1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for wireless communication. More particularly, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for wireless communication utilizing impulse radio wherein an impulse radio communication system integrates with existing cellular/PCS wireless communication systems and/or current land line communication systems.
2. Background of the Invention and Related Art
The demand for the ability to communicate voice and data in a mobile manner, not confined by the wires or fiber cables of non-wireless communication means, is ever increasing. Technology has improved in order to meet this demand, however, the current state of the art falls dramatically short in many important areas.
As anyone who has ever made a wireless call, whether it be from a xe2x80x9ccordless phonexe2x80x9d directly attached to land lines (land lines typically being twisted copper pairs and more recently fiber optic cables) or from a cellular/PCS phone, can attest to, the communication can be very unreliable. When using cordless phones, there is a severe limit on distance; further, quality can become a issue because of the multipath environment typical of most wireless communications. It is not uncommon to simply be xe2x80x9cdroppedxe2x80x9d from the communication or to hear xe2x80x9cnoisexe2x80x9d as you talk. Further, there are a limited number of channels that can be achieved because of frequency limitations. This inherently limits the number of users in a given area.
A response to communication disruptions caused by problematic multipath environments has been to increase the transmit power. Previously the main problem with increasing transmit power was that in mobile communications, battery power is typically used. Therefore by increasing power, the battery life is diminished, thereby decreasing the mobility of the user (which is the primary purpose of wireless communications.) However, new studies have shown an even greater problem with existing cellular/PCS and wireless communication systems: it has been shown that the nonionizing electromagnetic radiation released by current wireless communications poses serious health threats to usersxe2x80x94to include cancer and brain tumors. Exacerbating this problem is the fact that power increases to overcome multipath problems cause an even greater health risk.
Thus, a great need exists in the wireless voice and data communication industry for a wireless communication means that not only overcomes many of the multipath problems associated with existing wireless communications, but does so at transmission power levels that diminish the health concerns now associated with existing wireless communications means.
As new technologies emerge, it is very important that they are capable of being integrated into existing technologies since vast amounts of resources are typically required to develop infrastructures. Such is especially the case for voice and data communications. Immense networks have been developed on both the wireless and wired fronts. Hundreds of thousands of miles of twisted copper pair and fiber optic cables have been laid throughout the world. Cellular and PCS base stations have been linked throughout the world and satellite communications are also integrated. Integration of some existing technologies has been accomplished; such as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,127,042, entitled, xe2x80x9cCellular cordless telephonexe2x80x9d, to Gillig etal. Gillig teaches integrating a cellular telephone system into an existing wireless telephone system. The integration of these two distinct systems accomplished its stated purpose, to wit, automatic transfer from the more expensive and less reliable, but more ubiquitous, cellular system to a more reliable and less expensive cordless system whenever practical. However, it does not accomplish a goal of diminishing the reliability and health concerns of both of the systems it is integrating.
Thus, not only is there a need to develop a wireless communication system that overcomes many of the multipath problems associated with existing wireless communications and at an extremely lower power level, but also to be able to integrate that system into existing communication technologies.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel wireless voice and data communication means.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless voice and data communication means which utilizes very low transmit powers.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wireless voice and data communication means which overcomes multipath problems associated with wireless transmissions.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a wireless voice and data communication means which utilizes very low transmit powers and overcomes multipath problems associated with wireless transmissions and integrates into existing voice and data communication infrastructures.
These and other objects are provided, according to the present invention, by a method and apparatus for wireless communication utilizing impulse radio, wherein an impulse radio communication system either stands alone or integrates with existing cellular/PCS wireless communication systems and/or current land line communication systems.