Repeater and methods for use therewith

• US 10,142,010 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayard, Emmanuel
• Application Number:
  US15/179,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20160365894A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 375214, 375219-220, 375297
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/0057 using diplexing or multiplexing filters for selecting the desired band
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/38 for signals in two different frequency ranges transmitted in opposite directions over the same transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 999/99 dummy group

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A repeater device, comprising:

an amplifier configured to amplify first channel signals to generate amplified first channel signals, wherein the first channel signals are extracted via a first coupler from a first transmission medium of a distributed antenna system as first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;

a channel selection filter configured to select one or more of the amplified first channel signals for wireless transmission to at least one device via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system; and

a channel duplexer configured to transfer to the distributed antenna system via a second coupler, at least a portion of the amplified first channel signals for use by an other repeater device of the distributed antenna system having a second antenna and further to transfer the first channel signals to the channel selection filter, wherein the second coupler launches second guided electromagnetic waves conveying the amplified first channel signals on a second transmission medium of the distributed antenna system and wherein the second guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the second transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

2. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the distributed antenna system includes a source node and wherein the source node transmits the first channel signals to the repeater device.

3. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the distributed antenna system operates in a non-cellular frequency band.

4. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna operate in a cellular frequency band.

5. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the distributed antenna system includes a source node and a plurality of repeater devices including the repeater device and the other repeater device for wireless access over a coverage area of the distributed antenna system.

6. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the channel selection filter is further configured to wirelessly receive second channel signals from the at least one device via the first antenna;

wherein the channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the second channel signals to the amplifier;

wherein the amplifier is further configured to amplify the second channel signals to generate amplified second channel signals; and

wherein the amplified second channel signals are transmitted to a source node via the distributed antenna system.

7. The repeater device of claim 6, wherein the first channel signals correspond to a number of first frequency channels and the second channel signals correspond to a number of second frequency channels that is less than the number of the first frequency channels.

8. The repeater device of claim 6, wherein the one or more of the amplified first channel signals correspond to a number of first frequency channels and the second channel signals correspond to a number of second frequency channels that is equal to the number of the first frequency channels.

9. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals is formatted in accordance with a data over cable system interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a 802.11 protocol or a fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless protocol.

10. The repeater device of claim 1, wherein the channel duplexer includes a diplexer that operates via analog signal processing.

11. A method for use in a repeater, the method comprising:

amplifying first channel signals to generate amplified first channel signals, wherein the first channel signals are extracted via a first coupler from a first transmission medium of a distributed antenna system as first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;

selecting one or more of the amplified first channel signals for wireless transmission to at least one device via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system; and

transferring to the distributed antenna system via a second coupler, at least a portion of the amplified first channel signals for use by an other repeater of the distributed antenna system having a second antenna, wherein the second coupler launches second guided electromagnetic waves conveying the amplified first channel signals on a second transmission medium of the distributed antenna system and wherein the second guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the second transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the distributed antenna system includes a source node and wherein the source node transmits the first channel signals to the repeater.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the distributed antenna system operates in a non-cellular frequency band.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first antenna and the second antenna operate in a cellular frequency band.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the distributed antenna system includes a source node and a plurality of repeaters including the repeater and the other repeater for wireless access over a coverage area of the distributed antenna system.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising wirelessly receiving second channel signals from the at least one device via the first antenna;

and

amplifying the second channel signals to generate amplified second channel signals;

wherein the amplified second channel signals are transmitted to a source node via the distributed antenna system.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first channel signals correspond to a number of first frequency channels and the second channel signals correspond to a number of second frequency channels that is less than the number of the first frequency channels.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the one or more of the amplified first channel signals correspond to a number of first frequency channels and the second channel signals correspond to a number of second frequency channels that is equal to the number of the first frequency channels.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals is formatted in accordance with a data over cable system interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol, a 802.11 protocol or a fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless protocol.

20. A repeater device, comprising:

an amplifier configured to amplify channel signals to generate amplified channel signals, wherein the channel signals are extracted via a first coupler from a first transmission medium of a distributed antenna system as first guided electromagnetic waves, wherein the first guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the first transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;

a channel selection filter configured to select one or more of the amplified channel signals for wireless transmission to at least one device via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system; and

a channel duplexer configured to transfer to the distributed antenna system via a second coupler, at least a portion of the amplified channel signals for use by an other repeater device of the distributed antenna system having a second antenna and further to transfer the channel signals to the channel selection filter, wherein the second coupler launches second guided electromagnetic waves conveying the amplified channel signals on a second transmission medium of the distributed antenna system and wherein the second guided electromagnetic waves propagate along the second transmission medium without requiring an electrical return path;

wherein the distributed antenna system includes a source node and a plurality of repeater devices including the repeater device and the other repeater device for wireless access over a coverage area of the distributed antenna system, and

wherein the distributed antenna system operates in a non-cellular frequency band.