Network-Controlled Repeater Signal Forwarding for Edge Coverage

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in expanding coverage areas and improving signal quality at the edge of service areas due to weak signals from base stations, leading to reduced data rates and high link failure probabilities, which conventional repeaters do not adequately address.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of network-controlled repeaters (NCRs) that can generate and insert customized control signals, utilize beamforming and spatial multiplexing, and allocate time-frequency resources to enhance signal transmission and reception, thereby improving coverage and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If a conventional RF repeater is used to extend coverage, then coverage area is expanded, but signal quality and interference management deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidsignal quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a smart repeater that acts as an intelligent intermediary between the base station and user equipment. Unlike conventional RF repeaters that simply amplify signals, this smart repeater processes control information from the network to perform intelligent signal forwarding, beamforming, and interference management, thereby extending coverage while maintaining signal quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the repeater from simple signal amplification to intelligent signal processing. The smart repeater dynamically adjusts transmission parameters such as beamforming weights, power allocation, and resource allocation based on network control information, transforming it from a passive amplification device to an active network-controlled node.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a smart repeater with network control capability is implemented, then signal quality and interference management improve, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference managementVSAvoidrepeater complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network controller acts as an external intermediary that manages the complexity of the smart repeater. By offloading complex functions such as resource allocation, beamforming control, and interference management to the network controller, the repeater's internal complexity is reduced while still achieving advanced signal processing capabilities through network-coordinated operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If simple signal amplification is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and data transmission efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverepeater complexityVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network controller performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring resource allocation, beamforming parameters, and interference management strategies before the smart repeater operates. This allows the repeater to efficiently execute pre-planned operations rather than making complex decisions in real-time, thereby improving data transmission efficiency without significantly increasing the repeater's own complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4216456B1Network-controlled repeater devices, methods, and networks including same
Publication Date: 2026.05.13 SHARP KK
  • EP4216456B1 patent drawingFigure 1~11
  • EP4216456B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4216456B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A repeater node of a telecommunications network wirelessly communicates with a parent node and another node. The repeater node comprises receiver circuitry, processor circuitry, and transmitter circuitry. The receiver circuitry is configured to receive a frame of information from the parent node. The processor circuitry is configured to include a customized control signal in the frame of information received from the parent node. The customized control signal is customized for the repeater node. The transmitter circuitry is configured to transmit the frame of information which includes the customized control signal to the other node which may be a wireless terminal.