Communication device and method for echo signals management

1. A communication device, comprising:

a donor receiver (Rx) configured to receive a first beam of input radio frequency (RF) signals from a base station or a network node;

a service transmitter (Tx) configured to transmit a second beam of RF signals in a first radiation pattern to a user equipment (UE); and

control circuitry configured to:

detect an amount and a direction of echo signals at the donor Rx, wherein the echo signals correspond to reflected RF signals in an environment surrounding the communication device;

apply polarization to the second beam of RF signals transmitted to the UE;

calibrate the polarization of the second beam to minimize the echo signals at the donor Rx;

generate a second radiation pattern for at least the second beam of RF signals based on the calibrated polarization of the second beam of RF signals, a frequency ripple of a radio channel and the amount and the direction of the echo signals in the environment detected at the donor Rx; and

control communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern via the service Tx to the UE based on the calibrated polarization, wherein the communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern further reduces the echo signals at the donor Rx.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is at least one of a repeater device, a RF signal booster device, an Evolved-universal terrestrial radio access-New radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) device, a New Radio (NR)-enabled relay node, or a mmWave-enabled communication device.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to determine an installation location for the communication device from a plurality of candidate locations in a defined area, based on the amount and the direction of the echo signals at the donor Rx detected at one or more different locations of the plurality of candidate locations.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to monitor a radio channel that comprises measurement of a frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI).

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to detect a loop gain based on a measured frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI), wherein the loop gain indicates a current system state of the communication device that is at least one of a stable system state, a quasi-stable system state, or an unstable system state.

6. The communication device of claim 5 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

adjust a forward gain related to the service Tx from a first level to a second level; and

detect a change in the amount and the direction of echo signals from the environment at the donor Rx based on the adjusted forward gain; and

re-calibrate the polarization in accordance to the detected change in the amount and the direction of echo signals to reduce the echo signals at the donor Rx.

7. The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce the forward gain to lower the loop gain towards less than or equal to zero decibels (dB) based on the unstable system state, wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the quasi-stable system state from the unstable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain.

8. The communication device of claim 6 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce the forward gain to lower the loop gain to less than zero decibels (dB) based on the quasi-stable system state of the communication device,

wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the stable system state from the quasi-stable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain and an echo suppression operation at the communication device, and

wherein the echo suppression operation comprises a change in a radiation pattern of one or more beams of RF signals transmitted from the service Tx that includes the second beam of RF signals and re-calibration of the polarization to minimize the echo signals that are reflected back to the donor Rx.

9. The communication device of claim 6 , wherein, in the stable system state of the communication device, the control circuitry is further configured to adjust the forward gain such that the second radiation pattern of at least the second beam of RF signals is optimized for maximization of a coverage and minimization of the echo signals.

10. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to adjust an angle between a vertical polarization and a horizontal polarization radiated from the service Tx for the calibration of the polarization such that when the echo signals are received at the donor Rx, the echo signals of opposite polarization cancel each other.

11. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to transmit the second beam of RF signals with a first power level in a first direction and a third beam of RF signals in a second direction with a second power level that is less than the first power level when the amount of the echo signals in the environment detected at the donor Rx is higher at a prior transmission of the third beam of RF signals in the second direction with the first power level.

12. A method, comprising:

in a communication device that includes a donor receiver (Rx), a service transmitter (Tx), and control circuitry:

receiving, by the donor Rx, a first beam of input radio frequency (RF) signals from a base station or a network node;

transmitting, by the service Tx, a second beam of RF signals in a first radiation pattern to a user equipment (UE);

detecting, by the control circuitry, an amount and a direction of echo signals at the donor Rx, wherein the echo signals corresponds to reflected RF signals in an environment surrounding the communication device;

applying, by the control circuitry, polarization to the second beam of RF signals transmitted to the UE;

calibrating, by the control circuitry, the polarization of the second beam to minimize the echo signals at the donor Rx;

generating, by the control circuitry, a second radiation pattern for at least the second beam of RF signals based on the calibrated polarization of the second beam of RF signals, a frequency ripple of a radio channel and the amount and the direction of the echo signals in the environment detected at the donor Rx;

controlling, by the control circuitry, communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern via the service Tx to the UE based on the calibrated polarization, wherein the communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern further reduces the echo signals at the donor Rx.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising determining, by the control circuitry, an installation location for the communication device from a plurality of candidate locations in a defined area, based on the amount and the direction of the echo signals at the donor Rx detected at one or more different locations of the plurality of candidate locations.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising monitoring, by the control circuitry, a radio channel that comprises measurement of a frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI).

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising detecting, by the control circuitry, a loop gain based on a measured frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI), wherein the loop gain indicates a current system state of the communication device that is at least one of a stable system state, a quasi-stable system state, or an unstable system state.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

adjusting, by the control circuitry, a forward gain related to the service Tx from a first level to a second level; and

detecting, by the control circuitry, a change in the amount and the direction of echo signals from the environment at the donor Rx based on the adjusted forward gain; and

re-calibrating, by the control circuitry, the polarization in accordance to the detected change in the amount and the direction of echo signals to reduce the echo signals at the donor Rx.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising reducing, by the control circuitry, the forward gain to lower the loop gain towards less than or equal to zero decibels (dB) based on the unstable system state, wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the quasi-stable system state from the unstable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising reducing, by the control circuitry, the forward gain to lower the loop gain to less than zero decibels (dB) based on the quasi-stable system state of the communication device,

wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the stable system state from the quasi-stable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain and an echo suppression operation at the communication device, and

wherein the echo suppression operation comprises a change in a radiation pattern of one or more beams of RF signals transmitted from the service Tx that includes the second beam of RF signals and re-calibration of the polarization to minimize the echo signals that are reflected back to the donor Rx.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising adjusting, by the control circuitry in the stable system state of the communication device, the forward gain such that the second radiation pattern of at least the second beam of RF signals is optimized for maximization of a coverage and minimization of the echo signals.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising adjusting, by the control circuitry, an angle between a vertical polarization and a horizontal polarization radiated from the service Tx for the calibration of the polarization such that when the echo signals are received at the donor Tx, the echo signals of opposite polarization cancel each other.

21. A communication device, comprising:

a donor receiver (Rx) configured to receive a first beam of input radio frequency (RF) signals from a base station or a network node;

a service transmitter (Tx) configured to transmit a second beam of RF signals in a first radiation pattern to a user equipment (UE); and

control circuitry configured to:

detect an amount and a direction of echo signals at the donor Rx, wherein the echo signals correspond to reflected RF signals in an environment surrounding the communication device;

detect a loop gain based on a measured frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI),

wherein the loop gain indicates a current system state of the communication device that is at least one of a stable system state, a quasi-stable system state, or an unstable system state;

apply polarization to the second beam of RF signals transmitted to the UE;

calibrate the polarization of the second beam to minimize the echo signals at the donor Rx;

generate a second radiation pattern for at least the second beam of RF signals based on the amount and the direction of the echo signals in the environment detected at the donor Rx; and

control communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern via the service Tx to the UE based on the calibrated polarization, wherein the communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern further reduces the echo signals at the donor Rx.

22. The communication device of claim 21 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:

adjust a forward gain related to the service Tx from a first level to a second level; and

detect a change in the amount and the direction of echo signals from the environment at the donor Rx based on the adjusted forward gain; and

re-calibrate the polarization in accordance to the detected change in the amount and the direction of echo signals to reduce the echo signals at the donor Rx.

23. The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce the forward gain to lower the loop gain towards less than or equal to zero decibels (dB) based on the unstable system state, wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the quasi-stable system state from the unstable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain.

24. The communication device of claim 22 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to reduce the forward gain to lower the loop gain to less than zero decibels (dB) based on the quasi-stable system state of the communication device,

wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the stable system state from the quasi-stable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain and an echo suppression operation at the communication device, and

wherein the echo suppression operation comprises a change in a radiation pattern of one or more beams of RF signals transmitted from the service Tx that includes the second beam of RF signals and re-calibration of the polarization to minimize the echo signals that are reflected back to the donor Rx.

25. The communication device of claim 22 , wherein, in the stable system state of the communication device, the control circuitry is further configured to adjust the forward gain such that the second radiation pattern of at least the second beam of RF signals is optimized for maximization of a coverage and minimization of the echo signals.

26. A method, comprising:

in a communication device that includes a donor receiver (Rx), a service transmitter (Tx), and control circuitry:

receiving, by the donor Rx, a first beam of input radio frequency (RF) signals from a base station or a network node;

transmitting, by the service Tx, a second beam of RF signals in a first radiation pattern to a user equipment (UE);

detecting, by the control circuitry, an amount and a direction of echo signals at the donor Rx, wherein the echo signals corresponds to reflected RF signals in an environment surrounding the communication device;

detecting a loop gain based on a measured frequency ripple of the radio channel and a transmitter signal strength indicator (TSSI),

wherein the loop gain indicates a current system state of the communication device that is at least one of a stable system state, a quasi-stable system state, or an unstable system state;

applying, by the control circuitry, polarization to the second beam of RF signals transmitted to the UE;

calibrating, by the control circuitry, the polarization of the second beam to minimize the echo signals at the donor Rx;

generating, by the control circuitry, a second radiation pattern for at least the second beam of RF signals based on the amount and the direction of the echo signals in the environment detected at the donor Rx;

controlling, by the control circuitry, communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern via the service Tx to the UE based on the calibrated polarization, wherein the communication of the at least the second beam of RF signals in the generated second radiation pattern further reduces the echo signals at the donor Rx.

27. The method of claim 26 , further comprising:

adjusting, by the control circuitry, a forward gain related to the service Tx from a first level to a second level; and

detecting, by the control circuitry, a change in the amount and the direction of echo signals from the environment at the donor Rx based on the adjusted forward gain; and

re-calibrating, by the control circuitry, the polarization in accordance to the detected change in the amount and the direction of echo signals to reduce the echo signals at the donor Rx.

28. The method of claim 27 , further comprising reducing, by the control circuitry, the forward gain to lower the loop gain towards less than or equal to zero decibels (dB) based on the unstable system state, wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the quasi-stable system state from the unstable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain.

29. The method of claim 27 , further comprising reducing, by the control circuitry, the forward gain to lower the loop gain to less than zero decibels (dB) based on the quasi-stable system state of the communication device,

wherein the current system state of the communication device is restored to the stable system state from the quasi-stable system state based on the reduction in the forward gain and an echo suppression operation at the communication device, and

wherein the echo suppression operation comprises a change in a radiation pattern of one or more beams of RF signals transmitted from the service Tx that includes the second beam of RF signals and re-calibration of the polarization to minimize the echo signals that are reflected back to the donor Rx.

30. The method of claim 27 , further comprising adjusting, by the control circuitry in the stable system state of the communication device, the forward gain such that the second radiation pattern of at least the second beam of RF signals is optimized for maximization of a coverage and minimization of the echo signals.