Method and system for proximity detection for an in-building wireless repeater

• US 7,415,242 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2003
• Issued: 08/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ngan, John Cheong Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ajibade Akonai; Olumide T
• Application Number:
  US10/704,894
• Time in Patent Office: 1,744 Days
• Field of Search: 455/6, 455/7, 455/8, 455/9, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/16, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/574, 455/572, 455/414.1, 455/571, 455/13.4, 455/426.1, 455/522, 455/561, 455/10, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/446, 455/13.3, 455/343.1, 455/343.4, 455/343.5, 370/226, 370/273, 370/274, 370/293, 370/315, 370/492, 370/279, 375/211, 375/212, 375/214
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A repeater for a wireless network might use a first communication interface to detect the presence of a wireless device. Alternatively, another network element might use the first communication interface to detect the presence of the wireless device and then provide a notification to the repeater. The first communication interface might be a low-power communication interface, such as one that uses Bluetooth. In response to detecting a wireless device or receiving a notification, the repeater might switch to an active mode and begin repeating signals on the wireless network via a second communication interface, such as one that uses CDMA.

Claims

1. A method for activating a repeater for a wireless network, the method comprising:

a presence terminal determining that a wireless device is within range of the repeater by detecting signals sent from the wireless device over a first communication interface that uses a first communication protocol, wherein the repeater and presence terminal are in different locations, and wherein the wireless device is able to communicate using the first communication protocol and a second communication protocol; and

responsively activating the repeater, wherein the repeater repeats signals on the wireless network by communicating with the wireless device over a second communication interface that uses the second communication protocol.

2. A computer readable medium having stored therein instructions for causing a processor to execute the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that signals are no longer being received from the wireless device over the first communication interface; and

responsively deactivating the repeater.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that a wireless device is within range of the repeater comprises:

broadcasting inquiry packets over the first communication interface;

receiving from the wireless device over the first communication interface a response to the inquiry packets; and

authenticating that the wireless device is permitted to access the wireless network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol is Bluetooth, wherein the second communication protocol is a protocol other than Bluetooth, and wherein determining that the wireless device is within range of the repeater comprises:

transmitting inquiry packets over the first communication interface;

receiving a Frequency Hop Synchronization (“

FHS”

) packet from the wireless device over the first communication interface in response to the inquiry packets;

communicating with the wireless device over the first communication interface to establish a Service Discovery Protocol (“

SDP”

) session for authenticating that the wireless device is authorized to access the wireless network; and

communicating with the wireless device through an SDP session over the first communication interface to setup parameters for communication between the repeater and the wireless device over the second communication interface.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second communication protocol is CDMA, and wherein the wireless device is a mobile phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein responsively activating the repeater comprises:

establishing an RFCOMM session with the repeater; and

sending an indication through the RFCOMM session to cause the repeater to switch from a standby mode to an active mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein responsively activating the repeater comprises responsively activating a plurality of repeaters.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first communication protocol is Bluetooth and the second communication protocol is CDMA.

10. A repeater for a wireless network comprising:

a repeater module for repeating signals on the wireless network;

a presence module, separate from the repeater module, for using a first communication interface to detect when a wireless device is within range of the repeater and for switching the repeater module from a standby mode to an active mode in response to detecting that the wireless device is within range of the repeater, wherein the wireless device is able to communicate using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol; and

wherein the first communication interface uses the first communication protocol, and wherein the repeater module repeats signals on the wireless network by communicating with the wireless device over a second communication interface that uses the second communication protocol.

11. The repeater of claim 10, wherein the repeater module and the presence module are connected through a serial connection.

12. The repeater of claim 11, wherein the first communication protocol is Bluetooth, and wherein the repeater module and the presence module use RFCOMM to communicate over the serial connection.

13. The repeater of claim 10, wherein the repeater is communicatively coupled to at least one other repeater for the wireless network.

14. The repeater of claim 10, wherein the repeater is communicatively coupled to a base station for a wireless telecommunications network.

15. A system for repeating signals in a wireless network, the system comprising:

at least one repeater for repeating signals on the wireless network;

at least one presence terminal communicatively coupled to the at least one repeater for using a first communication interface to detect when a wireless device is within range of the at least one repeater and for switching the at least one repeater from a standby mode to an active mode in response to detecting that the wireless device is within range of the repeater, wherein the at least one repeater and the at least one presence terminal are in different locations, and wherein the wireless device is able to communicate using a first communication protocol and a second communication protocol; and

wherein the first communication interface uses the first communication protocol, and wherein the at least one repeater repeats signals on the wireless network by communicating with the wireless device over a second communication interface that uses the second communication protocol.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one presence terminal is a plurality of presence terminals, wherein the plurality of presence terminals are connected to the repeater via respective serial connections, and wherein the plurality of presence terminals use RFCOMM to communicate with the repeater via the respective serial connections.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one repeater is a plurality of repeaters, and wherein the plurality of repeaters are each connected to the at least one presence terminal.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the at least one presence terminal is communicatively coupled to a base station for a wireless network, and wherein the at least one repeater repeats signals to and from the base station for the wireless network.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the first communication protocol is Bluetooth, and wherein the second communication protocol is a protocol other than Bluetooth.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein first communication interface used by the at least one presence terminal to communicate with wireless devices has a range of less than approximately 20 feet.