Distributed architecture for a base station transceiver subsystem having a radio unit that is remotely programmable

• US 6,801,788 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 10/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Csapo, John S., Rapp, Robert A., Johnson, Mitchell, Brady, Bruce F., Chien, Mark C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/379,551
• Time in Patent Office: 1,870 Days
• Field of Search: 455/562, 455/561, 455/550, 455/349, 455/347, 455/90, 455/272, 455/500, 455/550.1, 343/702, 370/248, 370/249, 375/267, 375/347
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telecommunication base station transceiver subsystem that can be easily configured to provide single or multi-carrier frequency service. The base station is divided into a main unit and a radio unit such that the radio unit is positioned proximate to the antennas and the main unit is remotely located from the radio unit. A single base station transceiver can provide service via multiple wireless protocols, such as CDMA, TDMA, GSM or Analog. The base station transceiver .can also operate on various transmit/receive frequencies as well as variable transmit power settings. Furthermore, the base station transceiver can be reprogrammed, reconfigured and/or statused by a network operations center.

Claims

1. A base station transceiver system divided such that a main unit is positioned distally from at least one radio unit, said base station transceiver system comprising:

a first radio unit comprising;

a first variable power amplifier for providing amplified transmit signals to a first antenna;

a first transceiver circuitry connected to said first variable power amplifier; and

a first controller circuit electrically connected to said first transceiver circuitry and to said first variable power amplifier;

a main unit being for connecting said base station transceiver to a land line telecommunication system and for providing one of an intermediate frequency and base band telecommunication signals to said first radio unit, said main unit comprising a controller circuit for downloading a radio unit software to said first radio unit to be reconfigured in response to control signals received from said land line telecommunication system by said main unit.

2. The base station transceiver system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined aspect of said first radio unit is a configuration aspect.

3. The base station transceiver system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined aspect of said first radio unit is an alarm configuration aspect.

4. The base station transceiver system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined aspect of said first radio unit is at least one of a transmit attenuation control and a transmit power control configuration aspect.

5. The base station transceiver system of claim 1, wherein said at least one predetermined aspect of said first radio unit is setting the transmit power of said variable power amplifier to one of a plurality of power settings.

6. The base station transceiver system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second radio unit comprising;

a second variable power amplifier for providing amplified transmit signals to a second antenna;

a second transceiver circuitry connected to said second variable power amplifier; and

a second controller circuit electrically connected to said second transceiver circuitry and to said second variable power amplifier,

said main unit providing base band telecommunication signals to said second radio unit and providing control signals to said second radio unit, said controller circuit further for downloading said radio unit software to said second radio unit, said second radio unit being configured by said radio unit software such that said second radio unit is configured differently than said first radio unit.

7. A base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system, said base station transceiver system comprising:

a main unit;

a first radio unit in communication with and distally located from said main unit, and

a second radio unit in communication with and distally located from said main unit, said main unit comprising a controller circuit for downloading a radio unit software to at least one of said first radio unit and said second radio unit to be reprogrammed in response to control signals received from a network operating center by said main unit.

8. The base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein said first radio unit and said second radio unit can be reprogrammed to operate differently from each other.

9. The base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein said main unit can request predetermined status information from either said first radio unit and said second radio unit.

10. The base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 9, wherein said main unit is adapted to forward said predetermined status information to said network operating center.

11. The base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein a first command can be sent from said main unit to said first radio unit such that said first radio unit responds to said first command by changing an operational aspect of said radio unit.

12. The base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein a first command can be sent from said main unit to said first radio unit such that said first radio unit responds to said first command by providing a status information to said main unit.

13. A remotely programmable base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system, said remotely programmable base station transceiver system comprising:

an operations control center;

a base station communication transceiver in communication with said operations control center, said base station communication transceiver comprising;

a main unit adapted to receive commands and radio unit software from said operations control center; and

a first radio unit, distally located from and in communication with said main unit, adapted to be configured with said radio unit software, said radio unit being for transmitting and receiving wireless telecommunication signals with a wireless communication network, said operations control center being able to set transmit variables of said radio unit via said main unit.

14. The remotely programmable base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said operations control center can further request status information from said radio unit.

15. The remotely programmable base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 14, wherein said status information includes at least one of an alarm status, a temperature status, a receiver signal strength information, a software version status, and a transmit power level request.

16. The remotely programmable base station transceiver system for a wireless telecommunication system of claim 13, wherein said transmit variable includes at least one of transmit power, transmit attenuation, transmit frequency, and radio unit alarm function settings.

17. A method of upgrading a base station transceiver system divided such that a main unit is positioned distally from at least one radio unit, the method comprising the steps of:

providing one of an intermediate frequency and base band telecommunication signals from the main unit to at least one radio unit;

downloading a radio unit software from the main unit to the at least one radio unit; and

in response to receipt of control signals received from the main unit, reconfiguring at least one predetermined aspect of the first radio unit.

18. The method of upgrading a base station transceiver system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of reconfiguring is further performed in response to control signals received from a land line telecommunication system by the main unit.

19. The method of upgrading a base station transceiver system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined aspect of the first radio unit is a configuration aspect.

20. The method of upgrading a base station transceiver system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined aspect of the first radio unit is an alarm configuration aspect.

21. The method of upgrading a base station transceiver system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined aspect of the first radio unit is at least one of a transmit attenuation control configuration aspect and a transmit power control configuration aspect.

22. The method of upgrading a base station transceiver system as set forth in claim 17 wherein the at least one predetermined aspect of the first radio unit is setting the transmit power of a variable power amplifier to one of a plurality of settings.