Discrete power level coding for indicating uplink mobile receive level in a wireless repeater system

• US 7,020,436 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2000
• Issued: 03/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: ThinkLogix, LLC (Ascend Innovation Management, LLC)
• Original Assignee: AirNet Communications Corporation (Tecore Incorporated)
• Inventors: Schmutz, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, John J.
• Application Number:
  US09/749,210
• Publication Number:
  US 20010031624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/9, 455/13.1, 455/13.4, 455/14, 455/15, 455/16, 455/18, 455/25, 455/436, 455/422.1, 455/524, 455/502, 455/561, 455/507, 455/277.1, 455/134, 455/67.11, 455/424, 455/7, 455/423, 455/522, 455/69
• US Class Current: 455/9
• 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 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/08 Closed loop power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/54 Signalisation aspects of the TPC commands, e.g. frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A method for managing a plurality of mobile units in a wireless cellular communication system having a plurality of repeater stations includes the step of receiving a signal on an uplink communication channel from a mobile transceiver unit at one of the repeaters. The method also measures at the repeater station a power level of the signal as received by the repeater station. The method further includes the step of transmitting a backhaul signal from the repeater station to the base transceiver station on a backhaul communication link, where the backhaul signal is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels providing an indication of the power level as measured by the repeater station.

Claims

1. In a wireless cellular communication system having a base transceiver station located within a home cell and at least one substantially adjacent cell having a repeater located therein, a method for managing a plurality of mobile transceiver units, comprising the steps of:

receiving at said repeater a signal from a mobile transceiver unit on an uplink communication channel;

measuring at said repeater a power level of said signal as received by said repeater; and

transmitting a backhaul signal from said repeater to said base transceiver station on a backhaul communication link, wherein said backhaul signal is selectively transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels, each of said discrete power levels representing a coded indication of said power level as measured by said repeater.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said backhaul signal is comprised of at least a traffic portion of said signal received from said mobile transceiver unit.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said selectively transmitting step further comprises the steps of:

generating power level data which is a digital representation of said power level as measured at said repeater;

correlating said power level data to a predetermined transmitter power level associated with said power level; and

controlling a transmitter of said repeater to transmit at said predetermined transmitter power level.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said base transceiver station (BTS) assigns channels in said wireless communication system based on said indication of said power level.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein a base station controller (BSC) coupled to the base transceiver station assigns channels in said wireless communication system based on said indication of said power level.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of selectively transmitting further comprises the step of selecting from among four discrete power levels to provide an indication if the power level as measured by the repeater is too high, in range, below range, or requiring handoff.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of receiving the backhaul signal at one of four discrete power levels at said base transceiver station and correspondingly transmitting instructions to the mobile transceiver unit to decrease power, maintain power, boost power, or prepare for hand off to another base transceiver station or repeater.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the step of delaying the step of transmitting the backhaul signal by a predetermined amount of time.

9. A repeater in a wireless cellular communication system having a base transceiver station located within a home cell and a plurality of substantially adjacent cells at least one having said repeater located therein, said repeater comprising:

a receiver for receiving at one of said repeaters a signal from a mobile transceiver unit via an uplink communication channel;

power measurement means for measuring at said repeater a power level of said signal as received by said repeater; and

a transmitter for transmitting a backhaul signal from said repeater to said base transceiver station via a backhaul communication link, wherein said backhaul signal is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels selected in accordance with a predetermined coding scheme for providing an indication of said power level from the mobile transceiver as measured by said repeater.

10. The repeater according to claim 9, wherein said backhaul signal comprises at least a traffic portion of said signal received from said mobile transceiver unit.

11. The repeater according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of discrete power levels providing an indication of said power level as measured by said repeater are four discrete power levels to provide an indication if the power level as measured by the repeater is too high, in range, below range, or requiring handoff to another repeater or base transceiver station.

12. In a wireless cellular communication system having a base transceiver station located within a home cell, and a plurality of substantially adjacent cells, with at least one having a repeater located therein, a method for automatically controlling power level in a backhaul communication link, said link having at least one channel, the method comprising:

receiving at said repeater a signal from an uplink channel;

measuring at said repeater a signal power level of said signal as received by said repeater;

transmitting a backhaul signal from said repeater to said base transceiver station, wherein said backhaul signal comprises at least a traffic portion of said signal received from the uplink channel which is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels providing an indication of said signal power level as measured by said repeater;

receiving at a base transceiver station said indication of said signal power level and said at least a traffic portion of said signal; and

assigning channels in said wireless communication system at said base station, based on said signal power level.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said signal from an uplink channel received at one of said repeaters is from a mobile transceiver signal.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said signal from an uplink channel received at one of said repeaters is from a pilot signal.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the step of delaying the step of transmitting the backhaul signal by at least one frame.

16. A configurable base transceiver station in a communication system having the base transceiver station located within a home cell and a plurality of substantially adjacent cells, with at least one of said adjacent cells having a repeater located therein, said base transceiver station comprising:

a transmitter for transmitting traffic and control signals to the repeater;

a receiver for receiving a backhaul signal from the repeater, wherein the backhaul signal is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels indicative of a power level measured from an uplink communication channel at the repeater; and

a processor that is programmed to selectively configure the plurality of discrete power levels at which the repeater will transmit the backhaul signal, wherein the processor is further programmed to decrease the power level of the uplink channel if the backhaul signal is transmitting at a first power level, maintain the power level of the uplink channel if the backhaul signal is transmitting at a second power level, increase the power level if the backhaul signal is transmitting at a third power level, and request that the uplink channel handoff to another repeater or base transceiver station if the backhaul signal is transmitting at a fourth power level.