Abstract: A wireless repeater extends a coverage area of a wireless network base station within a structure or facility. The repeater includes a master unit for wirelessly communicating with the wireless network base station and a slave unit for wirelessly communicating with one or more subscriber terminals. The master unit is connected to the slave unit through new or existing wiring in the structure to enable the master unit to transmit wireless signals to the slave unit on a downlink transport frequency and to receive wireless signals from the slave unit on an uplink transport frequency in a manner that is transparent to the wireless base station and the subscriber terminals.

Abstract: A physical layer frequency translating repeater for use in a wireless network can include a baseband section with demodulator, a processor and a memory. A portion of a packet for repeating can be processed during a physical layer repeating operation and a higher layer function performed without modification of an address. A received signal can be processed on a symbol-by-symbol basis in a first symbol interval, and regenerated after at least a second symbol interval and prior to completion of the demodulating the received signal. A hybrid network device can include a network node portion and a physical layer repeater portion.

Abstract: A method and repeater are described for repeating using a time division duplex (TDD) radio protocol. A signal is transmitted from a first station to a second station using a downlink and an uplink. The signal can be detected on the uplink or the downlink. The repeater can synchronize to time intervals associated with the detected signal that are measured during an observation period. The signal can be retransmitted from the second station to the first station if the signal is detected on the uplink and re-transmitted from the first station to the second station if the signal is detected on the downlink. A gain value associated with the downlink can be used to establish a gain value associated with the uplink.

Abstract: A wireless communication node, such as a repeater, including a frequency translating repeater, a physical layer (PHY) repeater, time divisional duplex repeater (TDD) and the like, is configured with a pair of directional patch antennae and an omni-directional antenna. The patch antennae can be selected depending on the orientation of the repeater package to communicate with a station such as an access point or a base station. The omni-directional antenna can be directed toward another station such as a client. The patch antennae and the omni-directional antenna can be orthogonally polarized to increase isolation and reduce electromagnetic coupling. Multiple antennae can be used in multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) configurations.

Abstract: A frequency translating repeater (120) for use in a time division duplex (TDD) radio protocol communications system includes local oscillator (LO) circuits (210, 310, and 410) to facilitate repeating by providing isolation, reduced phase noise, reduced pulling, and the like. Tunable LOs (441, 442) can be directly coupled to down-converters (413, 414) and up-converters (426, 427) for increased isolation, reduced phase noise, less stringent frequency accuracy, and a reduced potential for pulling.

Abstract: A communications device includes horizontally and vertically polarized antenna elements. A switching network is coupled to the antenna elements for switching signals received therefrom between first and second switching configurations. A combiner is coupled to the switching network for generating a first combined output signal having a first phase relationship based upon the first switching configuration, and for generating a second combined output signal having a second phase relationship based upon the second switching configuration. A receiver is coupled to the combiner and determines a respective signal quality of the first and second combined output signals. The receiver provides feedback to the switching network for selecting the first or second switching configuration based upon the determined signal qualities.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for improving packet transmission and reducing latency in VoIP over WLAN using switched beam antennas having multiple directional antenna beams are disclosed. In an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system, the present invention extends the coverage area of an access point for authentication and association of a new WTRU, extends the access points coverage area during in session transmissions with a WTRU, and adjusts data rates. The method also controls Contention Period (CP)/Contention Free Period (CFP) timing amongst beams emanating from an access point having a switched beam antenna, or other smart antenna system. Fast diversity switching, frame level switching, lowered data rates, and scanning multiple directional antenna beams for the optimum transmission beam are disclosed to improve beam selection and packet transmission.

Abstract: A wireless network includes at least one Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) wireless network station and two or more physical layer repeaters. Each of the physical layer repeaters is for receiving a wireless signal to or from the at least one MIMO wireless network station and re-transmitting the wireless signal while continuing to receive the wireless signal. The repeaters may be either frequency translating repeaters or non-frequency translating repeaters.

Abstract: A discrete time bandpass filter element (103) having multiple stages (201, 202, 203, 204, 205) for use in a time division duplex radio protocol communications system including an automatic gain control. Discrete time bandpass filter is used to generate delay and can replace SAW filters in a wireless frequency translating repeater.

Abstract: A physical layer frequency translating repeater (600, 700) for use in a wireless network includes signal processor (710-714) coupled with a signal processing bus (711), a processor (627) and a memory (650). The physical layer repeater conducts physical layer repeating and selectively conducts layer 2 and possibly layer 3 functions depending on network conditions and other factors. A demodulator (623) can extract address information such as media access control (MAC) addressing to enable packets to be redirected, terminated, stored and forwarded, if necessary, based on network conditions.

Abstract: An access point operates in an 802.11 wireless communication network communicating with a client station, and includes a smart antenna for generating directional antenna beams and an omni-directional antenna beam. An antenna steering algorithm scans the directional antenna beams and the omni-directional antenna beam for receiving signals from the client station. The signals received via each scanned antenna beam are measured, and one of the antenna beams is selected based upon the measuring for communicating with the client station. The selected antenna beam is preferably a directional antenna beam. Once the directional antenna beam has been selected, there are several usage rules for exchanging data with the client station. The usage rules are directed to an active state of the access point, which includes a data transmission mode and a data reception mode.

Abstract: A frequency translating repeater (120) for use in a time division duplex (TDD) radio protocol communications system includes local oscillator (LO) circuits (210, 310, and 410) to facilitate repeating by providing isolation, reduced phase noise, reduced pulling, and the like. Tunable LOs (441, 442) can be directly coupled to down-converters (413, 414) and up-converters (426, 427) for increased isolation, reduced phase noise, less stringent frequency accuracy, and a reduced potential for pulling.