Method and system for decreasing noise from wireless repeaters
AssigneeSprint Spectrum L.P.
InventorMark L. Yarkosky
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wireless signal repeater that cuts off output transmission when the repeater is receiving less than a threshold level of input signal strength (e.g., too low or nonexistent). When operated in the reverse link of a cellular wireless system, the repeater advantageously reduces transmission of noise toward a cellular base station when the repeater is receiving no (or insufficient) signal from the a mobile station. Similarly, when operated in the forward link direction of a cellular wireless system, the repeater advantageously reduces transmission of noise toward a mobile station when the repeater is receiving no (or insufficient) signal from a base station.
Claims18
A method of controlling output from a wireless signal repeater, the method comprising:
- comparing an input signal strength to a predefined minimum threshold;
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater if the input signal strength is less than the predefined minimum threshold;
- comparing the input signal strength to a predefined maximum threshold;
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater if the input signal strength is more than the predefined maximum threshold;
- comparing an output signal strength to a predefined oscillation threshold;
- and
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater if the output signal strength exceeds the predefined oscillation threshold.
In a wireless signal repeater of the type comprising a wireless input circuit, a build-out circuit and a wireless output circuit, wherein the repeater has an input signal strength reflecting strength of input to the wireless input circuit, wherein the build-out circuit includes an amplifier operable to receive a representation of the input signal and to amplify the representation so as to provide an amplified signal, wherein the wireless output circuit is operable to transmit a representation of the amplified signal, and wherein the repeater has an output signal strength reflecting strength of the amplified signal, a method of controlling output from the repeater, the method comprising:
- comparing the input signal strength to a predefined minimum threshold;
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater via the wireless output circuit if the input signal strength is less than the predefined minimum threshold;
- comparing the input signal strength to a predefined maximum threshold;
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater via the wireless output circuit if the input signal strength is more than the predefined maximum threshold;
- comparing the output signal strength to a predefined oscillation threshold;
- and
- cutting off transmission out of the repeater via the wireless output circuit if the output signal strength exceeds the predefined oscillation threshold.
A wireless signal repeater comprising:
- a wireless input circuit operable to receive an input signal, the input signal defining an input signal strength;
- a build-out circuit operable to receive and amplify a representation of the input signal and to thereby produce an amplified signal, wherein the amplified signal defines an output signal strength;
- a wireless output circuit operable to transmit a representation of the amplified signal;
- and
- a controller operable to cut off transmission out of the repeater via the wireless output circuit (i) when the input signal strength is less than a predefined threshold,
- (ii) when the input signal strength is more than a predefined maximum threshold, and (iii) when the output signal strength exceeds a predefined oscillation threshold.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.