Wireless repeater with master/slave configuration
First Claim
1. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a master unit configured to couple to at least one slave unit via wiring in the facility, the master unit comprising:
- a processor configured to generate master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets;
a transceiver coupled to the processor configured to send and receive wireless signals to and from a wireless base station associated with a wireless communication network, the transceiver further configured to send and receive the wireless signals and the MSCP packets on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit and on an uplink transport frequency from the slave unit over the wiring in the facility, wherein the processor is further configured to;
puncture the wireless signals on the downlink transport frequency with a downlink gap so that interference levels on the downlink transport frequency can be measured by the slave unit;
measure the remaining signal level on the uplink transport frequency based upon an uplink gap punctured in the wireless signals on the uplink transport frequency; and
adjust the downlink and uplink transport frequencies based upon measured remaining signal levels.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless repeater extends a coverage area of a wireless network base station within a structure or facility. The repeater includes a master unit for wirelessly communicating with the wireless network base station and a slave unit for wirelessly communicating with one or more subscriber terminals. The master unit is connected to the slave unit through new or existing wiring in the structure to enable the master unit to transmit wireless signals to the slave unit on a downlink transport frequency and to receive wireless signals from the slave unit on an uplink transport frequency in a manner that is transparent to the wireless base station and the subscriber terminals.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a master unit configured to couple to at least one slave unit via wiring in the facility, the master unit comprising:
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a processor configured to generate master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets; a transceiver coupled to the processor configured to send and receive wireless signals to and from a wireless base station associated with a wireless communication network, the transceiver further configured to send and receive the wireless signals and the MSCP packets on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit and on an uplink transport frequency from the slave unit over the wiring in the facility, wherein the processor is further configured to; puncture the wireless signals on the downlink transport frequency with a downlink gap so that interference levels on the downlink transport frequency can be measured by the slave unit; measure the remaining signal level on the uplink transport frequency based upon an uplink gap punctured in the wireless signals on the uplink transport frequency; and
adjust the downlink and uplink transport frequencies based upon measured remaining signal levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a master unit configured to couple to at least one slave unit via wiring in the facility, the master unit comprising:
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a processor configured to generate master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets; a transceiver coupled to the processor to send and receive wireless signals to and from a wireless base station associated with a wireless communication network, the transceiver further configured to send and receive the wireless signals and the MSCP packets on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit and on an uplink transport frequency front the slave unit over the wiring in the facility; and a power detector coupled to the transceiver, the power detector measuring a received signal strength indication (RSSI) and noise level of the downlink transport frequency with the slave unit, a master unit input power and a master unit output power, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a maximum gain of an uplink to the base station for which the master unit and the slave unit are not in an oscillation state, and in which a change in a gain of the uplink to the base station is not substantially equal to a change in measured master unit power. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a slave unit configured to couple to a master unit via wiring in the facility, the slave unit comprising:
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a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to configure the slave unit based upon operating parameters received in master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets from the master unit; and a transceiver to send and receive wireless signals on a downlink to and an uplink from a subscriber terminal over a wireless connection, the transceiver further to send and receive the wireless signals and MSCP packets on an uplink transport frequency to the master unit and on a downlink transport frequency from the master unit over the wiring in the facility wherein the processor is further configured to; puncture the wireless signals on the uplink transport frequency with an uplink gap so that remaining signal levels on the uplink transport frequency can be measured by the master unit; measure a remaining signal level on the downlink transport frequency based upon a downlink gap punctured in the wireless signals on the downlink transport frequency; and generate the MSCP packets including the measured interference levels to be sent to the master unit. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a slave unit configured to couple to a master unit via wiring in the facility, the stave unit comprising:
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a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to configure the slave unit based upon operating parameters received in master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets from the master unit; and a transceiver to send and receive wireless signals on a downlink to and an uplink from a subscriber terminal over a wireless connection, the transceiver further to send and receive the wireless signals and MSCP packets on an uplink transport frequency to the master unit and on a downlink transport frequency from the master unit over the wiring in the facility wherein the processor is further configured to; determine a timing difference between a local clock and a clock associated with the master unit based upon one or more time-stamped broadcast messages within the MSCP packets received from the master unit; and adjust the local clock reference based on the timing difference.
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11. In a repeater to augment wireless network communication coverage in a facility, a slave unit configured to couple to a master unit via wiring in the facility, the slave unit comprising:
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a processor coupled to the transceiver and configured to configure the slave unit based upon operating parameters received in master slave communication protocol (MSCP) packets from the master unit; a transceiver to send and receive wireless signals on a downlink to and an uplink from a subscriber terminal over a wireless connection, the transceiver further to send and receive the wireless signals and MSCP rackets on an uplink transport frequency to the master unit and on a downlink transport frequency from the master unit over the wiring in the facility; and a power detector coupled to the transceiver, the power detector configured to measure a received signal strength indication (RSSI), a noise level of the uplink transport frequency with the master unit, a slave unit input power and a slave unit output power, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a maximum gain of the downlink to the subscriber terminal for which the slave unit and the master unit are not in an oscillation state in which a change in a gain of the downlink to the subscriber terminal is not substantially equal to a change in a measured slave unit output power. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of augmenting wireless network communication coverage in a facility including a master unit installed at the facility and a slave unit coupled to the master unit via wiring in the facility, the method comprising:
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sending control messages on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit, the control messages including operating parameters for configuring the slave unit and a downlink gap transmission time; receiving control messages on an uplink transport frequency from the slave unit, the control messages including an uplink gap transmission time; sending wireless signals received at the master unit from a wireless base station to the slave unit via the downlink transport frequency; sending wireless signals received at the slave unit from a subscriber terminal to the master unit via the uplink transport frequency; puncturing the wireless signals sent via the downlink transport frequency with the downlink gap so that interference levels on the downlink transport frequency can be measured by the slave unit; puncturing the wireless signals sent via the uplink transport frequency with the uplink gap so that interference levels on the uplink transport frequency can be in measured by the master unit; and adjusting the downlink and uplink transport frequencies based upon the measured interference levels. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for of augmenting wireless network communication coverage in a facility including a master unit installed at the facility and slave unit coupled to the master unit via wiring in the facility, the apparatus comprising:
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means for sending control messages on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit, the control messages including operating parameters for configuring the slave unit and a downlink gap transmission time; means for receiving control messages on an uplink transport frequency from the slave unit, the control messages including an uplink gap transmission time; means for sending wireless signals received at the master unit from a wireless base station to the slave unit via the downlink transport frequency; means for sending wireless signals received at the slave unit from a subscriber terminal to the master unit via the uplink transport frequency; means for puncturing the wireless signals sent via the downlink transport frequency with the downlink gap so that interference levels on the downlink transport frequency can be measured by the slave unit; means for puncturing the wireless signals sent via the uplink transport frequency with the uplink gap so that interference levels on the uplink transport frequency can be measured by the master unit; and means for adjusting the downlink and uplink transport frequencies based upon the measured interference levels. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A computer readable media comprising executable instructions for augmenting wireless network communication coverage in a facility in eluding a master unit installed at the facility and a slave unit coupled to the master unit via wiring in the facility, comprising:
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instructions to send control messages on a downlink transport frequency to the slave unit, the control mess ages including operating parameters for configuring the slave unit and a downlink gap transmission time; instructions to receive control messages on an uplink transport frequency from the slave unit, the control messages including an uplink gap transmission time; instructions to send wireless signals received at the master unit front a wireless base station to the slave unit via the downlink transport frequency; instructions to send wireless signals received at the slave unit from a subscriber terminal to the master unit via the uplink transport frequency; instructions to puncture the wireless signals sent via the downlink transport frequency with the downlink gap so that interference levels on the downlink transport frequency can be measured by the slave unit; instructions to puncture the wireless signals sent via the uplink transport frequency with the uplink gap so that interference levels on the uplink transport frequency can be measured by the master unit; and instructions to adjust the downlink and uplink transport frequencies based upon the measured interference levels. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification