Distributed antenna system with improved uplink leveling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020404529-A1
Application number	US-202017014827-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 8, 2020
Priority date	Jan 18, 2017
Publication date	Dec 24, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Uplink leveling systems and methods for a distribution antenna are provided. An uplink leveling system includes at least one communication path between a base station point of interface and a remote antenna unit. A broadband measurement detector is communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path at the base station point of interface. A signal measurement receiver is communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path. A test signal generator is configured to generate a test signal in the at least one communication path in an uplink. At least one controller is configured to level the communication path in the uplink direction based at least in part on measurements by the broadband measurement detector and the signal measurement receiver in response to the generated test signal by the test signal generator.

First claim

1 . A method of uplink leveling a communication path in a distributed antenna system, the method comprising:
calibrating measurements of a signal measurement receiver that is communicatively coupled to a communication path with a point of interface; generating at least one test signal of a select frequency and power level in an uplink direction of the communication path; measuring the power level of the at least one test signal with the signal measurement receiver at the select frequency; determining a gain adjustment based at least in part on the calibration of measurements of the signal measurement receiver and the measured power level of the at least one test signal with the signal measurement receiver; and leveling the communication path based on the determined gain adjustments.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein calibrating measurements of the signal measurement receiver that is communicatively coupled to the communication path to the point of interface comprises:
generating a calibration signal of a select frequency and power with a signal generator in the point of interface; measuring a signal power level of the calibration signal with the signal measurement receiver; and determining a gain/loss between the point of interface and the signal measurement receiver based on a comparison of the signal power level of the calibration signal generated by the signal generator of the point of interface and the measured signal power level of the calibration signal by the signal measurement receiver to determine a gain/loss factor used for calibration.

3 . An uplink leveling system for a distributed antenna system comprising:
at least one communication path between a point of interface and a remote antenna unit; a broadband measurement detector configured to measure signal power over a broadband frequency range, the broadband measurement detector communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path at the base station point of interface; a signal measurement receiver configured to be frequency tuned, the signal measurement receiver communicatively coupled to measure signal power in the at least one communication path; a test signal generator configured to generate a test signal in the at least one communication path in an uplink direction from the remote antenna unit to the base station point of interface; and at least one controller in communication with the test signal generator, the signal measurement receiver and the broadband measurement detector, the at least one controller configured to calibrating measurements of the signal measurement receiver, the at least one controller configured to cause the test signal generator to generate the test signal having a select power and frequency, the at least one controller further configured to determine gain adjustments based at least in part on the calibration measurements of the signal measurement receiver and a measured power level of the at least one test signal with the signal measurement receiver, the controller further configured to level the at least one communication path based on the determined gain adjustments.

4 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 3 , further wherein the controller in calibrating the measurements of the signal measurement receiver is further configured to:
generate a calibration signal of a select frequency and power with a signal generator in the point of interface; measure a signal power level of the calibration signal with the signal measurement receiver; and determine a gain/loss between the point of interface and the signal measurement receiver based on a comparison of the signal power level of the calibration signal generated by the signal generator of the point of interface and the measured signal power level of the calibration signal by the signal measurement receiver to determine a gain/loss factor used for calibration.

5 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 3 , further comprising:
at least one memory to store leveling instructions, the at least one controller in communication with the at least one memory.

6 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 3 , wherein the signal measurement receiver is configured measure the power level of the test signal only at the select frequency of the test signal.

7 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 3 , further comprising:
at least one transceiver in the at least one communication path, the transceiver positioned between the at least one remote antenna unit and the base station point of interface.

8 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a first sub rack, the at least one base station point of interface installed in the first sub rack; a second sub rack, the at least one transceiver installed in the second sub rack; and

9 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one signal measurement receiver is installed in at least one of the first sub rack and the second sub rack.

10 . The uplink leveling system for the distributed antenna system of claim 8 , wherein the distributed antenna system comprises:
a master unit the master unit comprising the first sub rack and the second sub rack.

Assignees

• Andrew Wireless Systems Gmbh

Inventors

• Lupper Alfred Josef
• Kroupa Johannes
• Dussmann Alfons
• Mazilu Bogdan George

Classifications

• H04W72/21

  in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network · CPC title

• H04W72/29

  between an access point and the access point controlling device · CPC title

• H04B17/21

  for calibration; for correcting measurements · CPC title

• H04B7/022 Primary

  Site diversity; Macro-diversity (using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04) · CPC title

• H04W24/10 Primary

  Scheduling measurement reports {; Arrangements for measurement reports} · CPC title