Radio coverage in closed environments

In a communication system including at least one base station and at least one mobile unit, both operating at a high radio frequency, a repeater system for providing a communications link between the base station and the mobile unit when the mobile unit is located in an environment that is substantially closed off to high radio frequency communication between the base station and the mobile unit, the repeater system comprising:

• a first linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a base station;
• and
• a low frequency port for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal for radiating radio frequency power through the closed environment;
• cable transmission means connected to the low frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, and located within the closed environment for radiating and receiving the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• a first antenna for wireless coupling to the cable transmission means;
• a second linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a low frequency port connected to the first antenna for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal;
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency signal used by the communications system;
• and
• a second antenna connected to the high frequency port of the second linear two-way frequency converter;
• and
• a third antenna, connected to the high frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, for wireless coupling to the at least one base station.

In a communication system including at least one base station and at least one mobile unit, both operating at a high radio frequency, a repeater system for providing a communications link between the base station and the mobile unit when the mobile unit is located in an environment that is substantially closed off to high radio frequency communication between the base station and the mobile unit, the repeater system comprising:

• a first linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a base station;
• and
• a low frequency port for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal for radiating radio frequency power through the closed environment;
• cable transmission means connected to the low frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, and located within the closed environment for radiating and receiving the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• a first antenna for wireless coupling to the cable transmission means;
• a second linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a low frequency port connected to the first antenna for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal;
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency signal used by the communications system;
• and
• a second antenna connected to the high frequency port of the second linear two-way frequency converter;
• and
• second cable transmission means, coupled to the high frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, for coupling to the at least one base station.

In a communication system including a base station and a mobile unit, both operating at a high radio frequency, a method for communicating between the base station and the mobile unit when the mobile unit is located in an environment that is substantially closed off to high radio frequency communication between the base station and the mobile unit, comprising the steps of:

• using a second antenna to receive a high radio frequency signal from the mobile unit;
• linearly converting the received high radio frequency signal into a low frequency signal for radiating radio frequency power into the closed environment;
• radiating the low frequency signal from a first antenna;
• using cable transmission means to receive the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• linearly converting the received low frequency signal into a base station high radio frequency signal;
• and
• outputting the base station high radio frequency signal to a base station,
• wherein the step of outputting the base station high radio frequency signal to a base station comprises transmitting the base station high frequency signal to the base station via an air-interface.

In a communication system including a base station and a mobile unit, both operating at a high radio frequency, a repeater system for providing a communications link between the base station and the mobile unit when the mobile unit is located in an environment that is substantially closed off to high radio frequency communication between the base station and the mobile unit, the repeater system comprising:

• a first linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a first signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency used by the communication system;
• and
• a low frequency port for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal having a frequency for radiating radio frequency power through the closed environment;
• a first antenna, coupled to the high frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, for receiving and transmitting the first high radio frequency signal;
• cable transmission means connected to the low frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, and located within the closed environment for distributing the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• a second linear two-way frequency converter, located within the closed environment, including:
• a low frequency port physically connected to the cable transmission means for two-way coupling to the low frequency signal;
• and
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a second high radio frequency signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency used by the communication system;
• and
• a second antenna connected to the high frequency port of the second linear two-way frequency converter.

In a communication system including at least one base station and at least one mobile unit, both operating at a high radio frequency, a repeater system for providing a communications link between the base station and the mobile unit when the mobile unit is located in an environment that is substantially closed off to high radio frequency communication between the base station and the mobile unit, the repeater system comprising:

• a first linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal having a frequency that is compatible with the high frequency signal used by the communication system;
• and
• a low frequency port for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal having a frequency for radiating radio frequency power through the closed environment;
• first cable transmission means connected to the low frequency port of the first linear two-way frequency converter, and located within the closed environment for distributing the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• a second linear two-way frequency converter, located within the closed environment, including:
• a low frequency port connected to the cable transmission means for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal;
• and
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency signal used by the communication system;
• a first antenna connected to the high frequency port of the second linear two-way frequency converter, and disposed within the closed environment to serve a first cell in the communication system;
• a third linear two-way frequency converter including:
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal having a frequency that is compatible with the high frequency signal used by the communication system;
• and
• a low frequency port for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal having a frequency for radiating radio frequency power through the closed environment;
• second cable transmission means connected to the low frequency port of the third linear two-way frequency converter, and located within the closed environment for distributing the low frequency signal within the closed environment;
• a fourth linear two-way frequency converter, located within the closed environment, including;
• a low frequency port connected to the second cable transmission means for two-way coupling to a low frequency signal;
• and
• a high frequency port for two-way coupling to a signal that is compatible with the high radio frequency signal used by the communication system;
• and
• a second antenna connected to the high frequency port of the fourth linear two-way frequency converter and disposed within the closed environment to serve a second cell,
• wherein the second antenna is disposed within the enclosed environment at a location which causes a portion of the second cell to overlap a portion of the first cell, whereby a handoff of service between first and second base stations serving, respectively, the first and second cells can be effected when a mobile unit moves between the first and second cells.