Reverse link power controlled repeater

• US 20030123401A1
• Filed: 11/20/2002
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Dean, Richard F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/14 Separate analysis of uplink or downlink
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/146 Uplink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks

Abstract

The invention provides a mechanism for automatically setting reverse link gain or power for a repeater (120) used in a communication system (100) through the use of the reverse link power control of a built-in wireless communications device. By embedding a wireless communication device (430, 630, 700) inside the repeater and injecting reverse link signals of the embedded device into the reverse link of the repeater (124A, 124B), the gain of the repeater is maintained relatively constant. The embedded WCD can also be activated on a periodic basis to make calls and utilize reverse link power-control to calibrate or re-calibrate the gain of the repeater, making it a power-controlled repeater.

Claims

1. A method of controlling output power for a repeater communicating with one or more base stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

coupling a pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal intended for remote stations to an embedded wireless communication device within said repeater;

establishing a reverse communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station in response to said pre-selected portion using a reverse link signal path substantially in common with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station; and

receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the return link gain of said repeater.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the return link gain of said repeater comprises:

receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station;

generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said wireless communication device; and

adjusting the return link gain of said repeater based on said power control signal.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising generating an automatic gain control signal in said wireless communication device as said at least one power control signal.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a communication signal from said donor base station to be transferred to remote stations;

receiving communication signals from one or more remote stations to be transferred to said base station along a predetermined signal path;

processing said pre-selected portion in said wireless communication device to establish a forward communication link;

generating a reverse link communication signal in said wireless communication device for said donor base station;

transferring said reverse link communication signal from said wireless communication device along with said signals received from said covered remote stations along a predetermined reverse link in common with remote station communication signals to said donor base station;

receiving a directed communication signal from said donor base station for said wireless communication device and generating said power control signal;

detecting said power control signal by said repeater; and

adjusting said return link gain based on said detected power control signal.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

amplifying communication signals received from said donor base station;

transmitting amplified donor signals to at least one remote station;

amplifying communication signals received from one ore more remote stations;

transmitting amplified cover signals to said base station;

transferring amplified covered remote communication signals and received donor base station communication signals through a duplexer; and

transferring amplified donor base station communication signals and received remote station communication signals through a duplexer.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising

attenuating said pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal before transfer to said wireless communication device by a pre-selected amount;

attenuating said return link signal output by said wireless communication device; and

combining a resulting attenuated return link signal from said wireless communication device with remote station communication signals.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a communication signal from said donor base station having a first frequency; and

receiving communication signals from one or more remote stations having a second frequency different from said first.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

establishing a forward communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station using said first frequency; and

establishing a reverse communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station using said second frequency.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for said first frequency.

10. The method of claim 7 further comprising adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for both said first and second frequencies.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising producing said communication signals using a standard selected from the group of CDMA, WCDMA, TDMA, TD-SCDMA, and GSM.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising periodically establishing a communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station and receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and calibrating a gain set point for said repeater.

13. Apparatus for controlling output power for a repeater communicating with one or more donor base stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for coupling a pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal intended for remote stations to an embedded wireless communication device within said repeater;

means for establishing a communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station in response to said pre-selected portion using a reverse link signal path substantially in common with remote station communication signals; and

means for receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and for generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the return link gain of said repeater.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means for receiving and adjusting comprises:

means for receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station;

means for generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said wireless communication device; and

means for adjusting the return link gain of said repeater based on said power control signal.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising means for generating an automatic gain control signal in said wireless communication device as said at least one power control signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a communication signal from said donor base station to be transferred to remote stations;

means for receiving communication signals from one or more remote stations to be transferred to said base station along a predetermined signal path;

means for processing said pre-selected portion in said wireless communication device to establish a forward communication link;

means for generating a reverse link communication signal in said wireless communication device for said donor base station;

means for transferring said reverse link communication signal from said wireless communication device along with said signals received from said covered remote stations along said predetermined signal path to said donor base station;

means for receiving a directed communication signal from said donor base station for said wireless communication device and generating said power control signal;

means for detecting said power control signal by said repeater; and

means for adjusting said return link gain based on said detected power control signal.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for amplifying communication signals received from said donor base station;

means for transmitting amplified donor signals to at least one remote station;

means for amplifying communication signals received from one ore more remote stations;

means for transmitting amplified cover signals to said base station;

means for transferring amplified covered remote communication signals and received donor base station communication signals through a duplexer; and

means for transferring amplified donor base station communication signals and received remote station communication signals through a duplexer.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising

means for attenuating said pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal before transfer to said wireless communication device be a pre-selected amount;

and

means for attenuating said return link signal output by said wireless communication device; and

combining a resulting attenuated return link signal from said wireless communication device with remote station communication signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for receiving a communication signal from said donor base station having a first frequency; and

means for receiving communication signals from one or more remote stations having a second frequency different from said first.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

means for establishing a forward communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station using said first frequency; and

means for establishing a reverse communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station using said second frequency.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for said first frequency.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for both said first and second frequencies.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 further comprising:

means for transmitting amplified donor signals to at least one remote station and for transmitting amplified remote station signals to said base station at said first frequency; and

means for transmitting reverse link signals from said wireless communication device to said donor base station at a second frequency.

24. The method of claim 13 further comprising means for producing said communication signals using a standard selected from the group of CDMA, WCDMA, TDMA, TD-SCDMA, and GSM.

25. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising means for periodically establishing a communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station, and receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and calibrating a gain set point for said repeater.

33. The repeater of claim 13 further comprising means for producing communication signals using a standard selected from the group of CDMA, WCDMA, TDMA, TD-SCDMA, and GSM.

26. A method of controlling noise in a donor base station in communication with a repeater communicating with the base station and one or more remote stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

transferring a pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal intended for remote stations to an embedded wireless communication device within said repeater;

establishing a communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station in response to said pre-selected portion by transmitting a return link signal over a return signal path shared with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station;

receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said wireless communication device; and

adjusting the return link gain of said repeater based on said power control signal.

27. Apparatus for controlling noise in a donor base station in communication with a repeater communicating with the base station and one or more remote stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

means for transferring a pre-selected portion of a donor base station communication signal intended for remote stations to an embedded wireless communication device within said repeater;

means for establishing a communication link between said wireless communication device and said donor base station in response to said pre-selected portion by transmitting a return link signal over a return signal path shared with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station;

means for receiving power adjustment information for said wireless communication device from said donor base station and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said wireless communication device; and

means for adjusting the return link gain of said repeater based on said power control signal.

28. A power-controlled repeater communicating with one or more donor base stations and remote stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

first circuitry for processing communication signals received from said donor base station for transfer to remote stations;

second circuitry for processing communication signals received from said remote stations for transfer to a donor base station;

a wireless communication device connected to said first and second circuitry so as to receive at least a pre-selected portion of communication signals received from said donor base station and to establish a communication link with said donor base station in response to said pre-selected portion over a return signal path in common with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station, the wireless device being further connected to adjust the return link gain of said repeater based on power changes made in response to characteristics of the established communication link.

29. The repeater of claim 28, wherein said first and second circuitry are configured to:

amplify and transmit donor signals to at least one remote station and amplify and transmit remote station signals to said donor base station at a first frequency; and

amplify and transmit reverse link signals from said wireless communication device to said donor base station at a second frequency.

30. The repeater of claim 29 further comprising means for adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for said first frequency.

31. The repeater of claim 29 further comprising means for adjusting the repeater gain for said second frequency based on power adjustment information for both said first and second frequencies.

32. The repeater of claim 29 further comprising:

means for transmitting amplified donor signals to at least one remote station and for transmitting amplified remote station signals to said base station at said first frequency; and

means for transmitting reverse link signals from said wireless communication device to said donor base station at a second frequency.

34. A method of providing signal coverage in a communication system employing two or more repeaters in communication with a base station while minimizing noise in the base station produced by the presence of one or more repeaters, comprising:

coupling a portion of a donor base station communication signal intended for remote stations to a first embedded wireless communication device within a first repeater;

establishing a reverse communication link between the first wireless communication device in the first repeater and said donor base station in response to said portion using a return path shared with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station from a second repeater through the first repeater;

receiving power adjustment information for said first wireless communication device from said donor base station and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said first wireless communication device in said first repeater; and

adjusting the return link gain of said first repeater based on said power control signal.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

transferring a second portion of a donor base station communication signal amplified and transmitted by said first repeater and intended for remote stations to a second embedded wireless communication device within a second repeater;

establishing a communication link between said second wireless communication device in said second repeater and said first repeater in response to said second pre-selected portion by transmitting a return link signal over a return signal path shared with remote station communication signals being transferred to said base station from a third repeater through the second repeater;

receiving power adjustment information for second said wireless communication device from said first repeater and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting the output transmission power of said second wireless communication device in said second first repeater; and

adjusting the return link gain of said second repeater based on said power control signal

36. The method of claim 34 wherein said first and second repeaters are configured to:

amplify and transmit donor signals to at least one remote station and amplify and transmit remote station signals to said donor base station at a first frequency; and

amplify and transmit reverse link signals from said first and second wireless communication devices at a second frequency.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein said addition repeaters are configured to:

amplify and transmit donor signals to at least one remote station and amplify and transmit remote station signals to said donor base station at a one frequency; and

amplify and transmit reverse link signals from embedded wireless communication devices at another frequency.

38. A repeater comprising:

RF circuitry for processing communication signals;

a phone embedded in the repeater and coupled to said RF circuitry; and

means for using closed loop power control functions of said phone to adjust transmission power levels used by said repeater;

whereby gain variation and operating point are stabilized as the said phone corrects transmit power under commands from closed loop power control processing.

39. The repeater of claim 38 wherein communication signals being processed by said repeater are CDMA type spread spectrum modulated communication signals.

40. A repeater of comprising:

a first duplexer having an output connected to a receive chain and an input connected to a transmit chain;

said receive chain comprising a coupler with an input connected to the output of said first duplexer and two outputs, one of which is connected in series with a first set of one or more amplifiers;

a first fixed attenuator connected in series with said first amplifiers;

a second duplexer having an input connected to receive an output from said first amplifiers;

a combiner having two inputs and one output with one input connected to receive an output from said second duplexer;

one or more amplifiers connected in series with an output of said combiner;

a second fixed attenuator connected in series with said amplifiers;

a digital step attenuator connected in series with an output of said second attenuator having an output coupled to said first duplexer input and a control input;

a circulator having a receiver input connected to an output of said coupler and a transmission output connected to the second input of said combiner, and an antenna input;

a third fixed attenuator connected in series with said circulator receiver input;

a fourth fixed attenuator connected in series with said transmission output of said circulator and the second input of said combiner;

a repeater phone having an antenna output connected to said antenna input of said circulator, and at least a gain control output, a call notification output, and a pick-up/hang-up output; and

a micro-controller connected with an output to said digital step attenuator control input for issuing commands to control the attenuation and power output thereby, and at least a gain control input, a call notification input, and a pick-up/hang-up input each being connected to corresponding outputs for said repeater phone.

41. The repeater of claim 40 wherein communication signals being processed by said repeater use a standard selected from the group of CDMA, WCDMA, TDMA, TD-SCDMA, and GSM.

42. A wireless communication system comprising:

one or more donor base stations;

one or more remote stations; and

a power controlled repeater communicating with said base station and one or more remote stations, comprising;

means for coupling a portion of a base station communication signal to an embedded wireless communication device within said repeater;

means for establishing a reverse link between said wireless communication device and a donor base station using a return link signal over a return signal path common with remote station communication signals; and

means for receiving power adjustment commands from said donor base station and generating at least one power control signal for adjusting output transmission power.