Base Station Repeater Dynamic Gain Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular telecommunications network base station repeaters amplify both useful and noise signals, leading to inefficient use of network capacity and increased interference, particularly in indoor areas where signal penetration is poor due to high frequency losses.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where the repeater's gain is varied based on the power control function of the network, activating and deactivating the repeater dynamically in response to active communication sessions, thereby optimizing signal amplification and reducing interference by only amplifying signals during active communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the repeater amplifies all received signals continuously, then the signal coverage is improved, but the network capacity is wasted due to amplification of noise and non-useful signals
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater dynamically adjusts its operation between active and inactive states based on detected power control commands. During active communications, the repeater is enabled to amplify signals; during inactive periods, it remains disabled to avoid amplifying noise. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by making the repeater's signal amplification function conditional rather than continuous.
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater uses feedback from power control commands received from the base station to control its activation state. When power control commands indicate active communication, the repeater activates; when commands indicate inactive communication, the repeater deactivates. This feedback mechanism ensures the repeater only amplifies useful signals during actual communications, preventing network capacity waste.
2Power
If the repeater is activated continuously, then the signal power is boosted, but the interference is increased due to amplification of downlink signals and background noise
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater operates in periodic cycles, alternating between active and inactive states based on the communication pattern. It activates during periods when communications are active and remains inactive during periods when communications are inactive. This periodic operation ensures signal power is boosted only when necessary, avoiding continuous amplification of noise and interference.
3Device complexity
If the repeater operates at fixed gain, then the device complexity is reduced, but the power consumption increases due to continuous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater introduces dynamic control of its operational state (active/inactive) based on detected communication conditions. While the gain remains fixed when active, the dynamic switching between active and inactive states reduces overall power consumption by eliminating unnecessary amplification during inactive periods, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and energy efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular telecommunications network base station repeater for a mobile terminal in a network having a power control function causes, during an active communication session, mobile terminal uplink transmit power to decrease in response to an increase in signal strength of the received uplink signal. The gain of the repeater is increased in response to an increase in the uplink signal received at the repeater above a threshold, and subsequently decreasing the gain until the measured power in the received uplink signal exceeds the threshold. Due to the power control function, increasing the gain causes the transmit power of the mobile terminal, and hence the uplink signal received at the repeater, to decrease. Decreasing the gain causes the transmit power, and hence the received uplink signal, to increase. The threshold not being exceeded is indicative of the communication no longer being active, and the repeater will eventually deactivate.