usage data for permitting billing data collection, Internet interface connectivity metrics, clearinghouse and settlement services. 
         [0017]    In further detail the wireless network comprises a plurality of base stations operating at a public spectrum (e.g. unlicensed) frequency, such that each base station is designed or altered to operate in accordance with a broadband standard. The base stations define a plurality of overlapping coverage areas, each coverage area being generated by base station so as to create an expensive Wide Area Network (WAN), and provide a set of channels generated by each base station, such that each channel has a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) sub channels, and each sub channel is dedicated to particular use for data transmission and minimize interference within the coverage area, the base stations minimizing interference by interleaving around the interference. A processor in a network operation center (NO) couples to each base station to permit billing data collection, internet interfacing, clearing house and settlement services. 
         [0018]    The processor is configured to gather, from each wireless base station, usage data defining, for each user, subcarrier, subchannel and band usage, the usage data for permitting billing data collection, Internet interface connectivity metrics, clearinghouse and settlement services. The unlicensed frequency avoids metering of wireless communication for billing and roaming assessment by wireless carriers of fee-for-services arrangements in the licensed spectrum, thus a user need not rely on a native cellphone as long as WiFi is available. 
         [0019]    Alternate configurations of the invention include a multiprogramming or multiprocessing computerized device such as a workstation, handheld or laptop computer or dedicated computing device or the like configured with software and/or circuitry (e.g., a processor as summarized above) to process any or all of the method operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention. Still other embodiments of the invention include software programs such as a Java Virtual Machine and/or an operating system that can operate alone or in conjunction with each other with a multiprocessing computerized device to perform the method embodiment steps and operations summarized above and disclosed in detail below. One such embodiment comprises a computer program product that has a computer-readable storage medium including computer program logic encoded thereon that, when performed in a multiprocessing computerized device having a coupling of a memory and a processor, programs the processor to perform the operations disclosed herein as embodiments of the invention to carry out data access requests. Such arrangements of the invention are typically provided as software, code and/or other data (e.g., data structures) arranged or encoded on a computer readable medium such as an optical medium (e.g., CD-ROM), floppy or hard disk or other medium such as firmware or microcode in one or more ROM, RAM or PROM chips, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) or as an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). The software or firmware or other such configurations can be installed onto the computerized device (e.g., during operating system execution or during environment installation) to cause the computerized device to perform the techniques explained herein as embodiments of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system architecture and accompanying interfaces, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 2  illustrates a base station and network cell for use in connection with the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 3  details an aggregation of cells in which the overlapping cell regions provide partial redundant coverage thereby forming a wireless network cluster. 
           [0024]      FIG. 4  shows a communications environment suitable for use with the unlicensed spectrum (bands). 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    In the present invention, a solution is presented that can reduce the foregoing limitations, and provide the public with a more affordable, robust, and accessible, wireless broadband access service that can be platform independent. This objective may be achieved by introducing a technical specification for building a network infrastructure that can enable national convergence of, for example, voice over IP, video mobility, Internet access from any location, and TV access on a desktop computer or laptop. 
         [0026]    The disclosed technology can operate in the licensed and unlicensed radio spectrum. However, in one embodiment, the disclosed technology utilizes the public domain (unlicensed) spectrum, and avoids interference with other public domain spectrum users. 
         [0027]    In general, the disclosed technology calls for “weaving” a wireless broadband network together from a plurality of base stations deployed in existing locations, e.g., businesses, telephone poles, towers, and operating in the unlicensed frequency spectrum. The use of unlicensed frequencies, in one embodiment, can avoid the heavy costs of frequency acquisition. This, together with the relatively low cost of base stations reduces infrastructure costs significantly and would enable the granting of services at low retail prices. 
       Underlying Technology 
       [0028]    To implement the network for use in connection with the present invention, in an embodiment, WiMax technology may be used. In particular, WiMax in one embodiment, includes the IEEE 802.16 a/e/d broadband point-to-multi-point wireless access standards. These standards may be commonly referred to as fixed WiMax (802.16a-d), and mobile WiMax (802.16e). Optimal WiMax operating conditions with respect to range and broadband applications require a spectrum range of 2.0 GHz-2.4 GHz or higher. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the underlying technology can be based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), which originated from CDMA technology, and supports wireless broadband communications across a variety of platforms, e.g., cellular, broadband wireless access (BWA). OFDMA is the preferred solution for the IEEE 802.16a/e/d Broadband Wireless Access standards. 
         [0030]    The OFDMA technology, in an approach, can sub-divide high-speed data signals into, for example, multiple lower speed signals. This can result in increased tolerance to noise and minimize interference caused by multi-path transmission of signals which may be created by chance obstructions in the path of a signal. At the same time, this sub-division can enable efficient use of bandwidth allocation. In other words, OFDMA can provide wide-area, multi-point coverage along with a multiplicity of high-speed channels over a single frequency band. 
         [0031]    OFDMA can further divide a signal into sub-channels, with each sub-channel being allocated to a different subscriber. Sub-channeling in WiMax, in an embodiment, allows multiple users to transmit, for instance, on the uplink with substantially similar aggregate transmission rate as for instance, the downlink. Each subscriber, in an embodiment, can be treated separately independent of location, distance from the base station, interference and power requirements. In addition, various modulations can be used for each of the carriers in the system to provide improved coverage and throughput, e.g., QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM, 256QAM. 
         [0032]    OFDMA technology can also be modified, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, to provide real wireless broadband mobile services. This elusive combination of wireless broadband with true mobility is considered by many in the industry as an ultimate goal which embodies the convergence of the various technologies and media. It should be emphasized that the capabilities of OFDMA by far exceed those of cellular 3G- (third generation technologies) in terms of uplink and downlink speed, mobile speed, etc., and are actually considered 4G technology (providing for speeds of up to 1 megabit for devices traveling at up to 60 kilometers per hour). 
         [0033]    In addition, OFDMA-based products can be compatible with “smart antenna” technologies (e.g., antenna array beamforming, antenna diversity at base stations and subscriber stations) that can enhance the signal penetration even in the harshest environments. 
         [0034]    An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0035]    In one embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 , a network provider  110  such as a WiMax network provider, manages at least two WiMax networks  118 ,  20 . Each of the networks  118 ,  120  may include a plurality of base stations  112 . Each base station  112  may be designed to include a WiMax (IEEE 802.16 a/e/d) radio, and enabling architectures for mobile broadband radios in both the unlicensed public domain radio spectrum (e.g., 2.4 GHz) and in the licensed frequency bands. Therefore, each base station can be capable of operating in both licensed and unlicensed spectrums. 
         [0036]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , a base station  112  in one embodiment, can be designed to transmit a signal to create a network cell  114 . The size of the network cell  114 , as defined by the coverage range radius  202 , can vary depending on the output power of the base station  112  transmission. For example, if the base station transmits in the unlicensed public spectrum at 2.4 GHz and 1 watt (due to FCC restrictions on signal strength) the coverage range radius  202  can be up to 1.5 km. However, if the same base station  112  transmits in the licensed spectrum at high power, the coverage range radius  202  can be up to 50 km. To that end, larger network cells  114  can be created by high power signal transmission, resulting in widespread access and less base stations  112 . 
         [0037]    Each base station  112 , in an embodiment, can be deployed, for instance, on ground level or on existing infrastructure. For example, in cities, tall buildings and towers can be utilized. In rural settings, buildings, ground-level platforms, and telephone poles can suffice. Referring now to  FIG. 3 , each base station  112  may be deployed in the vicinity of other base stations  112 , such that their respective network cells  114  partially overlap one another, thereby creating a redundant coverage region  116 . This redundant coverage region  116  essentially merges the respective network cells  114 , thereby forming a single, expansive, broadband WiMax network  300 . In an embodiment, such an expansive WiMax network having enough network cells  114  and redundant coverage regions  116 , can provide coverage for the entire United States. 
         [0038]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , by interspersing the base stations  112 , so that adjacent network cells  114  overlap, redundant coverage regions  116 , may be created, so that a WiMax network  118 ,  120  can be expanded and can completely blanket a particular area, e.g., United States, Europe. For example, a rough estimate of the required number of base stations  112  to cover and provide coverage to the entire United States can be from about 30,000 to about 40,000. 
         [0039]    As discussed above, the WiMax networks  118 ,  120  can simply be an aggregation of the network cells  114  generated by the interspersed base stations  112 . The present invention, in an embodiment, can be designed to minimize interference in a public frequency spectrum, e.g., 2.4 GHz. Interference can be caused by many sources including multipath reflections, jitter, and cross-talk. 
         [0040]    In particular, a chip set and algorithm can be provided that senses the public interference, and prevents its interaction by interleaving around the potential interference, interpolation, or hopping to another available access point. More, specific technical details on attributes (interference avoidance, OFDMA sub-channeling) of the system are elaborated in the published patent applications: 20060072678 System and method for cellular communications, 20050207446 Synchronization system and method, 20050207334 OFDM communication channel, 20050025042 Bi-directional communication channel, 20050002323 Cellular network system and method, 20040224691 Handoff system and method, 20020085645 Bi-directional wireless communication, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0041]    Multipath interference caused by signal reflections that may be out of phase, can also be mitigated by traditional methods, such as rake receivers as well as by using antenna array beamforming, antenna diversity at the base station and at the subscriber station. 
         [0042]    The networks  118 ,  120  can further provide decentralized network coverage, control, and services. In particular, each base station  112 , by design, can operate independently of the other base stations  112 . As such, the service provider  110  can supply separate data for each base station  112 . Such a format allows a higher level of reliability and access during system failures. For example, if a base station  112  fails, its respective network cell  114  can no longer exist. As a result, users in that network cell  114  may lose service. However, the remaining independently operating base stations  112  may remain unaffected and stay operational. The overall network  118 ,  120  consequently remains intact. 
         [0043]    Network users located in the redundant coverage regions  116  of the failed cell  114  may also remain unaffected, because adjacent cells  114  support service in the redundant coverage regions  116 . Specifically, users located in redundant coverage regions  116  essentially can receive support from multiple base stations  112 . For example, if a user is located in a redundant coverage region  116  made up of three overlapping cells  114 , there are three base stations that can provide coverage to that location. Based on quality of service criteria, one of the three base stations  112  will service the user. Continuously during this process, user equipment (cell phone, laptop, etc.) and base stations  112  interact through polling to assure that the quality of service criteria are maintained. If the quality of the connection deteriorates below a threshold, a soft handoff to another base station meeting the quality of service criteria may be performed. 
         [0044]    Therefore, when one cell  114  fails, the user equipment being utilized to interface with the failed base station  112  and the surrounding base stations  112 , sense the failure, and a soft handoff to the nearest base station  112  having acceptable quality of service criteria is performed. The transition can be seamless. For those network users that do lose service due to the failure of the base station  112 , they need only to move into the nearest network cell  114  to regain service. 
         [0045]    In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a WiMax network  118  can be connected to, for instance, the Internet  138  by a DSL/cable modem  130  or microwave link  132 , through a local Internet Service Provider (ISP)  134 , in order to gain access to remote networks or cell phone systems. However, a WiMax network  120  can also have a direct connection  136  to the Internet  138  to accomplish similar results. It should be noted that every base station  112  in the networks  118 ,  120  may not have to be connected the Internet  138 . In fact, the connectivity to the Internet  138  of one base station  112  in networks  118 ,  120  can be through another base station  112  in the same respective network  118 ,  120 . 
         [0046]    Internet connectivity can be important, because it provides a method of linking remote networks. For example, in  FIG. 1 , WiMax network  118  and WiMax network  120  may be isolated from each other. As such, a wireless user in network  118  may communicate with another wireless user in network  120  by using the Internet  138 . 
         [0047]    Specifically, the user in network  118  can connect to the Internet by DSL/cable modem  130  or microwave link  132 , through an ISP  134  and into the Internet  138 . The data can then be transferred via direct connection  136  to WiMax network  120 , and the appropriate wireless recipient in cell  114 . Through this method, broadband data, e.g., voice over IP, video, data streams, Internet access, TV, can be routed to and from remote networks  118 ,  120  via the Internet  138 . 
         [0048]    In addition, using this system architecture  100 , cellular phone communications can be accomplished, thereby minimizing the need for satellite links and cell towers. For example, instead of a cell phone linking up to a nearby cell tower, it senses the nearest local base station  112  in a WiMax network and connects. The call can then be transferred via direct connection  136 , or through an ISP  134  to the Internet  138 , and then onto the cellular operator&#39;s gateway  140  and into the phone system  142 . 
         [0049]    The disclosed technology delivers seamless broadband data connections. Users can transition and communicate between network cells  114  and across entire networks  118 ,  120  seamlessly. A user in a network cell  114  can communicate with another user located in a network cell  114  on an opposite end of the WiMax network  118 . Moreover, real-time video transfers to vehicles moving at highway speeds through the network  118  can be achieved. The sensing and hopping over other public users allows instant ad-hoc connectivity of the users amongst themselves in real-time. 
         [0050]    In addition, the users can connect to the WiMax network  118  from any point in the network with a variety of communication peripheral devices, e.g., cellular handsets, PDA, laptops, digital TV converters. For example, assuming the entire United States had WiMax network coverage, a user accessing a cell  114  in Miami, Fla. with a cell phone or laptop can communicate with users and access services anywhere in the network, e.g., Seattle, Boston. 
         [0051]    Further, as a result of the network&#39;s interwoven network fabric, fast tracking can be readily available without the need of GPS satellites. Therefore, an additional benefit of the invention can be that it provides for a cost effective way to build a more efficient telephony, and Internet network in the public domain. Such a system can then be operated in the licensed spectrum resulting in much stronger and efficient coverage. 
       Billing Clearinghouse &amp; Network Management 
       [0052]    The system architecture  100  also comprises a billing and network management system  122 , which can be operated by, for instance, the service provider  110 , or can be outsourced to a third party vendor. The actual services that can be provided include billing data collection  124 , Internet interfacing  126 , network access management  128 , and billing clearinghouse and settlement services  129 . 
         [0053]    As discussed above, the service provider  110  can supply separate data for each base station  112  in the WiMax networks  118 ,  120 . In one embodiment of the invention, each base station  112  can be located in, for instance, a business or establishment of a licensee, e.g., McDonalds, Starbucks, Marriot. However, since a user can gain access to the networks  118 ,  120  at any base station  112  in the networks  118 ,  120 , and since there can be a substantial amount of coverage overlap for each base station  112  (especially in cities), a sophisticated billing clearinghouse system  129  can be utilized to handle billing. 
         [0054]    The billing clearinghouse system  129  may credit all points of user-network interaction, subtract out duplicate charges, and divide revenues in the redundant coverage regions  116 . Such a clearinghouse system  129  can be acquired as a turnkey solution from, for instance, Elgadcom Group in Azur, Israel or its subsidiary FTS Company, which specializes in billing and customer care solutions for wire-line and wireless operators. The billing data collection provided by the clearinghouse  129  may further include identifying a carrier providing the wireless service called for by a user in a particular geographic area, identifying a user and corresponding billing information, and reconciling the provided wireless services with the billing information of the user. 
         [0055]    In an embodiment, the network management system  122  can retrieve user information from the base stations  112 . This information can, for instance, identify the home networks of users. The information can be acquired during the polling process (described above) that occurs between the cellular systems of a user and base stations  112 , while a user is in the WiMax networks  118 ,  120 . If a remote connection must be made for the user, the information can then be used to connect the user through that home network  137  rather than through another Internet accessible network  139 . This allows the user to utilize remaining minutes from a home pool instead of a roaming pool of minutes. In addition, users accessing the WiMax network  118  who are actually subscribers of WiMax network  120  may automatically be charged an amount that reflects the percentage use in network  118 , and maybe a percentage allocated to the subscriber home WiMax network  120 . 
         [0056]    The service provider  110  can also supply network access management  128 . Network users can purchase pre-paid access cards, or can charge their credit card in order to gain an access key. The access key can then be used to enter the networks  118 ,  120 . Users can be billed by airtime, per content view, or download. 
         [0057]    In a particular configuration, an OFDMA environment according to the WiMax 802.16e or other standard using a combination of regulated and unregulated frequency bands may be employed. Various countries partition and regulate particular ranges of frequency bands, in particular the 900 MHz-6.0 GHz range commonly employed for WiMax communications. According to the 802.16e standard applicable to WiMax communications, operation is feasible for frequencies up to 10 GHz, however the entire range has not yet been pursued for commercial development. Further, other evolving standards, such as Ultra-Wide Band (UWB), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE advanced, HSPA, HSPA+ and 3GPP are pursuing this bandwidth space. 
         [0058]    Utilization of the unregulated bandwidth space is beneficial in certain circumstances. For example, in the US, the 3.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz ranges are not regulated for WiMax (hence referred to as the unlicensed bands), however, in Europe and Asia the 3.5 GHz is a common WiMax conduit. In the US, regulated WiMax transmissions are limited to 1 watt, limiting the size of a coverage area emanating from a base station (BTS). However, transmission in the unlicensed bands permits up to 4 watts of transmission power, providing a larger coverage area from a single BTS. Technology such as power regulation, QAM, (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) and 16.256 QPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) may be employed to mitigate interference by performing higher power transmissions only to the outer regions of a coverage area where it is needed to communicate effectively, and reducing power for closer destinations. 
         [0059]    A further feature of WiMax is the use of Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) operations to detect potential interference and mitigate around it by redirecting communications to base stations around the potential interference, interleaving communication on other frequencies (subcarriers), and regulating power to overlapping coverage areas. Similar to conventional Ethernet implementations, which employed CSMA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access) logic to detect and avoid concurrence collisions, LBT may be employed to identify potentially interfering frequency use and mitigate around it. For example, in an OFDMA environment, subchannels each employ non-consecutive subcarriers in a particular frequency band. If potential interference is detected from an adjacent subcarrier (i.e. for another users communication), non adjacent subcarriers sufficiently removed from the purported interference may be employed. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a communications environment  400  suitable for use with the unlicensed spectrum (bands) is shown. In  FIG. 4 , the environment  400  is operable according to WiMax, LTE, UWB or other suitable standard, and includes a plurality of base transceiver stations (base stations) BTS 1  . . . BTS 4 , each having an effective coverage area  420 - 1  . . .  420 - 4 , ( 420  generally) denoted as a radius from the respective BTS. In the environment  400 , the BTSs may vary the coverage area  420  radius by adjusting transmitting power, since in the unlicensed bands power usage is more flexible than in the regulated, or licensed, spectrum. 
         [0061]    In the example communications environment, the base stations (micro, femto regular etc) are spread as a mosaic or tile pattern designed to cover a topographic area. Each base station BTS 1  . . . BTS 4  may have separate frequency bands in the unlicensed bands, for example BTS 1 =2.4 GHz, BTS 2 =3.65 GHz, BTS 3 =900 MHz, BTS 4 =5.7 GHz. In contrast to conventional approaches, such as regulated U.S. WiMax usage, each base station may employ one or more of several bands in the unlicensed spectrum. Therefore, in addition to subcarrier and subchannel selection within a band, a communication may interleave around interference by invoking a separate band (e.g. 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz and 5.7 GHz in the example shown). 
         [0062]    As an example of how to hop, or interleave, around frequencies (in addition to the OFDMA or LTE frequency modulations), user U 1  would like to communicate with user U 2  and potential interference is detected, possibly due to U 2  being located in an overlap zone  412  of coverage areas  420 - 2  and  420 - 4 . The communication signal from U 1  goes to the corresponding base station BTS 1 , as shown by  410 -A, using a band at 2.4 GHz. BTS 1  sends the communication signal to a Network Operation Center (NOC)  402 , as shown by arrow  410 -B. As indicated above, the nature of WiMax includes the LBT aspect for detecting potential interference. If there is no interference detected, the transmission goes directly to U 2  via  410 -E. However, in the case of interference, the communication travels from the NOC  402  to BTS 2  at 3.65 GHz, as shown by arrow  410 -D, and from BTS  2  to U 2  directly as shown by arrow  410 -F, or alternately or indirectly via an additional use of the NOC  402 . BTS 2 , being closer to U 2  than the NOC  410 , may be less susceptible to interference in the overlap zone  412 . Alternatively, the 3.65 GHz band employed by BTS 2  may be different than the band employed for path  410 -E, thus further contributing to the interference mitigation. 
         [0063]    The NOC  402  interconnects the BTSs to the applicable telecommunications infrastructure, and maintains a wired, wireless, or satellite link to individual BTSs for transferring communications from users. In conventional approaches, the BTSs employed the licensed frequency for WiMax communications, thus being limited to the 2.4 GHz band. In contrast, the above example illustrates interleaving using not merely subcarrier switching in a user subchannel, but also the use of alternate bands in the unlicensed spectrum, which further allows for greater power regulation to augment the range of individual BTSs, and also to mitigate interference by reducing power accordingly when needed. Therefore, configurations herein substantially overcome the shortcomings of interference of conventional WiMax communications in the licensed bands (frequencies) through the following features: 
         [0064]    1. WiMax is a listen-before-talk (LBT) medium, which mitigates interference in the licensed and unlicensed spectrum. However, interference is also a result of system overload. The unlicensed spectrum is more vulnerable to that than licensed, due to police, fire department, local government and other group users. 
         [0065]    2. WiMax is limited in for mobile communications; the main reason is the FCC limitation of power transmission to one watt. In many countries, 4 watts is permitted, thus mobile communications will be available especially in rural habitats. This power level is optimized in populated areas where power blasting may increase interference and make the unlicensed spectrum more vulnerable to interference. However, in rural area this should not be of high consideration, as allowing a 4 watt for example should provide increased communication. Networks and mobility for “last mile” locations are important especially for radio and backhaul. This rule may change and mobile unlicensed will become useful. 
         [0066]    3. WiMax based on the IEEE 802.11 standard brought about the next generation of IEEE 802.16 and 802.20 standards are evolving. These and other standards, formed and being formed versions, such as LTE, LTE advanced, HSPA and HSPA+ use OFDMA as basis for their evolution. Base station production of channels, sub-channels hierarchies, and modulation schemes increase potential communications and broadband utility, particularly for Internet usage, however many standards setting entities are discussing licensed spectrums. The disclosed focus is the unlicensed spectrum. The main reason is interference and the economical value rising from availability of unlicensed (communication real estate). 
         [0067]    4. Lowering interferences in the unlicensed spectrum frequencies is more acute due to the potential free use. Users of the licensed spectrum are paying higher cost, therefore the providers buy more spectrum bandwidth and the total spectrum available allows more bandwidth to more users with lower interference. Frequencies, channels and sub channels are more manageable by the operators. The unlicensed spectrum may be more vulnerable to interference especially due to the use by public networks of the emergency systems, police, fire departments, and other local governments, airports, colleges, coffee shops hotels and so on, thus the need to effectively manage that which is available. 
         [0068]    5. Division of the base station to more than one sector should allow interleaving between sectors and use of the most free (least burdened) sector. 
         [0069]    Alternate examples of configurations of wireless architectures using a combination of licensed and unlicensed bands, and WiMax and WiFi combinations, include the following. A wide area network that is combined from a mosaic of base stations of different unlicensed frequencies, or having several frequency modules in the unlicensed spectrum. The network employs 3G, and 4G standards such as WiMax standard, LTE standard and/or other standards in the unlicensed frequencies. The unlicensed spectrum could be in 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz, 3.65 GHz and 5.7 GHz, and upwards to 10 GHz. The base station may interleave between the base stations via a Network Operation Center (NOC) or other operation systems and protocols to reduce potential interference. 
         [0070]    Interleaving may also be performed via an internal loop or other operation and protocols. Further, one or more local base stations of the WAN network can further be converted to one or more WiFi local networks, as the WiFi protocols provide a lower interference in a more concise radius. For example the WiMax base station provides at least one floor, one building or several floors in a few buildings on the allowed radius of the base station. The number of users depends on the capacity of the base station and the size of the broadband provided to customers. 
         [0071]    Interleaving functions also allow unlicensed broadband WiFi to interchange to WiMax transmission. The WiFi source could be from fiber satellite and or other broadband. For radio and phone, use of new GSM smart phones can be provided with chipsets that can automatically or manually interleave between frequencies in the licensed and unlicensed spectrums, such as between the 900 Mhz and 1800 MHz frequencies. 
         [0072]    The disclosed interleaving and/or hopping between different frequency bands permits greater utility of the unlicensed and licensed bandwidth. Due to the economic value of the unlicensed spectrums, it is expected that the FCC will increase the spectrum of the unlicensed spectrum to Internet bandwidth and to radio. LTE and WiMax are optimal in internet and the above combinations will improve the unlicensed capabilities. 
         [0073]    The proposed architectures may be more expensive to build and to operate than conventional licensed spectrum usage, however provide substantial utility in the unlicensed space. Further applications include the use of MiMO and applications such as SMS and other multimedia utilities. Such usage of the unlicensed spectrum as disclosed and claimed herein provides guidance to a yet unevolved standard. While WiMax usage if the licensed space is somewhat defined, LTE and successors remains largely undefined. For example, additional transmission power as employed herein is beneficial in rural areas where power greater than 1 watt is needed to effect mobility transmissions. Other political and governmental developments may also affect the evolution of the unlicensed space. 
         [0074]    Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that the programs and methods for wireless network architecture and communication as defined herein are deliverable to a user processing and rendering device in many forms, including but not limited to a) information permanently stored on non-writeable storage media such as ROM devices, b) information alterably stored on writeable storage media such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices, and other magnetic and optical media, or c) information conveyed to a computer through communication media, as in an electronic network such as the Internet or telephone modem lines. The operations and methods may be implemented in a software executable object or as a set of encoded instructions for execution by a processor responsive to the instructions. Alternatively, the operations and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in whole or in part using hardware components, such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software, and firmware components. 
         [0075]    While the invention has been described in connection with the specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains.

Technology Classification (CPC): 7