Multi-band, multi-channel, location-aware communications booster

• US 8,049,664 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2009
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeremy K. Raines, Michael P. Millard
• Original Assignee: Jeremy K. Raines, Michael P. Millard
• Inventors: Millard, Michael P., Raines, Jeremy K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GALT, CASSI J
• Application Number:
  US12/319,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20100171654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,029 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.1, 342/357.13, 342/357.17, 342/357.52, 455/522, 455/571, 455/11.1, 455/13.4
• US Class Current: 342/357.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• 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

Abstract

The invention is a device for multiband, multi-channel, wireless communications that automatically provides signal amplification when necessary, and that automatically avoids harmful interference to base stations and other parts of the communications infrastructure. The device is especially suitable for, but not limited to, cellular and PCS bands and channels. The invention is a unique combination of a bidirectional amplifier, a GPS receiver, a processor, and a removable, updatable memory. The memory stores comprehensive information that determines if amplification is necessary at a particular location sensed by the GPS receiver. Because the memory is removable and updatable, it therefore provides protection against piracy and unauthorized and improper use.

Claims

1. A multi-band, multi-channel, location-aware communications booster for reducing interference to communications networks, enhancing the range and coverage of those networks, without changing the operational state of those networks, enabling and enhancing compliance with government regulations comprising:

a) means for receiving signals from the Global Positioning System (GPS);

b) means for extracting a measured latitude, a measured longitude, and a current time of the communications booster from the GPS signals;

c) means for storing in a memory attributes controlling operation of the booster organized according to predetermined stored latitudes and stored longitudes, said attributes comprising proximity to communications towers or base stations, communications bands and channels in use at said latitude and longitude, the presence of structures, and the presence of other communications infrastructure that would be harmed by interference;

d) means for retrieving said attributes from the memory that correspond to the closest match between the stored latitude and the stored longitude and the measured latitude and the measured longitude, and communicating said attributes to a microprocessor;

e) means for amplifying uplink signals;

f) means for amplifying downlink signals;

g) means for amplifying the uplink signals only on selected bands and channels;

h) means for the microprocessor to use solely said retrieved attributes to select the band, the channel, and an activate/deactivate setting of said means for amplifying uplink signals;

i) means for the microprocessor to disable said means for amplifying uplink signals if the measured latitude and the measured longitude are not sufficiently close to any latitude and longitude stored in the memory;

j) means for a wireless connection, using a rebroadcast antenna, of the booster to user equipment operating in the cellular, PCS, or other radio service, such equipment to include communication handsets, wireless computers, wireless personal digital assistants, wireless video phones, smart phones, mobile computing devices, and telemetry transceivers;

k) means for a wireless connection, using a donor antenna, between the booster and a wireless communication network in the cellular, PCS, or other radio service;

l) means for the wireless connection of the booster simultaneously to multiple user equipments;

m) means for the connection of the booster simultaneously to multiple user equipments operating in different radio services.

2. The communications booster of claim 1, further comprising:

n) means for providing the current booster status;

o) means for displaying text that describes attributes stored in the memory.

3. The communications booster of claim 2, wherein the current booster status comprises:

the state of the booster, either ON or OFF;

validity of the GPS signals received by the booster;

validity of the attributes stored in the memory;

whether or not the uplink amplifier has been activated;

the band selected if the uplink amplifier is activated;

the channel selected if the uplink amplifier is activated; and

any device error messages.

4. The communications booster of claim 1, wherein the means for storing the attributes comprises a removable, updatable memory.

5. The communications booster of claim 1, wherein the means for amplifying the uplink signals only on selected bands and channels comprises a multi-band selector and multi-channel selector.

13. The communications booster of claim 1 wherein the means for amplifying uplink signals and the means for amplifying downlink signals comprise a bidirectional amplifier.

15. The communications booster of claim 1, wherein the means for the wireless connection comprises antennas that may be physically located within a housing for the booster or a cradle.

6. A movable, portable, standalone apparatus for enhancing range and coverage of communications networks, without changing the operational state of those networks, enabling and enhancing compliance with government regulations, comprising:

a) a GPS antenna for receiving signals from the Global Positioning System;

b) a GPS receiver, for receiving and decoding a measured latitude, a measured longitude, and a current time;

c) a removable, updatable memory, for storing attributes organized according to predetermined latitudes and longitudes, said attributes comprising proximity to communications towers or base stations, communications bands and channels in use at said latitude and longitude, the presence of structures, and the presence of other communications infrastructure that would be harmed by interference;

d) an uplink amplifier and a downlink amplifier

e) a microprocessor, for collecting the measured latitude, longitude, and current time, retrieving said attributes from the memory that correspond to the closest match between the stored latitude and the stored longitude and the measured latitude and the measured longitude, and using solely said attributes to select a band, a channel, and an activate/deactivate setting of said uplink amplifier;

f) a rebroadcast antenna, providing a wireless connection between the booster and user equipment, such equipment to include communication handsets, wireless computers, wireless personal digital assistants, wireless video phones, smart phones, wireless computing devices, and telemetry transceivers;

g) an enabler bus, for providing electronic control of the band and the channel selection, and the activate/deactivate setting of said uplink amplifier;

h) a multi-band selector, for selecting operation in any one or more bands;

i) a multi-channel selector, for selecting operation for any one or more channels;

j) a donor antenna, providing a wireless connection between the booster and a base station transceiver in the cellular, PCS, or other radio service band.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the microprocessor is further operable to authenticate the memory, and in which the microprocessor is operable to direct the uplink amplifier to operate only if the memory is authentic.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which, in authenticating the memory, the microprocessor is operable to determine whether the memory has been updated since a predetermined time in the past.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the microprocessor is further operable to authenticate the attributes stored in the memory, and in which the microprocessor is operable to direct the uplink amplifier to operate only if the attributes are authentic.

10. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said attributes further comprise a maximum permissible altitude, and wherein the microprocessor is operable to disable the uplink amplifier if a measured altitude exceeds the maximum permissible value retrieved by the microprocessor.

11. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the microprocessor is further operable to determine an amount of elapsed time since collection of the current time;

and disable the uplink amplifier if the amount of elapsed time is greater than a predetermined amount.

12. The apparatus of claim 6 in which the attributes, the stored latitude, and the stored longitude in the memory may be encrypted.

14. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the uplink and downlink amplifiers comprise a bidirectional amplifier.

16. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the GPS antenna is physically part of either the donor antenna or the rebroadcast antenna.