FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates generally to the field of repeater devices for radio-frequency (RF) communications signals used, for example, when large obstructions such as mountain ranges or even large buildings interfere with the signals. More particularly, the invention relates to a digital channelizer device within such a repeater used for digitally separating wideband RF signals into individual channels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Wireless communication systems, such as cellular telephone systems, are now common almost everywhere around the world. As an example, one such cellular telephone system widely used around the world is the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS).

[0003] AMPS was released in 1983 using the 800-MHz to 900-MHz frequency band with a 30-kHz bandwidth for each channel and was introduced as a fully automated mobile telephone service. AMPS was the first standardized cellular service in the world and is likely the most widely used standard for cellular communications. AMPS was originally designed for use in cities, however, it was later expanded to rural areas. AMPS maximized the cellular concept of frequency reuse by reducing radio power output.

[0004] AMPS is used throughout the world and is particularly popular in the United States, South America, China, and Australia. AMPS uses frequency modulation (FM) for radio transmission. In the United States, transmissions from a mobile unit to a cell site, or base station, use different frequencies than transmissions from the base station to the mobile unit.

[0005] For example, the 825-845 MHz band is used for uplink service, i.e., for sending signals from a mobile user to a cell site, and the 870-890 MHz band is used for downlink service, i.e., for sending signals from the cell site to the mobile user. One 30 kHz band selected from the uplink bandwidth and one corresponding 30 klHz band selected from the downlink bandwidth comprise a single channel to effect communications between a mobile user and the cell site. Therefore, theoretically, there exists 666 (20 Mhz/30 kHz) individual channels available for bi-directional communications between mobile users and a cell site. In other words, assuming no frequency can be used simultaneously by more than one mobile user, only 666 different connections between mobile user and cell site can be held at any given time. This limited number is clearly insufficient given the present popularity of mobile wireless communication.

[0006] Thus, in order to increase the number of potential mobile users, the concept of frequency reuse was developed whereby each uplink and downlink channel band could be utilized simultaneously by different users. To reuse frequencies in this manner, however, the signals to/from one user must not interfere with the signals to/from any other user. To this end, geographic areas were divided into smaller “cells”, each cell being serviced by a “cell-site”, or antenna. The idea was that each user within a cell would be allocated both an available uplink frequency band, for sending signals to the respective cell-site, and an available downlink frequency band, for receiving signals from the respective cell-site. The uplink and downlink bands are allocated upon placing a mobile call and each cell could then, theoretically, reuse the entire 20 Mhz bandwidth. As long as no other user(s) within that particular cell communicates on that channel (or set of frequencies), no interference from another caller's signals occurs.

[0007] However, if a mobile user, utilizing one set of frequencies, travels close enough to the cell-site of an adjacent cell, his/her signals would potentially interfere with the signals of another user in that adjacent cell, assuming the other user is utilizing the same set of frequencies. Therefore, it was concluded that a given cell would not make available the same frequencies as an adjacent cell. Accordingly, groups of, for example seven, cells, called “clusters”, were arranged. A cluster of hexagonal cells is arranged, for example, with one cell surrounded on each of its six sides by six other cells. To avoid interference, none of the seven cells in a cluster utilizes the same channels as any other cell in that cluster.

[0008] Therefore, in the example mentioned above, instead of having 666 available channels per cell, there would only be approximately 95 channels per cell (666 channels/7 cells). As users travel between cells, the channels, or frequencies, on which they transmit and receive their respective signals are changed in a manner to avoid using frequencies already in use by other users. Theoretically, if the cells are made small enough, enough capacity could be provided for all potential users.

[0009] However, as a result of smaller cell areas, the power levels used must correspondingly be lower, to avoid, for example, having one user's signals being inadvertently received by another cell-site (antenna) in a different cell. Further, as a result of the relatively low power levels and also because the wavelengths of the signals is short, obstructions such as buildings and mountains which may be present between the cell site and a user at various locations in a cell, can cause significant degradation in the signal levels, in some areas reducing them to unusable levels. Increasing the power of the signals may raise them to levels which are acceptable in those areas, or cells, but raising the power level too high could cause several other problems. In particular, while adjacent cells avoid using the same channels as those used in a given cell, at least some of the next closest cells will use the same channels. Thus, raising the power level in some cells may cause interference in those other cells. Furthermore, raising the power of a signal in one channel may cause interference between adjacent channels in adjacent cells.

[0010] In any event, increasing the power level of the signal transmitted from a cell site will not enhance the signal the cell site receives from the mobile unit. Indeed, since the mobile unit can be anywhere in the cell, including near the periphery of the cell, the amount of power that a mobile unit can transmit is limited at least by the criterion that the signal of the mobile unit not interfere with signals in nearby cells. Since a mobile unit located at, for example, the cell periphery, is closer to adjacent cells than is the cell site of the cell in which it is located, the limitations on signal power of a signal from a mobile unit are more pronounced than on signals from the cell site.

[0011] In some circumstances, automatic gain control circuits can be used to compensate for variations in the strength of received signals, but such circuits also tend to amplify noise, which can result in a very noisy audio signal if the received signal is significantly degraded. Furthermore, if the signal is too weak to be detected, the system may determine that the call has terminated and disconnect the other party or signal an error condition. Since this may occur numerous times as a mobile unit travels throughout a cell, it is desirable to enhance the signal level and also signal reception by cell equipment in areas of a cell which may otherwise be subject to obstruction.

[0012] One solution to the above-mentioned problems has been suggested in U.S. Pat. No. 4,849,963 (“'963”) in which a cellular radio telephone enhancement circuit is disclosed. In the enhancement circuit set forth in the '963 patent, an “upstream” antenna system and a “downstream” antenna system are provided. The upstream antenna system is directed at the cell site and is used for receiving the transmitted signal from the cell site and transmitting to the cell site an amplified version of the signal sent from the mobile unit. The downstream antenna system is directed at an obstructed area within a cell and is used for radiating an amplified signal from the cell site and for receiving signals from the mobile users located in the obstructed area.

[0013] However, one problem associated with the system disclosed in the '963 patent is that all of the system components are analog. Consequently, in a system in which multiple channels are used, many of the component parts must be duplicated, adding to the size and cost of the system. For example, multiple filters are required, one tuned for each frequency, or channel.

[0014] Although AMPS is widely used, the present trend is toward digital modulation techniques. For example, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) is a digital transmission technology that allows a number of users to access a single radio frequency (RF) channel without interference by allocating unique time slots to each user within each channel. The TDMA digital transmission scheme multiplexes three signals over a single channel. The current TDMA standard for cellular divides a single channel into six time slots, with each signal using two slots, providing a 3 to 1 gain in capacity over AMPS. Each caller is assigned a specific time slot for transmission.

[0015] However, when analog repeaters, such as the one described in the '963 patent above, are used to transmit digitally modulated RF signals, the problems increase. For example, when analog filters are used to separate channels in a repeater, the edges of the filter response are not very sharp. If the data is being transmitted digitally, this means that “ones” and “zeros” located at the fringe of the particular filter band have a higher likelihood of being lost, thus severely reducing the quality of the communication.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention seeks to obviate the above-mentioned problems with prior art systems by providing a wireless communication system repeater that includes a digital channelizer for calculating, measuring and optimizing system performance.

[0017] According to the present invention, a method and device are provided for transmitting and receiving radio frequency (RF) signals comprising, receiving a downlink RF signal from a base station antenna and directing the downlink RF signal to a digital channelizer. In the digital channelizer, the RF signals are digitally filtered into a number of sub bands of frequencies, each sub band comprising a respective number of channels. After the RF signals are separated into channels, the signals are transmitted into an area in which the base station, due to an obstruction, cannot transmit signals directly. The transmitted signals are then received by one or more mobile communication units.

[0018] Additionally, in accordance with the present invention, uplink signals from the mobile communication units are received by another antenna and digitally filtered in another digital channelizer into a number of uplink sub bands. Each of the uplink sub bands is then transmitted to the base station antenna from which it is sent to a communication network.