Patent ID: 8565703

Claim:
A method for amplifying a RF signal in a receiver, comprising: receiving the RF signal at the receiver; amplifying the RF signal on a first amplification path; periodically measuring the power of the RF signal to get a power value; storing a count of a number of times when the power value is higher than a first defined threshold into a first register on a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) unit; storing a count of a number of times when the power value is lower than the first defined threshold into a second register on the RSSI unit; in response to detecting that the count in the first register has reached a first predetermined value, routing the RF signal to a second amplification path wherein the second amplification path produces weaker amplification of the RF signal than the first amplification path; or in response to detecting that the count in the second register has reached a second predetermined value, resetting both the count in the first register and the count in the second register.