TDMA controller for a wireless communication system and method of operating same

Abstract

A time division multiple access (TDMA) controller and method for operating the same includes a frame position module that generates a frame position signal. The controller also includes a signal module that generates a signal-on signal and a signal-off signal and a comparison module that generates a timing control signal based on the frame position signal, the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary personal handy-phone system (PHS) phone according to the prior art;

FIG. 2A is a functional block diagram of an exemplary transmitter used in a PHS phone of FIG. 1 according to the prior art;

FIG. 2B is a functional block diagram of an exemplary receiver used in a PHS phone of FIG. 1 according to the prior art;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the elements employed in the current disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagrammatic view of the TDMA engine of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a block diagrammatic view of the base counter of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagrammatic view of the base timing generation module of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method for synchronizing timing between a base station and a personal station; and

FIG. 8 is a timing diagram for a TDMA system according to the present example.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a frame position module that generates a frame position signal;a signal module that generates a signal-on signal and a signal-off signal; anda comparison module that generates a timing control signal based on the frame position signal, the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the frame position module comprises a base counter and the frame position signal comprises a plurality of counter signals.

3. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises an intra-slot counter signal.

4. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a slot counter signal.

5. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a frame counter signal.

6. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a multi-frame counter signal.

7. The communication system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises an intra-slot counter signal, a slot counter signal, a frame counter signal and a multi-frame counter signal.

8. A personal station comprising: the communication system of claim 1;a transceiver that selects communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

9. The personal station of claim 8 wherein the transceiver selects adjacent communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

10. A personal handy phone system comprising the personal station of claim 8.

11. A time division multiple access system comprising the communication system of Claim 1.

12. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the signal module includes: a signal-on register that selectively generates the signal-on signal; anda signal-off register that selectively generates the signal-off signal.

13. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the comparison module generates the timing control signal by comparing the frame position signal to the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

14. The communication system of claim 13 wherein the timing control signal is directed to a first level when the frame position signal matches the signal-on signal and directed to a second level when the frame position signal matches the signal-off signal.

15. A method of operating a communication system comprising: generating a frame position signal;generating a signal-on signal and a signal-off signal; andgenerating a timing control signal based on the frame position signal, the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein generating a frame position signal comprises generating a plurality of counter signals.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein generating a plurality of counter signals comprises generating an intra-slot counter signal.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein generating a plurality of counter signals comprises generating a slot counter signal.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein generating a plurality of counter signals comprises generating a frame counter signal.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein generating a plurality of counter signals comprises generating a multi-frame counter signal.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein generating a plurality of counter signals comprises generating an intra-slot counter signal, a slot counter signal, a frame counter signal and a multi-frame counter signal.

22. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

23. The method of claim 15 further comprising selecting adjacent communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising generating a timing control signal comprises generating the timing control signal by comparing the frame position signal to the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising directing the timing control signal to an on level when the frame position signal reaches the signal-on signal and directing the timing control signal to an off level when the frame position signal reaches the signal-off signal.

26. A communication system comprising: a frame position means for generating a frame position signal;a signal means for generating a signal-on signal and a signal-off signal; anda comparison means for generating a timing control signal based on the frame position signal, the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

27. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the frame position means comprises base counter means and the frame position signal comprises a plurality of counter signals.

28. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises an intra-slot counter signal.

29. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a slot counter signal.

30. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a frame counter signal.

31. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises a multi-frame counter signal.

32. The communication system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of counter signals comprises an intra-slot counter signal, a slot counter signal, a frame counter signal and a multi-frame counter signal.

33. A personal station comprising: the communication system of claim 26; anda transceiver means for selecting communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

34. The personal station of claim 33 wherein the transceiver means comprises means for selecting adjacent communication time slots based on the timing control signal.

35. A personal handy phone system comprising the personal station of claim 33.

36. A time division multiple access system comprising the communication system of claim 26.

37. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the signal means includes: signal-on means for selectively generating the signal-on signal; andsignal-off means for selectively generating the signal-off signal.

38. The communication system of claim 26 wherein the comparison means comprises means for generating the timing control signal by comparing the frame position signal to the signal-on signal and the signal-off signal.

39. The communication system of claim 38 further comprising control means for directing the timing control signal to an on level when the frame position signal reaches the signal-on signal and to an off level when the frame position signal reaches the signal-off signal.