Non-frequency translating repeater with detection and media access control

• US 20050254442A1
• Filed: 05/12/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WiDeFi Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Galney, Kenneth M., Proctor, James A. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,233,771 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/294
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A non-frequency translating repeater (110, 210, 300) for use in a time division duplex (TDD) radio protocol communications system includes detection retransmission and automatic gain control. Detection is performed by detectors (309, 310) and a processor (313). Detection can be overridden by processor (313) using logic elements (314). Antennae (220, 230) having various form factors can be used to couple a base station (222) to a subscriber terminal (232) which can be located in a sub-optimal location such as deep inside a building or the like.

Claims

1. A method for non-regenerative repeating of a signal transmitted from a first station to a second station according to a Time Division Duplex (TDD) protocol, the first station communicating to the second station on a downlink and the second station communicating to the first station on an uplink, the method comprising:

detecting the presence of the signal in an interval associated with one or more of the uplink and the downlink;

re-transmitting the signal from the second station to the first station using a first antenna directed toward the first station if the signal is detected on the uplink; and

re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station using one of a second antenna directed toward the second station, and an omni-directional antenna, if the signal is detected on the downlink,

wherein a form factor associated with one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna facilitates the detecting and the re-transmitting.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising adding a delay to the signal before the re-transmitting the signal from the second station to the first station and the re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station to compensate for a time associated with the detecting.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the delay is less than a timeout parameter associated with the protocol.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting includes detecting one or more gaps between an uplink interval and a downlink interval using a windowing function associated with a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein detecting includes detecting a beginning of one or more of the uplink interval and the downlink interval by detecting an increase associated with the RSSI.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the detecting includes identifying the uplink interval as associated with a relatively smaller power level and identifying the downlink interval as associated with a relatively larger power level.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising indicating a parameter associated with the uplink and the downlink, the indicating the parameter for facilitating a placement of one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter includes a synchronization level associated with the uplink and the downlink.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the protocol includes one of an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an 802.20 protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(e) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d/e) protocol, a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) protocol, and a time division synchronization code division multiple access (TDS-CDMA) protocol.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first station includes a base station and the second station includes a subscriber terminal.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising maintaining a first automatic gain control (AGC) level for the uplink and a second AGC level for the downlink separate from the first AGC level.

12. A non regenerative, non-frequency translating repeater for repeating a signal transmitted from a first station to a second station according to a Time Division Duplex (TDD) protocol, the first station communicating to the second station on a downlink associated with an air interface and the second station communicating to the first station on an uplink associated with the air interface, the repeater comprising:

a first antenna coupled to the first station through the air interface;

one of a second antenna and an omni directional antenna coupled to the second station through the air interface; and

a repeater module coupled to the first antenna and the one of the second antenna and the omni directional antenna, the repeater module including;

a detector circuit detecting the presence of the signal on one or more of the uplink and the downlink;

a transmission circuit re-transmitting the signal from the second station to the first station using a first antenna directed toward the first station if the signal is detected on the uplink and re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station using one of a second antenna directed toward the second station and an omni-directional antenna, if the signal is detected on the downlink,

wherein a form factor associated with one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna facilitates the repeating the signal, the form factor including a placement.

13. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein one of the first antenna and the one of the second antenna and the omni-directional antenna is defined by the repeater module as coupled to a donor antenna, and wherein the repeater module is configured to synchronize with the signal received from the donor antenna, the donor antenna defined based on one of an installation guideline for the repeater and a known characteristic of the signal associated with the donor antenna.

14. The repeater according to claim 13, wherein the donor antenna is defined based on a signal quality metric including one of:

a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a signal to noise ratio (SNR), and a E_b/N₀ value.

15. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the first antenna and the one of the second antenna and the omni-directional antenna is coupled to the repeater module using a fiber optic cable.

16. The repeater according to claim 12, further comprising an indicator providing an indication of a parameter associated with the uplink and the downlink, the indication facilitating a placement of one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna.

17. The repeater according to claim 16, wherein the parameter includes a synchronization level associated with the uplink and the downlink.

18. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein the repeater module further includes a delay unit for adding a delay between the detection by the detecting circuit and the transmission by the transmitter circuit, the delay compensating for a time associated with detecting by the detector circuit.

19. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein the protocol includes one of an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an 802.20 protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(e) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d/e) protocol, a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) protocol, and a time division synchronization code division multiple access (TDS-CDMA) protocol.

20. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein the first station includes a base station and the second station includes a subscriber terminal.

21. The repeater according to claim 12, wherein the detector circuit includes a processor configured to detect one or more gaps between an uplink interval and a downlink interval using a windowing function associated with a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) associated with the protocol.

22. The repeater according to claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a beginning of one or more of the uplink interval and the downlink interval by detecting an increase associated with the RSSI.

23. A Time Division Duplex (TDD) repeater system for non-regenerative repeating of a transmitted signal, the system comprising:

a first station;

a second station coupled to the first station through an air interface according to a protocol associated with a network, the first station communicating to the second station on a downlink associated with the air interface and the second station communicating to the first station on an uplink associated with the air interface;

a first antenna coupled to the first station through the air interface;

one of a second antenna and an omni directional antenna coupled to the second station through the air interface; and

a repeater module coupled to the first antenna and the one of the second antenna and the omni directional antenna, the repeater module including;

a detector detecting the presence of the signal on one or more of the uplink and the downlink;

a transmitter re-transmitting the signal from the second station to the first station using a first antenna directed toward the first station if the signal is detected on the uplink and re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station using one of a second antenna directed toward the second station and an omni directional antenna, if the signal is detected on the downlink,

wherein a form factor associated with one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna facilitates the no regenerative repeating of the transmitted signal.

24. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein:

the network is a Personal Handy Phone (PHS) network having a plurality of carrier frequencies; and

the repeater module is configured to synchronize and track one of the plurality of carrier frequencies, and repeat on all of the other of the plurality of carrier frequencies.

25. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the form factor includes a placement location for the one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna.

26. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, further comprising an indicator coupled to the repeater module, the indicator providing an indication of a parameter associated with the uplink and the downlink, the indication facilitating a placement of one or more of the first antenna, the second antenna, and the omni-directional antenna.

27. The TDD repeater system according to claim 26, wherein the parameter includes a synchronization level associated with the uplink and the downlink.

28. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the repeater module further includes a delay unit for adding a delay between the detection by the detecting circuit and the transmission by the transmitter circuit, the delay compensating for a time associated with detecting by the detector circuit.

29. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, further comprising an automatic gain control (AGC) module coupled to the transmitter, the AGC module for controlling a transmission level associated with the signal on the uplink and the downlink wherein the transmission level is held at a first predetermined level for the uplink and a second predetermined level for the downlink, based on a condition associated with the network.

30. The TDD repeater system according to claim 29, the AGC module for controlling a transmission level associated with the signal on the uplink and the downlink wherein the transmission level is held at a predetermined level based on a condition associated with the network.

31. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, further comprising an automatic gain control (AGC) module coupled to the transmitter, the AGC module for controlling a transmission level associated with the signal on the uplink and the downlink wherein the transmission level is held at a first plurality of predetermined levels for a corresponding plurality of channels on the uplink and a second plurality of predetermined levels for a corresponding plurality of channels on the downlink, based on a condition associated with the network.

32. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the protocol includes one of an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an 802.20 protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(e) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d/e) protocol, a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) protocol, and a time division synchronization code division multiple access (TDS-CDMA) protocol.

33. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the protocol includes one of an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an 802.20 protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(e) protocol, an IEEE 802.16(d/e) protocol, a Personal Handy-phone System (PHS) protocol, and a time division synchronization code division multiple access (TDS-CDMA) protocol.

34. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the first station includes a base station and the second station includes a subscriber terminal.

35. The TDD repeater system according to claim 24, wherein the first station includes a base station and the second station includes a subscriber terminal.

36. The TDD repeater system according to claim 23, wherein the detector includes a processor configured to detect one or more gaps between an uplink interval and a downlink interval using a windowing function associated with a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI).

37. The TDD repeater system according to claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a beginning of one or more of the uplink interval and the downlink interval by detecting an increase associated with the RSSI.

38. A Time Division Duplex (TDD) repeater system for non-regenerative repeating of a transmitted signal, the system comprising:

a first multiple input multiple output (MIMO) station;

a plurality of second stations coupled to the first MIMO station through an air interface according to a protocol associated with a network, the first MIMO station communicating to the plurality of second stations on a downlink associated with the air interface and the plurality of second stations communicating to the first MIMO station on a plurality of uplinks associated with the air interface;

a first plurality of antennae coupled to the first MIMO station through the air interface;

a second plurality of antenna coupled to the plurality of second stations through the air interface; and

a plurality of repeater modules coupled to the first plurality of antennae and the second plurality of antennae.

39. A non regenerative, non-frequency translating repeater for repeating a signal transmitted from a first station according to a Time Division Duplex (TDD) protocol associated with a network, the first station communicating on a downlink associated with an air interface, the repeater comprising:

a first antenna module having first antenna pair located in an package for mounting in a window of a building, the first antenna pair coupled to the first station through the air interface;

a second antenna module coupled to the air interface, the second antenna module located on an interior of the building; and

a repeater module coupled to the first antenna module and the second antenna module, the repeater module including;

a detector circuit detecting the presence of the signal on the downlink using the first antenna module;

a transmission circuit re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the interior of the building using the a second antenna.

40. The repeater according to claim 39, wherein the network is one of a Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and a Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (WMAN).

41. The repeater according to claim 39, wherein the detector is further configured to:

synchronize the repeater module with a slot timing of one of the downlink and an uplink associated with the network; and

selectively enable or disable repeating based on the detecting the presence of the signal and the synchronization.