Airnet Communications Corporation

Other

Thomas R Schmutz

Michael A Komara

Roger L Overton

David D Coons

Jeffrey R Nuckols

Terry L Williams

Jeffrey Wilson Smith

Ronald R Carney

John R Noll

John F Schwaller

Stephen J Foley

Thomasz Strzelec

Allen G Plum

A method () for amplitude equalization in transmit and receive levels in a base station wideband transceiver () includes the step of assigning () a plurality of transmit and receive carrier frequencies to the base station wideband transceiver and the step of flattening () the power in the plurality of transmit and receive carrier frequencies in the plurality of base wideband transceivers using software amplitude pre-distortion.

Method and apparatus for equalization in transmit and receive levels in a broadband transceiver system

A method for managing a plurality of mobile units in a wireless cellular communication system having a plurality of repeater stations includes the step of receiving a signal on an uplink communication channel from a mobile transceiver unit at one of the repeaters. The method also measures at the repeater station a power level of the signal as received by the repeater station. The method further includes the step of transmitting a backhaul signal from the repeater station to the base transceiver station on a backhaul communication link, where the backhaul signal is transmitted at one of a plurality of discrete power levels providing an indication of the power level as measured by the repeater station.

Discrete power level coding for indicating uplink mobile receive level in a wireless repeater system

Method and apparatus for backhaul link diagnostic in a wireless repeater system

A method for automatically configuring a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system includes the steps of selecting a repeater configuration associated with at least one predetermined cell, identifying a specific repeater installed in the predetermined cell, and providing the repeater configuration to the specific repeater using a wireless transmission from a remote control facility. An apparatus includes structures for the automatic configuration of a wireless repeater in a cellular communication system.

Automatic configuration of backhaul and groundlink frequencies in a wireless repeater

An approach to improving TDMA system operation is disclosed wherein in-band translator components are located in the center of remote cells which would normally contain a base transceiver system (BTS). The in-band. translators employ wireless in-band signaling for downlink transmission of commands from an operation and maintenance center (OMC) and uplink transmission of status-indicating and alarm signal data. The remotely located repeaters of the present invention have frequency shift key detection and demodulation capability incorporated in the downlink path, while also incorporating FSK modulation capability into the uplink path. This allows the repeater to extract commands from the serving BTS downlink signal and act on them. It also allows for the repeater to transmit status-indicating signals and alarms to the OMC via the uplink path to the serving BTS.

Method and apparatus employing wireless in-band signaling for downlink transmission of commands and uplink transmission of status for a wireless system repeater

A method and apparatus for dynamically controlling signal power levels in a bi-directional backhaul communication link between a base station and a repeater station is provided. The signal power level of a signal transmitted between a base station and a repeater station is measured at the receiver of the signal. Once the received signal power level has been measured, the power level data based on the received signal power level is automatically transmitted from the receiving station back to the source of the measured signal over the backhaul link. Upon receipt at the source, the power level data is extracted and analyzed to determine if the source needs to alter its transmitted power. Once the power level data is analyzed to determine if a change in the transmitted power is required, the source can automatically respond by increasing, decreasing, or maintaining the transmitted power.

Backhaul power control system in a wireless repeater

Random access control channel gain control and time slot recovery for remote in-band translator in time division multiple access wireless system

A method and apparatus to manage RF power in a broadband transceiver station (BTS) that includes a multi-carrier common RF power source such as a multi-carrier power amplifier (MCPA), for maintaining carrier power at a prescribed level. The power is managed by a power banking agent which is a module of the BTS system software. On a new channel request, the power banking agent determines if the request can be satisfied at the requested level. Otherwise, the power banking agent determines if the channel request can be satisfied at a lower power level. The power banking agent also manages active channels by reclaiming power from channels requiring less power and/or by allocating more power to the channels requiring more power. If the power banking agent cannot satisfy a request, the power banking agent will queue the request until a later time in the event that additional power becomes available. The power banking agent also processes alarms which can occur in the event of a MCPA module addition or MCPA module failure.

Broadband power management (power banking) within a broadband multi-carrier base station transceiver system

Translating repeater system with improved backhaul efficiency

A method and apparatus employing automatic radio frequency (RF) muting and wireless remote control of RF downlink transmission is disclosed for the protection of a downlink amplifier of a wireless repeater system. The present invention has broad application in systems where a RF controller controls the function of a remote RF re-transmitter. A control module in the remote RF re-transmitter disables a downlink amplifier when a initial power-up, power reset, or transmission lull occurs. A control signal from the RF controller enables the downlink amplifier when the RF controller is ready to transmit. In another embodiment of the present invention, a control module disables a downlink amplifier and automatic level control (ALC) of the remote RF re-transmitter during a initial power-up, power reset or transmission lull. When an enable signal is sent by the RF controller the control module enables the downlink amplifier and initializes the ALC with an initial attenuation values. In another embodiment of the present invention adapted to be used in a system with a base transceiver station and a remote RF cell controller. The system conforms with the GSM-900, GSM-1800, and GSM-1900 standards.

Method and apparatus employing automatic RF muting and wireless remote control of RF downlink transmission for a wireless repeater

A method and apparatus for power management that controls the overflow of a digital combiner used in the transmit path for a broadband transceiver station (BTS) is disclosed. Power is managed by a digital word banking agent which is a part of the BTS system software. If a new channel request is received, the digital word banking agent determines if the request can be satisfied at the requested power level. Otherwise, the digital word banking agent determines if the channel request can be satisfied at a lower power request. The digital word banking agent also manages active channels by reclaiming power from channels requiring less power and/or by allocating more power to the channels requesting more power. If the digital word banking agent cannot satisfy a request, the digital word banking agent will queue the request for submission at a later time in the event that additional power becomes available.

Dynamic overflow protection for finite digital word-length multi-carrier transmitter communications equipment

A method and apparatus for using a loopback capability of a radio frequency (RF) repeater to provide for end-to-end testing without a wireline connection is disclosed. A RF source sends a signaling waveform to the RF repeater. Upon receiving the signaling waveform, the RF repeater enters the loopback mode. The RF source sends another identical signaling waveform to the RF repeater to end the loopback mode. In another embodiment, a base transceiver station (BTS) sends a signaling waveform to an intelligent RF repeater-translator upon detection of a lack of activity. The received signaling waveform places the intelligent RF repeater translator into a loopback mode. If alarms are present in the intelligent RF repeater-translator, the intelligent RF repeater-translator ceases processing and the BTS informs the OMC of the error condition. Otherwise, the loopback mode is entered and BTS initiates testing of the intelligent RF repeater-translator. The loopback mode is discontinued when the intelligent RF repeater-translator receives another identical signaling waveform or after a time-out period elapses. The intelligent RF repeater-translator has the capability to alternate the selected diversity uplink path from one loopback test to the next loop back test to ensure full testing of all RF paths.

Method and apparatus employing wireless remote loopback capability for a wireless system repeater to provide end-to-end testing without a wireline connection

A technique for converting a non-sectorized cell to a sectorized cell having multiple sectors utilizing a single broadband processing unit. The spectrum of a given frequency band having a center frequency &prime;&OHgr;,is divided into multiple bands (three, for example) having center frequencies &prime;&OHgr;,, &prime;&OHgr;,&minus;&agr; and &prime;&OHgr;,&plus;&agr;. In the receive path, respective sub-bands are used to convey analog RF signals from a subscriber in respective sectors to an associated transceiver. Each of the transceivers includes a front end for receiving incoming RF signals and an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog signal to a digital data stream. The digital data streams from transceivers are combined, i.e., processed by digitally adding, and supplied to a single channelizer which, in turn, supplies the data to a TDM bus for transmission to a PSTN network. In the reverse path from the PSTN network, TDM digital data signals emanating from a TDM bus are supplied to a combiner which feeds each of the respective transceivers which select the appropriate data from the combiner by digital filtering or processing. The transceivers convert the digital signal to analog form. After conversion, power amplifiers associated with the respective sectors effect emission of radiated power in the respective sectors. Advantageously, amplifiers in the sectorized improvement operate at lower power levels than the single high power amplifier of a non-sectorized cell, thereby providing substantial cost savings. More importantly, instead of deploying multiple broadband processing units the improved sectorized cell requires only a single broadband processing unit, thereby providing further economies.

Sectorized cell having non-redundant broadband processing unit

A control message communication mechanism for use in a broadband transceiver system that includes multiple digital signal processors for performing real time signal processing tasks. One of the digital signal processor (DSPs) is designated as a master DSP. The remainder of the DSPs are arranged in rows and columns to provide a two-dimensional array. A pair of bit-serial interfaces on each DSP are connected in a vertical bus and horizontal loop arrangement. The vertical bus arrangement provides a primary mechanism for the master DSP to communicate control messages to the array DSPs. The horizontal loop mechanism provides a secondary way for DSPs to communicate control information with one another, without involving the master DSP, such as may be required to handle a particular call, without interrupting the more time critical primary connectivity mechanism.

Multichannel broadband transceiver system making use of a distributed

In a conventional Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) wireless system, the specified distance between a mobile unit and the base transceiver system (BTS) cannot exceed predetermined distances because of time slot synchronization constraints. Furthermore, varying distances between mobile units and the BTS, as well as Rayleigh fading, caused by destructive interference effects between direct and reflected signals, create extreme signal strength variations in the initial uplink signal from the mobile stations. The use of spatially-diverse antennas for receiving uplink signals provides diversity gain and mitigates deep fades. Furthermore, selecting the stronger of the spatially-diverse uplink signals mitigates deep fades and reduces frequency usage in the backhaul frequency band. In this approach to extending TDMA system coverage, in-band translator components are located in the center of remote cells which would normally contain a base transceiver system (BTS). The in-band translators include delay elements to implement slot-by-slot selective spatial diversity and automatic level control in a predictive feedforward fashion. The selective diversity mitigates deep Rayleigh fades, while the dynamic automatic level control drastically reduces the uplink backhaul dynamic range to allow for greater backhaul distances. Predictive feedforward automatic level control also eliminates overload and saturation of the backhaul high power amplifier, normally caused by wide variations in uplink power levels.

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Indialantic, FL, United States of America

Thomas R Schmutz