Multichannel distributed wireless repeater network

• US 6,690,657 B1
• Filed: 02/25/2000
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Berkley Concept Research Corporation, Kawasaki MicroElectronics (Megachips Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Berkley Concept Research Corporation, Kawasaki MicroElectronics (Megachips Corporation)
• Inventors: Vassiliou, Iason, Venkatraman, Mahesh, Lau, Kam Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): VANDERPUYE, KENNETH N
• Application Number:
  US09/513,367
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 370/274, 370/279, 370/293, 370/315, 370/319, 370/320, 370/321, 370/492, 370/344
• US Class Current: 370/315
• 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 7/2606 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 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A multichannel distributed wireless repeater network, methods for its operation, and system components are disclosed. The network is designed to facilitate high-bit-rate data communication within a home, office, or similarly constrained area. According to the described embodiments, RF radiation outside of the desired network area can be minimized by use of low power transmitter and repeaters, while short paths and uniform signal strength within the network area predominate, facilitating high bit rates.

The network utilizes low-power RF transmitters that generally have insufficient power to reliably span the entire network of receivers. To provide uniform coverage throughout the network, channel-shifting repeaters are used. These repeaters pick up a transmitted (or retransmitted) signal on one channel, shift it to a substantially non-interfering channel, and retransmit the signal. The receivers can preferably receive signals on the best available channel, whether it be the original channel or a repeating channel.

Claims

1. A wireless local area network system comprising:

one or more radio frequency transmitters to transmit digital data in a first channel;

a first radio frequency repeater to receive signals containing digital data in the first channel from one or more of the transmitters and retransmit such signals in a second channel, the second channel substantially non-interfering with the first channel;

one or more radio frequency receivers to receive digital data in the second channel, wherein at least one of the receivers has the capability to receive signals in both the first and the second channels and the capability to select a signal from either the first or the second channel as the received signal from which to retrieve digital data; and

a base station to allocate use of the first channel between two or more transmission paths, wherein each transmission path originates at one of the transmitters.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first and second channels represent a division of an available radio band into first and second segments, selected from the group of divisions consisting of:

non-overlapping frequency allocation, frequency hopping using frequency-offset pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different phases of the same pseudorandom hopping sequence, time-division multiplexing, code-division multiplexing, and combinations thereof.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second channels is divided into an uplink subchannel and a downlink subchannel, to allow one of the transmitters to transmit in an uplink subchannel while another of the transmitters transmits in a downlink subchannel.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the transmitters comprises a modular antenna attachment port, allowing that transmitter to be configured to transmit in different patterns by interchanging one modular antenna for another having a different pattern.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first repeater comprises a modular antenna attachment port, allowing that repeater to be configured to transmit in different patterns by interchanging one modular antenna for another having a different pattern.

2. A wireless local area network system comprising

one or more radio frequency transmitters to transmit digital data in a first channel;

a first radio frequency repeater to receive signals containing digital data in the first channel from one or more of the transmitters and retransmit such signals in a second channel, the second channel substantially non-interfering with the first channel;

a second radio frequency repeater having the capability to receive signals in both the first and the second channels, the capability to retransmit a signal received in the first channel using the second channel, and the capability to retransmit a signal received in the second channel using a third channel, the third channel substantially non-interfering with the first and second channels; and

a base station to allocate use of the first channel between two or more transmission paths, wherein each transmission path originates at one of the transmitters.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the second repeater has the capability to selectively retransmit either a signal received in the first channel from one of the transmitters or a corresponding retransmission of that signal, received in the second channel from the first repeater.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the receivers has the capability to receive signals in both the second and the third channels and the capability to select a signal from either the second or the third channel as the received signal from which to retrieve digital data.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the receivers has the capability to receive signals in each of the first, second, and third channels and the capability to select a signal from either the first, second, or third channels as the received signal from which to retrieve digital data.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the receivers has the capability to receive signals in each of the first, second, and third channels and the capability to combine signals from at least two of these channels in order to retrieve the digital data.

7. The system of claim 3, wherein the first, second, and third channels represent a division of an available radio band into first, second, and third segments, selected from the group of divisions consisting of:

non-overlapping frequency allocation, frequency hopping using frequency-offset pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different phases of the same pseudorandom hopping sequence, time-division multiplexing, code-division multiplexing, and combinations thereof.

12. A radio frequency repeater comprising:

a receiver to receive signals in a first channel selected from n receive channels, n>

1, the n receive channels occupying a first radio frequency band;

a transmitter to retransmit, in a second channel, a signal containing digital data and received in the first channel, the second channel substantially non-interfering with the first channel;

a control circuit to select the first and second channels, wherein the control circuit selects the second channel from n transmit channels, the n transmit channels occupying a second radio frequency band;

an antenna; and

a duplexer, the duplexer connected to the antenna, receiver, and transmitter to allow simultaneous operation of the receiver in the first radio frequency band and the transmitter in the second radio frequency band.

13. The repeater of claim 12, further comprising a switch inserted between the duplexer and the receiver and between the duplexer and the transmitter, the switch operated by the control circuit to allow an additional operational mode wherein the n receive channels occupy the second radio frequency band and the n transmit channels occupy the first radio frequency band.

14. A radio frequency repeater comprising:

a receiver to receive signals in both a first channel and a second channel;

a transmitter having a first operational mode that retransmits a signal containing digital data and received in the first channel in the second channel and a second operational mode that retransmits a signal containing digital data received in the second channel in a third channel; and

a control circuit to configure the transmitter in one of the operational modes.

15. The repeater of claim 14, wherein the control circuit has the capability to configure the transmitter based on an examination of a received signal.

16. The repeater of claim 14, wherein the control circuit has the capability to determine the source, destination, or both for a received signal, and use the results of this determination to configure the transmitter.

17. The repeater of claim 14, wherein the control circuit has the capability to compare received signal strength in the first and second channels, and use the results of this comparison to configure the transmitter.

18. The repeater of claim 14, wherein the control circuit has the capability to configure the transmitter based on a remote command.

19. The repeater of claim 18, further comprising a link channel transceiver to receive the remote commands.

20. The repeater of claim 14, the transmitter having a third operational mode that retransmits a signal containing digital data and received in the first channel in the third channel.

21. The repeater of claim 14, the transmitter having a third operational mode that retransmits a signal received in the third channel in the first channel.

22. The repeater of claim 14, wherein in each of the operational modes, the receiver downconverts a received signal to an intermediate frequency signal, and the transmitter upconverts the intermediate frequency signal to form a retransmit signal without demodulating the digital data contained in the received signal.

23. The repeater of claim 14, further comprising first, second, and third local oscillators, the receiver coupled to the first and second local oscillators to frequency shift signals received respectively in the first and second channels.

24. The repeater of claim 23, the transmitter coupled to the second and third local oscillators to frequency shift signals to be retransmitted respectively in the second and third channels.

25. The repeater of claim 24, the receiver comprising first and second switches controlled by the control circuit, the first switch coupled between at least the first and second oscillators and the receiver, the second switch coupled between at least the second and third oscillators and the transmitter.

26. The repeater of claim 14, wherein the first, second, and third channels comprise first, second, and third time slots in a time-division multiplexed radio frequency channel.

27. The repeater of claim 14, further comprising:

a demodulator having the capability to demodulate digital data from a signal received in the first or the second channel; and

a modulator having the capability to create a signal using the demodulated digital data, the modulator coupled to the transmitter.

28. The repeater of claim 14, further comprising a modular antenna attachment port, allowing the repeater to be configured to receive and transmit in different patterns by interchanging one modular antenna for another having a different pattern.

29. A radio frequency receiver comprising:

a demodulator having the capability to receive a first signal in a first channel and demodulate that signal, and having the capability to receive a second signal in a second channel, the second signal representing a repeated version of the first signal, and demodulate that second signal; and

a selector circuit to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data demodulated from the first signal or the second signal, the selector circuit having the capability to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data from the channel having the largest signal strength.

32. The receiver of claim 29, further comprising a transmitter.

33. The receiver of claim 32, wherein the transmitter has the capability to transmit digital data using at least one of the channels that can be received by the demodulator.

30. A radio frequency receiver comprising:

a demodulator having the capability to receive a first signal in a first channel and demodulate that signal, and having the capability to receive a second signal in a second channel, the second signal representing a repeated version of the first signal, and demodulate that second signal; and

a selector circuit to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data demodulated from the first signal or the second signal;

wherein the demodulator has the further capability to receive a third signal in a third channel, the third signal representing a repeated version of the first or second signal, and demodulate that third signal, and wherein the selector circuit has the further capability to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data demodulated from the third signal.

31. A radio frequency receiver comprising:

a demodulator having the capability to receive a first signal in a first channel and demodulate that signal, and having the capability to receive a second signal in a second channel, the second signal representing a repeated version of the first signal, and demodulate that second signal; and

a selector circuit to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data demodulated from the first signal or the second signal;

wherein the first and second channels represent a division of an available radio band into first and second segments, selected from the group of divisions consisting of;

non-overlapping frequency allocation, frequency hopping using frequency-offset pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different pseudorandom hopping sequences, frequency hopping using different phases of the same pseudorandom hopping sequence, time-division multiplexing of a channel, code-division multiplexing of a channel, and combinations thereof.

34. A radio frequency receiver comprising:

a demodulator having the capability to receive a first signal in a first channel and demodulate that signal, and having the capability to receive a second signal in a second channel, the second signal representing a repeated version of the first signal, and demodulate that second signal;

a selector circuit to selectively configure the receiver to output digital data demodulated from the first signal or the second signal; and

a modular antenna attachment port, allowing that receiver to be configured to receive and transmit in different patterns by interchanging one modular antenna for another having a different pattern.

35. A method of providing a wireless local area network in a defined service area, the method comprising:

distributing one or more radio frequency transmitters within the service area, each transmitter connected to at least one corresponding source of digital data and configured to transmit digital data from that source in at least one transmit channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency repeaters within the service area, at least one repeater configured to receive a signal in at least one transmit channel and repeat that signal in at least one repetition channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency receivers within the service area, at least one receiver connected to at least one sink for digital data and configured to receive digital data from at least one repetition channel;

transmitting digital data from one source of digital data, connected to one of the transmitters, to one sink for digital data, connected to one of the receivers, via at least one of the radio frequency repeaters; and

providing a base station and a low-bit-rate channel connecting the base station and the repeaters, and using the low-bit-rate channel to determine receive and repetition channels for each of the repeaters.

36. A method of providing a wireless local area network in a defined service area, the method comprising:

distributing one or more radio frequency transmitters within the service area, each transmitter connected to at least one corresponding source of digital data and configured to transmit digital data from that source in at least one transmit channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency repeaters within the service area, at least one repeater configured to receive a signal in at least one transmit channel and repeat that signal in at least one repetition channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency receivers within the service area, at least one receiver connected to at least one sink for digital data, the at least one receiver configurable to receive digital data from either a repetition channel or a transmit channel, that receiver selecting whether to receive digital data from the repetition channel or from the transmit channel.

37. A method of providing a wireless local area network in a defined service area, the method comprising:

distributing one or more radio frequency transmitters within the service area, each transmitter connected to at least one corresponding source of digital data and configured to transmit digital data from that source in at least one transmit channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency repeaters within the service area, at least one repeater configured to receive a signal in at least one transmit channel and repeat that signal in at least one repetition channel;

distributing one or more radio frequency receivers within the service area, at least one receiver connected to at least one sink for digital data and configured to receive digital data from at least one repetition channel; and

transmitting digital data from one source of digital data, connected to one of the transmitters, to one sink for digital data, connected to one of the receivers, via at least one of the radio frequency repeaters, the at least one repeater configurable to receive a signal from either a first repetition channel or a transmit channel, selecting whether to retransmit a signal received in the transmit channel, or to retransmit a corresponding signal received in the first repetition channel in a second repetition channel.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the at least one receiver is configurable to receive digital data from either the first or second repetition channel or a transmit channel, the method further comprising that receiver selecting whether to receive digital data from the first repetition channel, the second repetition channel, or from the transmit channel.

39. A method of operating a radio frequency repeater in a local area network, comprising:

selecting either a first signal, containing digital data, in a transmit channel, or a second signal, comprising a repetition of digital data from the first signal, in a first repetition channel;

when the first signal is selected, repeating digital data from the first signal in a repeat signal transmitted in the first repetition channel; and

when the second signal is selected, repeating digital data from the second signal in a repeat signal transmitted in a second repetition channel.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein selecting comprises comparing signal strength in the transmit channel and in the first repetition channel, and selecting a signal corresponding to the one of these two channels having the largest signal strength.