Non-frequency translating repeater with downlink detection for uplink and downlink synchronization

• US 20070066220A1
• Filed: 10/12/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: WiDeFi Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Proctor, James, Gainey, Kenneth, Shad, Faisal
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/11.100
• 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

1-41. -41. (canceled)

42. A method for 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 if the signal is detected on the uplink; and

re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station, if the signal is detected on the downlink,

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

43. A Time Division Duplex (TDD) repeater system for repeating 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 repeating of the transmitted signal.

44. A 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;

a second antenna coupled to the second station through the air interface; and

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

a detector circuit for detecting the presence of the signal on one or more of the uplink and the downlink in a synchronous time interval;

a transmission circuit for 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 a second antenna directed toward the second station if the signal is detected on the downlink.

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

a first multiple input multiple output (MIMO) station including multiple MIMO transmitters;

a second MIMO station including 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 second MIMO station on a downlink associated with the air interface by transmitting multiple first information streams from the multiple MIMO transmitters;

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

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

a plurality of repeater modules respectively coupled to the first plurality of antennae and the second plurality of antennae, wherein the first plurality of antennae and the second plurality of antennae are respectively separated by one of polarization, physical distance and antenna directivity through beam forming so that a combination of information streams transmitted from the multiple MIMO transmitters of the first MIMO station and received at the plurality of repeater modules varies in relative proportions.

46. A Time Division Duplex (TDD) repeater system for identifying the presence of a transmitted signal and for maintaining synchronization to an uplink and a downlink timing interval associated with the signal, the system comprising:

a first station;

a second station coupled to the first station through an air interface, 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;

a second antenna coupled to the second station through the air interface; and

a repeater module coupled to the first antenna and the second antenna, the repeater module including a transmitter for re-transmitting the signal from the second station to the first station using the first antenna and for re-transmitting the signal from the first station to the second station using the second antenna,

wherein a form factor associated with one or more of the first antenna and the second antenna facilitates the repeating of the transmitted signal.