Patent ID: 7443864

Claim:
A communication system comprising: a plurality of first wireless base stations configured to exchange user communications with mobile users over first wireless access links; a plurality of second wireless base stations configured to exchange the user communications with mobile users over second wireless access links; a first wireless hub co-located with a first one of the first wireless base stations, wherein the first one of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications, and wherein other ones of the first wireless base stations and the first wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications in an Ethernet format over first point-to-multipoint wireless links; a second wireless hub co-located with a first one of the second wireless base stations, wherein the first one of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications, and wherein other ones of the second wireless base stations and the second wireless hub are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over second point-to-multipoint wireless links; a communication ring including a plurality of ring access nodes, wherein the first wireless hub and a first one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over a first connection, wherein the second wireless hub and a second one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over a second connection, wherein the first ring access node and a third one of the ring access nodes are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over the communication ring, and wherein the second ring access node and the third ring access node are configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format over the communication ring; and a mobile switching center configured to exchange the user communications in the Ethernet format with the third ring access node, and to exchange the user communications with a local telephone network, a long distance telephone network, and an Internet.