Patent ID: 8184603

Claim:
A communication system for providing voice and data communication between a public network and a plurality of user equipment terminals (UEs) at a plurality of locations, the communication system comprising: a community wireless local area network (WLAN) comprising fixed equipment that includes: a centralized base transceiver station (CBTS) coupled to the public network; and a plurality of remote transceiver stations (RTSs) each coupled to a number of the plurality of UEs, and, via a radio link, to the CBTS, whereby the voice and data communication is provided between the public network and the plurality of UEs; wherein at least one of the RTSs is located at each of the plurality of locations; and wherein the CBTS and each RTS comprises a respective Global Systems for Mobile communication/General Packet Radio Service (GSM/GPRS) transceiver for communications therebetween in order to provide data communication between the public network and the plurality of UEs; wherein respective GSM/GPRS radio frequency signals transmitted by the CBTS to the RTSs and by each RTS to the CBTS are frequency converted from respective first frequencies within conventional GSM frequency bands to respective second frequencies above the conventional GSM frequency bands; and wherein the respective frequency-converted GSM/GPRS radio frequency signals received by the CBTS from the RTSs and by each RTS from the CBTS are frequency converted from respective second frequencies above the conventional GSM frequency bands to respective first frequencies within the conventional GSM frequency bands.