Method and apparatus for forward link gain control in a power controlled repeater

• US 7,355,993 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 04/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wheatley, Charles E. III, Adkins, Keith L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham; Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills; Donald L
• Application Number:
  US10/184,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,112 Days
• Field of Search: 370/279, 370/315, 370/316, 370/318, 370/320, 455/7, 455/24
• US Class Current: 370/318
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0604 with predefined switching scheme
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• 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: H04L 1/0071 Use of interleaving interleaving per se H03M13/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/06 using space diversity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/08 by repeating transmission, e.g. Verdan system H04L1/1858 and H04L1/189 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0042 intra-user or intra-terminal allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0044 allocation of payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0083 symbol-by-symbol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/225 Calculation of statistics, e.g. average, variance
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/241 taking into account channel quality metrics, e.g. SIR, SNR, CIR, Eb/lo
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/242 taking into account path loss
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/46 in multi hop networks, e.g. wireless relay networks

Abstract

A power controlled repeater is disclosed for use in a wireless communication system to control the forward link gain. The power controlled repeater includes a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station. In addition, the power controlled repeater includes a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station. An embedded subscriber unit is used at the power controlled repeater and is inserted into the forward link. A microprocessor is in electronic communications with the subscriber unit and implements a method for controlling the forward link gain. The method for controlling the forward link gain includes using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system, a method for controlling forward link gain in a power controlled repeater, the method comprising:

receiving a wireless signal from a base station at the power controlled repeater, wherein the power controlled repeater includes an embedded subscriber unit;

coupling at least a portion of the received wireless signal to the embedded subscriber unit; and

using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater is accomplished through use of a method comprising;

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

processing the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

2. A power controlled repeater to use in a wireless communication system, the power controlled repeater comprising:

a receive antenna to receive wireless communications from a base station to a mobile station on a forward link;

a donor antenna to receive wireless communications from the mobile station to the base station on a reverse link;

an embedded subscriber unit configured to receive at least part of a wireless signal received from the base station; and

a process module in electronic communications with the subscriber unit, the process module configured to implement a method to control forward link gain of the power controlled repeater, the method comprising;

using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength, and wherein the process module is configured to implement the method to control forward link gain of the power controlled repeater using hardware, software, or a combination, wherein using the embedded subscriber unit in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater comprises;

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

processing the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

3. A wireless communication system configured to control forward link gain through use of a power controlled repeater, the wireless communication system comprising:

a base station to relay communications to a plurality of mobile stations on a forward link and to receive communications from the plurality of mobile stations on a reverse link;

a power controlled repeater positioned in a coverage area of the base station, wherein the power controlled repeater is configured to extend the coverage area of the base station; and

a subscriber unit embedded in the power controlled repeater, wherein the subscriber unit is configured to receive at least part of a wireless signal received from the base station at the power controlled repeater on the forward link, and wherein the embedded subscriber unit is configured to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength, wherein the power controlled repeater is configured to implement a method comprising;

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

processing the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.

4. A power controlled repeater to use in a wireless communication system, the power controlled repeater comprising:

means for maintaining a forward link for communications from a base station to a mobile station;

means for maintaining a reverse link for communications from the mobile station to the base station;

means for wireless communications receiving at least part of a wireless communication received on the forward link; and

means for processing in electronic communications with the means for wireless communication, the means for processing implementing a method for controlling forward link gain, the method comprising;

using the means for wireless communication in the power controlled repeater to detect receive pilot signal strength and to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater through use of the receive pilot signal strength, wherein using the means for wireless communication in the power controlled repeater to control the forward link gain of the power controlled repeater comprises;

obtaining a receive power level;

obtaining a receive Ec/lo level;

determining forward link path loss through use of the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level;

processing the receive power level and the receive Ec/lo level to substantially remove fading; and

maintaining a substantially consistent forward link pilot output power through use of the forward link path loss.