Repeater system

• US 20020028655A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 03/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Milam, Timothy, Bishop, Bruce F., Powers, Emmett J., Rosener, Douglas K.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20020028655A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A repeater system for wireless communications applications is, in one aspect, programmable and controllable in a manner that enables multi-user, multiband, and multi-protocol operation. The repeater system includes a repeater coupled to an inside antenna system and to an outside antenna system, either or both of which may be adaptive. Inside cellular phones are coupled via links (that may be cellular or non-cellular) to the repeater and to a control unit, which is itself connected by a link to the repeater. The repeater includes a repeater core coupled to a control component. The core is constructed from a number of modules, the selection of which determines the operation and functionality of the repeater core. Core modules, selectively enabled by a user, establish one or more of the following modes of operation: passive, single-frequency active (SFA), Up/Down Converter (UDC), Remote Wireless Modem (RWM), and Shared-Identity repeater operation.

Claims

1. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

a repeater;

an external antenna system coupled to the repeater and including at least a portion of at least a first antenna positioned outside of the structure to provide cellular communications with a base station;

an internal antenna system coupled to the repeater and including at least a portion of at least a second antenna positioned inside of the structure to provide cellular communications with an end user communications device; and

a controller controllingly coupled to the repeater by a non-cellular communications link.

2. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises logic in the end user communications device to autonomously control the repeater.

3. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein the repeater is an Up/Down Converter repeater.

4. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein the repeater comprises:

a repeater core;

a first repeater module to provide a first set of operating characteristics for the repeater including a first communications protocol, a first communications frequency band, and a first operating protocol;

a second repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications protocol different than the first communications protocol of the first set of operating characteristics; and

a switch selectively coupling the first repeater module and the second repeater module to the repeater core.

5. The communications subsystem of claim 1, further comprising:

a first repeater module removably couplable to the repeater to provide a first set of operating characteristics for the repeater including a first communications protocol, a first communications frequency band, and a first operating protocol; and

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater in place of the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications protocol different than the first communications protocol of the first set of operating characteristics.

6. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein at least one of the internal and the external antenna systems is an adaptive antenna system.

7. The communications subsystem of claim 1, further comprising:

the end user communications device wherein the end user communications device is a cellular telephone.

8. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein the structure takes the form of a vehicle.

9. The communications subsystem of claim 1 wherein the structure takes the form of a building.

10. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

a repeater;

an external antenna system coupled to the repeater and including at least a portion of at least a first antenna positioned outside of the structure to provide cellular communications with a base station;

an internal communications link coupled to the repeater to provide non-cellular communications with an end user communications device; and

a controller controllingly coupled to the repeater by a non-cellular communications link.

11. The communications subsystem of claim 10 wherein the repeater is a remote wireless modem.

12. The communications subsystem of claim 10 wherein the repeater is a cellular communications device, the cellular communications device having a set of identity data that mimics a set of identity data identifying the end user communications device.

14. The communications subsystem of claim 13, further comprising:

a controller controllingly coupled to the repeater by a non-cellular communications link.

16. The communications subsystem of claim 15, further comprising:

the end user communications device wherein the end user communications device has an RF cellular transmitter temporarily rendered inoperative.

17. The communications subsystem of claim 15, further comprising:

the communications device wherein the end user communications device includes a digital signal processor programmed to function as a software radio.

19. The communications subsystem of claim 18, further comprising:

the end user communications device wherein the end user communications device has an RF cellular transmitter temporarily rendered inoperative.

13. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

an external antenna system including at least a portion of at least a first external antenna positioned outside of the structure to provide at least one of forward and reverse cellular communications with a base station;

an internal antenna system including at least a portion of at least a first internal antenna positioned inside of the structure and to provide at least one of forward and reverse cellular communications with an end user communications device; and

an Up/Down converter repeater coupled to the external antenna system and the internal antenna system to communicate with the base station at a first frequency and to communicate with the end user communications device at a second frequency, different from the first frequency.

15. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

an external antenna system including at least a portion of at least a first external antenna positioned outside of the structure to provide at least one of forward and reverse cellular communications with a base station; and

an internal communications link having at least a portion of the internal communications link inside the structure to provide at least one of forward and reverse non-cellular communications with an end user communications device; and

a remote wireless modem repeater coupled to the external antenna system and the internal communications link to convert between cellular communications and non-cellular communications.

18. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

an external antenna system including at least a portion of at least a first external antenna positioned outside of the structure to provide at least one of forward and reverse cellular communications with a base station; and

an internal communications link having at least a portion of the internal communications link inside the structure to provide at least one of forward and reverse non-cellular communications with an end user communications device; and

a cellular communications device coupled to the external antenna system and the internal communications link to convert between cellular communications and non-cellular communications, the cellular communications device having a set of identity data that mimics a set of identity data identifying the end user communications device.

20. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

a repeater; and

a first repeater module removably couplable to the repeater to provide a first set of operating characteristics for the repeater comprising at least one of a first communications protocol, a first communications frequency band, and a first operating protocol.

21. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater in place of the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications protocol different than the first communications protocol of the first set of operating characteristics.

22. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater in place of the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications frequency band different than the first communications frequency band of the first set of operating characteristics.

23. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater in place of the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second operating protocol different than the first operating protocol of the first set of operating characteristics.

24. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater concurrently with the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications protocol different than the first communications protocol of the first set of operating characteristics.

25. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater concurrently with the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics including a second communications frequency band different than the first communications frequency band of the first set of operating characteristics.

26. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a second repeater module removably couplable to the repeater concurrently with the first repeater module to provide a second set of operating characteristics for the repeater; and

a switch between the repeater and the first and the second repeater modules, the switch selectively operable to alternatively couple one of the first and the second repeater modules to the repeater.

27. The communications subsystem of claim 20 wherein the first repeater module is a remote wireless modem repeater module, comprising:

an RF transceiver coupled to a first communications link to transmit and receive cellular communications; and

a baseband interface between the RF transceiver and a second communications link to transmit and receive non-cellular baseband communications.

28. The communications subsystem of claim 20 wherein the first repeater module is a shared identity repeater module, comprising:

a phone core couplable to a first communications link to receive and transmit cellular communications;

a high level data interface between the phone core and a second communications links to receive and transmit non-cellular baseband communications, including identity information for an end-user communications device; and

computer-readable instructions to mimic the identity information for the end-user communications device.

29. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a wireless communications link including an external antenna system; and

a wired communications link, wherein the repeater is coupled between the wireless and the wired communications links to transfer communications signals between a base station located externally with respect to a structure and an end user communications device located internally with respect to the structure.

30. The communications subsystem of claim 20, further comprising:

a cellular wireless communications link including an external antenna system; and

a non-cellular wireless communications link including an internal antenna system, wherein the repeater is coupled between the cellular and the non-cellular communications links to transfer communications signals between a base station located externally with respect to a structure and an end user communications device located internally with respect to the structure.

31. A communications subsystem for installation with respect to a structure, comprising:

a first communications link;

a second communications link; and

a repeater coupled to the first and the second communications links to transfer communications signals therebetween, the repeater comprising;

a first repeater module to provide a first set of operating characteristics for the repeater, the first set of operating characteristics comprising at least one of a first operating protocol, a first communications protocol, and a first communications frequency band; and

a second repeater module to provide a second set operating characteristics for the repeater, the second set of operating characteristics comprising at least one of a second operating protocol, a second communications protocol, and a second communications frequency band.

32. The communications subsystem of claim 31, further comprising:

a switch selectively controlled by an end user cellular communications device to alternatively active one of the first and the second repeater modules to the repeater.

33. The communications subsystem of claim 31, further comprising:

an owner control unit; and

a switch selectively controlled by the owner control unit to alternatively activate one of the first and the second repeater modules to the repeater.

34. The communications subsystem of claim 31 wherein the second set of operating characteristics matches the first set of operating characteristics.

35. The communications subsystem of claim 31 wherein the second set of operating characteristics is different than the first set of operating characteristics.

36. The communications subsystem of claim 31 wherein the second communications link is wired.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications signal comprises producing a non-cellular request signal identifying an ON/OFF state for the repeater.

40. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

detecting the presence of the repeater within a proximity of the end user communications device, and where producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications signal comprises producing a non-cellular request signal identifying an ON/OFF state for the repeater.

41. The method of claim 38 wherein producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications signal, comprises:

producing a non-cellular request signal for placing at least a portion of the repeater in the ON state if a strength of the monitored cellular communications signal is below a predefined reference signal strength; and

producing a non-cellular request signal for placing at least a portion of the repeater in the OFF state if the strength of the monitored cellular communications signal is above the predefined reference signal strength.

42. The method of claim 38 wherein producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications link, comprises:

producing a non-cellular request signal for placing at least a portion of the repeater in the ON state if a quality of the monitored cellular communications link is below a predefined reference signal quality; and

producing a non-cellular request signal for placing at least a portion of the repeater in the OFF state if the quality of the monitored cellular communications link is above the predefined reference signal quality.

43. The method of claim 38 wherein producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications signal comprises producing a non-cellular request signal identifying an ON/OFF state for at least one of a number of modules of the repeater.

44. The method of claim 38 wherein producing a request from the end user communications device includes producing a request signal on a non-cellular communications link formed between repeater and the end user communications device.

46. The method of claim 45 where modifying at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the received non-cellular request includes changing an ON/OFF state of the repeater.

47. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

placing at least a portion the repeater in the ON state if a strength of a cellular communications signal received at the end user communications device at is below a predefined reference signal strength; and

placing at least a portion of the repeater in the OFF state if the strength of the cellular communications signal received at the end user communications device is above the predefined reference signal strength.

48. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

placing at least a portion the repeater in the ON state if a quality of a cellular communications link received at the end user communications device at is below a predefined reference signal quality; and

placing at least a portion of the repeater in the OFF state if the quality of the cellular communications link received at the end user communications device is above the predefined reference signal quality.

49. The method of claim 45 where modifying at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the received non-cellular request includes changing an ON/OFF state of at least one of a number of modules of the repeater.

50. The method of claim 45 where modifying at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the received non-cellular request includes changing an ON/OFF state of at least one of a number of modules of the repeater if the end user communications device is within a proximity of the repeater.

51. The method of claim 45 wherein modifying at least one operating parameter of the repeater based on the received non-cellular request includes modifying at least one of a first operating protocol, a first communication protocol, and a first communications frequency band.

37. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

receiving a forward cellular communications signal from a base station at an external antenna of an external antenna system;

receiving repeater control signals by way of a non-cellular communications link;

controlling the configuration of a repeater in response to the received control signals; and

repeating the forward communications signal at an internal antenna of an internal antenna system based at least in part on the configuration of the repeater.

38. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

monitoring a cellular communications signal received at an end user communications device; and

producing a non-cellular request from the end user communications device to modify at least one operating parameter of a repeater based on the monitored cellular communications signal.

45. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

receiving a non-cellular request from an end user communications device at a repeater over a non-cellular communications link;

modifying at least one operating parameter of the repeater based on the received non-cellular request;

receiving cellular communications at the repeater; and

repeating the received cellular communications by the repeater according to the modified operating parameters.

52. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device; and

basing access to at least a portion of a repeater on the received identifying data.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

querying the end user communications device for the identifying data.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a non-cellular communications signal carrying the identifying data.

55. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a communications signal carrying a communications device manufacturer identifier, and further comprising:

selecting one of a number of repeater modules based on the received communications device manufacturer identifier; and

operating the selected one of the number of repeater modules.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a communications signal carrying a communications protocol identifier, and further comprising:

selecting one of a number of repeater modules based on the communications protocol identifier; and

operating the selected one of the number of repeater modules.

57. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a communications signal carrying a communications frequency band identifier, and further comprising:

selecting one of a number of repeater modules based on the communications frequency band identifier; and

operating the selected one of the number of repeater modules.

58. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a communications signal carrying a user identifier, and further comprising:

selecting one of a number of repeater modules based on the user identifier; and

operating the selected one of the number of repeater modules.

59. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes receiving a communications signal carrying a communications device identifier, and further comprising:

selecting one of a number of repeater modules based on the communications device identifier; and

operating the selected one of the number of repeater modules.

60. The method of claim 52 wherein basing access to at least a portion of a repeater based on the received identifying data includes operating one of a number of repeater modules based on the received identifying data.

61. The method of claim 52 wherein receiving at least one piece of identifying data from an end user communications device includes rendering at least one of the number of repeater modules temporarily inactive based on the received identifying data.

62. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

at a first time,

transmitting cellular communications from an end user communications device at a first power level to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a base station; and

at a second time,

transmitting cellular communications from the end user communications device at a second power level, lower than the first power level, to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a repeater; and

operating the repeater to provide cellular communications between the repeater and the base station.

63. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

setting an ON/OFF state of at least a portion of the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

adjusting the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device between the first power level and the second power level in conjunction with the ON/OFF state of the at least a portion of the repeater.

64. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

activating at least a portion of the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

reducing the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device from the first power level to the second power level in conjunction with the activation of the at least a portion the repeater.

65. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

deactivating the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

increasing the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device from the second power level to the first power level in conjunction with the deactivation of the at least a portion of the repeater.

66. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

determining whether a strength of a cellular communications signal is below a threshold strength;

transmitting a non-cellular control signal to a repeater based on the determined strength of the cellular communications signal;

setting an ON/OFF state of at least a portion of the repeater based on the non-cellular control signal; and

adjusting the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device in conjunction with the ON/OFF state of the at least a portion of the repeater.

67. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

determining whether a strength of a cellular communications signal is below a threshold strength;

transmitting a non-cellular control signal to a repeater if the strength of the cellular communications signal is below the threshold strength;

activating at least a portion of the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

lowering the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device from the first power level to the second power level if the strength of the cellular communications signal is below the threshold strength.

68. The method of claim 62, further comprising:

determining whether a strength of a cellular communications signal is above a threshold strength;

transmitting a non-cellular control signal to a repeater if the strength of the cellular communications signal is above the threshold strength;

deactivating at least a portion of the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

raising the power level of the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device from the first power level to the second power level if the strength of the cellular communications signal is above the threshold strength.

70. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

setting an ON/OFF state of at least a portion of the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

adjusting the power level of the cellular transmitter at the end user communications device between the first power level and the second power level in conjunction with the ON/OFF state of the at least a portion of the repeater.

71. The method of claim 69, further comprising:

determining whether a strength of a cellular communications signal is below a threshold strength;

transmitting a non-cellular control signal to a repeater based on the determined strength of the cellular communications signal;

setting an ON/OFF state of at least a portion of the repeater based on the non-cellular control signal; and

adjusting the power level of the cellular transmitter at an end user communications device in conjunction with the ON/OFF state of the at least a portion of the repeater.

69. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

at a first time,

operating a cellular transmitter of an end user communications device at a first power level to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a base station; and

at a second time,

operating the cellular transmitter of the end user communications device at a second power level, lower than the first power level, to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a repeater; and

operating the repeater to provide cellular communications between the repeater and the base station.

72. A method of operating a communications subsystem, comprising:

at a first time,

transmitting cellular communications from an end user communications device to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a base station; and

at a second time,

transmitting non-cellular communications from the end user communications device to provide cellular communications between the end user communications device and a repeater; and

transmitting cellular communications corresponding to the non-cellular communications from the repeater to provide cellular communications between the repeater and the base station.

73. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

temporarily terminating the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device before transmitting the non-cellular communications from the end user communications device.

74. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

activating the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

temporarily terminating the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device before transmitting the non-cellular communications from the end user communications device.

75. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

receiving a non-cellular control signal from a user control over a non-cellular communications link;

deactivating the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

beginning the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device after deactivating the repeater.

76. The method of claim 72, further comprising:

determining whether a strength of a cellular communications signal is below a threshold;

transmitting a non-cellular control signal to a repeater if the strength of the cellular communications signal is below the threshold;

activating the repeater in response to the receipt of the non-cellular control signal; and

temporarily terminating the cellular communications transmission from the end user communications device if the strength of the cellular communications signal is below the threshold.