Invented by BAI; Tianyang, WANG; Hua, ABEDINI; Navid, LI; Junyi

Wireless communication is part of our daily lives. When you call your friend, watch a movie online, or send a message, your phone relies on invisible signals sent through the air. These signals travel between your device and big towers called network nodes. Sometimes, the signals are not strong enough to get to you, or they hit a wall or a building and get blocked. To fix this, special devices called repeaters help boost the signal so you can stay connected. Recently, a new way for these repeaters to work has been invented, making your connection faster and more reliable. In this article, we will explore why this is important, how it builds on older ideas, and what makes this new invention different and better.

Background and Market Context

Imagine you are walking in a city. Tall buildings and busy streets are all around you. As you walk, you try to use your phone, but sometimes your signal drops. Why? Because signals from the network node have trouble reaching you. Things like walls, glass, and even trees can block the signals. This is a big problem in cities, malls, airports, and even inside large buildings.

Wireless companies want to make sure everyone gets a good signal, no matter where they are. To do this, they use repeaters. A repeater is a small device that catches the signal from the network node and sends it to your phone with more strength. It is like a megaphone for your wireless signal. The repeater does not change what is being sent; it just makes sure it gets to you.

The world of wireless networks is always changing. People want faster internet, more video calls, and smart devices everywhere. This means there are more people trying to use the network at the same time. Wireless companies are moving to newer systems like 5G and even planning for 6G. These systems use higher frequencies, which can carry more data but are even easier to block by buildings and obstacles. That is why repeaters are more important than ever before.

But repeaters alone are not enough. The way signals are sent is also changing. Instead of sending signals in every direction, network nodes and repeaters use something called “beams.” A beam is a focused signal sent in a certain direction. It is like using a flashlight instead of a lantern. If the beam is pointed in the right place, you get a strong signal. If it is pointed the wrong way, you get nothing.

Choosing the best beam is not easy. People move around, cars drive by, and the network is always changing. If the repeater always waits for instructions from the main network, there can be delays. This means you might lose connection or have slow data. As more people use wireless networks and as signals need to go farther and around more obstacles, the need for smarter, faster, and more flexible repeaters is growing. That is the problem this new invention is trying to solve.

Scientific Rationale and Prior Art

To understand how this new repeater works, let’s look at how things have been done before. Wireless networks have always faced the problem of getting signals to users who are far away or blocked by obstacles. Repeaters have been used for a long time to help with this. Early repeaters simply took in a signal and sent it out again, without much thought. They did not know where the user was or how the signal might change.

As networks became smarter, they started using beams. Beams focus the signal and make it stronger in a certain direction. This is called beamforming. To decide which way to send a beam, the network and the user have to work together. The network might try different directions (this is called sweeping) and the user tells it which one is best. This takes time and uses up network resources.

Some older systems try to fix this by having the user and the network send lots of test signals back and forth. The network picks the best beam based on these tests. But if the user is moving, or if there are lots of users, this can slow things down. It also means more messages have to be sent, which can clog the network.

Another solution is to use artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML). These are computer programs that can look at lots of data and make smart guesses. Some systems put AI/ML in the main network. They look at past data to guess which beam will work best. But sending all this data back and forth still takes time.

None of these old ways let the repeater itself make fast, smart choices without waiting for the network. Most repeaters just follow orders from the network or do simple tasks. They do not look at the network conditions or use AI/ML on their own. This means they cannot react quickly if the user moves or if the network changes.

In summary, prior art has:

• Repeaters that only forward signals, without smart decision-making.



• Beam management done by the main network, not by the repeater.
• Heavy use of test signals, leading to delays and lots of extra messages.
• Some AI/ML for beam selection, but usually only at the network level, not inside the repeater.

This background shows us that there is a need for a smarter repeater. One that can use its own data, make predictions, and act quickly without waiting for the network. This is where the invention comes in.

Invention Description and Key Innovations

This new invention gives repeaters the power to choose the best beam to talk to your phone, based on what is happening right now in the network. It does this by using its own computer and memory to watch the network, collect data, and make predictions. Let’s break down how it works and what makes it special.

When a repeater is turned on, it first talks to your phone using a beam, just like before. But now, it does more than just repeat the signal. The repeater uses its own sensors and tiny computer to measure things like how strong the signal is, how clear the path is, and how many people are using the network. It also remembers what has happened before.

If something changes – maybe you move, or more people get online – the repeater uses a smart prediction program to guess which new beam direction will work best. This program can be a kind of AI or machine learning tool, able to learn from past data and predict what will happen next. For example, if it sees the signal getting weaker, it predicts which direction to point the beam to keep you connected.

The repeater can use different kinds of measurements to do this. Sometimes, it listens to signals sent from your phone, called uplink signals. Sometimes, it receives special reports from your phone or the network about the channel conditions. It can also use reference signals, which are like test messages, to check how good the connection is in different directions.

One clever part is that the repeater can act on its own, or it can work together with the main network. In some cases, the repeater predicts the best beam, tells the network about it, and waits for the network to say “go ahead.” In other cases, the repeater decides for itself and changes the beam right away. This makes the system much faster and reduces delays.

The repeater can even switch between different antenna setups. If the network is busy, or if it needs to save power, it can use a small antenna array. If the signal gets weak, it can switch to a bigger array for more power. It predicts when to do this using its measurements and smart prediction program.

Sometimes, the network sends the repeater a special prediction algorithm to use. This can be chosen based on what is happening in the network, like how busy it is, what kind of signals are being used, or how many antennas are active. The repeater can then use this algorithm to make better predictions.

To sum up, this invention gives repeaters the ability to:

• Watch and measure the network in real time.
• Use smart prediction tools (like AI) to guess the best beam.
• Act quickly, either on its own or together with the network.
• Switch antenna setups for better performance or power savings.
• Reduce the number of test signals needed, making the network faster and less crowded.

These changes mean your phone can stay connected more reliably and with less delay. The network works better for everyone, and less energy is wasted.

Why Is This a Big Deal?

By letting the repeater think and act for itself, the network can respond to changes much faster. You will notice fewer dropped calls, faster video streaming, and smoother web browsing, even in crowded or tricky places. Network operators can serve more users and use less energy. As wireless systems move to even higher frequencies and more crowded places, this kind of smart repeater will be essential.

Key Innovations in Simple Terms

What sets this invention apart are:

• The repeater can measure the network and make decisions on its own, not just follow orders.
• It uses AI or similar smart tools to predict the best beam direction.
• It can switch between different antenna setups to fit what is happening in the network.
• It can act either alone or in harmony with the main network, making it very flexible.
• It cuts down on wasted messages and test signals, saving time and network space.

This is a big step forward from older repeaters, which were much simpler and slower. Now, repeaters are like mini-brains helping the network work smarter, not just harder.

Conclusion

Wireless communication is part of daily life for billions of people. The new invention described here gives repeaters the ability to measure, predict, and act fast, using smart tools like AI, to keep your connection strong even when the network is busy or the signal path is blocked. By moving some decision-making to the repeater, the whole network becomes faster and more reliable, with fewer delays and less wasted energy. This is a simple but powerful idea that will help wireless networks handle more users, more devices, and new challenges as we move into the future of 5G, 6G, and beyond. As networks continue to grow in size and speed, smart repeaters like these will be the key to keeping everyone connected.

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