Importance

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Abstract

A data communications system is described which comprises a general communications controller (GCC), a plurality of channel communications modules (CCM) and associated co-located transmitters and receivers, and a plurality of portable radios. Message signals carrying alphanumeric information are communicated between the GCC and the portable radios by way of a radio channel. Each CCM receiver takes a signal strength measurement every time it receives a message signal from a portable radio. The GCC gathers the signal strength measurements from the GCC receivers receiving the same message signal and computes the radio channel path loss between the portable radio and each base/transmitter-receiver site which received that portable radio's message. The GCC next determines how much transmitter power each base transmitter site can deliver to the portable radio's receiver. The GCC can then determined (a) which sites are capable of delivering a message to the portable radio, and (b) which sites can be simultaneously used for other traffic without producing harmful interference to the first transmission. Since the GCC can manage the levels of co-channel interference, multiple messages may be simultaneously sent from several base transmitters to several portable radios. This mode of system operation provides for greatly enhanced information throughput.

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First Claim