Method for improving RF spectrum efficiency with repeater backhauls

1. In a wireless communication system with a plurality of base stations communicating indirectly with a plurality of wireless communications devices, a method for more efficient use of radio spectrum, comprising:

communicating indirectly between a first base station and a wireless communication device using a first repeater and a first RF backhaul link between said first repeater and said first base station;

controlling a first smart antenna system of said first base station for improved spectral efficiency by selectively configuring said first smart antenna system to spatially isolate communications on said first RF backhaul link from communications on a second RF backhaul link of a second repeater operating on the same RF carrier frequency as the first RF backhaul link.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein said communicating step further comprises said first base station communicating with a second wireless communication device using said second repeater and said second RF backhaul link.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein said second repeater communicates with a second base station located in a communication cell separate from said first base station.

4. The method according to claim 3 further comprising selectively controlling a second smart antenna system of said second base station for improved spectral efficiency by selectively configuring said second smart antenna system to spatially isolate communications on said second RF backhaul link from communications on said first RF backhaul link.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said controlling step further comprises selecting from an antenna array at least one antenna element for use by said first base station in producing a directional antenna pattern having a major lobe in the direction of said first repeater.

6. The method according to claim 5 wherein said controlling step further comprises selecting a plurality of antenna elements from said antenna array for use by said first base station and adjusting at least one of a phase and amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce said directional antenna pattern.

7. The method according to claim 5 wherein said controlling step further comprises selecting a plurality of antenna elements from said antenna array for use by said base station and adjusting at least one of a phase and amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce a null in said directional antenna pattern, said null selectively directed toward said second repeater.

8. In a wireless communication system with a plurality of base stations communicating indirectly with a plurality of wireless communications devices through a plurality of repeaters, a system for providing more efficient use of radio spectrum, comprising:

a first base station configured for communicating indirectly with a wireless communication device using a first repeater and a first RF backhaul link between said first repeater and said first base station;

a first smart antenna system operatively associated with said first base station, said first smart antenna system selectively configured by a control processor for spatially isolating communications on said first RF backhaul link from communications on a second RF backhaul link of a second repeater operating on the same RF carrier frequency as the first RF backhaul link.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said first base station communicates with a second wireless communication device using said second repeater and said second RF backhaul link.

10. The system according to claim 8 wherein said second repeater communicates with a second base station located in a communication cell separate from said first base station.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said second base station comprises a second control processor for selectively controlling a second smart antenna system of said second base station for spatially isolating communications on said second RF backhaul link from communications on said first RF backhaul link.

12. The system according to claim 8 wherein said control processor selects from an antenna easy at least one antenna element for use by said first base station, and said at least one antenna element produces a directional antenna pattern having a major lobe in the direction of said first repeater.

13. The system according to claim 12 wherein said control processor selects a plurality of antenna elements from said antenna array for use by said first base station and said first smart antenna system includes phase and amplitude controllers for adjusting at least one of a phase and amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce said directional antenna pattern.

14. The system according to claim 12 wherein said control processor selects a plurality of antenna elements from said antenna array for use by said first base station and said first smart antenna system includes phase and amplitude controllers for adjusting at least one of a phase and amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce a null in said directional antenna pattern, said null selectively directed toward said second repeater.

15. A control processor configured to:

spatially isolate communications on a first RF backhaul link from communications on a second RF backhaul link operating on a same RF carrier frequency as said first RF backhaul link,

wherein said control processor is operably coupled to a first smart antenna system associated with said first base station for providing more efficient use of radio spectrum, wherein said second RF backhaul link is transmitted via a second repeater, and

wherein a first base station communicates indirectly with a wireless communication device using a first repeater and said first RF backhaul link between said first repeater and said first base station.

16. The control processor configured according to claim 15, wherein said first base station communicates with a second wireless communication device using said second repeater and said second RF backhaul link.

17. The control processor configured according to claim 15, wherein said second repeater communicates with a second base station located in a communication cell separate from said first base station.

18. The control processor configured according to claim 15, further configured to selectively control a second smart antenna system of said second base station for improved spectral efficiency by selectively configuring said second smart antenna system to spatially isolate communications on said second RF backhaul link from communications on said first RF backhaul link.

19. The control processor configured according to claim 18, further configured to select from an antenna array at least one antenna element for use by said first base station in producing a directional antenna pattern having a major lobe in the direction of said first repeater.

20. The control processor configured according to claim 15, further configured to select a plurality of antenna elements from an antenna array for use by said first base station and adjusting at least one of a phase or an amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce a directional antenna pattern.

21. The control processor configured according to claim 15, further configured to select a plurality of antenna elements from an antenna array for use by said first base station and adjust at least one of a phase or an amplitude of RF signals received and transmitted by said plurality of antenna elements to produce a null in a directional antenna pattern, said null selectively directed toward said second repeater.