Inter-band communication repeater system

• US 6,484,012 B1
• Filed: 08/04/1997
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Wireless Facilities Incorporated (Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Incorporated)
• Inventors: Karacaoglu, Ulun, Nche, Chi
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US08/905,613
• Time in Patent Office: 1,933 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/14, 455/15, 455/16, 455/17, 455/20, 455/13.1, 455/7, 455/426, 455/552, 455/446, 455/447, 455/561, 370/315-328
• US Class Current: 455/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A system and method for converting carrier frequencies of a wireless communication system is provided. The system and method allow expansion of coverage areas of wireless communication systems, such as a mobile/cellular telephone system. In one embodiment, the system converts RF signals in the PCS band to ISM band, and transmits the ISM signals to a distant repeater station. The repeater station receives the ISM signals and downconverts the ISM signals to the PCS band. The PCS signals are retransmitted in a new cell thereby creating a new coverage area.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for converting carrier frequencies of a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:

a near-end station receiving a signal having at least one original carrier frequency in a cellular frequency band, the near-end station including;

a near-end converter converting the original carrier frequency to at least one different higher carrier frequency in a noncellular frequency band and wherein the near-end converter does not change the modulation or signalling scheme of the signal having the original carrier frequency, and

a near-end transmitter transmitting the signal having the different higher carrier frequency; and

a far-end station including;

a far-end converter converting the different higher carrier frequency to the original carrier frequency and wherein the far-end converter does not change the modulation or signalling scheme of the signal having the original carrier frequency, and

a far-end transceiver receiving the signal having the different higher carrier frequency from the near-end transmitter, and transmitting the signal having the original lower carrier frequency.

2. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular communication system.

3. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the near-end station receives the signal having at least one original carrier frequency from the wireless communication system via a RF cable.

4. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the original carrier frequency is in the PCS band, and the different higher carrier frequency is in the ISM band.

5. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein the signal having at least one original carrier frequency is a CDMA signal.

6. The wireless communication system as defined in claim 1, wherein each of the near-end and far-end converters include a mixer and an oscillator.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the far-end transceiver transmits the signal having the original lower carrier frequency to cover a geographical cell area.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the far-end transceiver transmits the signal having the original lower carrier frequency via an external antenna.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the far-end transceiver transmits the signal having the original lower carrier frequency to an area external to a cell coverage area of a cell from which the signal having the original lower carrier frequency is received.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the far-end transceiver transmits the signal having the original lower carrier frequency to a cell geographically external to a cell from which the signal having the original lower carrier frequency is received.

11. A communication system for converting carrier frequencies of a radio frequency (RF) signal, comprising:

a far-end station receiving a signal having at least one original carrier frequency in a cellular frequency band, the far-end station including;

a far-end converter converting the original carrier frequency to at least one different higher carrier frequency in a noncellular frequency band and wherein the far-end converter does not change the modulation or signalling scheme of the signal having the original carrier frequency, and

a far-end transceiver receiving the signal having the original carrier frequency, and transmitting the signal having the different carrier frequency; and

a near-end station including;

a near-end receiver receiving the signal having the different carrier frequency from the far-end transceiver; and

a near-end converter converting the different carrier frequency to the original carrier frequency and wherein the near-end converter does not change the modulation or signalling scheme of the signal having the original carrier frequency.

12. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the near-end station communicates the signal having the original carrier frequency to a cellular communication system via a RF cable.

13. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the original carrier frequency is in the PCS band, and the different carrier frequency is in the ISM band.

14. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein the signal having at least one original carrier frequency is a CDMA signal.

15. The system as defined in claim 11, wherein each of the near-end and far-end converters include a mixer and an oscillator.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the far-end station receives the signal having at least one original carrier frequency in a cellular frequency band directly from an external antenna of a geographically remote cell.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the far-end transceiver receives the signal having at least one original carrier frequency in a cellular frequency band from an area geographically external to a cell coverage area which receives, from the near-end station, the al having the original carrier frequency.