Configurable wide area distributed antenna system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11356190-B2
Application number	US-201916383264-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2019
Priority date	Apr 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 7, 2022
Grant date	Jun 7, 2022

Abstract

A configurable wide area distributed antenna system is provided. At least one remote master unit of the system is in communication with at least one base station. The remote master unit includes a remote switch function that provides at least multiplexing in a downlink direction, demultiplexing in an uplink direction and routing of digital samples. The local master unit is located remote from the remote master unit. The local master unit is in communication with at least one remote antenna unit used to provide communication coverage in a select coverage area. The local master unit includes a local switch function providing at least demultiplexing in a downlink direction, multiplexing in an uplink direction and routing of digital samples. At least one communication link communicatively couples the remote master unit to the local communication unit with transport media interfaces.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A configurable wide area distributed antenna system comprising:
at least one remote master unit in communication with at least one base station, the at least one remote master unit including a remote switch function that provides at least one of multiplexing in a downlink direction, demultiplexing in an uplink direction and routing digital samples;
at least one local master unit located remote from the at least one remote master unit, the at least one local master unit in communication with at least one remote antenna unit used to provide communication coverage in a select coverage area, the at least one local master unit including a local switch function that provides routing of digital samples to and from the at least one remote antenna unit and at least one of demultiplexing in a downlink direction and multiplexing in an uplink direction, the local switch function further configured to sum corresponding uplink digital samples intended for a specific base station of the at least one base station;
at least one communication link;
at least one remote transport media interface configured to interface signals between the remote switch function of the at least one remote master unit and the at least one communication link;
at least one local transport media interface configured to interface signals between the local switch function of the local master unit and the at least one communication link; and
a wavelength selective switch configured to dynamically route downlink optical transport signals and uplink optical transport signals based on wavelengths between the at least one remote master unit and the at least one local master unit, the downlink optical transport signals and the uplink optical transport signals including a reference clock signal of a select wavelength that is used by the at least one remote master unit, the at least one local master unit and the wavelength selective switch to synchronize communications throughout the wide area distributed antenna system.

2. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one remote wavelength division multiplexer configured to multiplex optical signals in the downlink direction from at least one associated remote transport media interface to the at least one communication link and demultiplex combined optical signals in the uplink direction from the at least one communication link to the at least one associated remote transport media interface; and
at least one local wavelength division multiplexer configured to multiplex optical signals in the uplink direction from at least one associated local transport media interface to the at least one communication link and demultiplex combined optical signals in the downlink direction from the at least one communication link to the at least one associated local transport media interface.

3. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one controller configured to control communications through the wide area distributed antenna system.

4. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one controller is a master controller.

5. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one controller is at least one of a remote master unit controller, a local master unit controller and a selective switch controller.

6. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a memory to store operating instructions implemented by the at least one controller.

7. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a reference clock signal generator configured to generate the reference clock signal used at least by the at least one remote master unit, the at least one local master unit and the wavelength selective switch to synchronize communications throughout the wide area distributed antenna system.

8. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 7 , wherein the reference clock signal generator is from one of the at least one master unit and the at least one local master unit.

9. A configurable wide area distributed antenna system comprising:
a plurality of remote master units, each remote master unit in communication with at least one associated base station, each remote master unit including a remote switch function and at least one remote transport media interface;
a plurality of local master units, each local master unit is positioned in a location that is remote to each of the plurality of the remote master units, each local master unit is in communication with at least one remote antenna unit via digital samples, the at least one remote antenna unit being used to provide communication coverage in a select coverage area, each local master unit including a local switch function and at least one local transport media interface, the local switch function configured to sum corresponding uplink digital samples intended for a specific base station of the at least one base station;
at least one communication link coupling uplink optical transport signals and downlink optical transport signals between the plurality of remote master units and the plurality local master units;
a remote wavelength division multiplexer for each remote master unit, each wavelength division multiplexer configured and arranged to multiplex signals into the downlink optical transport signals in a downlink direction from the at least one remote transport interface of an associated remote master unit and the at least one communication link and demultiplex the uplink optical transport signals in an uplink direction from the at least one communication link to the at least one remote transport interface of the remote master unit;
at local wavelength division multiplexer for each local master unit, each local wavelength division multiplexer configured and arranged to demultiplex the downlink optical transport signals in the downlink direction from the at least one communication link to the local transport media interface of the at least one local master unit and multiplex signals into the uplink optical transport signals in the uplink direction from the at least one local transport media interface of the at least one local master unit to the at least one communication link; and
a wavelength selective switch configured and arranged to selectively route the downlink optical transport signals and uplink optical transport signals through the at least one communication link, wherein the downlink optical transport signals and uplink optical transport signals include a reference clock signal of a select wavelength used by each remote master unit, each local master unit and the wavelength selective switch to synchronize communications throughout the wide area distribution antenna system.

10. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 9 , further wherein:
the remote switching function configured to at least multiplex in the downlink direction, demultiplex in the uplink direction and route digital samples; and
the local switching function configured to at least demultiplex in a downlink direction, multiplex in an uplink direction and route digital samples.

11. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 9 , further comprising:
at least one controller configured to control communications through the wide area distributed antenna system.

12. The configurable wide area distributed antenna system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a reference clock signal generator configured to generate the reference clock si

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Hanson Van Erick

Classifications

• H04Q11/0062

  Network aspects · CPC title

• H04Q11/0005 Primary

  Switch and router aspects · CPC title

• H04J14/0307

  Multiplexers; Demultiplexers · CPC title

• H04B10/25753 Primary

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

• H04Q2011/0054

  Distribute-route · CPC title