Multiple application modules (MAMs) for monitoring signals in components in wireless distribution systems, including distributed antenna systems (DASs), and related systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9930540-B2
Application number	US-201615332552-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2016
Priority date	May 28, 2014
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

Multiple application modules (MAMs) for monitoring of signals in components in wireless distribution systems (WDSs), including but not limited to distributed antenna systems (DASs) are disclosed. The MAMs are wireless telecommunication circuitry associated with wireless distribution components in a WDS, such as communications and power components as examples. By associating MAMs into components of a WDS, live signals in the WDS can be monitored and measured for monitoring the performance of components within the WDS. The MAMs include a multiple application software platform architecture that includes one or more application layer applications configured to receive and monitor signals in the WDS, and to provide application level information about such monitored signals to other systems or technicians. The application level information can be used by a technician or other system to diagnose or calibrate the WDS and/or the communications components provided therein.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wireless distribution system (WDS), comprising:
a central unit configured to:
receive a downlink communications signal from a communications system;
distribute the downlink communications signal over at least one downlink communications medium to a plurality of remote units;
receive an uplink communications signal from the plurality of remote units over at least one uplink communications medium; and
distribute the uplink communications signal to the communications system;

each remote unit among the plurality of remote units configured to:
receive the downlink communications signal from the central unit over the at least one downlink communications medium;
distribute the downlink communications signal to a client device;
receive the uplink communications signal from the client device; and
distribute the uplink communications signal to the central unit over the at least one uplink communications medium;

at least one multiple application module (MAM) associated with at least one of the central unit and at least one of the remote units among the plurality of remote units, the at least one MAM comprises at least one processor configured to execute at least one application layer application to analyze the at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal;
the at least one MAM configured to:
receive at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal; and
communicate application level information regarding the analyzed at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal to another system,

wherein the at least one MAM further comprises internal memory, and the at least one MAM is further configured to store the application level information in internal memory, and
wherein the at least one MAM further comprises at least one wireless communications interface, the at least one MAM is further configured to wirelessly communicate the application level information to a wireless client device.

2. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one wireless communications interface is comprised from the group consisting of: a cellular modem interface, a Bluetooth modem interface, and a WiFi interface.

3. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one MAM is further configured to communicate the application level information over the at least one downlink communications medium.

4. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one MAM is further configured to communicate the application level information over the at least one uplink communications medium.

5. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one MAM is further configured to receive a downlink communications signal as a client device.

6. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one MAM is further configured to load a new application layer application into internal memory to be executed by the at least one processor to analyze the at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal.

7. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one MAM is further configured to receive at least one power signal; and
the at least one processor in the at least one MAM is further configured to execute an application layer application to analyze the at least one power signal; and
the at least one MAM is further configured to communicate application level information regarding the analyzed at least one power signal to another system.

8. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein:
the at least one MAM is further configured to receive at least one RF power signal; and
the at least one processor in the at least one MAM is further configured to execute an application layer application to analyze the at least one RF power signal; and
the at least one MAM is further configured to communicates application level information regarding the analyzed at least one RF power signal to another system.

9. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the communications system is comprised of a base station.

10. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , comprised of a distributed antenna system (DAS) deployed over multiple floors of a building infrastructure.

11. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one downlink communications medium and the at least one uplink communications medium is comprised of at least one common communications medium.

12. The wireless distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one downlink communications medium is comprised of at least one downlink optical fiber, and the at least one uplink communications medium is comprised of at least one uplink optical fiber.

13. A method of monitoring signals in a wireless distribution system, comprising:
receiving a downlink communications signal from a communications system in a central unit;
distributing the downlink communications signal over at least one downlink communications medium to a plurality of remote units;
receiving an uplink communications signal from the plurality of remote units over at least one uplink communications medium in the central unit; and
distributing the received downlink communications signal in each remote unit among the plurality of remote units to a client device;
receiving the uplink communications signal in each remote unit among the plurality of remote units from the client device;
distributing the received uplink communications signal in each remote unit among the plurality of remote units to the central unit;
executing at least one application layer application in at least one processor in at least one multiple application module (MAM) associated with at least one of the central unit and at least one of the remote units among the plurality of remote units to analyze the at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal;
communicating application level information regarding the analyzed at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal to another system; and
storing the application level information in internal memory.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising wirelessly communicating the application level information through at least one wireless communication interface in the at least one MAM to a wireless client device.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising wirelessly communicating the application level information through at least one wired communication interface in the at least one MAM to a wireless client device.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising communicating the application level information over the at least one downlink communications medium.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising loading a new application layer application into internal memory in the at least one MAM to be executed by the at least one processor to analyze the at least one of the downlink communications signal and the uplink communications signal.

Assignees

• Corning Optical Communications LLC

Inventors

• Chamarti Aravind

Classifications

• H04W4/20 Primary

  Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel · CPC title

• H04W88/085

  Access point devices with remote components · CPC title

• H04W16/26 Primary

  Cell enhancers {or enhancement}, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title