Configuration of a Repeater

• US 20080311848A1
• Filed: 03/03/2008
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Otto, James C., Gainey, Kenneth M., Proctor, James A. JR., Dean, Richard Finch
• Granted Patent: US 8,121,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/9
• 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: H04B 7/15571 by signal isolation, e.g. isolation by frequency or by antenna pattern, or by polarization
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15585 by interference cancellation

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided to configure a frequency repeater. The frequency repeater is configured with an identity of a service provider and receives a message that defines a set of frequencies to be repeated, the frequencies are associated with a service provider that matches the preconfigured identity. A digital filter receives an incoming signal from the service provider, and filters and repeats the frequencies defined in the received message. The frequency receiver can also determine a set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated based on a cell search procedure performed with a modem that resides in the repeater. A policy established by the service provider can also be utilized to facilitate defining the set of figures to be repeated. By utilizing a signal quality metric and an isolation metric associated, with the performance of a receive and transmit antenna utilized by the repeater, the set of frequencies to be filtered and repeated can be adapted in real time.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a frequency repeater in a wireless environment, the method comprising:

configuring the frequency repeater with a service provider'"'"'s identity,

positioning the frequency repeater in a location wherein the frequency repeater receives a signal transmitted by a service provider matching the pre-configured identity;

receiving a message from the service provider defining a set of frequency channels with available service;

configuring a digital filter to pass exclusively the received set of frequencies; and

repeating the passed frequencies.

2. The method of claim 1, configuring a filter to pass exclusively the received set of frequencies further comprising:

receiving an overhead channel carrying an indication of the set of frequencies;

extracting the set of frequencies from the indication within the overhead channel.

3. The method of claim 1, finding a location further comprising performing at least one of a triangulation or a trilateration to determine the frequency repeater location.

4. The method of claim 1, finding a location further comprising:

measuring a quality metric of a carrier'"'"'s signal to be repeated; and

when the quality metric is above a predetermined threshold, measuring an isolation metric between a receive antenna and a transmit antenna operating in the repeater.

5. The method of claim 1, finding a location further comprising:

monitoring a repeater performance metric; and

setting an operational status indication based at least in part on at least one of the magnitude of the measured isolation metric or the performance metric.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving a location indication from a location engine.

7. The method of claim 5, the status indication includes at least one of a value of “

good”

when the measured isolation metric is above a threshold or a value of “

fail”

when the measured isolation metric is below a threshold.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving an authorization message in a first operational location;

storing location information in the repeater;

evaluating whether a current location differs from the first operational location;

upon detecting the operational location had changed, disable repeater operation

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a channel overhead message;

extracting from the overhead channel a frequency to repeat; and

configuring the filter to repeat the frequency.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising requesting authorization to repeat a frequency at the second operational location.

11. The method of claim 1, the set of frequencies to be repeated is acquired in a cell search of the cellular signals.

12. The method of claim 11, the cell search is conducted by a modem residing in the repeater.

13. The method of claim 1, the set of frequencies to be repeated comprising a set of sub-bands within an operating band of the service provider.

14. The method of claim 1, the set of frequencies to be repeated comprising a set of predetermined frequencies associated with the service provider.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of predetermined frequencies is stored in the frequency repeater.

16. The method of claim 1, the set of frequencies to be repeated comprising a set of frequencies determined by an operation policy stored in the frequency repeater.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the service provider establishes the operation policy.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein a network management service establishes the operation policy.

19. The method of claim 16, the repetition policy is based at least in part on at least one of a number of available channels, a network integrity, a user tier status

20. The method of claim 19, the repetition policy is based at least in part on at least one of a service cell load, a service cell interference level, or a power allocation scheme predetermined by the service provider.

21. A wireless device comprising:

a processor configured to store a service provider'"'"'s identity;

to receive a message from a service provider defining a set of frequency channels with available service, wherein the service provider matches the stored service provider'"'"'s identity;

to configure a digital filter to pass exclusively the received set of frequencies; and

to repeat the passed frequencies; and

a memory coupled to the processor.

22. The wireless device of claim 21, the processor further configured to determine a quality metric of a carrier'"'"'s signal to be repeated;

and to determine an isolation metric between a receive antenna and a transmit antenna operating in the repeater.

23. The wireless device of claim 21, the processor further configured to monitor a repeater performance metric;

and to set an operational status indication based at least in part on at least one of the magnitude of the measured isolation metric or the performance metric.

24. The wireless device of claim 21, the processor further configured to receive a location indication from a location engine.

25. An apparatus that operates in a wireless environment, the apparatus comprising:

means for configuring the frequency repeater with a service provider'"'"'s identity,

means for positioning the frequency repeater in a location wherein the frequency repeater receives a signal transmitted by a service provider matching the pre-configured identity;

means for receiving a message from the service provider defining a set of frequency channels with available service;

means for configuring a digital filter to pass exclusively the received set of frequencies; and

means for repeating the passed frequencies.

26. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium including:

code for causing a computer to find a location that exhibits a maximum signal for a carrier;

code for causing a computer to receive a set of frequencies to be repeated, the frequencies associated with the carrier'"'"'s wave form;

code for causing a computer to configure a filter to pass exclusively the received set of frequencies, the filter is a digital filter; and

code for causing a computer to repeat the passed frequencies.