Patent ID: 8014718

Claim:
A method for improving a radio frequency (RF) link in a wireless communication system between an enclosed environment that is at least substantially shielded from RF signals, and the outside of the enclosed environment, the method comprising: providing at least one gateway antenna at an entrance point of the enclosed environment; the gateway antenna radiating downlink RF signals into the enclosed environment or receiving uplink RF signals from the enclosed environment; providing at least one auxiliary repeater within the enclosed environment; providing a donor antenna coupled to the auxiliary repeater; providing a server antenna coupled to the auxiliary repeater; the auxiliary repeater relaying the downlink and uplink RF signals using the donor antenna and the server antenna; providing a first interface that is coupled to a control station for converting downlink control data into corresponding downlink control RF signals and for converting uplink signaling RF signals into corresponding uplink signaling data; providing a first combiner/decombiner that is coupled to the first interface for combining the downlink RF signals with the downlink control RF signals for transmission by the gateway antenna, and for separating uplink RF signals from the uplink signaling RF signals received by the gateway antenna; providing a second interface that is coupled to a signaling and driving system for converting the downlink control RF signals into driver signals and for converting signaling signals into the uplink signaling RF signals; and providing a second combiner/decombiner that is coupled to the second interface for combining the uplink RF signals with the uplink signaling RF signals for transmission by the donor antenna of the auxiliary repeater, and for separating the downlink RF signals from the downlink control RF signals received by the donor antenna of the auxiliary repeater.