Dynamic scanning receiver/amplifier

• US 20040110520A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 06/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Wireless Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Wireless Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Harvey, Richard L., Barbara, Frank S., Masoian, Lee
• Application Number:
  US10/314,878
• Publication Number:
  US 20040110520A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/506
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

An amplifier system having an amplifier for amplifying a communications signal, a scanning receiver for monitoring a signal strength of the communications signal, a microprocessor for determining, based on the signal strength of the communications signal, whether the communications signal should be amplified, and a switch, controlled by the microprocessor, for allowing the communications signal to pass through the amplifier or be terminated.

Claims

1. An amplifier system comprising:

an amplifier for amplifying a communications signal;

a scanning receiver for monitoring a signal strength of the communications signal;

a microprocessor for determining, based on the signal strength of the communications signal, whether the communications signal should be amplified; and

a switch, controlled by the microprocessor, for allowing the communications signal to pass through the amplifier or be terminated.

2. The amplifier system of claim 1, further comprising a GPS receiver coupled to the microprocessor, wherein the determination whether the communications signal should be amplified is based upon position information from the GPS receiver.

3. The amplifier system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor determines whether the communications signal should be amplified by comparing the monitored signal strength with a predetermined threshold.

4. The amplifier system of claim 3, wherein the threshold is based upon a signal strength of any one channel of the communications signal.

5. The amplifier system of claim 3, wherein the threshold is based upon the signal strength of any one of a subset of channels of the communications signal.

6. The amplifier system of claim 3, wherein the threshold is based upon a total signal strength of a subset of channels of the communications signal.

7. The amplifier system of claim 3, wherein the threshold is based upon an average signal strength of all or a subset of channels of the communications signal.

8. The amplifier system of claim 1, wherein the microprocessor determines, based on the monitored signal strength, whether to modify an amount of amplifier gain.

9. An amplifier system comprising:

an amplifier for amplifying a communications signal;

a splitter that splits the communications signal into multiple channels;

a microprocessor for determining, based on the signal strengths of the channels of the communications signal, whether any of the channels of the communications signal should be amplified;

a filter bank including a filter for selecting frequency bands for each of the channels, and further including for each of the channels an on/off switch, which is controlled by the microprocessor, for allowing the channel to pass through to the amplifier or be terminated; and

a combiner that recombines the channels.

10. The amplifier system of claim 9, wherein the filter bank also includes a variable attenuator for each of the channels.