Patent ID: 7783318

Claim:
A network amplifier, comprising: a first variable gain module having an input configured to receive an uplink signal from a handset and configured to apply a first amplification factor to the uplink signal to generate an adjusted uplink signal to be transmitted to a base station; a first detector configured to detect a level of the uplink signal; a gain control module configured to control the first amplification factor of the first variable gain module for limiting the output of the first variable gain module to ensure that the level of the adjusted uplink signal does not exceed a first predetermined limit; a first antenna configured to receive a downlink signal from the base station, the first antenna being coupled to an output of the first variable gain module and configured to transmit the adjusted uplink signal to a base station; and a second gain module having an input coupled to the first antenna, the second gain module configured to apply a second amplification factor to the downlink signal, thereby generating an adjusted downlink signal to be communicated to the handset; a second detector for detecting a level of the downlink signal, wherein the second gain module is a second variable gain module and is coupled to the gain control module, the gain control module further configured to ensure that the level of the adjusted downlink signal does not exceed a second predetermined limit, wherein the first and second amplification factors are controlled independently from one another by the gain control module, and wherein the first amplification factor is allowed to exceed the second amplification factor, and the first predetermined limit is established at a higher level than the second predetermined limit.