IP Library Granted Patent US 8,583,035
Granted Patent B2
US 8,583,035 · App. 12/698,855 · Granted Nov 12, 2013

Multiple input multiple output user equipment radio frequency assistant system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,583,035
App. No.
12/698,855
Granted
Nov 12, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A user equipment and a wireless radio frequency assistant in a communication system that supports multiple input multiple output. The wireless radio frequency assistant and the user equipment operate together as a single system. The user equipment controls and activates the wireless radio frequency assistant to transform a first frequency of a radio frequency signal transmitted to the system of user equipment and the wireless radio frequency assistant to a second frequency. The wireless radio frequency assistant transmits the second frequency to the user equipment.

Claims (61)

1. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a radio frequency assistant activated to transform and repeat a radio frequency signal responsive to commands received wirelessly by said radio frequency assistant;

a user equipment that configures and controls said radio frequency assistant through said wireless commands, wherein said radio frequency assistant and said user equipment are configured to operate together as a single system; and

a wireless link between said user equipment and said radio frequency assistant, wherein said user equipment configures and controls said radio frequency assistant by sending a number of commands over said wireless link;

wherein an operating frequency of the radio frequency assistant is set based on a command received over said wireless link; and wherein

the user equipment receives signals from the radio frequency assistant and another radio frequency signal.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein said single system is a user equipment assistant system.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2 , further comprising:

a number of base stations comprising a number of antennas configured to transmit data at a first frequency to said user equipment assistant system over a plurality of paths, wherein said user equipment controls said radio frequency assistant of said user equipment assistant system to transform said first frequency to a second frequency.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein said user equipment comprises:

a first transceiver that receives a first radio frequency signal at a first frequency a second transceiver that receives a second radio frequency signal from said radio frequency assistant at a second frequency; and

a baseband and control processor that processes said first radio frequency signal and said second radio frequency signal;

wherein said radio frequency assistant transforms a radio frequency signal at said first frequency to said second radio frequency signal.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first control channel modem in said user equipment that transmits said commands from said baseband and control processor to said radio frequency assistant.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 5 , wherein said radio frequency assistant comprises:

a frequency transformer that transforms said first radio frequency signal received in a first radio frequency band to said second radio frequency signal in a second radio frequency band and transmitting said second radio frequency signal to said user equipment.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 6 , wherein said radio frequency assistant further comprises:

a second control channel modem configured to communicate over a wireless link to said first control channel modem and receive said commands transmitted wirelessly from said first control channel modem of said baseband and control processor; and

a microprocessor that processes said commands transmitted to said second control channel modem.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 7 , wherein said microprocessor is communicatively coupled to said frequency transformer to process commands that control the frequency transformer.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 7 , wherein said number of commands comprises a plurality of computer executable instructions that are executed by a microprocessor in said radio frequency assistant.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9 , wherein said computer-executable instructions comprise:

computer executable program code that enables a frequency change in said frequency transformer of said radio frequency assistant; and

computer executable program code that enables a gain change.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a first antenna communicatively coupled to said first transceiver;

wherein said first antenna receives said first radio frequency signal and also transmits said second radio frequency signal.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 11 , further comprising a second antenna communicatively coupled to said second transceiver;

wherein said first antenna receives said first radio frequency signal and said second antenna transmits said second radio frequency signal.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein said user equipment is a mobile cellular device.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 1 , wherein said single system is a multiple input multiple output wireless system.

15. A wireless apparatus that processes radio frequency signals, comprising:

a frequency transformer configured to transform, responsive to a control signal, a first radio frequency signal received in a first radio frequency band to a second radio frequency signal in a second radio frequency band wherein said wireless apparatus transmits said second radio frequency signal to a user equipment, responsive to commands received wirelessly from said user equipment;

wherein said user equipment enables said control signal to control a configuration of said frequency transformer; and

wherein an operating frequency of the frequency transformer is set based on a command wirelessly received from the user equipment; and wherein

the user equipment receives said second radio frequency signals from the wireless apparatus and another radio frequency signal.

16. The wireless apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

a first antenna communicatively coupled to said frequency transformer;

wherein said first antenna receives said first radio frequency signal and also transmits said second radio frequency signal.

17. The wireless apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

a microprocessor that enables said frequency transformer to transform said first radio frequency signal to said second radio frequency signal.

18. The wireless apparatus of claim 17 , further comprising:

a control channel modem communicatively coupled to said microprocessor and said user equipment, said control channel modem enabling a transfer of commands from said user equipment that controls said frequency transformer.

19. The wireless apparatus of claim 16 , wherein said microprocessor adjusts a reference frequency of said frequency transformer based on a command received over said control channel modem.

20. The wireless apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising a second antenna communicatively coupled to said frequency transformer;

wherein said first antenna receives said first radio frequency signal and said second antenna transmits said second radio frequency signal.

21. In a wireless communication system, a method of assisting radio frequency reception, said method comprising:

wirelessly activating a radio frequency assistant with a user equipment;

configuring said radio frequency assistant by said user equipment to receive a first radio frequency signal transmitted to said user equipment;

transforming said first radio frequency signal to a second radio frequency signal by said radio frequency assistant, responsive to commands being received from said user equipment;

transmitting said second radio frequency signal to said user equipment over a wireless link between said radio frequency assistant and said user equipment;

wherein the user equipment receives said second radio frequency signals from the radio frequency assistant and another signal; and wherein

an operating frequency of the radio frequency assistant is set based on a command received wirelessly from the user equipment.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

assigning a unique identification to said radio frequency assistant that pairs said radio frequency assistant to operate with said user equipment.

23. The method of claim 21 , wherein said radio frequency assistant is activated by said user equipment responsive to a quality of said first radio frequency signal being below a predefined threshold.

24. The method of claim 21 , further comprising:

controlling a gain and frequency of said second radio frequency signal transformed by said radio frequency assistant through commands sent by said user equipment.

25. The method of claim 21 , wherein said configuring comprises:

sending a number of said commands from said user equipment that control operations of said radio frequency assistant.

Assignments (7)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Jun 19, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064270/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 16, 2023
From: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
To: MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LIMITED
Reel/Frame 064104/0103 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 13, 2013
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
To: BLACKBERRY LIMITED
Reel/Frame 031217/0233 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 24, 2010
From: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 024430/0509 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE NAMES OF THE CONVEYING PARTY'S PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 023889 FRAME 0425. THE ASSIGNORS HEREBY CONFIRM THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 4, 2010
From: XIN, YAN; BADIERE, DANIEL; DEVRIES, CHRISTOPHER; QU, SHOUXING
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023896/0475 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2010
From: SHEYNMAN, ARNOLD
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023891/0558 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2010
From: SHEYNMAN, ARNOLD; XIN, YAN; BADIERE, DANIELE; DEVRIES, CHRISTOPHER; QU, SHOUXING
To: RESEARCH IN MOTION CORPORATION; RESEARCH IN MOTION LIMITED
Reel/Frame 023889/0425 →