System and method for configuring a repeater

• US 8,805,271 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2011
• Issued: 08/12/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. (Vivo Communication Technology Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Gunnarsson, Fredrik, Frenger, Pl
• Primary Examiner(s): TRINH, TAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/238,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20130072110A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 455/7, 455/13.1, 455/41.2, 455/9, 455/411, 455/11.1, 455/67.3, 455/16, 455/450, 370/315, 370/342, 370/395.3, 370/501, 370/492, 370/75, 370/97, 370/328, 370/252, 370/436, 370/203
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0466 the resource being a scrambling code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems

Abstract

A method of configuring a repeater in a mobile communication network includes receiving information identifying a first set of scrambling codes from a repeater. The first set of scrambling codes includes one or more scrambling codes that are being used by base stations from which the repeater has received signals. The method also includes determining a set of one or more unavailable scrambling codes based on the first set and selecting a scrambling code for the repeater based on the set of unavailable scrambling codes. Additionally, the method includes transmitting information identifying the selected scrambling code to the repeater.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a repeater in a mobile communication network, comprising:

receiving information identifying a first set of scrambling codes from a repeater, wherein the first set of scrambling codes comprises one or more scrambling codes that are being used by base stations from which the repeater has received signals;

determining a set of one or more unavailable scrambling codes based on the first set;

selecting a scrambling code for the repeater based on the set of unavailable scrambling codes; and

transmitting information identifying the selected scrambling code to the repeater.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the repeater comprises a first repeater, and the first set further comprises one or more scrambling codes that are being used by other repeaters from which the first repeater has received signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises receiving information identifying a second set of one or more scrambling codes from a mobile terminal that has received signals transmitted by the repeater, wherein the second set of scrambling codes comprises one or more scrambling codes used by base stations in communication with the mobile terminal, and wherein determining the set of unavailable scrambling codes comprises determining a set of one or more unavailable scrambling codes based on the first set and the second set.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the set of unused scrambling codes comprises:

accessing a list of potential scrambling codes stored in memory; and

identifying the potential scrambling codes that are not included in the set of unavailable scrambling codes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining the set of unused scrambling codes further comprises determining whether one or more of the potential scrambling codes is available for use by repeaters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after transmitting information identifying the selected scrambling code to the repeater, receiving information identifying a second set of scrambling codes from the repeater, wherein the second set of scrambling codes comprises one or more scrambling codes used by base stations in communication with the mobile terminal;

determining that the selected scrambling code is included in the second set of scrambling codes;

in response to determining that the selected scrambling code is included in the second set of scrambling codes, selecting a new scrambling code for the repeater based on the first set of scrambling codes and the second set of scrambling codes; and

transmitting information identifying the new scrambling code to the repeater.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information identifying the first set of scrambling codes from the repeater comprises receiving information identifying scrambling codes used by a predetermined number of base stations from which the repeater is receiving strongest signals.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein transmitting information identifying the first set of scrambling codes comprises:

determining a first set of scrambling codes, wherein the first set of scrambling codes comprises scrambling codes used by base stations from which the repeater is receiving a predetermined number of strongest signals; and

transmitting information identifying the determined set of scrambling codes.

9. An apparatus for use as a base station in a mobile communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter operable to transmit signals wirelessly;

a receiver operable to receive wireless signals; and

one or more processors, the processors collectively configured to;

receive information identifying a first set of scrambling codes from a repeater using the receiver, wherein the first set of scrambling codes comprises one or more scrambling codes that are being used by base stations from which the repeater has received signals;

determine a set of one or more unavailable scrambling codes based on the first set;

select a scrambling code for the repeater based on the set of unavailable scrambling codes; and

transmit information identifying the selected scrambling code to the repeater using the transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the repeater comprises a first repeater, and the first set further comprises one or more scrambling codes that are being used by other repeaters from which the first repeater has received signals.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the one or more processors are further operable to receive information identifying a second set of scrambling codes from a mobile terminal that has received signals transmitted by the repeater, wherein the second set of scrambling codes comprises one or more scrambling codes used by base stations in communication with the mobile terminal, and

the one or more processors are operable to determine the set of unavailable scrambling codes by determining a set of one or more unavailable scrambling codes based on the first set and the second set.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are operable to determine the set of unused scrambling codes by:

accessing a list of potential scrambling codes stored in memory; and

identifying the potential scrambling codes that are not included in the set of unavailable scrambling codes.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to determine whether one or more of the potential scrambling codes is available for use by repeaters.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to:

receive information identifying a second set of scrambling codes after transmitting information identifying the selected scrambling code to the repeater, wherein the second set differs from the first set;

determine that the selected scrambling code is included in the second set of scrambling codes;

in response to determining that the selected scrambling code is included in the second set of scrambling codes, select a new scrambling code for the repeater based on the second set of scrambling codes; and

transmit information identifying the new scrambling code to the repeater.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are operable to receive information identifying the first set of scrambling codes from the repeater by receiving information identifying scrambling codes used by a predetermined number of base stations from which the repeater is receiving strongest signals.