System and method for extending a wireless communication coverage area of a cellular base transceiver station (BTS)

摘要

The present document describes a system and method for extending a wireless communication coverage area of a cellular wireless base station transceiver (BTS) to enable control signaling and identification of mobile stations not currently within a coverage area of an existing beamform antenna pattern of the BTS, for example. A cellular BTS may scan through dead zones of coverage areas provided by the BTS to identify mobile stations not within the coverage area of the BTS, but within a possible service area of the BTS. In addition, the BTS may receive a relaying control signal from a mobile station located within the coverage area of the BTS, and the signal will indicate a location of another mobile station not within the coverage area of the BTS but within the service area of the BTS. In either example, the BTS may attempt to provide a coverage area to the mobile station located in the control signaling dead zone, for example.

主权项

1. A method of extending a wireless communication coverage area of a cellular base transceiver station (BTS), comprising:
providing a beamformed coverage area pattern, the beamformed coverage area pattern indicating geographic areas over which control component communication and data traffic communication between a mobile station and the BTS is configured to occur, wherein the control component communication includes network synchronization signaling between the BTS and the mobile station for entry into a network; while providing the beamformed coverage area pattern, the BTS scanning through areas by providing a temporary coverage area in the areas to which the BTS is configured to provide a coverage area and that are not included within the beamformed coverage area pattern, wherein the temporary coverage area results in a control beam pattern to provide a control component communication coverage area in a manner opposite of where the control component communication coverage is provided within the beamformed coverage area pattern; identifying a second mobile station located within one of the areas to which the BTS is configured to provide the coverage area and that is not included within the beamformed coverage area pattern, wherein the second mobile station resides in the temporary coverage area that enables the control component communication; and extending a beamformed coverage area to the second mobile station to enable control component communication and data traffic communication between the second mobile station and the BTS.