Automatic configuration of backhaul and groundlink frequencies in a wireless repeater

• US 20010031621A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 10/18/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmutz, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,718,160 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2609 Arrangements for range control, e.g. by using remote antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0094 Indication of how sub-channels of the path are allocated

Abstract

A method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system includes the steps of selecting a repeater configuration associated with at least one predetermined cell, identifying a specific repeater installed in the predetermined cell, and providing the repeater configuration to the specific repeater using a wireless transmission from a remote control facility. An apparatus includes structures for the automatic configuration of a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system.

Claims

1. A method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system, comprising the steps of:

selecting a repeater configuration associated with at least one predetermined cell;

identifying a specific repeater installed in said predetermined cell; and

providing said repeater configuration to said specific repeater using a wireless transmission from a remote control facility.

2. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 1

, wherein said repeater configuration includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a neighbor list, at least one groundlink channel, at least one backhaul channel, handover thresholds, alarm thresholds, alarm masks and at least one backhaul power level.

3. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 1

, further comprising the step of storing said repeater configuration at said remote control facility.

4. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 1

, wherein said remote control facility is at least one base transceiver station (BTS).

5. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 4

, wherein said specified repeater identifies said repeater configuration through a time interval used by said BTS wireless transmission.

6. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 4

, wherein said specified repeater identifies said repeater configuration through receiving an identifying code included in said BTS wireless transmission.

7. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 1

, wherein said providing step is responsive to a wireless configuration request transmitted by said specified repeater.

8. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 7

, wherein said specified repeater is identifiable from said configuration request.

9. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 8

, wherein said configuration request includes an electronic serial number (ESN) assigned to said specified repeater.

10. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 7

, wherein said specified repeater is identifiable through a time interval used during transmission of said configuration request.

11. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 7

, wherein said configuration request is transmitted over a channel identified by said specified repeater by scanning through a list of frequencies transmitted by said BTS.

12. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 7

, wherein said configuration request is transmitted over at least one control channel.

13. The method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 7

, wherein said configuration request is sent over a channel reserved for said configuration requests.

14. An apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system, comprising:

a structure for selecting a repeater configuration associated with at least one predetermined cell;

a structure for identifying a specific repeater installed in said predetermined cell; and

a structure for providing said repeater configuration to said specific repeater using a wireless transmission from a remote control facility.

15. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 14

, wherein said repeater configuration includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a neighbor list, at least one groundlink channel, handover thresholds, alarm thresholds, alarm masks, at least one backhaul channel, and at least one backhaul power level.

16. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 14

, further comprising a structure for storing said repeater configuration at said remote control facility.

17. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 14

, wherein said remote control facility is at least one base transceiver station (BTS).

18. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 17

, wherein said specified repeater identifies said repeater configuration through a time interval used by said BTS wireless transmission.

19. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 17

, wherein said specified repeater identifies said repeater configuration through receiving an identifying code included in said BTS wireless transmission.

20. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 14

, wherein said structure for providing is responsive to a wireless configuration request transmitted by said specified repeater.

21. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 20

, wherein said specified repeater is identifiable from said configuration request.

22. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 21

, wherein said configuration request includes an electronic serial number (ESN) assigned to said specified repeater.

23. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 20

, wherein said specified repeater is identifiable through a time interval used during transmission of said configuration request.

24. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 20

, wherein said configuration request is transmitted over a channel identified by said specified repeater by scanning through a list of frequencies transmitted by said BTS.

25. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 20

, wherein said configuration request is transmitted over at least one control channel.

26. The apparatus for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in

claim 20

, wherein said configuration request is sent over a channel reserved for said configuration requests.