Adaptive beamforming using smart repeaters

An electronic device comprising:

• a transceiver that includes:
• a first antenna array for communication with a user equipment (UE);
• and
• a second antenna array for communication with a base station;
• and
• a processor operably connected to the transceiver and configured to:
• receive, from the UE via a first wireless communication channel, wireless fidelity (WiFi) signals that include information indicating a location of the UE;
• transmit, to the base station via the second antenna array, uplink data and control information that includes the UE location information, wherein the UE location information transmitted informs the base station to skip forming a downlink beam directed to the location of the UE from among a full set of beams that correspond to a full sector beam sweep;
• receive, from the base station via the second antenna array, downlink information intended for the UE;
• and
• forward-transmit, to the UE via a second wireless communication channel, the downlink information via a beam formed at the first antenna array to serve the UE at the location of the UE.

A non-transitory, computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, causes the electronic device to:

• receive, from a user equipment (UE) via a first wireless communication channel, wireless fidelity (WiFi) signals that include information indicating a location of the UE,
• wherein the WiFi signals are received by the processor operably connected to a transceiver that includes a first antenna array for communication with the UE and a second antenna array for communication with a base station;
• transmit, to the base station via the second antenna array, uplink data and control information that includes the UE location information, wherein the UE location information transmitted informs the base station to skip forming a downlink beam directed to the location of the UE from among a full set of beams that correspond to a full sector beam sweep;
• receive, from the base station via the second antenna array, downlink information intended for the UE;
• and
• forward-transmit, to the UE via a second wireless communication channel, the downlink information via a beam formed at the first antenna array to serve the UE at the location of the UE.