Backhaul power control system in a wireless repeater

• US 6,687,509 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 02/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rateze Remote Mgmt. L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmutz, Thomas R., Komara, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): LELE, TANMAY S
• Application Number:
  US09/726,874
• Publication Number:
  US 20020065094A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 455/522, 455/69, 455/445, 455/455, 455/7, 455/8, 455/9, 455/13.4, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/515, 455/68, 370/330, 370/331, 370/322, 370/328, 370/315, 370/316, 370/318, 370/319, 370/321, 370/329, 370/332
• US Class Current: 455/522
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15535 Control of relay amplifier gain amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/60 using different transmission rates for TPC commands

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling signal power levels in a bi-directional backhaul communication link between a base station and a repeater station is provided. The signal power level of a signal transmitted between a base station and a repeater station is measured at the receiver of the signal. Once the received signal power level has been measured, the power level data based on the received signal power level is automatically transmitted from the receiving station back to the source of the measured signal over the backhaul link. Upon receipt at the source, the power level data is extracted and analyzed to determine if the source needs to alter its transmitted power. Once the power level data is analyzed to determine if a change in the transmitted power is required, the source can automatically respond by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the transmitted power.

Claims

1. In a wireless cellular communication system having a base station located within a home cell and at least one substantially adjacent cell having a repeater station located therein for facilitating communication between said base station and a plurality of mobile units located in said adjacent cell, a method for providing dynamic control of signal power levels in a bi-directional time division multiplexed (TDM) backhaul communication link between said base station and said repeater station, comprising:

measuring, in a receiving one of said base station and said repeater station, a received signal power level of a signal transmitted between said base station and said repeater station;

monitoring said bi-directional TDM backhaul communication link to identify an available TDM time slot channel assigned to at least one of said mobile units;

automatically transmitting in said TDM time slot power level data based on said received signal power level from said receiving one of said base station and said repeater which was the source of said measured signal measurement; and

receiving said power level data at said source of said measured signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising automatically adjusting the power level transmitted by said source of said measured signal when said power level data indicates that said received signal power level has deviated from a predetermined power level.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said power level data indicates said received signal power level.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said power level data is a request for said source to control the transmitted power for at least one of increasing, decreasing, or maintaining said transmitted power.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said available time slot is a mobile unit control channel time slot.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising prioritizing said power level data to selectively supercede information in said TDM time slot.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising suppressing data received from said mobile units in said TDM time slot when transmitting said power level data.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said at least one of said TDM time slots is a control channel time slot.

9. In a wireless cellular communication system having a base station located within a home cell and at least one substantially adjacent cell having a repeater station located therein for facilitating communication between said base station and a plurality of mobile units in said adjacent cell, apparatus for providing dynamic control of signal power levels in a bi-directional time division multiplexed (TDM) backhaul communication link between said base station and said repeater station, comprising:

signal power measurement means for measuring, in a receiving one of said base station and said repeater station, a received signal power level of a signal transmitted between said base station and said repeater station;

means for monitoring said bi-directional TDM backhaul communication link to identify an available TDM time slot channel assigned to at least one of said mobile units;

means for automatically transmitting in said TDM time slot power level data based on said received signal power level from said receiving one of said base station and said repeater which was the source of said measured signal; and

means for receiving said power level data at said source of said measured signal.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a means for automatically adjusting the power level transmitted by said source of said measured signal when said power level data indicates that said received signal power level has deviated from a predetermined power level.

11. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said power level data indicates said received signal power level.

12. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said power level data is a request for said source to control the transmitted power for at least one of increasing, decreasing, or maintaining said transmitted power.

13. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said available time slot is a mobile unit control channel time slot.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising prioritizing said power level data to selectively supercede information in said TDM time slot.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising suppressing data received from said mobile units in said TDM time slot when transmitting said power level data.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said at least one of said TDM time slots is a control channel time slot.

17. In a wireless cellular communication system having a base station located within a home cell and at least one substantially adjacent cell having a repeater station located therein for facilitating communication between said base station and a plurality of mobile units in said adjacent cell, apparatus for providing dynamic control of signal power levels in a bi-directional time division multiplexed (TDM) communication link between said base station and said repeater station, comprising:

signal power measurement means for measuring, in a receiving one of said base station and said repeater station, a received signal power level of a signal transmitted between said base station and said repeater station;

a station controller for receiving a signal power level measurement result from said signal power measurement means to provide a corresponding power level data;

channel monitoring means for monitoring said bi-directional TDM backhaul communication link to identify an available TDM time slot channel assigned to at least one of said mobile units;

a transmitter responsive to said station controller for transmitting in said TDM time slot said power level data from said receiving one of said base station and said repeater which was the source of said measured signal; and

means for receiving said power level data at said source of said measured signal.