System and method of automatically calibrating the gain for a distributed wireless communication system

A base station, configured to automatically calibrate a receive path gain, for use in a wireless communication system having customer sites, the base station comprising:

• an outdoor unit configured to receive signals from the customer sites, wherein the signals include power readings from the customer sites;
• a broadband cable connected to the outdoor unit;
• and
• an indoor unit connected to the broadband cable and configured to receive message data from the outdoor unit through the broadband cable, wherein the indoor unit includes a processor configured to:
• determine which customer sites are not operating at maximum power,
• instruct the outdoor unit to measure, for a customer site not operating at maximum power, average received power at the outdoor unit,
• compare the average received power to a nominal level, and
• increase the gain of the indoor unit if the average received power is greater than the nominal level or decrease the gain of the indoor unit if the average received power is less than the nominal level.

A method of automatically calibrating a receive path gain of a base station having an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and a broadband cable connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in a wireless communication system having one or more customer sites, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving signals from one or more customer sites;
• measuring, for a customer site not operating at maximum power, power of the received signal at the outdoor unit;
• comparing the power of the received signal to a predetermined level;
• and
• increasing a receive path gain of the indoor unit if the power of the received signal is greater than the predetermined level or decreasing the receive path gain of the indoor unit if the power of the received signal is less than the predetermined level.

A method of automatically controlling the transmit power of a customer site by a base station having an indoor unit, an outdoor unit and a broadband cable connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit in a wireless communication system so as to automatically compensate for losses due to the cable, the method comprising:

• wirelessly receiving a signal from a customer site that has started to transmit the signal;
• measuring power of the received signal at the indoor unit;
• comparing the power of the received signal to a predetermined level;
• requesting the customer site to decrease the transmit power if the power of the received signal is greater than the predetermined level or requesting the customer site to increase the transmit power if the power of the received signal is less than the predetermined level;
• and
• providing a maximum power status to the base station if the customer site is operating at maximum power so as to control automatic compensation for losses due to the base station cable.

A base station configured to automatically calibrate a receive path gain in a wireless communication system having customer sites, the base station comprising:

• an outdoor unit wirelessly receiving signals from the customer sites, wherein the signals include power levels of one or more of the customer sites;
• a broadband cable connected to the outdoor unit;
• and
• an indoor unit connected to the broadband cable and receiving message data from the outdoor unit through the broadband cable, wherein the indoor unit includes a processor configured to:
• measure, for a customer site not operating at maximum power, power of the received signal at the outdoor unit,
• compare the power of the received signal to a predetermined level, and
• increase a receive path gain of the indoor unit if the power of the received signal is greater than the predetermined level or decrease the receive path gain of the indoor unit if the power of the received signal is less than the predetermined level.

A base station for maintaining transmit peak power at a constant level regardless of modulation type for use in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

• an indoor unit having a modem configured to provide an output and to use multiple modulation types within a single time division duplexing frame;
• an outdoor unit connected to the indoor unit and having a transmit system configured to upconvert the output of the modem, the outdoor unit comprising:
• a wideband detector configured to monitor a transmit system output signal;
• a sample and hold circuit connected to the wideband detector, the sample and hold circuit having a gate input;
• a delay circuit receiving a transmit/receive control signal and providing an output to the gate input of the sample and hold circuit;
• a transmit level adjust circuit configured to provide a predetermined transmit output level;
• and
• a comparator configured to compare the predetermined transmit output level with the output of the sample and hold circuit so as to generate an error signal to maintain transmit peak power at a constant level.

A subsystem for maintaining transmit peak power at a constant level regardless of modulation type in an outdoor unit of a wireless communication system, the subsystem comprising:

• a wideband detector configured to monitor a transmit output signal;
• a sample and hold circuit connected to the wideband detector, the sample and hold circuit having a gate input;
• a delay circuit providing an output, indicative of a time in the transmit output signal when a known modulation type occurs, to the gate input of the sample and hold circuit;
• a transmit level adjust circuit configured to provide a predetermined transmit output level;
• and
• a comparator configured to compare the predetermined transmit output level with the output of the sample and hold circuit so as to generate an error signal used to maintain transmit peak power at a constant level.

A method of maintaining transmit peak power at a constant level regardless of modulation type in an outdoor unit of a time division duplexing wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• providing a control signal at a predetermined time delay after a transition from a receive mode to a transmit mode;
• measuring the amplitude of a transmit output signal based on the delayed control signal;
• providing a predetermined transmit output level;
• comparing the predetermined transmit output level with the amplitude of the transmit output signal;
• and
• generating a signal representative of the comparing so as to maintain transmit peak power at a constant level.