# US 7,613,232 B2 · Method for automatic control of RF output level of a repeater > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,613,232 B2 - Document ID: US7613232B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/562,808 - Filed: 2004-06-30 - Published: 2007-03-29 - Granted: 2009-11-03 - Earliest claimed: 2003-06-30 - Assignees: Axel Wireless Ltd. - Inventors: Amir Meir; Alexander Baber; Yaniv Avital - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613232B2 ## CPC - H03G 3/3042: {in modulators, frequency-changers, transmitters or power amplifiers} - H04B 7/15535: {Control of relay amplifier gain (amplifier gain control in general H03G3/00; gain control reducing self - or loop interference H04B7/15578)} - H04W 52/343: {taking into account loading or congestion level} - H04B 7/15578: {by gain adjustment} - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract A method and apparatus for controlling an output power level of a radio frequency (RF) repeater (100 or 200). A system includes a receiver to receive a signal, a filtering unit configured to pass frequency components at or around a frequency band of a predetermined communication channel, an attenuator (124 or 142) to produce an attenuated signal by attenuating a parameter of the signal, a power amplifier (150) to adjust the output power level of repeater to a desired level by adjusting the gain of one or more components of the system, and a microprocessor (170) to receive an input responsive to the output power level of the repeater and, in response to the input, to transfer control signals to the receiver and the attenuator. The method includes sampling traffic load characteristics during operation of a network and adjusting a gain of one or more components of the repeater based on the traffic load characteristics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of controlling a radio frequency (RF) output power level of a repeater having a downlink section and an uplink section, wherein the method is performed by at least one section of said downlink and uplink sections, the method comprising: receiving a RF input signal; producing an attenuated signal by attenuating a parameter of the received RF input signal; producing an output signal by amplifying said attenuated signal; monitoring the power level of said output signal; sampling, upon request, traffic load characteristics of the received RF input signal during operation of a network associated with the repeater; based on said sampling, adjusting the monitored power level of said output signal by controlling the gain of said received RF input signal based on the sampled traffic load characteristics; and based on said sampling, sustaining the output monitored power level of said repeater substantially at a desired, predefined, level during operation of said network. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sampling comprises sampling a parameter related to changing paths of actual levels of traffic. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sampling comprises repeatedly sampling said traffic load characteristics according to a predetermined scheme. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sampling comprises automatically sampling said traffic load characteristics at predetermined time intervals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sampling comprises sampling said traffic load characteristics by one or more components of the downlink section of said repeater. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said sampling comprises sampling said traffic load characteristics by one or more components of the uplink section of said repeater. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired, predefined level relates to an optimal power for said traffic load characteristics. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said desired, predefined level relates to a maximal power for said traffic load characteristics. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said repeater comprises a digital repeater. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said repeater comprises an analog repeater. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting comprises adjusting the gain of one or more components of either or both said downlink section and said uplink section based on an output power level of said uplink section. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting comprises adjusting the gain of one or more components of said uplink section based on a gain of at least one component of said downlink section. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a parameter of one or more components of said repeater to detect an oscillation event; and if an oscillation event is detected, proactively modifying the gain of one or more components of said repeater according to a predetermined scheme. ### Claim 14 A repeater comprising a downlink section and an uplink section, wherein at least one section of said downlink and uplink sections comprises: a receiver to receive a Radio Frequency (RF) input signal; an attenuator to produce an attenuated signal by attenuating a parameter of the received RF input signal; a power amplifier to produce an output signal by amplifying said attenuated signal; a power monitor to monitor the power level of said output signal; and a RF gain controller to sample, upon request, traffic load characteristics of the received RF input signal during operation of a network associated with the repeater, to adjust the monitored power level of said output signal by controlling the gain of said received RF input signal by said attenuator based on the sampled traffic load characteristics, and to sustain the output monitored power level of said repeater substantially at a desired, predefined, level during operation of said network. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The repeater according to claim 14, wherein said RF gain controller is adapted to repeatedly sample said traffic load characteristics. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The repeater according to claim 14, wherein said RF gain controller is adapted to automatically sample said traffic load characteristics at predetermined time intervals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The repeater according to claim 14, wherein said RF gain controller is adapted to sustain a substantially predefined output power level of one or more devices communicating in said network during the operation of said network. ### Claim 18 A system for adjusting a radio frequency (RF) output power level of a repeater, wherein the repeater comprises a downlink section and an uplink section, wherein the system is comprised in a section selected from said downlink and uplink sections, the system comprising: a receiver to receive a RF input signal; a filtering unit operably associated with said receiver, configured to pass frequency components of the RF input signal at or around a frequency band of a predefined communication channel; an attenuator operably associated with said receiver, to produce an attenuated signal by attenuating a parameter of said RF input signal; a power amplifier unit operably associated with said receiver, to sample traffic load characteristics of the RF input signal during operation of a network associated with the repeater, and to adjust the RF output power level of said repeater to a desired level by adjusting a gain of one or more components of said system based on the sampled traffic load characteristics during operation of the network; and a microprocessor to receive an input responsive to said RF output power level and, based on said input, to provide adjustment control signals to said receiver and said attenuator, and to sustain the RF output power level of said repeater substantially at a desired, predefined, level during operation of said network. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein either or both of said receiver and said attenuator are able to adjust the RF input signal received by said receiver to a desired input level based on said adjustment control signals. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein either or both of said receiver and said attenuator are able to adjust a parameter of the frequency components passed by said filtering unit based on said adjustment control signals. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein said power amplifier unit comprises: an additional attenuator operably associated with said receiver, to reduce the amplitude of said RF input signal; a high-power amplifier operably associated with said receiver, to increase the power of said RF input signal; a power monitor to monitor said RF output power level of said repeater; and a RF gain controller circuit able to adjust said additional attenuator to reduce the amplitude of said RF input signal according to multiple samples of said traffic load characteristics sampled during operation of said network. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein said filtering unit comprises: an analog to digital converter to generate a digital signal correlated to the received RF input signal; a digital filter to receive said digital signal from said analog to digital converter, to pass frequency components at or around the frequency band of said communication channel, and to exclude frequency components indicative of interference signals correlated to the digital signal; and a digital to analog converter to generate an analog signal correlated to the filtered digital signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The system according to claim 18, wherein said microprocessor is able to monitor oscillations of the system and, upon detecting an oscillation event, to cause one or more components of the system to modify the gain of one or more components of the system according to a predetermined scheme. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The system according to claim 23, wherein said microprocessor is able to modify the gain of said one or more components of said system by sending to said one or more components control signals responsive to a desired modification according to said predetermined scheme.