Wireless communication restriction device, repeater and base station

• US 20040203911A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Maxell, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yano, Takashi, Kato, Takeshi, Masuda, Noboru
• Granted Patent: US 6,987,978 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/1555 Selecting relay station antenna mode, e.g. selecting omnidirectional -, directional beams, selecting polarizations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/005 Moving wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations

Abstract

The disclosed invention makes mobile terminals physically impossible to use in specific spaces without using radio waves of so high intensity as to affect medical devices and without requiring telephone companies that operate wireless communications systems (WCS) to take special measures. Cooperation of a telephone company on the implementation of making mobile terminals physically impossible to use in specific spaces makes mobile terminals provided by the telephone company easy to use. Pseudo signals of downlink pilot signal in WCS are emitted off the pilot timing in specific spaces. Uplink channel radio waves in cooperative telephone compannies'"'"' WCS are relayed and communication path is disconnected if the uplink channel radio waves are for communication of an attribute banned in the space. Communication path can be disconnected without increasing the intensity of radio waves so high. In cooperative telephone compannies'"'"' WCS, only the path of communication of an attribute banned in the space is disconnected.

Claims

1. A wireless communication restriction device for making wireless communications between a base station and a mobile terminal impossible to use in a specific space, said wireless communication restriction device comprising:

means for emitting radio waves carrying pseudo pilot signals having given relation to a pilot signal for use in said wireless communications, carried by radio waves from said base station to the mobile terminal.

2. A wireless communication restriction device according to claim 1, wherein said pseudo pilot signals are to be transmitted in different timing from the timing of said pilot signal.

3. A wireless communication restriction device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver for receiving radio waves from said base station;

a processor for seeking said pilot signal out of the received radio waves; and

a pilot signal generator for generating said pseudo pilot signals, based on the result of the seeking

4. A wireless communication restriction device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas for emitting radio waves carrying said pseudo pilot signals; and

a function of changing the intensity and phase of radio waves which are sent from part of the plurality of antennas at regular time intervals.

5. A wireless communication restriction device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of antennas for emitting radio waves carrying said pseudo pilot signals; and

a function of making a carrier frequency of radio waves to be sent from a part of the plurality of antennas out of phase with a carrier frequency of radio waves to be sent from another part of the plurality of antennas.

6. A method for restricting wireless communications between a base station and a mobile terminal in a specific space, said method comprising the steps of:

installing a wireless communication restriction device which restricts wireless communications in said specific space;

installing a repeater which relays radio waves for communication between a mobile terminal and a base station in said specific space; and

arranging said repeater to keep the communication on between a mobile terminal and a particular base station without regard to restriction on wireless communications placed by said wireless communication restriction device.

7. A method for restricting wireless communications according to claim 6, wherein said wireless communication restriction device emits pseudo pilot signals to be transmitted in different timing from the timing of a pilot signal that is sent from said base station and prevents a mobile terminal from establishing or keeping channel synchronization with the base station, thus banning wireless communications in said specific space.

8. A method for restricting wireless communications according to claim 6, wherein said repeater relays data communication radio signals, but does not relay voice communication radio signals.

9. A method for restricting wireless communications between a base station and a mobile terminal in a specific space, said method comprising the steps of:

emitting pseudo pilot signals to be transmitted in slightly different time steps off the timing of a pilot signal that is sent from a first base station, thus restraining a mobile terminal from communicating with the first base station; and

relaying radio waves for communication between a second base station and a mobile terminal and restraining a mobile terminal from communicating with the second base station in said specific space, according to the kind of communication.