Repeater device with slave mode
A repeater device that includes control circuitry that acquires timing information of a base station that is communicatively coupled with the repeater device. The control circuitry further executes network time synchronization with the base station based on the acquired timing information, where the repeater device in a slave mode acts as a slave of the base station based on the network time synchronization. Further, the control circuitry causes the repeater device to function as a remote antenna or a remote radio for the base station in the slave mode.
1. A repeater device, comprising:
control circuitry configured to:
operate the repeater device in a first operating mode, in which reception of data at the repeater device is at a first data rate, prior to execution of network time synchronization;
receive a request from a wireless device communicatively coupled with a base station, wherein the base station is communicatively coupled with the repeater device;
activate a slave mode in the repeater device based on the request;
acquire timing information of the base station;
execute the network time synchronization with the base station based on the acquired timing information;
operate the repeater device as a slave of the base station based on the network time synchronization and the activation of the slave mode; and
cause the repeater device to function as a remote antenna or a remote radio for the base station in the slave mode.
2. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is further configured to receive an operating mode change signal from the wireless device of a plurality of wireless devices communicatively coupled with the base station,
the request is to switch the repeater device from the first operating mode to a second operating mode,
the operating mode change signal comprises the request to switch the repeater device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, and
the second operating mode is the slave mode.
3. The repeater device according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to receive the operating mode change signal over a cellular network or a personal area network.
4. The repeater device according to claim 2 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to re-configure the repeater device in the slave mode to cause the repeater device to operate at an approximately same timing as of a modem of the wireless device.
5. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is further configured to receive, in the slave mode, the data at a second data rate after the execution of the network time synchronization, and
the second data rate is higher than the first data rate.
6. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
receive a first radio frequency signal from the base station; and
execute a phase and a frequency synchronization of the repeater device with the base station based on the received first radio frequency signal and the acquired timing information.
7. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein
in the network time synchronization, synchronized clocks of the base station and the repeater device have a common epoch timescale.
8. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to execute, based on the repeater device being in a powered ON state, the network time synchronization with the base station as a default setting without waiting for an operating mode change signal from the wireless device.
9. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
execute a pairing process with a modem of the wireless device; and
establish a wireless connection with the wireless device over a wireless channel, wherein the wireless channel is one of an infrared channel, a magnetic coupling, a light-fidelity based connection, a wireless-fidelity based connection, a sub-6 GHz frequency channel, a 10 GHz frequency channel, a 60 GHz frequency channel, or a specific wireless channel that is different from a cellular channel.
10. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
obtain, from the wireless device, a change in a radio state of a modem of the first wireless device; and
control the repeater device to follow the change in the radio state of the modem of the wireless device.
11. The repeater device according to claim 1 , wherein
the control circuitry is further configured to communicate exclusively with the wireless device irrespective of a plurality of wireless communication devices present in a same area in a vicinity of the wireless device,
the wireless device is different from the plurality of wireless communication devices present in the same area in the vicinity of the wireless device, and
the exclusive communication with the wireless device is in a specific frequency based on a user preference at the wireless device.
12. A method, comprising:
in a repeater device:
operating the repeater device in a first operating mode, in which reception of data at the repeater device is at a first data rate, prior to execution of network time synchronization;
receiving a request from a wireless device communicatively coupled with a base station, wherein the base station is communicatively coupled with the repeater device;
activating a slave mode in the repeater device based on the request;
acquiring timing information of the base station;
executing the network time synchronization with the base station based on the acquired timing information;
operating the repeater device as a slave of the base station based on the network time synchronization and the activation of the slave mode; and
causing the repeater device to function as a remote antenna or a remote radio for the base station in the slave mode.
13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising receiving an operating mode change signal from the wireless device of a plurality of wireless devices communicatively coupled with the base station, wherein
the request is to switch the repeater device from the first operating mode to a second operating mode,
the operating mode change signal comprises the request for the switch of the repeater device from the first operating mode to the second operating mode, and
the second operating mode is the slave mode.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:
executing a pairing with a modem of the wireless device; and
establishing a wireless connection with the wireless device over a wireless channel, wherein the wireless channel is one of an infrared channel, a magnetic coupling, a light-fidelity based connection, a wireless-fidelity based connection, a sub-6 GHz frequency channel, a 10 GHz frequency channel, a 60 GHz frequency channel, or a specific wireless channel that is different from a cellular channel.
15. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising re-configuring the repeater device in the slave mode to cause the repeater device to operate on an approximately same timing as of a modem of the wireless device.
16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising:
obtaining, from the wireless device, a change in a radio state of the modem of the wireless device; and
controlling the repeater device to follow the change in the radio state of the modem of the wireless device.
17. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising communicating exclusively with the wireless device irrespective of a plurality of wireless communication devices present in a same area in a vicinity of the wireless device, wherein
the wireless device is different from the plurality of wireless communication devices present in the same area in the vicinity of the wireless device, and
the exclusive communication with the wireless device is in a specific frequency based on a user-preference at the wireless device.
18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising receiving, in the slave mode, the data at a second data rate after the execution of the network time synchronization, wherein the second data rate is higher than the first data rate.
19. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising:
receiving a first radio frequency signal from the base station; and
executing a phase and a frequency synchronization of the repeater device with the base station based on the received first radio frequency signal and the acquired timing information.