Method and apparatus for repeater priority resolution in a wireless communication system

• US 20020111137A1
• Filed: 02/12/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walkup, Kevin D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,795,685 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A repeater unit (202,204) operates in a multi-channel wireless communication repeater system and maintains a priority state (216) for the repeater unit (202,204). The repeater unit (202,204) includes a first transceiver (204) for communicating on a first communication channel, a second transceiver (212) for communicating on a second communication channel, a controller (210), electrically connected to the first transceiver and to the second transceiver, and a prioritizer module (218), electrically connected to the controller (210), for controlling the repeater unit (202,204) to receive a first transmitted signal from the first communication channel, wherein the repeater unit (202,204) is designated as a priority repeater unit to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit (208) on the second communication channel and a base station (206) on the first communication channel, and in response to receiving the first transmitted signal, the repeater unit (202,204) transmitting a repeated signal into the second communication channel, the repeated signal including a repeater priority code (116, 118) transmitted by the repeater unit (202,204) to indicate that the repeater unit (202,204) is designated as a priority repeater unit to another repeater unit monitoring the second communication channel. The prioritizer module (218) further controls the repeater unit (202,204) to monitor the second communication channel, and in response to receiving a repeater priority code (116, 118) from the second communication channel designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.

Claims

1. A method in a wireless communication system including at least a first repeater unit, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a first transmitted signal from a first communication channel by a first repeater unit, wherein the first repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit; and

in response to receiving the first transmitted signal, the first repeater unit transmitting a repeated signal into a second communication channel for reception by a portable unit, the repeated signal comprising a repeater priority code transmitted by the first repeater unit to indicate to another repeater unit monitoring the second communication channel that the first repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

monitoring the second communication channel by a second repeater unit, wherein the second repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit; and

in response to receiving the repeater priority code in the repeated signal from the second communication channel, the second repeater unit designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first repeater unit while being designated as a priority repeater unit is designated to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit on the second communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first repeater unit operates according to a vehicular repeater system protocol.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first repeater unit comprises a mobile repeater unit that handles repeating all communications between a portable unit on the second communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

6. A method in a wireless communication system including at least a first repeater unit, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring at least one communication channel by the first repeater unit, wherein the first repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit to handle repeating of all communications with a portable unit on one of the at least one communication channel; and

in response to receiving a repeater priority code in a transmitted signal received from one of the at least one communication channel, the first repeater unit designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first repeater unit while being designated as a priority repeater unit is designated to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit on one of the at least one communication channel and a base station on a first communication channel.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the first repeater unit operates according to a vehicular repeater system protocol.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the first repeater unit comprises a mobile repeater unit that handles repeating all communications between a portable unit on one of the at least one communication channel and a base station on a first communication channel.

10. A repeater unit for operating in a wireless communication system, the repeater unit comprising:

a first transceiver for communicating on a first communication channel;

a second transceiver for communicating on a second communication channel;

a controller, electrically coupled to the first transceiver and to the second transceiver; and

a prioritizer, electrically coupled to the controller, for controlling the repeater unit to receive a first transmitted signal from the first communication channel, wherein the repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit, and in response to receiving the first transmitted signal, the repeater unit transmitting a repeated signal into a second communication channel, the repeated signal comprising a repeater priority code transmitted by the repeater unit to indicate that the repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit to another repeater unit monitoring the second communication channel.

11. The repeater unit of claim 10, wherein the prioritizer further controls the repeater unit to monitor the second communication channel, and in response to receiving a repeater priority code from the second communication channel designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.

12. The repeater unit of claim 10, wherein the repeater unit while being designated as a priority repeater unit is designated to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit on the second communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

13. The repeater unit of claim 10, wherein the repeater unit operates according to a vehicular repeater system protocol.

14. The repeater unit of claim 10, wherein the repeater unit comprises a mobile repeater unit that handles repeating all communications between a portable unit on the second communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

15. The repeater unit of claim 14, wherein the mobile repeater unit includes a VRS repeater unit communicatively coupled to a mobile radio, the mobile radio for communication with a base station on the first communication channel and the VRS repeater unit for communication with a portable unit on the second communication channel.

17. The VRS repeater unit of claim 16, wherein the computer instructions further include instructions to control the VRS repeater unit to monitor the second communication channel, and in response to receiving a repeater priority code from the second communication channel designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.

18. The VRS repeater unit of claim 16, wherein the VRS repeater unit while being designated as a priority repeater unit is designated to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit on the second communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

20. The VRS repeater unit of claim 19, further comprising:

a mobile radio interface, electrically coupled to the controller, for communicating with a mobile radio to communicate on a first communication channel, and wherein the VRS repeater unit while being designated as a priority repeater unit is designated to handle repeating of all communications between a portable unit on one of the at least one communication channel and a base station on the first communication channel.

16. A VRS repeater unit comprising:

a mobile radio interface for communicating with a mobile radio to communicate on a first communication channel;

a transceiver for communicating on a second communication channel;

a controller, electrically coupled to the mobile radio interface and to the transceiver; and

a memory, electrically coupled to the controller, the memory storing computer instructions for operating the controller, the computer instructions comprising instructions to;

receive a first transmitted signal from the first communication channel, wherein the VRS repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit; and

in response to receiving the first transmitted signal, the VRS repeater unit transmitting a repeated signal into the second communication channel, the repeated signal comprising a repeater priority code transmitted by the VRS repeater unit to indicate that the VRS repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit to another repeater unit monitoring the second communication channel.

19. A VRS repeater unit comprising:

a transceiver for communicating on at least one communication channel;

a controller, electrically coupled to the transceiver; and

a memory, electrically coupled to the controller, the memory storing computer instructions for operating the controller, the computer instructions comprising instructions to;

monitor the at least one communication channel, wherein the VRS repeater unit is designated as a priority repeater unit to handle repeating of all communications with a portable unit on one of the at least one communication channel; and

in response to receiving a repeater priority code in a transmitted signal received from one of the at least one communication channel, the VRS repeater unit designating itself as a non-priority repeater unit.