Cellular Signal Booster Gain Control for Uplink Network Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing signal boosters face challenges in effectively managing network overload and noise floor increases in cellular networks, particularly in balancing uplink and downlink signal amplification to maintain optimal communication quality.

Innovation Solution

The proposed signal booster employs a controller to adjust gain or noise power in uplink transmission paths based on data from downlink transmission paths, identifying minimum Booster Station Coupling Loss (BSCL) or Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) to protect the network from overload, using multiple transmission paths and amplifiers to separate and filter signals effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If signal amplification is increased to improve communication quality, then signal strength is improved, but network overload and noise floor increase occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal strengthVSAvoidnetwork overload and noise floor increase
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller monitors downlink signal strength (RSSI) and BSCL values, then dynamically adjusts uplink gain settings based on this feedback. When downlink signal strength indicates potential network overload conditions, the controller reduces uplink gain to prevent harmful effects while maintaining adequate communication quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static gain settings to dynamic gain adjustment. The uplink gain is continuously adapted based on real-time downlink signal conditions, allowing the signal booster to optimize performance and prevent network overload adaptively rather than using fixed amplification levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Strength

If uplink gain is increased to improve uplink signal quality, then uplink communication quality is improved, but downlink signal strength may become excessive causing network issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink signal qualityVSAvoiddownlink signal strength excess
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The controller uses downlink RSSI measurements as feedback to determine appropriate uplink gain settings. By monitoring the downlink signal strength that reaches the device, the system infers network conditions and adjusts uplink amplification accordingly, preventing downlink signal excess while maintaining uplink quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the gain parameter dynamically based on measured signal conditions. Different uplink gain values are applied depending on the downlink signal strength and BSCL measurements, optimizing the balance between uplink quality and network protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If signal booster amplifies all signals equally, then simple amplification is achieved, but network protection and optimal performance cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamplification simplicityVSAvoidnetwork protection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The signal processing is segmented into separate downlink and uplink paths with independent control. The controller separately measures downlink conditions and adjusts uplink gain, allowing sophisticated network protection without requiring complex simultaneous processing of all signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that measures downlink signal characteristics (RSSI, BSCL) and uses this information to mediate the uplink gain setting. This intermediary measurement approach enables network protection without directly complexly processing all amplified signals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3378170B1Cellular signal booster with multiple signal chains
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 WILSON ELECTRONICS LLC

AI summary

A technology is described for a signal booster. The signal booster can include a selected number of uplink transmission paths. Each uplink transmission path can be configured to amplify an uplink signal at a selected band. The signal booster can include a selected number of downlink transmission paths. Each downlink transmission path can be configured to amplify a downlink signal at a selected band. The selected number of uplink transmission paths in the signal booster may not equal the selected number of downlink transmission paths in the signal booster.