Method and apparatus for in-building communications

• US 20080153415A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interoperability Technologies Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Interoperability Technologies Group LLC
• Inventors: Wenger, Alexander A., Block, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,498,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15528 Control of operation parameters of a relay station to exploit the physical medium
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels

Abstract

A system for repeating radio signals to the outside of a structure, from transmitters operating within a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating out of the structure. A system for repeating radio signals to the inside of a structure, from transmitters operating outside a structure that normally prevents radio transmissions from propagating into the structure.

Claims

1. A system comprising a device for converting free space radio transmissions to Comm. Paths Signals, the device comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving free space radio signals, converting them to an intermediate frequency signal, and

a transmitter capable of converting intermediate frequency signals to radio signals that can be transmitted in free space; and

a Comm. Path coupler; and

a receive antenna, and a transmit antenna, or a relay or a duplexer to allow the use of one shared receive/transmit antenna, wherein free space radio signals from a transmitter inside a structure can be converted to signals on one or more Comm. Paths of the structure and converted back to free space radio signals outside of the structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein a radio carrier detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a voice signal detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein different groups of free space radio signals may be simultaneously coupled to one or more Comm. Paths.

5. A system comprising a device for converting free space radio transmissions to signals on Comm. Paths, the device comprising:

a SDR receiver capable of receiving free space radio signals, converting them into packetized data in a form suitable for transmission over the Comm. Paths, and

a SDR transmitter capable of reconverting packetized data to radio signals that can be transmitted in free space; and

a Comm. Path coupler; and

a receive antenna, and a transmit antenna, or a relay or a duplexer to allow the use of one shared receive/transmit antenna, wherein free space radio signals from a transmitter inside a structure can be converted to signals on one or more Comm. Paths of the structure and converted back to free space radio signals outside of the structure.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein a radio carrier detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein a voice signal detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein different groups of free space radio signals may be simultaneously coupled to one or more Comm. Paths.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the device may be locally controlled.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the device may be remotely controlled.

11. The system of claim 5, wherein the operation of the device may be remotely monitored.

12. The system of claim 5, wherein the device includes at least one sensor that can be remotely monitored.

13. A system comprising a device for converting free space radio transmissions to signals on one or more Comm. Paths, the device comprising:

a SDR receiver capable of receiving free space radio signals, converting them into packetized data in the form suitable for the selected Comm. Path(s), and

a SDR transmitter capable of reconverting packetized data to radio signals that can be transmitted in free space; and

one or more Comm. Path couplers; and

a receive antenna, and a transmit antenna, or a relay or a duplexer to allow the use of one shared receive/transmit antenna, wherein free space radio signals from a transmitter inside a structure can be converted to signals on the Comm. Paths of the structure and converted back to free space radio signals outside of the structure.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein a radio carrier detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein a voice signal detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects the antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein different groups of free space radio signals may be simultaneously coupled to the AC power mains wiring.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the device may be locally controlled.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the device may be remotely controlled.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the operation of the device may be remotely monitored.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the device includes at least one sensor that can be remotely monitored.

21. The system of claim 13 wherein the Comm. Paths are structure wiring, such as power lines, telephone system wiring, alarm system wiring, coaxial cable wiring, etc.

22. The system of claim 13 wherein the Comm. Paths are metallic structural elements.

23. The system of claim 13 wherein the Comm. Paths are fiber optic cable.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein the Comm. Paths are multiphase mains power distribution networks.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the signals can be communicated between repeater devices by means of electromagnetic, optical, magnetic or capacitive coupling.

26. A system comprising a device for converting free space radio transmissions to signals on Comm. Paths, the device comprising:

a radio receiver capable of converting received free space radio signals to an audio signal, or alternatively a local microphone audio signal source and

a transmit audio amplifier

an audio Comm. Path transmit coupler

an audio Comm. Path receive coupler

a receive audio amplifier

a loudspeaker.

27. A system comprising a device for converting free space radio transmissions to signals on Comm. Paths, the device comprising:

a radio repeater capable of converting received free space radio signals to an intermediate frequency signal and

converting an intermediate frequency signal to a transmitted free space radio signal

a ultrasonic transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving intermediate frequency signals

an ultrasonic Comm. Path coupler.

28. A system comprising a device for facilitating communication between communication devices, wherein the communication devices are located at different locations in the interior of a structure or at different locations around the exterior of the structure, the device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a signal having a first frequency either within the interior of a structure or at the exterior of a structure, converting the received signal to signal having an intermediate frequency;

a Communication Path coupler for connecting to a portion of a structure, wherein the portion of the structure is a communication path over which the intermediate frequency signals can travel; and

a transmitter capable of converting intermediate frequency signals back to signals having the first frequency and transmitting the signal having the first frequency to communication devices located at different locations in the interior of a structure or at different locations around the exterior of the structure.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein a radio carrier detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects an antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein a voice signal detection circuit is used to control a relay that connects an antenna to the receiver input or the transmitter output.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein different groups of signals having a first frequency are simultaneously coupled to one or more communication paths.

32. A communication system comprising:

first and second portable communication devices for receiving and transmitting signals having a first frequency;

a device comprising;

a receiver capable of receiving a signal having the first frequency either within the interior of a structure or at the exterior of a structure, converting the received signal to signal having an intermediate frequency;

a communication path coupler for connecting to a portion of a structure, wherein the portion of the structure is a communication path over which the intermediate frequency signals can travel; and

a transmitter capable of converting intermediate frequency signals back to signals having the first frequency and transmitting the signal having the first frequency;

wherein the first communication device is located in the interior of the structure and the second device is located on the exterior of the structure.