System and method for extending cell site coverage

Claim 1

An apparatus for extending a primary coverage area of a cell site transceiver in a cellular radio telephone system so that a movable cellular transceiver in communication with the cell site can move out of the primary coverage area into an extended area while continuing to remain in communication with the cell site transceiver, wherein the primary coverage area consists of the intended coverage area of the cell site transceiver, the apparatus comprising: a first bidirectional cellular booster in radio frequency communication with the cell site transceiver and with a booster coverage area that overlaps the primary coverage area only in part with said booster including means for communicating with a movable transceiver in said booster coverage area but outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver; a plurality of series coupled, substantially identical cellular boosters with each said booster having a respective coverage area outside of the primary coverage area and overlapping a said coverage area of at least one adjacent member of said plurality with each member of said plurality including means for communicating with the movable transceiver in said respective booster coverage area and outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver as well as means for transferring the movable transceiver from one booster in said plurality to an adjacent booster in said plurality in response to the movable transceiver moving from said coverage area of said one booster into said coverage area of said adjacent booster; and with a selected member of said plurality having a booster coverage area that overlaps, at least in part, said coverage area of said first bidirectional booster.

Claim 2

An apparatus for extending a primary coverage area of a cell site transceiver in a cellular radio telephone system so that a movable cellular transceiver in communication with the cell site can move out of the primary coverage area into an extended area while continuing to remain in communication with the cell site transceiver, wherein the primary coverage area consists of the intended coverage area of the cell site transceiver, the apparatus comprising: a first bidirectional cellular booster in radio frequency communication with the cell site transceiver and with a booster coverage area that overlaps the primary coverage area only in part with said booster including means for communicating with a movable transceiver in said booster coverage area but outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver; a plurality of series coupled, substantially identical cellular boosters with each said booster having a respective coverage area outside of the primary coverage area and overlapping a said coverage area of at least one adjacent member of said plurality with each member of said plurality including means for communicating with the movable transceiver in said respective booster coverage area and outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver as well as means for transferring the movable transceiver from one booster in said plurality to an adjacent booster in said plurality in response to the movable transceiver moving from said coverage area of said one booster into said coverage area of said adjacent booster; and with a selected member of said plurality having a booster coverage area that overlaps, at least in part, said coverage area of said first bidirectional booster.

Claim 4

A method of extending a primary coverage area of a cell site transceiver in a cellular radio telephone system so that a movable cellular transceiver in communication with the cell site can move out of the primary coverage area into an extended area while continuing to remain in communication with the cell site transceiver, wherein the primary coverage area consists of the intended coverage area of the cell site transceiver, the method comprising: establishing a first extended coverage area that overlaps the primary coverage area only in part; communicating between the cell site transceiver and a movable transceiver in the extended coverage area but outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver; establishing a second extended coverage area outside of the primary coverage area and overlapping the extended coverage area at least in part; communicating between the cell site transceiver and the movable transceiver in the second extended coverage area and outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver in response to the movable transceiver moving from the extended coverage area into the second extended coverage area.

Claim 5

A method of extending a primary coverage area of a cell site transceiver in a cellular radio telephone system so that a movable cellular transceiver in communication with the cell site can move out of the primary coverage area into an extended area while continuing to remain in communication with the cell site transceiver, wherein the primary coverage area consists of the intended coverage area of the cell site transceiver, the method comprising: establishing a first extended coverage area that overlaps the primary coverage area only in part; communicating between the cell site transceiver and a movable transceiver in the extended coverage area but outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver; establishing a second extended coverage area outside of the primary coverage area and overlapping the extended coverage area at least in part; communicating between the cell site transceiver and the movable transceiver in the second extended coverage area and outside of the primary coverage area of the cell site transceiver in response to the movable transceiver moving from the extended coverage area into the second extended coverage area.