Backhaul link for distributed antenna system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10009065-B2
Application number	US-201615179204-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 10, 2016
Priority date	Dec 5, 2012
Publication date	Jun 26, 2018
Grant date	Jun 26, 2018

Abstract

A distributed antenna and backhaul system provide network connectivity for a small cell deployment. Rather than building new structures, and installing additional fiber and cable, embodiments described herein disclose using high-bandwidth, millimeter-wave communications and existing power line infrastructure. Above ground backhaul connections via power lines and line-of-sight millimeter-wave band signals as well as underground backhaul connections via buried electrical conduits can provide connectivity to the distributed base stations. An overhead millimeter-wave system can also be used to provide backhaul connectivity. Modules can be placed onto existing infrastructure, such as streetlights and utility poles, and the modules can contain base stations and antennas to transmit the millimeter-waves to and from other modules.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an antenna; and
communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising:
receiving, by the antenna, a first wireless signal including a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first modulated signal modulated according to a signaling protocol;
converting the first wireless signal to a first electronic signal including the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment;
frequency shifting the first electronic signal to generate an updated first electronic signal, the updated first electronic signal comprising the first modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a first carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the first modulated signal, the first carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and
converting the updated first electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a network element of a distributed antenna system, wherein the reference signal enables the network element to reduce signal distortion when the network element converts the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency converting further comprises frequency shifting the reference signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions directing the network element of the distributed antenna system to convert the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reference signal is modulated with instructions of a control channel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel, and wherein the reference signal is modulated with a clock signal utilized by the network element to receive instructions in the control channel.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second spectral segment is at least similar or equal to the first spectral segment.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the signaling protocol comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or a fifth generation cellular communications protocol.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the converting by the network element comprises down-converting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the converting by the network element comprises up-converting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
receiving from the network element a third wireless signal in a second carrier frequency, the third wireless signal including a second modulated signal modulated conforming to the signaling protocol, wherein a mobile communication device generates the second modulated signal in a third spectral segment, and wherein the network element facilitates frequency converting the second modulated signal in the third spectral segment to the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the third wireless signal including the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency;
converting the third wireless signal to a second electronic signal including the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency;
frequency converting the second electronic signal to generate an updated second electronic signal that shifts the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency to a fourth spectral segment without modifying the signaling protocol of the second modulated signal, the second carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the fourth spectral segment; and
sending the updated second electronic signal including the second modulated signal in the fourth spectral segment to a base station.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the fourth spectral segment is at least similar or equal to the third spectral segment.

14. A method, comprising:
receiving, by an antenna system of a first network element of a distributed antenna system, a first wireless signal including a modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first wireless signal generated by a mobile communication device, and the modulated signal conforming to a signaling protocol;
converting, by the first network element, the first wireless signal to an electronic signal including the modulated signal in the first spectral segment;
frequency shifting, by the first network element, the electronic signal to generate an updated electronic signal, the updated electronic signal comprising the modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the modulated signal, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and
converting, by the antenna system of the first network element, the updated electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the reference signal enabling the second network element to reduce signal distortion when converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a second spectral segment.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting, by the first network element, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the converting by the second network element comprises down-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting, by the first network element, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the converting by the second network element comprises up-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions directing the second network element of the distributed antenna system to reconvert the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment, and wherein the reference signal is modulated with the instructions in the control channel.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second spectral segment is at least similar to the first spectral segment.

19. A first network element of a distributed antenna system, comprising:
an antenna system;
communication circuitry that facilitates operati

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp
• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Henry Paul Shala
• Barzegar Farhad
• Blandino George
• Gerszberg Irwin
• Barnickel Donald J
• Willis Iii Thomas M

Classifications

• H04B2203/5441

  Wireless systems or telephone · CPC title

• H04B10/25753

  Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units · CPC title

• H04W84/045

  using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B · CPC title

• H04B3/52

  Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides · CPC title

• H04W36/22

  for handling the traffic · CPC title