Mobile repeater system and method having geophysical location awareness without use of GPS

• US 8,699,943 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2012
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kummetz, Thomas, Melester, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tu X
• Application Number:
  US13/485,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20120309293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/11.1, 455/13.1, 455/15, 455/16, 701/220
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15528 Control of operation parameters of a relay station to exploit the physical medium
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels

Abstract

A repeater system and method for implementing within a mobile platform includes repeater circuitry configured for repeating signals between devices and signal sources such as base transceiver stations. The repeater circuitry has a plurality of configurable settings for controlling operation of the repeater circuitry. Movement sensors sense the movement of the mobile platform and controller circuitry is configured to use inputs from the movement sensors to determine a current path of the mobile platform and to compare the determined current path to the known path information for the mobile platform for determining the location of the mobile platform and repeater system to vary the configurable settings of the repeater system based upon the determined location. Other information such as identification information from a signal source or information from the mobile platform are also used to vary the configuration and configurable settings of the repeater system.

Claims

1. A repeater system for implementing within a mobile platform, the repeater system comprising:

repeater circuitry configured for repeating signals between at least one device and at least one signal source, the repeater circuitry having a plurality of configurable settings for controlling operation of the repeater circuitry;

controller circuitry configured for varying at least one the configurable settings;

at least one movement sensor positioned for sensing movement of the mobile platform;

memory circuitry that stores pre-existing information for a pre-defined and known path that is to be travelled by the mobile platform;

the controller circuitry configured to use an input from the at least one movement sensor to determine a current path of the mobile platform as it is moving and to compare the determined current path of the moving mobile platform to the pre-defined and known path information for the mobile platform for generally continuously determining the current location of the mobile platform and repeater system as it is moving along the pre-defined and known path; and

the controller circuitry varying the at least one configurable setting based upon the determined current location along the pre-defined and known path.

2. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the controller circuitry is further configured for using an initial location of the mobile platform in combination with the input from the at least one movement sensor to determine the current path for the moving mobile platform.

3. The repeater system of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of movement sensors, the controller circuitry configured to use inputs from the plurality of movement sensors to determine a current path of the moving mobile platform.

4. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the movement sensor includes at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a compass, a pressure sensor or an altimeter.

5. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the information for a pre-defined and known path travelled by the mobile platform includes additional path information including at least one of speeds associated with a section of the path, locations of stations in the path, signals associated with the path, or times for scheduled stops in the path, the controller circuitry configured to use the additional path information for determining the current location of the mobile platform as it is moving along the pre-defined and known path.

6. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the signal source is capable of providing identification information that identifies the signal source, the controller circuitry configured for using the identification information for determining the location of the mobile platform.

7. The repeater system of claim 6 wherein the plurality of configurable settings are arranged as a set, the controller circuitry configured for implementing the set of configurable settings based upon at least one of the determined location of the mobile platform and repeater system or the identification information that identifies the signal source.

8. The repeater system of claim 6 wherein the identification information includes at least one of location coordinates for the signal source, GPS coordinates for the signal source, information about the frequency of the signal source, a beacon channel number, a beacon channel frequency, a base station identity code, or a location area code.

9. The repeater system of claim 1 further comprising an interface with the mobile platform for receiving information from the mobile platform including at least one of speed of the mobile platform, proximity of the mobile platform to a station, proximity of the mobile platform to a signal source, or the direction of a driver of the mobile platform, the controller circuitry configured to use the mobile platform information for determining the current location of the mobile platform along the pre-defined and known path.

10. The repeater system of claim 9 wherein the plurality of configurable settings are arranged as a set, the controller circuitry configured for implementing the set of configurable settings based upon at least one of the determined location of the mobile platform and repeater system or received information from the mobile platform.

11. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of configurable settings include at least one of filter settings, gain settings, network settings, activation settings, or mode settings.

12. The repeater system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of configurable settings are arranged as a set, the controller circuitry configured for implementing the set of configurable settings based upon the determined current location of the mobile platform and repeater system.

13. A method for repeating signals within a mobile platform, the method comprising:

repeating signals between at least one device and at least one signal source using repeater circuitry located within a mobile platform, the repeater circuitry having a plurality of configurable settings for controlling operation of the repeater circuitry;

sensing movement of the mobile platform and repeater system mounted therewith with at least one movement sensor positioned for sensing movement of the mobile platform;

storing pre-existing information for a pre-defined and known path that is to be travelled by the mobile platform;

determining a current path of the mobile platform as it is moving using an input from the at least one movement sensor;

comparing the determined current path of the moving mobile platform to the pre-defined and known path information for a path travelled by the mobile platform;

generally continuously determining the current location of the mobile platform and repeater system as it is moving along the pre-defined and known path based on the comparison; and

varying at least one configurable setting of the repeater circuitry based upon the determined current location of the mobile platform and repeater system along the pre-defined and known path.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising using an initial location of the mobile platform in combination with the input from the at least one movement sensor to determine the current path for the moving mobile platform.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising sensing movement of the mobile platform and repeater system mounted therewith with a plurality of movement sensors, and using inputs from the plurality of movement sensors to determine a current path of the moving mobile platform.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the movement sensor includes at least one of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a compass, a pressure sensor or an altimeter.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the information for a pre-defined and known path travelled by the mobile platform includes additional path information including at least one of speeds associated with a section of the path, locations of stations in the path, signals associated with the path, or times for scheduled stops in the path, the method further comprising using the additional path information for determining the current location of the mobile platform as it is moving along the pre-defined and known path.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the at least one signal source is capable of providing identification information that identifies the signal source, the method further comprising using the identification information for determining the location of the mobile platform.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising receiving information from the mobile platform including at least one of speed of the mobile platform, proximity of the mobile platform to a station, proximity of the mobile platform to a signal source, or the direction of a driver of the mobile platform, the method further comprising using the information from the mobile platform for determining the current location of the mobile platform along the pre-defined and known path.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the plurality of configurable settings include at least one of filter settings, gain settings, network settings, activation settings, or mode settings.