Use of RSSI Indication for Improved Data Transmission Over Amps Network

(1) Related Application(s)

This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S patent appication Ser. No. 08/387,246, filed Feb. 13, 1995, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and now abandoned.

(2) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wireless communications systems, and more particularly to data and voice communications systems utilizing an advance mobile phone system (AMPS) cellular network.

(3) Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, to provide communications over a telephone network, a data communication network system includes a computer host 12 and a modem 14 that is connected to a wall socket of a phone line so that data from modem 14 can be transmitted to a telephone network 16. A second modem 18 is provided to receive the data from modem 14. Modem 18 receives the data from telephone network 16 and sends it to a computer host 20. The system shown in FIG. 1 is a typical data communication network system for a wired telephone network.

A conventional wireless communication network system is shown in FIG. 2. The wireless network system includes a computer host 22, a modem 24, a modem interface 26, a cellular phone 28, and a base station 30. The wireless system is typically coupled to telephone network 16, modem 18 and computer host 20. In this instance, modem 18 is a landline modem. In another instance, telephone network 16 may be replaced by a cellular phone and a modem interface in which modem 18 is a mobile modem. To transmit data from computer host 22 to computer host 20, the data in computer host 22 is sent to cellular phone 28 through modem 24 and modem interface 26. Cellular phone 28, in turn, transmits the data to base station 30. Base station 30 then transmits the data to telephone network 16 which sends the data to computer host 20 through modem 18. Because modem 24 of FIG. 2 is the same as modem 14 of FIG. 1, modem interface 26 is required in the network system shown in FIG. 2. Because of modem interface 26, node 25 has the same characteristics as node 15 of FIG. 1. Modem interface 26 provides an analog path with appropriate protocols to make cellular phone 28 and base station 30 appear as a landline telephone network. Modem interface 26 is used to convert the signal at node 25 which is outputted by modem 24 into a signal that is compatible with cellular phone 28. Also, modem interface 26 converts the signal outputted by cellular phone 28 at node 27 into a signal that is compatible with modem 24. For instance, when computer host 22 tries to dial a number, modem 24 produces a tone dialing signal at node 25. However, cellular phone 28 cannot accept the tone dialing signal as an input. Thus, modem interface 26 converts the tone dialing signal into another form that can be received by cellular phone 28.

In FIG. 2, modem 24 can be made internal or external to computer host 22. Modem interface 26 can be an external device or an internal device built into modem 24 or cellular phone 28.

FIG. 3a is a detailed block diagram of modem 24, modem interface 26 and cellular phone 28 of FIG. 2. Modem 24 includes a system control A 43, a host interface 42, a data pump 44, a digital-to-analog (D/A) and analog-to-digital (A/D) converter 45, and a data access arrangement (DAA) 46. System control A 43 controls and operates host interface 42, data pump 44, D/A & A/D converter 45 and DAA 46. Data pump 44 modulates data coming from computer host 22 of FIG. 2 and demodulates signals coming from cellular phone 28. The D/A is used to convert digital signals from data pump 44 into analog signals,. and the A/D is used to convert analog signals coming from cellular phone 28 into digital signals for data pump 44. DAA 46 is used as a protective connecting device that serves as an interface between D/A & A/D converter 45 and modem interface 26.

Cellular phone 28 in FIG. 3a includes a system control B 53 for controlling and operating the components in cellular phone 28--an analog cellular transceiver 50 and a radio transceiver 52. To send data, analog cellular transceiver 50 receives analog signals from modem interface 26, processes the signals in an analog domain and generates signals that can be converted into radio waves. To receive data, radio transceiver 52 receives radio waves, converts the radio waves into analog signals so that analog cellular transceiver 50 can process them in the analog domain.

The wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3a has several disadvantages. First, because the wireless communication system uses an analog cellular transceiver whose characteristics are optimized for voice communication but not for data communication, data communication rate is low. Second, because a signal conversion (i.e., analog-to-digital or digital-to-analog) occurs between two signal processing units (data pump 44 and analog cellular transceiver 50), signals tend to degrade, causing errors. Ideally, all signals should be processed in one domain (e.g., either digital or analog), and be converted into another form either at the beginning or at the end of the signal processing to avoid signal degradation. In the system shown in FIG. 3a, to send data, data pump 44 processes digital signals, D/A & A/D converter 45 converts the digital signals into analog signals, and analog cellular transceiver 50 processes the analog signals that are degraded. When signals are converted from a digital to an analog form (or from an analog to a digital form), the signals become degraded because the conversion process loses some information in the signals, and noise is injected into the signals. When the degraded signals are processed further, they may further reduce performance. Third, because modem 24 and cellular phone 28 operate under two separate system controls, modem 24 cannot adapt to dynamic changes that occur in cellular phone 28, and cellular phone 28 cannot adapt itself to the changes that occur in modem 24. A wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3a which is connected to an AMPS cellular network allows only the modem analog data and the emulated PSTN type information (ringing, busy, etc.) to be transferred between modem 24 and cellular phone 28. In effect, modem 24 sees the cellular telephone channel as a landline telephone channel In addition, currently existing cellular protocols such as NMP10 and ETC are blind to the dynamic characteristics of the cellular telephone channel.

A prior art wireless communications system shown in FIG. 3b is similar to the one shown in FIG. 3a except that it uses a digitally implemented cellular transceiver 72 instead of an analog cellular transceiver. Because cellular transceiver 72 is digital, it may process signals more accurately than analog cellular transceiver 50. However, because the wireless communication system uses digital implementation, the system requires two extra A/D & D/A converters. Thus, the system in FIG. 3b may require more hardware than the system shown in FIG. 3a. The system in FIG. 3b has similar disadvantages as the one shown in FIG. 3a. Because of D/A & A/D converters 65 and 70, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 72 receives and processes degraded signals. Data degradation may be greater in this instance because the system requires two conversions to send signals from data pump 64 to digitally implemented cellular transceiver 72. In addition, like the system in FIG. 3a, the system in FIG. 3b includes two system control units: system control A 63 for modem 24 and system control B 73 for cellular phone 28. Because modem 24 and cellular phone 28 are controlled by two separate system controls, as described before, modem 24 cannot adapt to the dynamic changes that occur in cellular phone 28, and cellular phone 28 cannot adapt to the changes that occur in modem 24.

It will be advantageous, therefore, to provide a wireless communication system (a) having one system control unit for all the components of the system so that the various components of the system can be adapted and adjusted as the parameters of the other components or the dynamic characteristics of the cellular channel vary and (b) performing all of the signal processing in one domain to reduce signal degradation. In the present invention, a wireless communication system operating under one system control unit provides a way to implement advanced protocols that take advantage of control channel information and messages that are passed between a base station and a cellular transceiver.

The present invention provides methods of using control channel information of an integrated cellular communication system to enhance data throughput. The cellular communication system of the present invention includes a system control unit coupled to a data pump, a cellular transceiver and a radio transceiver. One method of operating the cellular communication system in accordance with the present invention includes the following steps: (a) detecting a control channel signal indicating that a channel interruption is to occur; (b) decoding the control channel signal; (c) sending the decoded control channel signal to the system control unit; (d) controlling the parameters of the adaptive components of the data pump so that the parameters remain at a converged state; (e) interrupting the channel; and (f) re-establishing the channel within a reduced retraining time period. Before interrupting the channel, the cellular communication system may also transmit a command to a data pump of a second cellular communication system so that the second system can initiate an appropriate process to maintain the parameters of its adaptive components at a converged state. The cellular communication system may also acknowledge receiving the control channel signal before the channel is interrupted.

Another method of operating the cellular communication system in accordance with the present invention includes the following steps: (a) detecting a control channel signal indicating that a channel interruption is to occur; (b) decoding the control channel signal; (c) sending the decoded control channel signal to the system control unit; (d) continuously adjusting the parameters of the adaptive components of the data pump so that the parameters are adjusted even during the channel interruption; (e) interrupting the channel; and (f) re-establishing the channel within a reduced retraining time period. Like the first method, the cellular communication system may also transmit a command to a second cellular communication system and acknowledge the control channel signal before the channel is interrupted.

The objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a prior art data communications network system for a wired telephone network.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a prior art wireless communications network system.

FIG. 3a is a detailed block diagram of a portion of the wireless communications network system shown in FIG. 2 having an analog cellular transceiver.

FIG. 3b is a detailed block diagram of a portion of the wireless communications network system shown in FIG. 2 having a digitally implemented cellular transceiver.

FIG. 4 is a digital wireless communication system operating under one system control unit according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a detailed block diagram of the data pump of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the digitally implemented cellular transceiver of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7a is a graph showing the relationship between an input and an output of a compression function used for audio signals.

FIG. 7b is a graphical relationship between an input and an output of a compression function used for data signals according to the present invention.

FIG. 8a is a graph illustrating the relationship between an input and an output of an expansion function used for audio signals.

FIG. 8b is a graphical relationship between an input and an output of an expansion function used for data signals according to the present invention.

FIG. 9a is a flow chart illustrating one method of using control channel information to enhance data throughput of a wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 9b is a flow chart illustrating another method of using control channel information to enhance data throughput of a wireless communication system according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a computer system that may utilize a wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a graph of the RSSI signal as a function of time which illustrates one method of the invention.

FIG. 12 is a graph of the RSSI signal as a function of time which illustrates a second method of the invention.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for implementing a wireless communication system that allows all of the system's components to operate under one system control unit so that the various components can adjust and adapt to the changes that occur in other components and that improves the efficiency of communication over the wireless communications network. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth such as detailed block diagrams and signal flow charts to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, by one having ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without such specific details. In other instances, well-known control structures and gate level circuits have not been shown in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art, once provided with the various functions below, will be able to implement the necessary logic circuits without undue experimentation.

Now referring to FIG. 4, a wireless communication system 91 is presented according to the present invention. Wireless communication system 91 includes a system control unit 93 for controlling various components of wireless communication system 91 and a data unit 97 for processing data signals received from a computer host or data signals received from a digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96. Wireless communication system 91 further includes an audio unit 108 for processing audio signals that are received from digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 or that are to be transmitted to digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96. Digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 receives data signals from data unit 97 or audio signals from audio unit 108. D/A & A/D converter 98 includes a D/A circuitry and an A/D circuitry. The D/A circuitry is used to convert signals in a digital domain into analog cellular signals. The A/D circuitry is used to convert analog cellular signals received from radio transceiver 100 into digital signals. Radio transceiver 100 is used to either transmit radio waves to a base station or to receive radio waves from the base station utilizing two different types of channels--control channels and voice channels.

Data unit 97 includes a host interface 92 for interfacing wireless communication system 91 to a data terminal equipment (DTE) such as a computer host and a data pump 94 for performing modem signal processing. Referring to FIG. 5, a high speed modem data pump 94 typically contains a data conditioning block 200, a modulator 202 and an adaptive compensation block 204. Adaptive compensation block 204 performs adaptive receiver algorithms that adjust the parameters of data pump 94 so that the parameters can be optimally matched to the characteristics of a remote modem and transmission channel. The adaptive receiver algorithms used in data pump 94 may include functional blocks such as an automatic gain control 206, a timing interpolator 208, an equalizer 210, carrier phase tracking 212, etc. A demodulator function for data pump 94 can be included in an of the functional blocks mentioned above (e.g., automatic gain control 206, timing interpolator 208, equalizer, and carrier phase tracking (212) or may be implemented as a separate functional block in 204.

Automatic gain control 206 compensates for the different signal levels arriving at the data pump input, and presents reasonably stable input levels to the other functional blocks in 204. Very often the timing frequencies of a remote modem's data pump in a transmission mode and the local modem's data pump in a reception mode are slightly different, and timing interpolator 208 may need to adaptively adjust the local timing so that it is identical to the remote timing. Equalizer 210 adaptively compensates for the transmission channel amplitude and delay distortions. Carrier phase tracking 212 adaptively corrects errors that occur due to the differences between the local modem's data pump timing and the carrier frequency timing of the remote modem's data pump.

Audio unit 108 includes a microphone 104, a speaker 106 and an encoder/decoder (CODEC) unit 102. Microphone 104 receives acoustic waves and converts them into electrical audio signals. Speaker 106 receives electrical audio signals, converts them into acoustic waves and transmits the acoustic waves into the air. CODEC unit 102 is used to encode or decode signals using a non-linear conversion function such as the m-law or A-law or a linear conversion function.

Digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 processes either digital data signals or audio signals. Because digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 processes signals in the digital domain, no D/A & A/D converter is required between data unit 97 and digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96. Because there is no digital to analog conversion between data unit 97 and digitally implemented cellular processor 96, there is less degradation in signal quality.

Now referring to FIG. 6, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 includes a first block 111 that performs cellular signaling protocols to communicate with the base station and a second block 113 that performs signal conditioning to communicate with a remote unit through the base station. In the first block 111, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 processes various cellular signaling protocols such as dotting patterns, signaling tone (ST) generation, signaling pattern detection and generation, and manchester coding/decoding. Digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 also handles other cellular signaling protocols such as controlling different phases of call establishment, hand-offs, and termination. It should be noted that digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 may process other cellular signaling protocols not listed above. All cellular signaling protocols are implemented on the same digital processor, or they run as a group of tasks under the same operating system or scheduler. While digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 directs, generates and processes the cellular protocols, system control unit 93 determines when to send the signals and what to do with the signals.

In the second block 113, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 includes a CODEC driver 146 for interfacing the software functions of digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 to CODEC unit 102. If CODEC unit 102 uses a non-linear conversion function, then an encoder 142 and a decoder 144 are implemented in digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96. Decoder 144 is used to convert the non-linear signals encoded by CODEC unit 102 into linear signals. Encoder 142 is used to convert linear signals coming from a de-multiplexer 128 into non-linear signals. If, on the other hand, CODEC unit 102 uses a linear conversion function, then encoder 142 and decoder 144 are not needed. The advantage of having a non-linear CODEC unit 102 is that it is generally inexpensive. In the present invention, the disadvantage of having a non-linear CODEC unit is that it requires extra hardware: encoder 142 and decoder 144. In addition, signals get degraded when encoder 142 or decoder 144 converts the signals from one form to another.

The second block 113 further includes a multiplexer 140, a compression unit 134, a pre-emphasis unit 132, a first filter 130, a second filter 122, a de-emphasis unit 124, an expansion unit 126 and the de-multiplexer 128. Multiplexer 140 selects either the data signal from data pump 94 or the audio signal from decoder 144 (or CODEC driver 146 if CODEC unit 102 is linear). Compression unit 134 manipulates a signal based on its amplitude and is adjustable (or is software programmable) in that its characteristics can be adjusted depending on whether it receives audio signals or data signals.

FIG. 7a shows one exemplary graphical relationship between an input and an output of compression unit 134 where the input is an audio signal. Compression unit 134 decreases the magnitude of the input signal if the amplitude of the input signal is low. On the other hand, compression unit 134 increases the magnitude of the input signal if the amplitude of the input signal is high.

FIG. 7b shows one exemplary transfer function employed by compression unit 134 where the input is a data signal. In this instance, compression unit 134 uses a linear transfer function between the input and the output.

Referring back to FIG. 6, pre-emphasis unit 132 is used to manipulate a signal based on its frequency. Pre-emphasis unit 132 is also adjustable (or is software programmable) in that its characteristics may be varied depending on whether it receives audio signals from the audio unit or data signals from the data unit. First filter 130 is used to band-limit a signal before it is sent to a transmit buffer 112 that is coupled to the D/A circuitry in D/A & A/D converter 98. First filter 130 is typically a band-pass filter. Second filter 122 is used to receive a signal from a receiver buffer 110 which is coupled to the A/D circuitry of D/A & A/D converter 98. The characteristics of both first and second filters (130 and 122) can be adjusted depending on whether an audio or data signal is being processed.

De-emphasis unit 124 manipulates a signal based on its frequency in a manner opposite to pre-emphasis unit 132. De-emphasis unit 124 is also adjustable (or is software programmable) like pre-emphasis unit 132. Expansion unit 126 manipulates a signal based on its amplitude in a manner opposite to compression unit 134. Expansion unit 126, in effect, is used to undo what a compression unit does. Expansion unit 126 is also adjustable (or is software programmable) depending on the type of input signal.

FIG. 8a shows a typical graphical relationship between an input and an output of an expansion unit used for audio signals. The transfer function of FIG. 8a is substantially an inverse function of that shown in FIG. 7a. The transfer function shown in FIG. 8a increases the amplitude of its input signal if its amplitude is low, and decreases the amplitude of its signal if its amplitude is high.

FIG. 8b is a typical transfer function employed by expansion unit 126 for data signals. The transfer function of FIG. 8b is substantially an inverse function of that shown in FIG. 7b. In this example, a linear function is employed for expansion unit 126.

De-multiplexer 128 is used to direct signals received from a single input to either data pump 98 or encoder 142 (or CODEC driver 146 if CODEC unit 102 is linear).

It should be noted that the reason why the functional units in block 152 (i.e., 122, 124, 126, 130, 132 and 134) can be adjusted (or is software programmable) depending on whether block 152 is processing audio or data signals is that system control unit 93 in FIG. 4 controls all of data unit 97, audio unit 108 and digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96. System control unit 93 knows what type of signal is sent and received by various components, and it can adjust the characteristics of the components accordingly.

Referring to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 may be replaced by an analog cellular transceiver. In that instance, D/A & A/D converter 98 is no longer needed. However, a D/A & A/D converter is needed between data pump 94 and digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 so that during data transmission, the digital signals from data pump 94 can be first converted into analog signals before entering into the analog cellular transceiver, and during data reception, the analog signals from the analog cellular transceiver can be converted into digital signals before the signals are sent to data pump 94. As described before, it is preferable to place a D/A & A/D converter either at the beginning or at the end of all signal processing. When the D/A & A/D converter is placed between two signal processing units (i.e., data pump 94 and the analog cellular transceiver), the signal quality deteriorates. Thus, an analog cellular transceiver is typically inferior in performance to a digitally implemented cellular transceiver.

The components such as data unit 97, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 and system control unit 93 may be in one digital signal processing (DSP) chip, in one microprocessor chip, in a plurality of DSP chips or in a plurality of microprocessor chips. Whether wireless communication system 91 uses a single chip or several chips, there will be only one system control unit so that all the components can operate under one operating system. Because the components such as data unit 97, audio unit 108 and digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 are integrated and operate under one operating system, information can be passed between different components. Also, one component can adapt itself to the changes that occur in another component. For example, data pump 94 can adapt to impairments of the cellular line. Like a regular phone line, the cellular line can also have imperfection or distortions. When the characteristics of the control channels or the voice channels of the cellular line change, because system control unit 93 controls both data pump 94 and digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96, data pump 94 can modify its parameters to compensate for the distortion that occurs in the cellular line. Thus, because the various components are integrated and operate under one operating system, wireless communication system 91 can achieve a higher transmission rate and/or lower error rate. Also, because the present invention is integrated, wireless communication system 91 can be put in one package, and the package can be much smaller than any of the conventional wireless communication system packages.

FIG. 9a shows a flow chart illustrating one method of using control channel information to enhance data throughput of a wireless communication system according to the present invention. Now referring to FIGS. 9a, 4 and 6, at step 302, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 detects a control channel signal indicating that a channel interruption is to occur. The control channel signal includes a dotting pattern and control channel message. At step 304, Manchester data decoder 114 decodes the control channel signal. At step 306, the decoded control channel signal is sent to system control unit 93.

At step 308, system control unit 93 controls the parameters of the adaptive components of data pump 94 so that the parameters remain at a converged state. The adaptive components include, but are not limited to, an equalizer, a carrier phase tracking unit, an interpolator and an automatic gain control unit. In the present invention, while there is no channel interruption, the parameters of the adaptive components are continuously adjusted to adapt to the dynamic changes that occur in the communication channel. Conventionally, when there is a channel interruption (e.g., a line drop), the parameters of the adaptive components are lost. When the channel is re-connected, the adaptive components have to be completely re-trained. In the present invention, however, because there is only one system control unit (system control unit 93) controlling all of the components (97, 96, 98, 100 and 108),, when there is a channel interruption, system control unit 93 can command the adaptive components of data pump 94 to remain at its converged state (i.e., the last state before the channel interruption) so that when the channel is re-connected, because the adaptive components are at the last converged state, it would take less time to re-train the components. During steps 302, 304 and 306, the parameters of the adaptive components are continuously adjusted. During steps 308, 310, 312 and 314, the parameters are maintained at the last converged state.

At step 310, system control unit 93 may send a command to a data pump of a second modem so that the second modem can initiate an appropriate process to maintain the parameters of the adaptive components of the second modem at a converged state. At step 312, system control unit 93 may send an acknowledgment of the control channel signal to the base station. It should be noted that steps 310 and 312 are optional and thus need not be executed, if so desired. At step 314, the channel is interrupted, and data transmission stops. After detecting the control channel signal at step 302, digitally implemented cellular transceiver 96 has about 100 msec to perform the steps 304-312 before the channel is interrupted. At step 316, the channel is re-established so that the data can be transmitted again. Because the parameters of the adaptive components of the data pump were at the last converged state, the amount of time required to re-train the adaptive components is reduced.

FIG. 9b shows a flow chart illustrating another method of using control channel information to enhance data throughput of a wireless communication system according to the present invention. Now referring to FIG. 9b, the steps 402-406 and 510-516 are the same as the steps 302-306 and 310-316 of FIG. 9a, and thus the descriptions are not repeated. At step 408, instead of merely having the parameters of the adaptive components remain at the last converged state, the parameters can be continuously adjusted throughout the channel interruption period so that when the channel is re-established, data pump 94 need not be re-trained. The wireless communication system 91 may track the rate of parameter variations in the adaptive components of data pump 94 and/or maintain the adaptive variations at the tracked rate (e.g., tap update, frequency offsets, etc.). The parameters of the adaptive components are adjusted during steps 402-516. FIG. 10 shows a computer system that may utilize a wireless communication system in accordance with the present invention. A computer host 1000 includes a memory 1008 and a central processor 1002. Memory 1008 and central processor 1002 are those typically found in most general purpose computer and almost all special purpose computers. In fact, these devices contained within computer host 1000 are intended to be representative of the broad category of data processors and memory. Many commercially available computers having different capabilities may be utilized in the present invention.

A system bus 1016 is provided for communicating information. A display device 1010 utilized with the computer system of the present invention may be a liquid crystal device, cathode ray tube or other display device suitable for creating graphic images and/or alphanumeric characters recognizable to a user. The computer system may also include an alphanumeric input device 1012 including alphanumeric and function keys coupled to bus 1016 for communicating information and command selections to central processor 1002, and a cursor control device 1018 coupled to bus 1016 for communicating user input information and command selections to central processor 1002 based on a user's hand movement. Cursor control device 1018 allows the user to dynamically signal the two-dimensional movement of the visual symbol (or cursor) on a display screen of display device 1010. Many implementations of cursor control device 1018 are known in the art, including a track ball, mouse, pen, joystick or special keys on the alphanumeric input device 1012, all capable of signaling movement in a given direction or manner of displacement.

The computer system of FIG. 10 also includes a wireless communication system 1019 of the present invention coupled to bus 1016 for communicating data to and from computer host 1000. Wireless communication system 1019 may implement the system shown in FIG. 4. Also available for interface with the computer system of the present invention is a data storage device 1017 such as a magnetic disk or optical disk drive, which may be communicatively coupled with bus 1016, for storing data and instructions. The computer system of FIG. 10 may also include a printer for outputting data.

An alternative embodiment takes advantage of the existence of The Received Signal Strength Indicator ("RSSI") signal. This signal is generated by all radio transceivers that conform to the AMPS specification. In FIG. 4, it is radio transceiver 100. This signal is a measure of the strength of the radio signal received by the transceiver. The RSSI signal is monitored by the system control unit 93 and is transmitted to the base station over the control channel. The RSSI is used by the logic of the base station to determine when to switch from one cell to another. As a result, the RSSI is an excellent predictor of when the data connection between the transceiver and the base station will be interrupted by the base station electronics for a cell change or when a null is reached due to external conditions such as multipath signal cancellation. Thus, it may be used to freeze the actions of the adaptive components before it follows a fading radio signal so far down that it will not be able to converge when the radio signal strength returns to a more normal level.

A decision to freeze the adaptive components is based on a value derived from the RSSI signal. The derived value may be no more than the amplitude level of the RSSI signal at a point in time, or it may be a value that reflects the trend of the RSSI amplitude over a specified time. Such a trend value would take small fluctuations into account. FIG. 11 provides an example of a typical situation. FIG. 11 is a graph of the RSSI signal as a function of time. This graph is somewhat typical of the RSSI in a traveling car. Referring now to FIG. 11, the Y axis represents signal strength. The X axis represents either time or distance. As can be seen, RSSI signal 1100 experiences small fluctuations at points 1102 and 1104. At point 1106, signal 1100 begins to experience a gradual but steady decrease in amplitude due for example to external interference. At point 1108 the external interference becomes very severe and signal 1100 falls off precipitously. After the subsidence of the external influence, signal 1100 reappears at point 1110 which is much higher in amplitude than point 1108. Signal 1100 then experiences an additional small signal fluctuation at point 1112 and then rises gradually back to its nominal value at point 1114.

The problem, of course, with this all too typical signal pattern is that when there is a channel interrupt, such as from points 1108 to 1110, the adaptive components of the data pump must be completely retrained. Furthermore, if the signal amplitude at points 1108 and 1112 is considerably different than at point 1108, retraining takes a long time and data throughput is reduced.

The simplest method of using the RSSI signal is to program system control unit 93 to freeze all adaptive components when RSSI signal 1100 reaches a predetermined critical level such as voltage level V.sub.1 reached l.sub.1 System control unit 93 is also programmed to unfreeze the adaptive components when RSSI signal 1100 is once again above amplitude level V.sub.1. In FIG. 11, this occurs at l.sub.2 where the amplitude is V.sub.2 In this instance V.sub.2 is not the same as V.sub.1. The greater the difference between V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 the longer it will take for the adaptive components to retrain. Thus, in this instance, the difference between V.sub.1 and V.sub.2 while not zero, is much smaller than it would have been if the adaptive components had attempted to follow the incoming signal all the way until it cut off at point 1108.

A second method is illustrated in FIG. 12. Referring now to FIG. 12, the value of the amplitude of the RSSI signal V is sampled at regular intervals, t.sub.1, t.sub.2, . . . t.sub.n. If the value of V decreases at each of n consecutive samples, the adaptive circuitry is frozen; where n is an integer such as 2, 3 or 4 and is determined by either the manufacturer, the user or by an internal algorithm. The time interval between samples may be on the order of 10 milliseconds. In the case shown in FIG. 12, if n is 3, then the adaptive components would be frozen at level V3 (corresponding to the voltage level at the sample taken at time (t.sub.8) which is higher than the level at which the adaptive components were frozen in the example of FIG. 11. And the small amplitude variations at locations 1102 and 1104 would not have triggered a freezing of the adaptive components before it was necessary since V did not decrease for 3 consecutive samples.

While the present invention has been particularly described with reference to the various figures and embodiments, it should be understood that these are for illustration only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Many changes and modifications may be made to the invention, by one having ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.