Intelligent signal booster

• US 8,816,904 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2010
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jeremy Keith Raines, Michael P. Millard
• Original Assignee: Jeremy Keith Raines, Michael P. Millard
• Inventors: Raines, Jeremy Keith, Millard, Michael P
• Primary Examiner(s): Galt, Cassie
• Application Number:
  US12/806,525
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311480A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,471 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003

Abstract

The invention is a device for multi-band, multi-channel, wireless communications that automatically provides signal amplification when and where necessary, and that automatically avoids harmful interference to base stations and other parts of the communications infrastructure. The invention is a unique combination of an adjustable gain, bidirectional amplifier, a GPS receiver, a processor, and one or more removable, non-volatile, updatable memory devices. Alternatively, the memory can be an internal device accessible via an electronic port such as a USB. In either case, the memory stores comprehensive information that determines if, and how much, amplification is necessary at a particular location sensed by the GPS receiver. The device also includes a dedicated apparatus that permits a deactivation by remote control in the event of a malfunction.

Claims

1. 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, or a plurality of removable, updatable memories, or an internal memory accessible via an electronic data port, 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 amplifer 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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uplink amplifier is continuously adjustable with respect to the amount of amplification.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein power to the apparatus may be controlled by a kill switch, comprising:

a) a telemetry transceiver within the apparatus that communicates wireless signals to and from a remote control unit external to the apparatus;

b) an antenna connected to the transceiver that provides a wireless connection between the telemetry transceiver and the remote control unit;

c) a wired connection between the telemetry transceiver and the microprocessor so that the microprocessor can recognize signals originating from the remote control unit, those signals to include a request for an identifier unique to the apparatus, a command for the apparatus to deactivate, and a command for the apparatus to reactivate.

4. 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;

I) 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;

n) wherein the means for storing the attributes comprises a removable, updatable memory, a plurality of removable, updatable memories, or an internal memory accessible via an electronic data port;

o) wherein the means for amplifying the uplink signals comprises an amplifier that is continuously adjustable with respect to the amount of amplification;

p) means to control power to all internal components via a remote control device external to the communications booster.