Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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, the varying distances between mobile units and the BTS create timing differences in the random access control channel (RACCH) bursts in the initial uplink signal from the mobile stations. 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. The in-band translators include a loop back circuit that permits a host BTS to measure the backhaul propagation time delay by sending test access signals between the host BTS and the distant in-band translators.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: The Spurious-Free Dynamic Range (SFDR) in a broadband digital radio transceiver is typically limited by the required digital-to-analog converter which introduces differential nonlinearities that cause harmonic distortion in intermodulation products. The invention was a digital-to-analog conversion subsystem that coherently combines the outputs of two or more digital-to-analog converters that have different internal architectures. As a result, spurious responses are not correlated with one another while desired signal components do add coherently. The spurious responses therefore cancel in the combined output while the desired signal components add in phase. The overall result is to increase spurious-free dynamic range at the radio transmitter output.