JP2019519160A - Remote Distributed Antenna System Using Reference Signal in Wireless Backhaul - Google Patents

Abstract

A distributed antenna system is provided that frequency shifts the output of one or more microcells to a frequency range of 60 GHz or higher for transmission to a set of distributed antennas. The cellular band output of these microcell base station devices is used to modulate the 60 GHz (or higher) carrier and create groups of subcarriers on the 60 GHz carrier. This group is then transmitted over the air via an analog microwave RF unit, which may then be repeated or emitted to the surrounding area. The repeater amplifies the signal and retransmits it again to the next repeater over the air. Where microcells are needed, the 60 GHz signal is frequency shifted back to its original frequency (e.g., the 1.9 GHz cellular band) and emitted locally to nearby mobile devices.

Description

This application claims priority to US Patent Application Publication No. 15 / 179,193, filed June 10, 2016. All sections of the above application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

  The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and, for example, to providing a remote distributed antenna system using a signal in a defined band, such as microwaves.

  As smartphones and other portable devices become more prevalent and data usage soars, macrocell base stations and existing wireless infrastructure are overwhelmed. Small cell deployments are being driven to provide more mobile bandwidth, and microcells and picocells provide coverage for areas much smaller than previous macrocells, but this is expensive It takes

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna transmitter system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna repeater system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna transmitter system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna repeater system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a millimeter waveband antenna apparatus according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 7 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method for providing a distributed antenna system as described herein. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a mobile network platform according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication system in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 11B is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a portion of the communication system of FIG. 11A in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 11B is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node of the communication system of FIG. 11A in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 11B is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node of the communication system of FIG. 11A in accordance with various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of downlink and uplink communication techniques that enables a base station to communicate with a communication node, in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 7 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum in accordance with various aspects set forth herein. FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a transmitter according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a receiver according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 10 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method according to various aspects described herein.

  One or more embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings, where like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments. However, it is apparent that the various embodiments can be practiced without these specific details (and without applying to any particular networked environment or standard).

  A distributed antenna system is provided that allows one or more base stations to have antennas distributed over a large area in order to provide network connectivity for increasing mobile devices. Small cell deployments can be used to supplement traditional macro cellular deployments, and these deployments require extensive mass capacity networks to support them.

  The various embodiments disclosed herein provide output signals of one or more microcells (or picocell, femtocell and other types of small cells) in the millimeter wave band (eg, 60 GHz or more). The present invention relates to a microwave system carried on a carrier wave having a frequency corresponding to. However, the various embodiments disclosed herein can operate at almost any microwave frequency. A cluster of one or more microcell base station devices may be accommodated at the delivery point and may be served to several microcells in the vicinity. The RF (radio frequency) output of these microcell base station devices may be used to modulate a 60 GHz (or higher) carrier and create a group of subcarriers on the 60 GHz carrier. This group is then transmitted over the air via a specially designed analog microwave RF unit, which can then be repeated or radiated into the surrounding area. The repeater amplifies the signal and retransmits it again to the next repeater over the air. Where microcells are needed, the 60 GHz signal is frequency shifted back to its original frequency (e.g., the 1.9 GHz cellular band) and emitted locally to nearby mobile devices.

  As the 60 GHz carrier hops from one antenna site to the next, various subcarriers may be added or dropped depending on the traffic requirements of that site. The selection of channels to be added or dropped can be controlled dynamically as the traffic load changes. The return signal from the mobile device can be modulated to another frequency in the 60 GHz range and sent back in the opposite direction to the original delivery point. In another embodiment, time division duplex may be used, and the return signal may be at the same frequency as the original signal. As such, the repeater essentially moves the microcell base station device from the location of the delivery point to another location via wireless hops from one utility pole to another. Transmitters and repeaters allow the system to be extensible and flexible, allow additional microcell and antenna sites to be added, and depend on the communication protocol via analog processes (carrier modulation) It is possible to frequency shift the cellular signal in such a way that it does not. The system disclosed herein works just as well for the current cellular communication protocol as it will work for future deployments.

  Due to these and other considerations, in one or more embodiments, the system facilitates memory for storing instructions and receiving of the first signal from the base station device. And a processor coupled to the memory to facilitate execution of the instructions to perform an operation including, the first signal being determined to be within the cellular band. The operations include modulating the carrier signal with the first signal and generating a transmission based on the carrier signal and the first signal. The operation may also include directing the transmission wirelessly to the remote antenna.

  Another embodiment includes a memory for storing instructions and a processor coupled to the memory for facilitating execution of the instructions to perform an operation including receiving a first wireless transmission. The operation may also include extracting the signal from the first wireless transmission, the signal being in a cellular band frequency. The operations may also include transmitting a signal to the mobile device and retransmitting the first wireless transmission.

  In another embodiment, a method includes receiving, by a device including a processor, a defined radio frequency transmission directed to a remote antenna. The method may also include identifying, from the plurality of signals, a signal determined to be associated with the remote antenna. Here, multiple signals are carried within multiple channels using defined high frequency transmission. The method may then include extracting the signal, transmitting the signal directed to the mobile device, and retransmitting the defined high frequency transmission directed to another remote antenna.

  Referring now to FIG. 1, shown is a non-limiting example embodiment embodiment of a distributed antenna system 100 according to various aspects described herein. System 100 includes one or more microcell base stations in base station device 114 communicatively coupled to a network connection via a physical connection (eg, wired or optical) to a mobile network (FIGS. 3 and 4). 5 are shown in more detail). In some embodiments, base station device 114 may be communicatively coupled to a macro cell site or network connection of the site. The macro cell may have a dedicated connection to the mobile network, and the base station device 114 may share the connection at the macro cell site. Base station device 114 may be mounted on or attached to streetlight 102. In some embodiments, the base station device 114 can be mounted on a utility pole or other elevated structure. In some embodiments, the base station device 114 can be located at or near the ground.

  Base station device 114 can provide connectivity for mobile devices 120 and 122. Antennas 116 and 118 mounted on or near transmitters 108 or repeaters 110 and 112 on streetlights (or utility poles or other structures) 102, 104 and 106 are antennas 116 and 118 serving as base station devices. Signals from base station device 114 may be received over a much wider area than if located at or near 114 and those signals may be transmitted to mobile devices 120 and 122.

  It should be understood that FIG. 1 displays three streetlights with one base station device for simplicity. In other embodiments, the streetlight 102 can have more base station devices, and can be one or more streetlights with distributed antennas. In some embodiments, transmitters and / or repeaters can be present without an antenna. The antennas can be communicatively coupled to the transmitters and / or repeaters in areas where microcell deployment is required, or they can be spaced to avoid excessive overlap.

  The sender 108 can receive signals from the base station device 114 directed to the mobile devices 120 and 122, modulate the 60 GHz carrier, and create groups of subcarriers on the 60 GHz carrier. The transmitter 108 may then transmit the carrier to a repeater within the area, in this case repeater 110. The repeater 110 may extract a signal directed from the carrier towards the mobile device 120 and radiate the signal to the mobile device 120 via the antenna 116. The repeater 110 can then retransmit the carrier to the repeater 112, which extracts the signal directed to the mobile device 122 and radiates the signal through the antenna 118. The repeater 112 may then retransmit the carrier transmission to the next repeater. Repeaters 110 and 112 may also use a combination of low noise amplifiers and power amplifiers to amplify the transmission prior to retransmission.

  In various embodiments, repeaters 110 and 112 and / or antennas 116 and 118 can be assigned to channels corresponding to a predetermined bandwidth range within a carrier. Repeaters 110 and 112 may extract the assigned signal from the carrier, and the signal corresponds to the channel and / or bandwidth corresponding to the repeater and / or the antenna. In this way, the antennas 116 and 118 radiate the correct signal for the microcell area. In other embodiments, the carrier can include a control channel that includes metadata indicating which of the subcarriers correspond to the antennas 116 and 118, such that the repeaters 110 and 112 can signal appropriate signals. Extract

  As the 60 GHz carrier hops from one emitter site to another, various subcarriers may be added or dropped depending on the traffic requirements of that site. The selection of channels to be added or dropped can be controlled dynamically as the traffic load changes.

  When mobile devices 120 and / or 122 send signals back to the mobile network, antennas 116 and / or 118 receive those signals and repeaters 110 and / or 112 use the signals to modulate another carrier ( For example, the carrier is shifted back to the transmitter 108 where it is shifted to 60 GHz in the analog domain, where the signals from the mobile devices 120 and / or 122 are extracted and delivered to the base station device 114.

  Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna system 200 according to various aspects described herein is shown. System 200 includes one or more micro cell base station devices at base station 214 communicatively coupled to the network connection via a physical connection (eg, wired or optical) to a mobile network (FIGS. 3 and 4). 5 are shown in more detail). In some embodiments, base station 214 may be communicatively coupled to a macro cell site or network connection of the site. The macro cell may have a dedicated connection to the mobile network, and base stations 214 may share the network connection at the macro cell site. Base station 214 may be mounted on or attached to streetlight 202. In some embodiments, the base station 214 can be mounted on a utility pole or other elevated structure. In some embodiments, the base station 214 can be located at or near the ground.

  FIG. 2 shows an embodiment different from that shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, unlike in the case of FIG. 1, the transmission hops between the street lights 204 and 206 are electromagnetic waves guided via power lines (for example, surface waves) or via underground pipes (for example, pipes) Can be implemented using a carrier wave sent as In some embodiments, transmission 220 can be sent over wires or other conventional data links.

  Whatever the means of transmission, the functionality is the same as in FIG. 1 and the transmitter 208 receives the signal from the base station 214 directed to the mobile devices 216 and 218 and modulates the 60 GHz carrier , Groups of subcarriers on a 60 GHz carrier can be created. The sender 208 can then transmit the carrier to a repeater in this area, in this case repeater 222. Repeater 210 may extract a signal directed from carrier to mobile device 216 and radiate the signal to mobile device 216 via antenna 222. The repeater 210 can then retransmit the carrier to the repeater 212 as a surface wave through the physical link or through the power line, and the repeater 212 extracts the signal directed to the mobile device 218 and the antenna 224 Emit a signal through The repeater 212 may then retransmit the carrier transmission to the next repeater. Repeaters 210 and 212 can also use a combination of low noise amplifiers and power amplifiers to amplify the transmission prior to retransmission.

  Referring now to FIG. 3, shown is a block diagram of a non-limiting example embodiment of a distributed antenna transmitter system 300 according to various aspects described herein. FIG. 3 shows the base station 104 and transmitter 106 described in FIG. 1 in more detail. Base stations 302 may include routers 304 and microcell base station devices 308 (or picocell, femtocell or other small cell deployments). Base station 302 can receive an external network connection 306 linked to an existing infrastructure. Network connection 306 may be physical (such as fiber or cable) or wireless (such as high bandwidth microwave connection). The existing infrastructure to which the network connection 306 may be linked may, in some embodiments, be a macrocell site. Base stations 302 can share network connections with macro cell sites for those macro cell sites that have high data rate network connections.

  The router 304 can provide connectivity for the microcell base station device 308 facilitating communication with the mobile device. Although FIG. 3 shows base station 302 having one microcell base station device, in other embodiments base station 302 can include more than one microcell base station device. The RF output of the microcell base station device 308 can be used to modulate a 60 GHz signal and can be connected via fiber to an outdoor unit ("ODU") 310. ODU 310 may be any of a variety of microwave antennas capable of receiving and transmitting microwave signals. In some embodiments, the ODU unit may be a millimeter wave band antenna device as shown in FIG.

  Referring now to FIG. 4, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna repeater system 400 according to various aspects described herein is shown. The ODU 402 can receive millimeter wave transmissions sent from another ODU at the repeater or transmitter. The transmission may be a carrier wave having a plurality of subcarrier signals. The repeater 406 can receive the transmission, and the analog tap and modulator 408 can extract the signal from the multiple subcarrier signals and radiate the signal to the mobile device via the antenna 410. Analog tap and modulator 408 may also amplify the transmission received by ODU 402 and retransmit the carrier to another repeater or transmitter via ODU 404.

  The antenna 410 can also receive communication protocol signals from the mobile device, the analog tap and modulator 408 can modulate another carrier with the signal, and the ODU 402 or 404 base carrier transmission. It can be transferred to the station device.

  Referring to FIG. 5, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna transmitter system 500 according to various aspects described herein is shown. System 500 includes microcell base station devices 504, 506, and 508 that transmit signals to and receive signals from mobile devices in respective cells. It should be understood that system 500 is shown with three micro cell base station devices for purely illustrative reasons. In other embodiments, a base station site or cluster can include one or more microcell base station devices.

  The outputs of the microcell base station devices 504, 506 and 508 may be combined with the millimeter wave carrier generated by the local oscillator 514 at frequency mixers 522, 520 and 518, respectively. Frequency mixers 522, 520, and 518 may frequency shift the signals from microcell base station devices 504, 506, and 508 using heterodyne techniques. This can be done in the analog domain, so that frequency shifts can be performed without considering the type of communication protocol that microcell base station devices 504, 506 and 508 use. As new communication technologies are developed over time, microcell base station devices 504, 506, and 508 can be upgraded or replaced, frequency shift and transmission equipment can be intact, and upgrades are easy. become.

  The controller 510 can generate a control signal associated with the carrier, and the GPS module 512 can synchronize the frequency for the control signal so that the exact frequency can be determined. The GPS module 512 can also provide a time reference for the distributed antenna system.

  The multiplexer / demultiplexer 524 can frequency division multiplex the signals from the frequency mixers 518, 520 and 522 in accordance with the control signal from the controller 510. Channels on the carrier can be assigned to each of the signals, and control signals can provide information indicative of the microcell signal corresponding to each channel.

  ODU unit 502 may also receive the transmission sent by the repeater. Here, the carrier wave of transmission is carrying signals from the mobile device directed to the microcell base station devices 504, 506 and 508. A multiplexer / demultiplexer 524 can separate subcarrier signals from one another and direct them to the correct microcell based on the channel of the signal or based on metadata in the control signal. The frequency mixers 518, 520, and 522 can then extract the signal from the carrier and direct the signal to the corresponding microcell.

  Referring now to FIG. 6, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a distributed antenna repeater system 600 according to various aspects described herein is shown. Repeater system 600 includes ODUs 602 and 604 that receive and transmit transmissions from senders and other repeaters.

  In various embodiments, the ODU 602 can receive a transmission from a transmitter having multiple subcarriers. The diplexer 606 can separate the transmissions that the ODU 602 sends from other transmissions and direct the transmission to a low noise amplifier (“LNA”) 608. The frequency mixer 628 can shift the transmission (which is above 60 GHz) down to the cellular band (approximately 1.9 GHz) using the local oscillator 612. Extractor 632 may extract the signal on the subcarrier corresponding to antenna 622 and direct the signal to antenna 622. For signals not radiated at this antenna location, the extractor 632 can forward them to another frequency mixer 636 where the signal is used to modulate the carrier wave generated by the local oscillator 614 . The carrier is directed to a power amplifier (“PA”) 616 with its subcarriers and retransmitted by the ODU 604 to another repeater via the diplexer 620.

  At antenna 622, PA 624 can boost the signal for transmission to the mobile device. The LNA 626 can use this signal to amplify a weak signal received from the mobile device and then send it to a multiplexer 634 that fuses with the signal received from the ODU 604. The signal received from ODU 604 is split by diplexer 620 and then passed through LNA 618 and frequency shifted down by frequency mixer 638. Once the signals are combined by the multiplexer 634, they are frequency shifted up by the frequency mixer 630, then boosted by the PA 610 and back transmitted by the ODU 602 to a transmitter or another repeater.

  Referring now to FIG. 7, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a millimeter wave band antenna apparatus 700 according to various aspects described herein is shown. The wireless repeater 704 can have a plastic cover 702 to protect the wireless antenna 706. The wireless repeater 704 can be mounted to a utility pole, streetlight or other structure 708 using the mounting arm 710. The wireless repeater may also receive power via power cord 712 and output signals to nearby microcells using fiber or cable 714.

  In some embodiments, the wireless repeater 704 can include 16 antennas. These antennas can be arranged radially and can each have an azimuthal beamwidth of approximately 24 degrees. Thus, there may be some overlap between each antenna beam width. Wireless repeater 704 may automatically select the best sector antenna to use for connection based on signal measurements such as signal strength, signal to noise ratio, etc. when transmitting or receiving transmissions. Because the wireless repeater 704 can automatically select the antenna used, in one embodiment precise antenna alignment is not performed, and the rigid requirements for mounting structure twist, tilt and swing are also Not implemented.

  In some embodiments, wireless repeater 704 can include an apparatus such as repeater system 600 or 400 in the apparatus, such that in addition to facilitating communication with the mobile device, the self-contained unit is distributed Allows to be a repeater in the antenna network.

  FIG. 8 illustrates the process associated with the system described above. The process in FIG. 8 may be performed, for example, by the systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 shown in FIGS. Although the methods are each shown and described as a series of blocks for the sake of simplicity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are illustrated herein. It will be understood and appreciated that this may be done in a different order than that described and / or as well as other blocks. Furthermore, not all illustrated blocks may be required to practice the methods described herein.

  FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of a method for providing a distributed antenna system as described herein. Methodology 800 can include step 802 where a predetermined high frequency transmission is received from a remote antenna. The transmission of the first defined frequency may be at 60 GHz or higher. The transmission may be received by an outdoor microwave transceiver (eg, ODU 602 or wireless repeater 704). At step 804, a signal is identified from the plurality of signals in the transmission and determined to be associated (e.g., based on the control channel) with the remote antenna. Multiple signals are carried in multiple channels using defined high frequency transmission. Multiple channels may be frequency division multiplexed together in some embodiments. It can be determined to which remote antenna the channel that the signal is occupying, and at step 806 the frequency mixer (eg 628) and the multiplexer / demultiplexer (eg 632) Signals can be extracted from the multiple signals and the signals can be shifted back to the original frequency around 1.9 GHz. At step 808, the signal may be transmitted (eg, by antenna 622) to the mobile device to which the signal is directed. At 810, transmission of the defined frequency can be retransmitted towards another remote antenna and / or repeater in the chain.

  Referring now to FIG. 9, a block diagram of a computing environment in accordance with various aspects described herein is shown. For example, in some embodiments, the computer may be within or be included in the distributed antenna system disclosed in any of the previous systems 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and / or 700. .

  In order to provide additional context for the various embodiments described herein, FIG. 9 and the following description may be practiced to implement various embodiments of the embodiments described herein. It is intended to provide a brief, general description of the computing environment 900. Although the embodiments are generally described above in the context of computer-executable instructions that may be executed on one or more computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that embodiments may be combined with other program modules. It will be appreciated that it may also be implemented as a combination of hardware and software.

  Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods of the present invention may be single- or multi-processor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and personal computers, handheld computers, each of which may be operably coupled to one or more associated devices. It will be appreciated that it may be implemented with other computer system configurations, including a programming device, microprocessor based, or programmable consumer electronics and the like.

  The terms "first", "second", "third" etc., as used in the claims, are for the purpose of clarity only, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, and any temporal order Nor does it indicate or imply in particular. For example, “first decision”, “second decision”, and “third decision” indicate or imply that the first decision should be taken before the second decision, or vice versa. do not do.

  The illustrated ones of the embodiments herein may also be practiced within a distributed computing environment where certain tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. Within a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located internally in both local and remote memory storage devices.

  Computing devices typically include a variety of media, which can include computer readable storage media and / or communication media. These two terms are used interchangeably herein as follows. Computer readable storage media can be any available storage media that can be accessed by a computer and includes both volatile and non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable storage media may be implemented in connection with any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, program modules, structured data or unstructured data.

  Computer readable storage media include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or other memory technology, compact disc read Use for storing only information (CD-ROM), digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disk storage device, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage device or other magnetic storage device, or desired information Can include other tangible and / or non-transitory media capable of In this context, it is understood that the terms "tangible" or "non-transitory" as used herein, when applied to a storage device, a memory or a computer readable medium, excludes the transient signal itself which only propagates as a modifier. It does not relinquish the right to all standard storage, memory or computer readable media, which should be and not be a temporary signal itself that only propagates.

  A computer readable storage medium is accessible by one or more local or remote computing devices, for example via access requests, queries or other data retrieval protocols, for various operations relating to the information stored by the medium. .

  Communication media typically incorporates computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other structured or unstructured data in a modulated data signal, eg, a data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and any information delivery Or include a transport medium. The term "modulated data signal" or signals refers to a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in one or more signals. By way of example and not limitation, communication media include wired media such as a wired network or direct wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media.

  Referring again to FIG. 9, an exemplary environment 900 for implementing various embodiments of the aspects described herein includes a computer 902, which includes a processing unit 904, a system memory 906 and a system. Including bus 908. System bus 908 couples system components to processing unit 904, including but not limited to system memory 906. Processing unit 904 may be any of a variety of commercially available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures may also be utilized as the processing unit 904.

  System bus 908 can be further interconnected with a memory bus (with or without a memory controller), a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of commercially available bus architectures. It may be any of the bus structures. The system memory 906 includes a ROM 910 and a RAM 912. A basic input / output system (BIOS) may be stored in non-volatile memory, such as ROM, erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), EEPROM, etc., which may be stored between elements in computer 902, such as during startup. Includes basic routines that facilitate the transfer of information. RAM 912 may also include high speed RAM, such as static RAM for caching data.

  Computer 902 is an internal hard disk drive (HDD) 914 (e.g., EIDE, SATA), which may be configured for external use in a suitable chassis (not shown), an internal hard disk drive 914, a magnetic floppy disk Drive (FDD) 916, (eg, for reading from or writing to removable diskette 918), and optical disc drive 920, (eg, reading CD-ROM disc 922, or other high capacity optical media such as DVD) (For reading from or writing to). Hard disk drive 914, magnetic disk drive 916 and optical disk drive 920 may be connected to system bus 908 by hard disk drive interface 924, magnetic disk drive interface 926 and optical drive interface 928, respectively. The interface 924 for the external drive implementation includes at least one or both of Universal Serial Bus (USB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 994 interface technology. Other external drive connection techniques are also within the scope of the assumptions of the embodiments described herein.

  The drives and their associated computer readable storage media provide nonvolatile storage of data, data structures, computer executable instructions, and the like. For computer 902, the drive and storage medium correspond to the storage of any data in a suitable digital format. While the above description of computer readable storage media refers to hard disk drives (HDD), removable magnetic diskettes, and removable optical media such as CDs or DVDs, zip drives, magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, cartridges, Other types of storage media that are readable by the computer, such as, and the like, may also be used in the exemplary operating environment, and any such storage media may perform the methods described herein. It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that computer executable instructions may be included to

  A number of program modules, including operating system 930, one or more application programs 932, other program modules 934 and program data 936 may be stored in drive and RAM 912. All or part of the operating system, applications, modules, and / or data may also be cached in RAM 912. The systems and methods described herein may be implemented utilizing various commercially available operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

  A user can enter commands and information into computer 902 through one or more wired / wireless input devices, such as keyboard 938 and pointing devices such as mouse 940. Other input devices (not shown) may include a microphone, an infrared (IR) remote control, a joystick, a game pad, a stylus pen, a touch screen, or the like. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit 904 through an input device interface 942, which may be coupled to the system bus 908, but parallel ports, IEEE 1394 serial ports, game ports, universal serial bus (USB) ports It can also be connected by another interface such as an IR interface.

  A monitor 944 or other type of display device may also be connected to system bus 908 via an interface such as video adapter 946. In addition to monitor 944, computers typically include other peripheral output devices (not shown) such as speakers, printers, and the like.

  Computer 902 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections via wired and / or wireless communications to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer 948. Remote computer 948 may be a workstation, server computer, router, personal computer, portable computer, microprocessor-based entertainment device, peer device, or other common network node, and typically includes many of the elements described with respect to computer 902. Or all. However, for the purpose of simplicity, only memory / storage device 950 is shown. The illustrated logical connections include wired / wireless connectivity to a local area network (LAN) 952 and / or a larger network, such as a wide area network (WAN) 954. Such LAN and WAN network environments are pervasive in offices and businesses and promote enterprise-wide computer networks, such as intranets, which can all be connected to global communication networks, such as the Internet.

  When used in a LAN networking environment, computer 902 may be connected to local network 952 through a wired and / or wireless communication network interface or adapter 956. The adapter 956 can facilitate wired or wireless communication to the LAN 952, which can also include a wireless AP disposed thereon to communicate with the wireless adapter 956.

  When used in a WAN network environment, the computer 902 can include a modem 958, or can be connected to a communication server on the WAN 954, or establish communication through the WAN 954, such as via the Internet. Have other means to Modem 958 may be an internal or external wired or wireless device and may be connected to system bus 908 via input device interface 942. In a networked environment, program modules illustrated for computer 902 or portions thereof may be stored in remote memory / storage device 950. It will be appreciated that the illustrated network connections are exemplary and that other means of establishing communication links between the computers can be used.

  Computer 902 may be any wireless device or entity operatively disposed within a wireless communication, such as a printer, a scanner, a desktop and / or portable computer, a portable data assistant, a communication satellite, any wirelessly detectable tag. Devices or locations (eg, a kiosk, a news stand, a restroom), as well as being operable to communicate with a telephone. This can include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) and BLUETOOTH® wireless technologies. As such, the communication may be of a predefined structure similar to a conventional network, or simply an ad hoc communication between at least two devices.

  Wi-Fi can allow connection to the Internet from a couch at home, a bed in a hotel room, or a conference room at work, without the use of wires. Wi-Fi is a wireless technology similar to that used in cell phones that enables such devices, eg, computers, to transmit and receive data anywhere indoors and outdoors within the range of a base station. Wi-Fi networks use wireless technologies called IEEE 802.11 (a, b, g, n, ac, etc.) to provide secure, reliable and fast wireless connectivity. A Wi-Fi network can be used to connect computers to each other, to the Internet, and to wired networks (which can use IEEE 802.3 or Ethernet). Wi-Fi networks, for example, operate at 11 Mbps (802.11a) or 54 Mbps (802.11b) data rates within the unlicensed 2.4 and 5 GHz radio bands, or encompass both bands (dual band) Operating with the product, this allows the network to provide real-world performance similar to the basic 10BaseT wired Ethernet network used in many offices.

  FIG. 10 presents an example embodiment 1000 of a mobile network platform 1010 that can implement and utilize one or more aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter described herein. In general, the wireless network platform 1010 may include both packet switched (PS) traffic (eg, Internet Protocol (IP), frame relay, asynchronous transfer mode (ATM)), and circuit switched (CS) traffic (eg, voice and data). As well as components that facilitate control generation for networked wireless telecommunications, such as nodes, gateways, interfaces, servers, or disparate platforms. As a non-limiting example, the wireless network platform 1010 can be included in a telecommunications carrier network and can be considered as a carrier-side component as described elsewhere herein. Mobile network platform 1010 may receive CS from a legacy network, such as a telephone network 1040 (eg, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) or a public land mobile network (PLMN)), or a signaling system # 7 (SS7) network 1070. It includes a CS gateway node 1012 that can interface to traffic. Circuit switched gateway node 1012 can authorize and authenticate traffic (eg, voice) originating from such a network. In addition, the CS gateway node 1012 accesses mobility data or roaming data generated through the SS7 network 1070, eg, mobility data stored in a visitor location register (VLR), which can be present in the memory 1030. Can. Further, CS gateway node 1012 interfaces with CS based traffic and signaling and PS gateway node 1018. As an example, in a 3GPP UMTS network, CS gateway node 1012 may be implemented at least partially in a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN). It should be understood that the functionality and specific operation of CS gateway node 1012, PS gateway node 1018, and serving node 1016 are provided and determined by the wireless technology utilized by mobile network platform 1010 for telecommunications.

  In addition to receiving and processing CS switching traffic and signaling, PS gateway node 1018 may authorize and authenticate PS-based data sessions with the served mobile device. The data session may include traffic or content exchanged with networks external to the wireless network platform 1010, such as wide area network (WAN) 1050, enterprise network 1070, and service network 1080. , May be embodied in a local area network (LAN), and may be interfaced with the mobile network platform 1010 through the PS gateway node 1018. It should be noted that WAN 1050 and enterprise network 1060 may at least partially embody a service network such as an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). Based on the radio technology layer available at technology resource 1017, packet switched gateway node 1018 can generate packet data protocol context when data session is established, facilitating routing of packetized data Other data structures can also be generated. To achieve that purpose, in one aspect, the PS gateway node 1018 can facilitate packetized communication with disparate wireless networks such as Wi-Fi networks (eg, in a 3GPP UMTS network) A tunnel termination gateway (TTG) (not shown) can be included.

  In embodiment 1000, the wireless network platform 1010 may also serve as a serving node to communicate various packetized flows of data streams received through the PS gateway node 1018 based on the available wireless technology layers in the technology resource 1017. Including 1016. Note that for technology resources 1017 that rely primarily on CS communication, the server node may deliver traffic without relying on the PS gateway node 1018. For example, the server node may at least partially embody the mobile switching center. As an example, in the 3GPP UMTS network, the serving node 1016 may be embodied in a Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN).

  For wireless technology that utilizes packetized communications, server 1014 in wireless network platform 1010 generates a plurality of disparate packetized data streams or flows and manages such flows (eg, scheduling Can run many applications that can be queued, formatted, etc.). Such applications may include add-on mechanisms for standard services (eg, provisioning, charging, customer support, etc.) provided by the wireless network platform 1010. Delivering a data stream (eg, content that is part of a voice call or data session) to PS gateway node 1018 for admission / authorization and initiation of a data session, and thereafter to serving node 1016 for communication Can. In addition to the application server, server 1014 can include a utility server, which can at least partially implement a provisioning server, an operations and maintenance server, a certificate authority and firewall, and other security mechanisms. It can include security servers as well as the like. In one aspect, the security server protects the communications served through the wireless network platform 1010, and in addition to the authorization and authentication procedures, network operations and data integrity that the CS gateway node 1012 and the PS gateway node 1018 can define. Ensure sex. In addition, the provisioning server can provision services from an external network, such as a network operated by a disparate service provider, eg, the WAN 1050 or a Global Positioning System (GPS) network (not shown). Also, the femtocell network (not shown), where the provisioning server improves wireless service coverage in enclosed indoor space and offload RAN resources to improve subscriber service experience in the home or work environment via UE 1075 Coverage may also be provisioned through a network (e.g., deployed and operated by the same service provider) associated with the wireless network platform 1010, etc.).

  It should be noted that server 1014 may include one or more processors configured to at least partially provide the functionality of macro network platform 1010. To achieve that purpose, one or more processors may execute code instructions stored within memory 1030, for example. It should be understood that server 1014 may include content manager 1015 that operates in substantially the same manner as previously described herein.

  In the exemplary embodiment 1000, memory 1030 can store information related to the operation of wireless network platform 1010. Other operational information may be provisioning information of mobile devices served through the wireless platform network 1010, subscriber databases, application intelligence, pricing schemes, such as promotion fees, flat-rate programs, coupon distribution campaigns, heterogeneous wireless, or wireless, technology layer Telecommunication protocols for the operation of the H.264 and technical specifications consistent with it. Memory 1030 may also store information from at least one of telephone network 1040, WAN 1050, enterprise network 1060, or SS7 network 1070. In one aspect, memory 1030 may be accessed, for example, as part of a data storage component or as a remotely connected memory storage device.

  To provide context for various aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure, FIG. 10 and the following description provide a brief, general description of a suitable environment in which various aspects of the subject matter of the present disclosure can be practiced. It is intended to be provided. Although the subject matter is generally described above in relation to computer executable instructions of a computer program executing on a computer and / or a group of computers, one skilled in the art will understand that the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined with other program modules. It will be recognized that it can also be implemented. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and / or implement particular abstract data types.

  Referring now to FIG. 11A, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication system 1100 in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure is shown. Communication system 1100 can include a macro base station 1102, such as a base station or access point, having an antenna that covers one or more sectors (eg, six or more sectors). The macro base station 1102 can communicate with the communication node 1104A functioning as a master or distribution node of other communication nodes 1104B-E distributed at various geographical locations within or beyond the coverage area of the macro base station 1102 Can be combined. Communication node 1104 communicates with a client device such as a mobile device (eg, a cell phone) and / or a fixed / stationary device (eg, a communication device in a home or commercial establishment) wirelessly coupled to any communication node 1104 Operates as a distributed antenna system configured to process traffic. In particular, the radio resources of macro base station 1102 may be mobile by enabling and / or redirecting the radio resources of communication node 1104 within the communication range of the mobile or stationary device by a particular mobile and / or stationary device. It can be provided to the device.

  Communication nodes 1104A-E may be communicatively coupled to one another via interface 1110. In one embodiment, interface 1110 can include a wired or tethered interface (eg, a fiber optic cable). In another embodiment, interface 1110 can include a wireless RF interface forming a wireless distributed antenna system. In various embodiments, communication nodes 1804 AE may be configured to provide communication services to mobile and stationary devices in accordance with instructions provided by macro base station 1102. However, in another operation example, the communication nodes 1104A-E operate as analog repeaters that merely spread the coverage of the macro base station 1102 throughout the entire range of the individual communication nodes 1104A-E.

  A micro base station (shown as communication node 1104) may differ from a macro base station in several ways. For example, the communication range of the micro base station may be smaller than the communication range of the macro base station. Thus, the power consumed by the micro base station may be less than the power consumed by the macro base station. If the macro base station optionally communicates with which mobile and / or stationary device, and if the micro base station communicates with a particular mobile or stationary device, which carrier frequency, spectral segment, and / or It instructs the macro base station which time slot schedule of such a spectral segment to use. In these cases, control of the micro base station by the macro base station may be performed in a master-slave configuration or other suitable control configuration. Regardless of whether they are operating independently or under control of macro base station 1102, the micro base station's resources are simpler and less expensive than the resources used by macro base station 1102 It can be.

  Referring now to FIG. 11B, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of communication nodes 1104B-E of the communication system 1100 of FIG. 11A is shown. In this figure, the communication nodes 1104B-E are arranged in utility equipment such as streetlights. In other embodiments, some of the communication nodes 1104B-E can be located on electrical posts or utility poles used for buildings or power distribution and / or communication lines. The communication nodes 1104B-E in these figures may be configured to communicate with one another via an interface 1110, where the interface 1110 is shown as a wireless interface. Communication nodes 1104B-E may be configured with one or more communication protocols (eg, fourth generation (4G) radio signals such as LTE signals or other 4G signals, fifth generation (5G) radio signals, WiMAX, 802.11 signals) , Or may be configured to communicate with mobile or stationary devices 1106A-C via a wireless interface 1111 that is compliant with ultra-wide band signals, etc.). Communication node 1104 may have a frequency (eg, 28 GHz, 38 GHz, 60 GHz, 80 GHz, or higher) higher than the operating frequency (eg, 1.9 GHz) used to communicate with the mobile or stationary device via interface 1111. It may be configured to exchange signals via interface 1110 at an operating frequency that may be. A high carrier frequency and a wider bandwidth may be used for communication between the communication nodes 1104 so that the communication nodes 1104 may be configured as shown in the spectrum downlink diagram and spectrum uplink diagram of FIG. 12A described below. Multiple mobiles or mobile stations via one or more different frequency bands (eg, 900 MHz band, 1.9 GHz band, 2.4 GHz band, and / or 5.8 GHz band, etc.) and / or one or more different protocols Communication services can be provided to stationary devices. Other embodiments utilize a broadband spectrum within a lower frequency range (e.g., a range of 2 GHz to 6 GHz, 4 GHz to 10 GHz, etc.), particularly when interface 1110 is implemented via a waveguide communication system on the electrical wire. be able to.

  Referring now to FIGS. 11C and 11D, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of communication node 1104 of communication system 1100 of FIG. 11A is shown. Communication node 1104 may be attached to a support structure 1118 of a utility installation, such as an electrical pole or pole, as shown in FIG. 11C. The communications node 1104 may be secured to the support structure 1118 using an arm 1120 constructed of plastic or other suitable material attached to the end of the communications node 1104. Communication node 1104 can further include a plastic housing assembly 1116 that covers components of communication node 1104. Communication node 1104 may be powered by power line 1121 (eg, 110/220 VAC). Power line 1121 may be from a streetlight or may be coupled to a power line of a utility pole.

  In embodiments where communication node 1104 communicates wirelessly with other communication nodes 1104 as shown in FIG. 11B, the top 1112 (also shown in FIG. 11D) of communication node 1104 may be, for example, the transceiver shown in FIG. A plurality of antennas 1122 (eg, sixteen dielectric antennas without metal surfaces) can be included that are wholly or partially coupled to one or more transceivers, such as 1100. Each of the plurality of antennas 1122 in the top portion 1112 can operate as a sector of the communication node 1104, wherein each sector is configured to communicate with at least one communication node 1104 within the communication range of the sector. Alternatively or in combination, interface 1110 between communication nodes 1104 may be a tethered interface (eg, a fiber optic cable or power line used to transport guided electromagnetic waves as described above). In other embodiments, interface 1110 may differ between communication nodes 1104. That is, some communication nodes 1104 can communicate via a wireless interface, while other communication nodes 1104 can communicate via a tethered interface. In still other embodiments, some communication nodes 1104 may utilize a combined wireless and tethered interface.

  The lower portion 1114 of the communications node 1104 can also include multiple antennas 1124 for wirelessly communicating with one or more mobile or stationary devices 1106 at a carrier frequency suitable for the mobile or stationary devices 1106. As mentioned above, the carrier frequency used by communication node 1104 to communicate with a mobile or stationary device via wireless interface 1111 shown in FIG. 11B is used for communication between communication nodes 1104 via interface 1110 Can be different from the carrier frequency. The plurality of antennas 1124 in the lower portion 1114 of the communication node 1104 may also, for example, utilize a transceiver, such as the transceiver 1100 shown in FIG. 11, in whole or in part.

  Referring now to FIG. 12A, a block diagram illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of downlink and uplink communication techniques that allow a base station to communicate with the communication node 1104 of FIG. 11A is shown. In the diagram of FIG. 12A, the downlink signal (ie, the signal directed from macro base station 1102 to communication node 1104) may be spectrally divided into control channels 1202, and downlink spectral segments 1206 may be respectively corresponding to communication node 1104. A modulated signal that can be frequency translated to an original / native frequency band that allows it to communicate with one or more mobile or stationary devices 1206, and some of the spectral segments 1206 to reduce distortion that occurs between communication nodes 1204 Or pilot signal 1204, which can be provided to all. The pilot signal 1204 may be processed by an upper 1116 (tethered or wireless) transceiver of the downstream communication node 1104 to remove distortion (eg, phase distortion) from the received signal. Each downlink spectral segment 1206 has a bandwidth 1205 wide enough to include a corresponding pilot signal 1204 and one or more downlink modulated signals arranged in frequency channels (or frequency slots) within the spectral segment 1206 ( For example, 50 MHz can be allocated. The modulated signal may represent a cellular channel, WLAN channel, or other modulated communication signal (eg, 10 MHz to 20 MHz) that communication node 1104 may use to communicate with one or more mobile or stationary devices 1106. it can.

  Uplink modulation signals generated by mobile or stationary communication devices within the native / original frequency band can be frequency translated, thereby placing them within frequency channels (or frequency slots) within uplink spectral segment 1210 be able to. The uplink modulated signal may represent a cellular channel, a WLAN channel, or other modulated communication signal. Several spectra may be allocated to each uplink spectrum segment 1210 that may have the same or the same bandwidth 1205 and allow the upstream communication node 1104 and / or the macro base station 1102 to remove distortion (eg, phase distortion) A pilot signal 1208 that can provide segments 1210 or each spectral segment 1210 can be included.

  In the illustrated embodiment, the downlink spectral segment 1206 and the uplink spectral segment 1210 each include multiple frequency channels (or frequency slots), and the frequency channels may be any number of native / original frequency bands (eg, 900 MHz) It can be occupied by a modulated signal frequency-converted from the band, 1.9 GHz band, 2.4 GHz band, and / or 5.8 GHz band, etc.). The modulated signal may be upconverted to adjacent frequency channels in downlink spectral segment 1206 and uplink spectral segment 1210. In this way, several adjacent frequency channels in downlink spectral segment 1206 can include the original modulation signal in the same native / original frequency band while others in downlink spectral segment 1206 The adjacent frequency channels of H can also be originally modulated signals in different native / original frequency bands, but can be frequency converted to be in adjacent frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1206. For example, a first modulation signal in the 1.9 GHz band and a second modulation signal in the same frequency band (ie, 1.9 GHz) may be frequency translated, such that adjacent frequencies of the downlink spectral segment 1206 are It can be located in the channel. In another description, the first modulated signal in the 1.9 GHz band and the second communication signal in a different frequency band (ie 2.4 GHz) may be frequency translated, thereby of downlink spectral segment 1206. It can be located in adjacent frequency channels. Thus, the frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1206 can be occupied by any combination of the same or different signaling protocols and modulation signals of the same or different native / original frequency bands.

  Similarly, several adjacent frequency channels in uplink spectral segment 1210 may include modulated signals originally in the same frequency band, while adjacent frequency channels in uplink spectral segment 1210 are originally different. Modulated signals within the native / original frequency band may also be included, but may be frequency translated to be within adjacent frequency channels of uplink spectral segment 1210. For example, a first communication signal in the 2.4 GHz band and a second communication signal in the same frequency band (ie, 2.4 GHz) may be frequency translated, such that adjacent frequencies of uplink spectral segment 1210 are adjacent It can be located in the channel. In another description, a first communication signal in the 1.9 GHz band and a second communication signal in a different frequency band (ie 2.4 GHz) may be frequency translated, thereby of uplink spectral segment 1206. It can be located in adjacent frequency channels. Thus, the frequency channels of uplink spectral segment 1210 can be occupied by any combination of the same or different signaling protocols and modulation signals of the same or different native / original frequency bands. The downlink spectral segment 1206 and the uplink spectral segment 1210 may themselves be adjacent to one another, separated by only one guard band or otherwise at a larger frequency interval, depending on the spectral allocation implemented Please note.

  Referring now to FIG. 12B, a block diagram 1220 is shown illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node. In particular, a communication node device such as communication node 1104A of the wireless distributed antenna system includes base station interface 1222, duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224, and two transceivers 1230 and 1232. However, if communication node 1104 A is co-located with a base station such as macro base station 1102, duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 and transceiver 1230 may be omitted, and transceiver 1232 may It should be noted that they can be directly coupled.

  In various embodiments, the base station interface 1222 includes a first one or more downlink channels in a first spectral segment for transmission to a client device, such as one or more mobile communication devices. Receive the modulated signal. The first spectral segment represents the original / native frequency band of the first modulated signal. The first modulated signal may be a signaling protocol such as LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, 5G wireless communication protocol, ultra-wide band protocol, WiMAX protocol, 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol, and / or other communication protocol May include one or more downlink communication channels in accordance with. The duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 can transmit and receive the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the transceiver 1230 for direct communication with one or more mobile communication devices within the communication node 1104A as a free space radio signal. Transfer to In various embodiments, transceiver 1230 may filter, transmit power, transmit / receive switch the spectrum of the downlink and uplink channels of the modulated signal in the original / native frequency band while attenuating out-of-band signals. , Duplex, diplex, and analog circuitry that merely provides impedance matching to drive one or more antennas that transmit and receive wireless signals on interface 1110.

  In other embodiments, the transceiver 1232 may, in various embodiments, not change the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, based on analog signal processing of the first modulated signal, at the first carrier frequency. It is configured to perform frequency conversion of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal. The first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency may occupy one or more frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1206. The first carrier frequency may be in the millimeter wave or microwave frequency band. As used herein, analog signal processing is not limited and does not require digital signal processing such as analog to digital conversion, digital to analog conversion, or digital frequency conversion including filtering, switching, duplex, die Includes plex, amplification, frequency up and down conversion, and other analog processing. In another embodiment, transceiver 1232 applies digital signal processing to the first modulated signal without utilizing any form of analog signal processing and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. Thereby, a frequency conversion of the first modulation signal in the first spectral segment to the first carrier frequency can be performed. In yet another embodiment, the transceiver 1232 applies the combination of digital signal processing and analog processing to the first modulated signal without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. The frequency conversion of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the carrier frequency can be configured to be performed.

  The transceiver 1232 may be configured to wirelessly distribute the first modulated signal to one or more other mobile communication devices after being frequency converted to the first spectral segment by the network element, at a first carrier frequency. One or more control channels, one or more corresponding reference signals such as pilot signals or other reference signals, and / or one or more clock signals together with one modulation signal. It may be further configured to transmit to network elements of the distributed antenna system, such as downstream communication nodes 1104B-E. In particular, the reference signal enables the network element to reduce phase errors (and / or other forms of signal distortion) during processing of the first modulation signal from the first carrier frequency to the first spectral segment Make it The control channel converts a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment to control frequency selection, re-pattern, handoff and / or other control signaling. Instructions may be included to direct the communication nodes of the distributed antenna system to use. In embodiments where the instructions sent and received via the control channel are digital signals, the transceiver 1232 provides analog to digital conversion, digital to analog conversion, and transmits and / or receives digital data transmitted via the control channel. It can include digital signal processing components to process. Clock signals provided using downlink spectrum segment 1206 are used to synchronize the timing of digital control channel processing by downstream communication nodes 1104B-E, to restore commands from the control channel, and / or other timing A signal can be provided.

  In various embodiments, transceiver 1232 can receive a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency from a network element, such as communication nodes 1104B-E. The second modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol such as LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, 5G wireless communication protocol, ultra-wide band protocol, 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol, and / or other communication protocol One or more uplink frequency channels occupied by one or more modulated signals may be included. In particular, the mobile or stationary communication device generates a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, such as an original / native frequency band, and the network element generates a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. The second modulated signal on the second carrier frequency received by the communication node 1104A is transmitted. The transceiver 1232 is operative to convert a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency to a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, via the duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 and the base station interface 1222 The second modulated signal in the second spectral segment is transmitted to a base station, such as macro base station 1102, for processing.

  Consider the following example where communication node 1104A is implemented in a distributed antenna system. The uplink frequency channel in the uplink spectrum segment 1210 and the downlink frequency channel in the downlink spectrum segment 1206 are DOCSIS 2.0 or higher standard protocol, WiMAX standard protocol, ultra wideband protocol, 802.11 standard protocol, LTE protocol Or the like, and modulated according to other 4G or 5G voice and data protocols, and / or other standard communication protocols, and may be occupied by other formatted signals. In addition to protocols conforming to current standards, these optional protocols can be modified to work in conjunction with the system of FIG. 11A. For example, the 802.11 protocol or other protocol includes additional guidelines and / or separate data channels to provide collision detection / multiple access over a larger area (eg, downlink spectrum segment 1206 or uplink spectrum Network devices communicating via a particular frequency channel of segment 1210 or communication devices communicatively coupled to the network devices may be allowed to listen to each other). In various embodiments, all of the uplink frequency channels of uplink spectrum segment 1210 and the downlink frequency channels of downlink spectrum segment 1206 may all be formatted according to the same communication protocol. However, alternatively, both uplink and downlink spectral segments 1210 and 1206 utilize two or more different protocols, for example, compatible with a wider range of client devices, and / or different frequency bands Can work with

  If two or more different protocols are utilized, the first subset of downlink frequency channels of downlink spectral segment 1206 can be modulated according to a first standard protocol, and the downlink frequency of downlink spectral segment 1206 The second subset of channels can be modulated according to a second standard protocol different from the first standard protocol. Similarly, a first subset of uplink frequency channels of uplink spectral segment 1210 may be received by the system to be demodulated according to a first standard protocol, and of uplink frequency channels of uplink spectral segment 1210. The second subset may be received according to a second standard protocol such that it is demodulated according to a second standard protocol different from the first standard protocol.

  According to these examples, base station interface 1222 may modulate a modulated signal, such as one or more downlink channels in the original / native frequency band, from a base station, such as macro base station 1102 or other communication network element. It can be configured to receive. Similarly, the base station interface 1222 provides the base station with a modulated signal that has been received from another network element and has been frequency converted to a modulated signal with one or more uplink channels in the original / native frequency band. Can be configured to Base station interface 1222 is a wireline that bidirectionally communicates communication signals such as uplink and downlink channels in the source / native frequency band, communication control signals, and other network signaling with macro base stations or other network elements. Or it can implement via a wireless interface. The duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 is configured to forward downlink channels in the original / native frequency band to the transceiver 1232, and the transceiver 1232 interfaces the downlink channel's frequency from the original / native frequency band to the interface 1110. Frequency spectrum-in this case, frequency conversion to a wireless communication link used to transport the communication signal to one or more other downstream communication nodes 1104B-E of the distributed antenna system within the range of the communication device 1104A- .

  In various embodiments, transceiver 1232 frequency converts downlink channel signals in the original / native frequency band via mixing or other heterodyne operation, and frequency converts down to occupy the downlink frequency channel of downlink spectral segment 1206. Includes an analog radio that generates link channel signals. In this description, downlink spectral segment 1206 is within the downlink frequency band of interface 1110. In an embodiment, the downlink channel signal may be at 28 GHz, 38 GHz, 60 GHz of downlink spectral segment 1206, for line-of-sight communication from the original / native frequency band to one or more other communication nodes 1104B-E. , Up to 70 GHz or 80 GHz band. However, it should be noted that other frequency bands may be utilized for downlink spectral segment 1206 as well (e.g., 3 GHz to 5 GHz). For example, transceiver 1232 may down one or more downlink channel signals in the source / native spectrum band if the frequency band of interface 1110 falls below the source / native spectrum band of one or more downlink channel signals. It can be configured to convert.

  The transceiver 1232 communicates with the communication node 1104B, the phased antenna array, or the movable beam or multi-beam antenna system to communicate with multiple devices at different locations, such as the antenna 1122 presented in conjunction with FIG. 11D. Can be coupled to multiple individual antennas. The duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 operates as a "channel duplexer" to provide bi-directional communication via one or more source / native spectral segments of the uplink and downlink channels via multiple communication paths. It may include provided duplexers, triplexers, splitters, switches, routers, and / or other assemblies.

  In addition to forwarding the frequency-transformed modulated signal downstream to the other communication nodes 1104B-E on a carrier frequency different from the original / native spectral band, the communication node 1104A may transmit all of the unmodulated signals from the original / native spectral band. Alternatively, the selected portion may be communicated via the wireless interface 1111 to client devices within the wireless communication range of the communication node 1104A. The duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 forwards the modulated signal in the original / native spectral band to the transceiver 1230. The transceiver 1230 is presented in conjunction with FIG. 11D to transmit the downlink channel to the mobile or stationary wireless device via the wireless interface 1111 and a channel selection filter to select one or more downlink channels. And a power amplifier coupled to one or more antennas, such as antenna 1124.

  In addition to downlink communications destined for the client device, the communications node 1104A may operate iteratively to handle uplink communications originating from client devices as well. In operation, transceivers 1232 receive uplink channels in uplink spectrum segment 1210 from communication nodes 1104B-E via the uplink spectrum of interface 1110. The uplink frequency channels in uplink spectral segment 1210 include modulated signals that have been frequency converted from the original / native spectral band to uplink frequency channels of uplink spectral segment 1210 by communication nodes 1104B-E. In the situation where interface 1110 operates in a frequency band higher than the native / original spectral segment of the modulated signal provided by the client device, transceiver 1232 downconverts the upconverted modulated signal to the original frequency band . However, in situations where interface 1110 operates in a lower frequency band than the native / original spectral segment of the modulated signal provided by the client device, transceiver 1232 may bring the downconverted modulated signal back to the original frequency band. Convert Further, transceiver 1230 is operative to receive all or selected modulated signals in the original / native frequency band from the client device via wireless interface 1111. The duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 transfers the modulated signal in the original / native frequency band received to the base station interface 1222 via the transceiver 1230, which is then transmitted to the macro base station 1102 or other of the communication network. Sent to the network element. Similarly, the modulated signal occupying the uplink frequency channel in the uplink spectral segment 1210 that has been frequency converted by the transceiver 1232 to the original / native frequency band is provided to the duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 and is transmitted to the base station interface 1222 It is forwarded and sent to the macro base station 1102 or other network element of the communication network.

  Referring now to FIG. 12C, a block diagram 1235 is shown illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a communication node. In particular, a communication node device such as communication node 1104B, 1104C, 1104D, or 1104E of the wireless distributed antenna system includes transceiver 1233, duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224, amplifier 1238, and two transceivers 1236A and 1236B.

  In various embodiments, transceiver 1236A transmits a channel (eg, one or more downlink spectrum segments) of the first modulated signal within the transform spectrum of the distributed antenna system from communications node 1104A or upstream communications nodes 1104B-E. A first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency corresponding to the placement of the 1206 frequency channel). The first modulation signal includes first communication data provided by the base station and directed to the mobile communication device. The transceiver 1236A receives from the communication node 1104A one or more control channels such as a pilot signal or other reference signal and / or one or more clock signals or the like associated with the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency. And is further configured to receive one or more corresponding reference signals. The first modulated signal may be a signaling protocol such as LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, 5G wireless communication protocol, ultra-wide band protocol, WiMAX protocol, 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol, and / or other communication protocol May include one or more downlink communication channels in accordance with.

  As mentioned above, the reference signal may be phase error (and / or other form) during processing of the first modulation signal from the first carrier frequency to the first spectral segment (ie the original / native spectrum) Signal distortion) can be reduced. The control channel converts a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment to control frequency selection, re-pattern, handoff and / or other control signaling. Instructions are included to direct the communication nodes of the distributed antenna system to use. The clock signal may synchronize the timing of digital control channel processing by the downstream communication nodes 1104B-E to recover instructions from the control channel and / or provide other timing signals.

  Amplifier 1238 amplifies a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency along with the reference signal, control channel, and / or clock signal for coupling to transceiver 1236 B via duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224. The transceiver 1236B may be a bi-directional amplifier, and in this description is shown a first modulation signal at an amplified first carrier frequency, along with a reference signal, a control channel, and / or a clock signal, and It functions as a repeater that retransmits to one or more other communication nodes of the communication nodes 1104B-E downstream from the similarly operating communication nodes 1104B-E.

  The first modulated signal at the amplified first carrier frequency is also coupled to the transceiver 1233 via the duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 along with the reference signal, the control signal, and / or the clock signal. The transceiver 1233 performs digital signal processing on the control channel to recover instructions, such as in the form of digital data, from the control channel. The clock signal is used to synchronize the timing of digital control channel processing. The transceiver 1233 is then operable to, in accordance with the instructions, and based on analog (and / or digital) signal processing of the first modulated signal, generate a first spectral segment of the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency. Perform frequency conversion to a modulated signal and use the reference signal to reduce distortion during the conversion process. The transceiver 1233 wirelessly transmits the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment for direct communication with one or more mobile communication devices within the communication nodes 1104B-E as free space radio signals. .

  In various embodiments, transceiver 1236 B may be configured to receive a second set of uplink spectrum segments 1210 from other network elements, such as one or more other communication nodes 1104 B-E downstream from the illustrated communication nodes 1104 B-E. Receive a second modulated signal of a carrier frequency of The second modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol such as LTE or other 4G wireless protocol, 5G wireless communication protocol, ultra-wide band protocol, 802.11 or other wireless local area network protocol, and / or other communication protocol One or more uplink communication channels can be included. In particular, one or more mobile communication devices generate a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, such as an original / native frequency band, and the downstream network element comprises a second in the second spectral segment. Perform frequency conversion on the modulated signal to produce a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency and transmit a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency in the uplink spectral segment 1210, which is , Received by the illustrated communication nodes 1104B-E. The transceiver 1236B may be for further retransmission to an amplifier 1238 for amplification and retransmission to the communication node 1104A via the transceiver 1236A, or to a base station such as macro base station 1102 for further processing. To transmit to the upstream communication nodes 1104 B-E via the duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency.

  Transceiver 1233 may also receive a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment from one or more mobile communication devices within communication nodes 1104B-E. The transceiver 1233 may, for example, perform frequency conversion on the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment under control of an instruction received via the control channel to generate a second at the second carrier frequency. Operating on the first modulation signal, inserting the reference signal, the control channel, and / or the clock signal for use by the communication node 1104A in restoring the second modulation signal to the original / native spectral segment, For further retransmissions to the transceiver 1236A for amplification and retransmission to the communication node 1104A, or to a base station such as macro base station 1102 for processing, via the duplexer / diplexer assembly 1224 and amplifier 1238 In order to transmit the second modulation signal on the second carrier frequency to the upstream communication nodes 1104B-E.

  Referring now to FIG. 12D, a graph diagram 1240 is shown illustrating an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum. In particular, frequency channel of downlink segment 1206 or uplink segment 1210 after spectrum 1242 has been frequency converted from one or more source / native spectral segments to spectrum 1242 (eg, via upconversion or downconversion) A distributed antenna system is shown which carries a modulated signal that

  In the example presented, the downstream (downlink) channel band 1244 includes a plurality of downstream frequency channels represented by separate downlink spectral segments 1206. Similarly, the upstream (uplink) channel band 1246 also includes multiple upstream frequency channels represented by separate uplink spectral segments 1210. The spectral shapes of the separate spectral segments are intended to be placeholders for the frequency allocation of each modulation signal with the associated reference signal, control channel and clock signal. The actual spectral response of each frequency channel in the downlink spectral segment 1206 or the uplink spectral segment 1210 will vary based on the protocol and modulation utilized as well as as a function of time.

  The number of uplink spectral segments 1210 may be more or less than the number of downlink spectral segments 1206 according to the asymmetric communication system. In this case, the upstream channel band 1246 may be narrower or wider than the downstream channel band 1244. Alternatively, if a symmetric communication system is implemented, the number of uplink spectral segments 1210 may be equal to the number of downlink spectral segments 1206. In this case, the width of the upstream channel band 1246 may be equal to the width of the downstream channel band 1244 and bit stuffing or other data filling techniques may be utilized to compensate for upstream traffic variations. Although the downstream channel band 1244 is shown at a lower frequency than the upstream channel band 1246, in other embodiments, the downstream channel band 1144 may be at a higher frequency than the upstream channel band 1246. In addition, the number of spectral segments and each frequency location within spectrum 1242 can dynamically change over time. For example, a general control channel can be provided in spectrum 1242 (not shown), and the general control channel indicates to communication node 1104 the frequency location of each downlink spectrum segment 1206 and each uplink spectrum segment 1210. Can. Depending on traffic conditions or network requirements that require reallocation of bandwidth, the number of downlink spectrum segments 1206 and uplink spectrum segments 1210 may be changed by the general control channel. Further, downlink spectral segment 1206 and uplink spectral segment 1210 need not be grouped separately. For example, the general control channel can identify the downlink spectral segment 1206 followed by the uplink spectral segment 1210, alternately or in any other combination that may or may not be symmetrical. Instead of utilizing a general control channel, multiple control channels can be used, each for identifying the frequency position of one or more spectral segments and the type of spectral segment (i.e. uplink or downlink) Note further.

  Further, although the downstream channel band 1244 and the upstream channel band 1246 are shown as occupying one continuous frequency band, in other embodiments depending on the available spectrum and / or the communication standard utilized. Two or more upstream and / or two or more downstream channel bands are available. The frequency channels of uplink spectrum segment 1210 and downlink spectrum segment 1206 are 4G or 5G voice and DOCSIS 2.0 or higher standard protocol, WiMAX standard protocol, ultra wideband protocol, 802.11 standard protocol, LTE protocol etc. It may be occupied by a frequency converted signal that is modulated and formatted according to a data protocol, and / or other standard communication protocol. In addition to protocols that conform to current standards, any of these protocols can be modified to work in conjunction with the depicted system. For example, the 802.11 protocol or other protocol may include additional guidelines and / or separate data channels to provide collision detection / multiple access over a wider area (eg, communicate via specific frequency channels Devices to be able to listen to each other). In various embodiments, all of the uplink frequency channels of uplink spectrum segment 1210 and the downlink frequency channels of downlink spectrum segment 1206 may all be formatted according to the same communication protocol. However, alternatively, utilizing two or more different protocols in both the uplink frequency channel of one or more uplink spectrum segments 1210 and the downlink frequency channel of one or more downlink spectrum segments 1206, For example, it may be compatible with a wider range of client devices and / or operate in different frequency bands.

  Note that for aggregation into spectrum 1242, modulated signals may be collected from different source / native spectral segments. In this manner, the first portion of the uplink frequency channel of uplink spectral segment 1210 is the first portion of the uplink frequency channel of uplink spectral channel 1210 frequency converted from one or more different source / native spectral segments. It may be adjacent to the 2 part. Similarly, the first portion of the downlink frequency channel of downlink spectral segment 1206 is a second portion of the downlink frequency channel of downlink spectral channel 1206 frequency converted from one or more different source / native spectral segments. It can be adjacent to the part. For example, one or more 2.4 GHz 802.11 channels that have been frequency converted may be adjacent to one or more 5.8 GHz 802.11 channels that have been frequency converted to a spectrum 1242 centered at 80 GHz. Each spectral segment is used to generate a local oscillator signal of frequency and phase that provides frequency conversion of one or more frequency channels of that spectral segment from its placement into the original / native spectral segment in spectrum 1242 It should be noted that it may have an associated reference signal, such as a pilot signal that can be

  Referring now to FIG. 12E, a graph 1250 illustrating an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, spectral segment selection is presented as discussed in conjunction with the signal processing performed on the spectral segments selected by transceiver 1230 of communications node 1140A or transceivers 1232 of communications nodes 1104B-E. As shown, a particular uplink frequency portion 1258 that includes one of the uplink spectrum segments 1210 in the uplink frequency channel band 1246 and a particular down that includes one of the downlink spectrum segments 1206 in the downlink channel frequency band 1244. The link frequency portion 1256 is selected to be passed by channel selection filtering, and the remaining portions of the uplink frequency channel band 1246 and the downlink channel frequency band 1244 are filtered out-ie attenuated-by the transceiver Mitigating adverse effects of the processing of the desired frequency channel being passed. Although one particular uplink spectral segment 1210 and a particular downlink spectral segment 1206 are shown as selected, in other embodiments, more than one uplink and / or downlink spectral segments may be passed. Note that you get.

  The transceivers 1230 and 1232 may operate based on static channel filters in which the uplink and downlink frequency portions 1258 and 1256 are fixed, but as described above, the transceivers 1230 and 1232 may be controlled via the control channel. The instructions sent to can be used to dynamically configure transceivers 1230 and 1232 for specific frequency selection. In this way, the upstream and downstream frequency channels of the corresponding spectrum segment are dynamically distributed to the various communication nodes by the macro base station 1102 or other network elements of the communication network to optimize the performance with the distributed antenna system. Can be allocated.

  Referring now to FIG. 12F, a graph diagram 1260 illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, spectrum 1262 occupies the frequency channel of the uplink or downlink spectral segment after being frequency converted from one or more source / native spectral segments to spectrum 1262 (eg, via upconversion or downconversion) A distributed antenna system is shown which carries the modulated signal.

  As mentioned above, two or more different communication protocols may be utilized to communicate upstream and downstream data. If two or more different protocols are utilized, the first subset of downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1206 may be occupied by the modulated signal frequency converted according to the first standard protocol, the same or different The second subset of downlink frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1210 may be occupied by the modulated signal frequency converted according to a second standard protocol different from the first standard protocol. Similarly, a first subset of the uplink frequency channels of uplink spectrum segment 1210 may be received by the system for demodulation according to a first standard protocol, and the uplink of the same or different uplink spectrum segment 1210 The second subset of frequency channels may be received according to a second standard protocol such that it is demodulated according to a second standard protocol different from the first standard protocol.

  In the illustrated example, the downstream channel band 1244 includes a first plurality of downstream spectral segments represented by a first type of discrete spectral shape that represents the use of the first communication protocol. The downstream channel band 1244 'includes a second plurality of downstream spectral segments represented by a second type of distinct spectral shape that represents the use of the second communication protocol. Similarly, the upstream channel band 1246 includes a first plurality of upstream spectral segments represented by a first type of discrete spectral shape that represents the use of the first communication protocol. The upstream channel band 1246 'includes a second plurality of upstream spectral segments represented by a second type of distinct spectral shape that represents the use of the second communication protocol. These distinct spectral shapes are intended to be placeholders for the respective frequency allocation of the individual spectral segments together with the associated reference signal, control channel and / or clock signal. Although the individual channel bandwidths are shown as being substantially the same for the first type and second type of channels, the upstream and downstream channel bands 1244, 1244 ', 1246, and 1246' are It should be noted that the bandwidth may be different. Furthermore, the spectral segments within these channel bands of the first type and the second type may be of different bandwidths depending on the available spectrum and / or the communication standard used.

  Referring now to FIG. 12G, a graph 1270 illustrating an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a frequency spectrum is shown. In particular, the portion of spectrum 1242 or 1262 of FIGS. 12D-12F may be a modulated signal in the form of a channel signal that has been frequency converted (eg, via upconversion or downconversion) from one or more original / native spectral segments. A distributed antenna system is shown which carries

  Portion 1272 is represented in spectral form and includes portions of downlink or uplink spectral segments 1206 and 1210 that represent portions of the bandwidth reserved for control channels, reference signals, and / or clock signals. For example, spectral shape 1274 represents a control channel separate from reference signal 1279 and clock signal 1278. Note that clock signal 1278 is shown having a spectral shape that represents a sinusoidal signal that may require adjustment to the form of a more conventional clock signal. However, in other embodiments, the conventional clock signal is transmitted as a modulated carrier by modulating the reference signal 1279 through amplitude modulation or other modulation techniques that maintain the phase of the carrier for use as a phase reference. can do. In other embodiments, the clock signal can be transmitted by modulating another carrier or as another signal. Further, it should be noted that both clock signal 1278 and reference signal 1279 are shown as being outside the frequency band of control channel 1274.

  In another example, portion 1275 is a downlink or uplink spectral segment 1206 and 1210 represented by a portion of spectral shape that represents a portion of bandwidth reserved for control channels, reference signals, and / or clock signals. Including the part of Spectrum shape 1276 represents a control channel with instructions including digital data to modulate the reference signal through amplitude modulation, amplitude shift keying, or other modulation techniques that maintain the phase of the carrier for use as a phase reference . Clock signal 1278 is shown as being outside the frequency band of spectral shape 1276. The reference signal is modulated by the control channel command and is in fact a subcarrier of the control channel and is in the band of the control channel. Again, while clock signal 1278 is shown having a spectral shape representative of a sinusoidal signal, in other embodiments, a conventional clock signal can be transmitted as a modulated carrier or other signal. In this case, the clock signal 1278 can be modulated using control channel instructions instead of the reference signal.

A control channel 1276 is conveyed via modulation of the reference signal in the form of a continuous wave (CW) in which receiver phase distortion is corrected during frequency conversion of the downlink or uplink spectral segments to the original / native spectral segments. Consider the following example. The control channel 1276 is modulated with robust modulation such as phase amplitude modulation, binary phase shift keying, amplitude shift keying, or other modulation schemes to control network operation, monitoring and management traffic, and other control data, etc. Instructions may be conveyed between the network elements of the distributed antenna system. In various embodiments, the control data is
Status information indicating the online status, offline status, and network performance parameters of each network element
・ Network device information such as module name and address, hardware and software version, device capacity, etc.
Spectrum information such as frequency conversion factors, channel spacing, guard band, uplink / downlink allocation, uplink and downlink channel selection etc.
It can include environmental measurements such as weather conditions, image data, blackout information, gaze interruption, etc.

  In a further example, control channel data may be transmitted via ultra-wide band (UWB) signaling. Control channel data generates wireless energy at specific time intervals, and by encoding the polarity or amplitude of UWB pulses by occupying greater bandwidth via pulse position or time modulation, and / or quadrature It can be transmitted by using a pulse. In particular, UWB pulses can be transmitted singly at relatively low pulse rates to support time modulation or position modulation, but can also be transmitted at rates up to the inverse of the UWB pulse bandwidth. In this way, the control channel can be spread over the UWB spectrum at relatively low power without interfering with the CW transmission of the reference signal and / or the clock signal which may occupy an in-band portion of the control channel's UWB spectrum. .

  Referring now to FIG. 12H, a block diagram 1280 illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a transmitter is shown. In particular, transmitter 1282 is shown, for example, in conjunction with receiver 1281 and digital control channel processor 1295 in a transceiver such as transceiver 1233 presented in conjunction with FIG. 12C. As shown, transmitter 1282 includes an analog front end 1286, a clock signal generator 1289, a local oscillator 1292, a mixer 1296, and a transmitter front end 1284.

  The amplified first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency is coupled from the amplifier 1238 to the analog front end 1286 along with the reference signal, the control channel, and / or the clock signal. Analog front end 1286 includes one or more filters or other frequency selection to separate control channel signal 1287, clock reference signal 1278, pilot signal 1291 and one or more selected channel signals 1294.

  Digital control channel processor 1295 performs digital signal processing on the control channel to recover instructions from control channel signal 1287, such as through demodulation of digital control channel data. Clock signal generator 1289 generates clock signal 1290 from clock reference signal 1278 to synchronize the timing of digital control channel processing by digital control channel processor 1295. In embodiments where clock reference signal 1278 is a sine wave, clock signal generator 1289 may provide amplification and restriction to generate a conventional clock signal or other timing signal from the sine wave. In embodiments where clock reference signal 1278 is a modulated carrier signal, such as a modulation of a pilot signal or other carrier reference, clock signal generator 1289 generates a conventional clock signal or other timing signal for demodulation. Can be provided.

  In various embodiments, control channel signal 1287 may be either a digitally modulated signal within a frequency range distinct from pilot signal 1291 and clock reference 1288, or as modulation of pilot signal 1291. In operation, digital control channel processor 1295 provides demodulation of control channel signal 1287 to extract the instructions contained therein and generate control signal 1293. In particular, control signal 1293 generated by digital control channel processor 1295 in response to instructions received via the control channel can be used to select a particular channel signal 1294 and corresponding pilot signal 1291 and / or / or Clock reference 1288 is used to convert the frequency of channel signal 1294 for transmission over wireless interface 1111. It is noted that in situations where control channel signal 1287 carries instructions via modulation of pilot signal 1291, pilot signal 1291 may be extracted via digital control channel processor 1295 rather than analog front end 1286 as shown. I want to.

  Digital control channel processor 1295 is a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuit, digital circuit, analog / digital converter, digital And / or may be implemented via processing modules such as any device that manipulates the signal (analog and / or digital) based on hard coding of circuitry and / or operating instructions. The processing module may be memory and / or integrated memory devices, or may further include memory and / or integrated memory devices, the memory and / or integrated memory devices comprising a single memory device, a plurality of memory devices, and / or Or, it may be an integrated circuit of another processing module, module, processing circuit, and / or processing unit. Such memory devices may be read only memory, random access memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamic memory, flash memory, cache memory, and / or any device that stores digital information. It should be noted that if the processing module includes more than one processing device, the processing devices may be centrally located (e.g. directly coupled together via wired and / or wireless bus structures) or distributed It may be deployed (eg, cloud computing via indirect coupling via local area networks and / or wide area networks). Furthermore, a memory and / or memory element storing corresponding operation instructions may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, microcomputer, central processing unit, field programmable gate array, programmable logic device, state machine, logic circuit, It should be noted that it may be integrated into or external to digital circuitry, analog to digital converters, digital to analog converters, or other devices. Furthermore, the memory element may store hard-coded and / or operational instructions corresponding to at least some of the steps and / or functions described herein, and the processing module may execute, such memory It should be noted that the device or memory device may be implemented as a product.

  Local oscillator 1292 utilizes pilot signal 1291 to generate local oscillator signal 1297 to reduce distortion during the frequency conversion process. In various embodiments, the pilot signal 1291 is at the exact frequency and phase of the local oscillator signal 1297 and transmits the channel signal 1294 at the carrier frequency associated with placement in the spectrum of the distributed antenna system to a fixed or mobile communication device To generate a local oscillator signal 1297 at the appropriate frequency and phase to convert to the original / native spectral segment. In this case, local oscillator 1292 may generate sinusoidal local oscillator signal 1297, which preserves the frequency and phase of pilot signal 1291 using bandpass filtering and / or other signal conditioning. In another embodiment, pilot signal 1291 has a frequency and phase that can be used to derive local oscillator signal 1297. In this case, local oscillator 1292 may utilize frequency division, frequency multiplexing, or other frequency synthesis based on pilot signal 1291 to transmit to a fixed or mobile communication device within the spectrum of the distributed antenna system. A local oscillator signal 1297 of appropriate frequency and phase is generated to convert the channel signal 1294 at the carrier frequency associated with the constellation into an original / native spectral segment.

  Mixer 1296 operates based on local oscillator signal 1297 to shift the frequency of channel signal 1294 to produce frequency transformed channel signal 1298 of the corresponding original / native spectral segment. Although one mixing stage is shown, multiple mixing stages may be used to shift the channel signal to one or more intermediate frequencies as part of baseband and / or full frequency conversion. A transmitter (Xmtr) front end 1284 includes a power amplifier and impedance matching, and within one communication node 1104B-E the frequency converted channel signal 1298 as a free space radio signal via one or more antennas such as antenna 1124. Wirelessly transmit to one or more mobile or fixed communication devices.

  Referring now to FIG. 12I, a block diagram 1285 is shown illustrating an example non-limiting embodiment of a receiver. In particular, receiver 1281 is shown, for example, in conjunction with transmitter 1282 and digital control channel processor 1295 in a transceiver such as transceiver 1233 presented in conjunction with FIG. 12C. As shown, receiver 1281 includes an analog receiver (RCVR) front end 1283, a local oscillator 1292, and a mixer 1296. Digital control channel processor 1295 operates under control of instructions from the control channel to generate pilot signal 1291, control channel signal 1287, and clock reference signal 1278.

  The control signal 1293 generated by the digital control channel processor 1295 in response to instructions received via the control channel can be used to select a particular channel signal 1294 and the corresponding pilot signal 1291 and / or clock reference 1288 is used to convert the frequency of channel signal 1294 for reception via wireless interface 1111. Analog receiver front end 1283 includes a low noise amplifier and one or more filters or other frequency selection and receives one or more selected channel signals 1294 under control of control signal 1293.

  Local oscillator 1292 utilizes pilot signal 1291 to generate local oscillator signal 1297 to reduce distortion during the frequency conversion process. In various embodiments, the local oscillator may employ other communication nodes 1104A based on pilot signal 1291 using bandpass filtering and / or other signal conditioning, frequency division, frequency multiplexing, or other frequency synthesis. Generate a local oscillator signal 1297 of appropriate frequency and phase to frequency convert channel signal 1294, pilot signal 1291, control channel signal 1287, and clock reference signal 1278 to the spectrum of the distributed antenna system for transmission to E. Do. In particular, mixer 1296 operates based on local oscillator signal 1297 to shift, amplify, and retransmit the frequency of channel signal 1294 to communications node 1104A via transceiver 1236A, transceiver 1236A. Frequency conversion of the arrangement within the spectral spectrum segment of the distributed antenna system, which is desirable to couple to the upstream communication nodes 1104B-E for further combining or retransmitting to a base station such as the micro base station 1102 for processing A channel signal 1298 is generated. Again, although one mixing stage is shown, multiple mixing stages can be used to shift the channel signal to one or more intermediate frequencies as part of baseband and / or full frequency conversion.

  Referring now to FIG. 13A, a flow diagram of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1300 is shown. The method 1300 can be used in conjunction with one or more features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. The method 1300 may begin in step 1302, in which a base station such as macro base station 1102 of FIG. 11A identifies a rate of movement of a communication device. The communication device may be a mobile communication device such as one of the mobile devices 1106 shown in FIG. 11B or may be a stationary communication device (eg, a communication device in a home or commercial establishment). The base station enables the base station to monitor the movement of the communication device by receiving location information from the communication device and / or to provide wireless communication services such as voice and / or data services to the communication device. The wireless cellular communication technology (eg, LTE) can be used to communicate directly with the communication device. During a communication session, the base station and communication device utilize one or more spectral segments (e.g., resource blocks) of a specific bandwidth (e.g., 10 MHz to 20 MHz) to perform a specific native / original carrier frequency (e.g. For example, they exchange radio signals operating in 900 MHz band, 1.9 GHz band, 2.4 GHz band, and / or 5.8 GHz band, etc.). In some embodiments, the spectral segments are used according to a time slot schedule assigned by the base station to the communication device.

  The mobility rate of the communication device may be determined in step 1302 from the GPS coordinates provided to the base station from the communication device by cellular radio signals. In step 1304, if the mobility rate exceeds a threshold (eg, 25 miles per hour), in step 1306, the base station can continue to provide wireless services to the communication device using the base station's radio resources. On the other hand, if the communication device has a mobility rate below the threshold, the base station further determines whether the communication device can redirect to the communication node to provide the base station's radio resources to other communication devices. Can be configured to

  For example, consider that the base station detects that the communication device has a slow rate of movement (eg, 3 mph or near rest). Under certain circumstances, the base station may also determine that the current location of the communication device places the communication device within the communication range of a particular communication node 1104. The base station determines that the slow rate of movement of the communication device is to remain within the communication range of the particular communication node 1104 for a sufficiently long time to justify redirecting the communication device to the particular communication node 1104. (Another threshold test may be used by the base station). Once such a determination is made, the base station can proceed to step 1308 and select a communication node 1104 within communication range of the communication device to provide communication service to the communication device.

  Thus, the selection process performed at step 1308 can be based on the location of the communication device identified from the GPS coordinates provided by the communication device to the base station. The selection process may also be based on the trajectory of movement of the communication device, which may be identified from several instances of GPS coordinates provided by the communication device. In some embodiments, the base station determines that the trajectory of the communication device will eventually place the communication device within the communication range of the subsequent communication node 1104 in the vicinity of the communication node selected in step 1308. obtain. In this embodiment, the base station can notify the plurality of communication nodes 1104 of this trajectory so that the communication node 1104 can coordinate the handoff of the communication service provided to the communication device.

  Once one or more communication nodes 1104 are selected in step 1308, the base station can proceed to step 1310, where one or more spectral segments (eg, resource blocks) may be transmitted to a first carrier frequency (eg, Allocated for use by communication devices at 1.9 GHz). The first carrier frequency and / or spectrum segment selected by the base station need not be the same as the carrier frequency and / or spectrum segment in use between the base station and the communication device. For example, consider that the base station and the communication device use a carrier frequency of 1.9 GHz for wireless communication between each other. The base station may, in step 1310, select a different carrier frequency (eg, 900 MHz) for the communication node selected in 1308 to communicate with the communication device. Similarly, the base station may perform a time slot schedule of spectrum segments (eg, resource blocks) and / or spectrum segments to a communication node different from the spectrum segment and / or time slot schedule being used between the base station and the communication device. It can be assigned.

  At step 1312, the base station may generate a first modulated signal at the spectrum segment assigned at step 1310 at a first carrier frequency. The first modulated signal may include data directed to the communication device, wherein the data represents a voice communication session, a data communication session, or a combination thereof. In step 1314, the base station transmits the first native carrier to transport such a signal in one or more frequency channels of the downlink spectrum segment 1206 directed to the communication node 1104 selected in step 1308. A first modulated signal of frequency (e.g., 1.9 GHz) may be upconverted (using mixers, bandpass filters, and other circuitry) to a second carrier frequency (e.g., 80 GHz). Alternatively, the base station provides the first modulation signal of the first carrier frequency to the first communication node 1104A (shown in FIG. 11A) to direct to the selected communication node 1104 in step 1308. The second carrier frequency may be upconverted for transport on one or more frequency channels of the received downlink spectral segment 1206.

  At step 1316, the base station may also send an instruction to transition the communication device to the communication node 1104 selected at step 1308. The instructions can be directed to the communication device while the communication device is in direct communication with the base station utilizing the base station's radio resources. Alternatively, the instructions may be communicated to the selected communication node 1104 in step 1308 by the control channel 1202 of the downlink spectrum segment 1206 shown in FIG. 12A. Step 1316 can be performed before, after, or simultaneously with steps 1312-1314.

  Once the command is sent, the base station can proceed to step 1318, where the base station can transmit to one of the downlink spectrum segments 1206 for transmission by the first communication node 1104A (shown in FIG. 11A). Alternatively, the first modulation signal of the second carrier frequency (for example, 80 GHz) is transmitted in a plurality of frequency channels. Alternatively, when the first communication node 1104A receives the first modulated signal of the first native carrier frequency from the base station, the first communication node 1104A transmits the second carrier in one or more frequency channels of the downlink spectrum segment 1206. Up-conversion may be performed at step 1314 to transport the first modulated signal of frequency. The first communication node 1104 A functions as a master communication node delivering the downlink signal generated by the base station to the downstream communication node 1104 according to the downlink spectrum segment 1206 assigned to each communication node 1104 in step 1310 Can. The assignment of downlink spectral segment 1206 may be provided to communication node 1104 by instructions sent by first communication node 1104A on control channel 1202 shown in FIG. 12A. In step 1318, the communications node 1104 that receives the first modulated signal of the second carrier frequency in one or more frequency channels of the downlink spectral segment 1206 downconverts to the first carrier frequency, and A pilot signal provided with the modulated signal may be utilized to remove distortion (eg, phase distortion) caused by the distribution of downlink spectral segments 1206 across communication hops between communication nodes 1104B-D. In particular, the pilot signal may be derived from a local oscillator signal used to generate frequency upconversion (eg, via frequency multiplexing and / or division). If down conversion is required, the pilot signal is used to regenerate the frequency and phase corrected version of the local oscillator signal (eg, via frequency multiplexing and / or division) to obtain the original frequency band with minimal phase error. The modulated signal can be returned to the part of. In this way, the frequency of the frequency channel of the communication system can be converted for transport via the distributed antenna system and then returned to its original position in the spectrum for transmission to the wireless client device.

  Once the downconversion process is complete, in step 1322 the communications node 1104 utilizes the same spectral segment assigned to the communications node 1104 to generate a first modulated signal at a first native carrier frequency (eg, 1.9 GHz). Can be sent to the communication device. Step 1322 may be adjusted to occur after the communications device transitions to communications node 1104 in accordance with the instructions provided in step 1316. The instructions provided in step 1316 are selected in step 1308 with the communication device to make such a transition seamless and to avoid disturbing the existing wireless communication session between the base station and the communication device. As part of the registration process with the selected communication node 1104 and / or following the registration process, instructing the communication device and / or the communication node 1104 to transition to the assigned spectrum segment and / or time slot schedule be able to. In some cases, such a transition may require the communication device to have simultaneous wireless communication with the base station and communication node 1104 for a short period of time.

  When the communication device transitions to the communication node 1104 without any problem, the communication device can terminate the wireless communication with the base station and continue the communication session by the communication node 1104. The termination of the wireless service between the base station and the communication device provides the base station's specific radio resources for use with other communication devices. Although the base station has assigned a wireless connection to the selected communication node 1104 in the above steps, the communication session between the base station and the communication device was as before by the network of communication node 1104 shown in FIG. 11A. Note that it will continue. However, the difference is that the base station no longer needs to utilize its own radio resources to communicate with the communication device.

  In order to provide bi-directional communication between the base station and the communication device, the network of communication node 1104 allows the communication node 1104 and / or the communication device one or more uplinks on the uplink shown in FIG. 12A. An indication may be made to utilize one or more frequency channels of link spectral segment 1210. In step 1316, providing uplink instructions to the communication node 1104 and / or communication device as part of and / or following the registration process between the communication device and the communication node 1104 selected in step 1308 it can. Thus, the communication device may wirelessly transmit a second modulated signal of a first native carrier frequency that may be received by the communication node 1104 in step 1324 if it has data that needs to be transmitted to the base station. . The second modulated signal may be included in one or more frequency channels of one or more uplink spectrum segments 1210 specified in the instructions provided to the communication device and / or the communication node in step 1316.

  To convey the second modulated signal to the base station, the communication node 1104 may, in step 1326, transmit these signals from a first native carrier frequency (eg, 1.9 GHz) to a second carrier frequency (eg, 80 GHz). Can be upconverted to The second modulation signal of the second carrier frequency is coupled with the one or more uplink pilot signals 1208 at step 1328 so that the upstream communication node and / or the base station can remove distortion. Can be sent. When the base station receives the second modulated signals of the second carrier frequency via communication node 1104A, in step 1330, the base station downconverts these signals from the second carrier frequency to the first native carrier frequency. , Data provided by the communication device in step 1332 may be obtained. Alternatively, the first communication node 1104A performs a down conversion of the second modulated signal from the second carrier frequency to the first native carrier frequency and provides the resulting signal to the base station can do. The base station then processes the second modulated signal of the first native carrier in the same manner or in the same manner as processing the signal from the communication device, if it was in direct wireless communication with the communication device. , Data provided by the communication device can be retrieved.

  The above step method 1300 is one in which a base station 1102 provides radio resources (eg, sector antenna, spectrum) to a fast moving communication device, and in some embodiments, one communicatively coupled to the base station 1102 Alternatively, the present invention provides a method of increasing bandwidth utilization by redirecting low-speed moving communication devices to a plurality of communication nodes 1104. For example, consider that base station 1102 has 10 communication nodes 1104 that can redirect mobile and / or stationary communication devices. Further, consider that ten communication nodes 1104 have communication ranges that do not substantially overlap.

  In addition, base station 1102 reserves certain spectral segments (eg, resource blocks 5, 7 and 9) on certain carrier frequencies during certain time slots, which are all 10 communication nodes 1104. I think to assign to. In operation, base station 1102 may be configured to not utilize resource blocks 5, 7 and 9 during the time slot schedule and carrier frequency reserved for communication node 1104 to avoid interference. When the base station 1102 detects a slow moving or stationary communication device, it can redirect the communication device to different nodes of the 10 communication nodes 1104 based on the position of the communication device. For example, when the base station 1102 redirects the communication of a particular communication device to a particular communication node 1104, the resource blocks 5, 7 and 9 on the carrier frequency may be assigned to the target communication node 1104 during the assigned time slot. It may be upconverted to one or more spectral ranges on the assigned downlink (see FIG. 12A).

  The target communication node 1104 may also be assigned to one or more frequency channels of one or more uplink spectral segments 1210 on the uplink, where the communication node 1104 may be assigned one or more assigned frequencies. The channel may be utilized to redirect communication signals provided by the communication device to the base station 1102. Such communication signals may be upconverted by communication node 1104 according to an uplink frequency channel assigned in one or more corresponding uplink spectrum segments 1210 and may be transmitted to base station 1102 for processing. The downlink and uplink frequency channel assignments may be communicated by the base station 1102 to each communication node 1104 via the control channels shown in FIG. 12A. The downlink and uplink allocation process may also be used for other communication nodes 1104 to provide communication services to other communication devices redirected by the base station 1102.

  In this description, the corresponding time slot schedule by 10 communication nodes 1104 and the re-use of resource blocks 5, 7 and 9 in the carrier frequency effectively doubles up the bandwidth utilization by base station 1102 by up to 10 It can be great. The base station 1102 can no longer use resource blocks 5, 7 and 9, but reserves 10 communication nodes 1104 for wireless communication with other communication devices and reuses these resource blocks. The ability to redirect communication devices to ten different communication nodes 1104 effectively increases the bandwidth capacity of base station 1102. Thus, the method 1300 in certain embodiments can increase the bandwidth utilization of the base station 1102 and provide resources of the base station 1102 to other communication devices.

  In some embodiments, communication node 1104 may be selected by base station 1102 by selecting one or more sectors of the antenna system of base station 1102 pointing away from communication node 1104 assigned to the same spectral segment. It is understood that it may be configured to reuse the spectral segments assigned to. Thus, base station 1102, in some embodiments, avoids re-use of particular spectrum segments assigned to particular communication node 1104, and in other embodiments, particular sectors of the antenna system of base station 1102. Can be configured to reuse other spectrum segments assigned to other communication nodes 1104. A similar concept can apply to the sector of antenna system 1124 utilized by communication node 1104. A particular reuse scheme may be utilized between the base station 1102 and one or more communication nodes 1104 based on the sector utilized by the base station 1102 and / or one or more communication nodes 1104 .

  The method 1300 also enables reuse of legacy systems when the communication device is redirected to one or more communication nodes. For example, a signaling protocol (eg, LTE) utilized by the base station to wirelessly communicate with a communication device may be maintained in communication signals exchanged between the base station and the communication node 1104. Thus, in allocating spectrum segments to the communication node 1104, the exchange of modulation signals in these segments between the base station and the communication node 1104 is used by the base station to perform direct wireless communication with the communication device May be the same signal as Thus, the legacy base station adds distortion mitigation features while leaving all other hardware and / or software functions performed to process the modulated signal at the first native carrier frequency substantially unchanged. Can be updated to perform the up and down conversion processes described above. It should also be noted that in further embodiments, channels from the original frequency band may be converted to utilization of another frequency band by the same protocol. For example, LTE channels in the 2.5 GHz band may be upconverted to the 80 GHZ band for transport and then downconverted as a 5.8 GHz LTE channel if needed for spectrum diversity.

  It is further noted that method 1300 can be configured without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, when the base station detects that the communication device has a trajectory that will transition from the communication range of one communication node to the communication range of another node, the base station (or the target communication node) Such orbits can be monitored by the periodic GPS coordinates provided, and the handoff of the communication device to other communication nodes can be coordinated accordingly. The method 1300 is performed by the base station (or active communication node) to locate in the downlink and uplink channels if the communication device is near a point where it transitions from the communication range of one communication node to the communication range of another communication node. To transmit instructions instructing the communication device and / or other communication nodes to succeed in the communication transition without interrupting the existing communication session using the spectrum segment and / or time slot of It can also be configured.

  Method 1300 is for a communication device if the communication device is at some transition point out of the communication range of the communication node and the base station or active communication node 1104 detects that no other communication node is within the communication range of the communication device. It is further noted that it is also configurable to coordinate the handoff of wireless communication between the H.264 and communication node 1104 to the base station. Other configurations of method 1300 are also contemplated by the present disclosure. It should further be noted that if the carrier frequency of the downlink or uplink spectral segment is lower than the native frequency band of the modulated signal, the reverse process of frequency conversion is necessary. That is, when transporting the modulated signal at the downlink or uplink spectral segment frequency, downconversion is used instead of upconversion. Also, when extracting the modulated signal at the downlink or uplink spectral segment frequency, upconversion is used instead of downconversion. Method 1300 can be further configured to use the clock signal described above to synchronize processing of digital data in the control channel. Method 1300 may also be configured to use a reference signal modulated by an instruction in a control channel or a clock signal modulated by an instruction in a control channel.

  The method 1300 avoids movement tracking of communication devices and instead transmits the modulation signal of a particular communication device on the native frequency without knowing which communication nodes are within the communication range of the particular communication device. It can be further configured to instruct multiple communication nodes 1104. Similarly, each communication node receives the modulated signal from a particular communication device, and does not know which communication node will receive the modulated signal from a particular communication device, and one or more such signals. A specific frequency channel of the uplink spectral segment 1210 can be instructed to transport. Such an implementation can help to reduce the implementation complexity and cost of the communication node 1104.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13A for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13B, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1335 is shown. Method 1335 can be used in conjunction with one or more of the features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1336 includes receiving, by the system including the circuit, a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to the mobile communication device, the first modulated signal conforming to a signaling protocol. Step 1337 is performed by the system based on signal processing of the first modulated signal and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, at the first carrier frequency, the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The first carrier frequency is outside the first spectral segment, including converting to a first modulated signal. Step 1338 includes transmitting, by the system, the reference signal to the network element of the distributed antenna system with the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency, the reference signal comprising the first modulation signal in the first spectral segment. The network element reduces phase error when reconverting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment for wireless distribution to the mobile communication device at to enable.

  In various embodiments, signal processing does not require either analog to digital conversion or digital to analog conversion. The transmitting may include transmitting a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to the network element as a free space radio signal. The first carrier frequency may be in the millimeter wave frequency band.

  The first modulated signal may be generated by modulating the signal in the plurality of frequency channels according to a signaling protocol to generate a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The signaling protocol may include the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio protocol or the fifth generation cellular communication protocol.

  The conversion by the system may upconvert a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to a first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, or alternatively, convert the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first. It may include downconverting to a first modulated signal at a carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may down convert a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, or may convert the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency And upconverting to a first modulated signal in a spectral segment of.

  The method can further include receiving a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency from the network element by the system, and the mobile communication device generates a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. The network element converts the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment into a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency. The method comprises, by the system, converting a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency into a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, and by the system a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment. And transmitting to the base station for processing.

  The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency. The system may be mounted to a first utility pole and the network element may be mounted to a second utility pole.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13B for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13C, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1340 is shown. Method 1335 can be used in conjunction with one or more of the features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1341 comprises receiving by the network element of the distributed antenna system a reference signal and a first modulation signal at a first carrier frequency, the first modulation signal being provided by a base station and a mobile communication device And the first communication data directed to the Step 1342 converts the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency into the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment based on signal processing of the first modulated signal by the network element, and the reference signal Includes utilizing to reduce distortion during conversion. Step 1343 includes wirelessly transmitting by the network element the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the mobile communication device.

  In various embodiments, the first modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol, and the signal processing changes the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. Convert to a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may include converting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal. . The method comprises receiving by the network element a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment generated by the mobile communication device, and by the network element a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. The method may further include converting to a second modulated signal at the carrier frequency and transmitting, by the network element, the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency to another network element of the distributed antenna system. Another network element of the distributed antenna system may receive a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency, and the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency may be modulated at a second spectral segment. Converting into a signal, and providing a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment to a base station for processing. The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13C for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13D, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1345 is shown. The method 1345 can be used in conjunction with one or more features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1346 includes receiving, by the system including the circuit, a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to the mobile communication device, wherein the first modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol. Step 1347 is performed by the system based on the signal processing of the first modulation signal and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulation signal, on the first carrier frequency of the first modulation signal in the first spectral segment. The first carrier frequency is outside the first spectral segment, including converting to a first modulated signal. Step 1348 transmits in the control channel a command by the system instructing 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 first spectral segment To do. Step 1349 includes the system transmitting the reference signal to the network element of the distributed antenna system with the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency, the reference signal comprising the first modulation signal in the first spectral segment The network element reduces phase error when reconverting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment for wireless distribution to the mobile communication device at The reference signal is transmitted on the out-of-band frequency for the control channel.

  In various embodiments, the control channel is transmitted at a frequency adjacent to the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency and / or at a frequency adjacent to the reference signal. The first carrier frequency may be in the millimeter wave frequency band. The first modulated signal may be generated by modulating the signal in the plurality of frequency channels according to a signaling protocol to generate a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The signaling protocol may include the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio protocol or the fifth generation cellular communication protocol.

  The conversion by the system may upconvert a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to a first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, or alternatively, convert the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first. It may include downconverting to a first modulated signal at a carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may down convert a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, or may convert the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency And upconverting to a first modulated signal in a spectral segment of.

  The method can further include receiving a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency from the network element by the system, and the mobile communication device generates a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. The network element converts the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment into a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency. The method comprises, by the system, converting a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency into a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, and by the system a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment. And transmitting to the base station for processing.

  The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency. The system may be mounted to a first utility pole and the network element may be mounted to a second utility pole.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13D for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13E, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1350 is shown. The method 1350 can be used in conjunction with one or more features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1351 includes receiving, by the network element of the distributed antenna system, a reference signal, a control channel, and a first modulation signal at a first carrier frequency, the first modulation signal being provided by a base station, And includes first communication data directed to the mobile communication device, the instructions in the control channel being distributed to convert a first modulation signal at a first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in a first spectral segment Directing the network element of the antenna system, a reference signal is received at an out-of-band frequency for the control channel. Step 1352 converts the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in a first spectral segment by the network element according to the instructions and based on signal processing of the first modulation signal, And utilizing the reference signal to reduce distortion during conversion. Step 1353 includes wirelessly transmitting by the network element the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the mobile communication device.

  In various embodiments, the control channel may be received at a frequency adjacent to the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency and / or adjacent to the reference signal.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13E for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13F, a flow diagram of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1355 is shown. Method 1355 can be used in conjunction with one or more of the features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1356 includes receiving, by the system including the circuit, a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to the mobile communication device, wherein the first modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol. Step 1357 is performed by the system based on the signal processing of the first modulated signal and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, on the first carrier frequency of the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The first carrier frequency is outside the first spectral segment, including converting to a first modulated signal. Step 1358 transmits in the control channel a command by the system instructing 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 first spectral segment To do. Step 1359 is transmitting by the system a reference signal with the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency to the network element of the distributed antenna system, the reference signal being a mobile communication device within the first spectral segment The network element reduces phase error in reconverting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment for wireless delivery of the first modulated signal to The reference signal includes transmitting, which is transmitted on the in-band frequency for the control channel.

  In various embodiments, the instructions are transmitted via modulation of a reference signal. The instructions may be transmitted as digital data via amplitude modulation of the reference signal. The first carrier frequency may be in the millimeter wave frequency band. The first modulated signal may be generated by modulating the signal in the plurality of frequency channels according to a signaling protocol to generate a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The signaling protocol may include the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio protocol or the fifth generation cellular communication protocol.

  The conversion by the system may upconvert a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to a first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, or alternatively, convert the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first. It may include downconverting to a first modulated signal at a carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may down convert a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, or may convert the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency And upconverting to a first modulated signal in a spectral segment of.

  The method can further include receiving a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency from the network element by the system, and the mobile communication device generates a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. The network element converts the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment into a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency. The method comprises, by the system, converting a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency into a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment, and by the system a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment. And transmitting to the base station for processing.

  The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency. The system may be mounted to a first utility pole and the network element may be mounted to a second utility pole.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13F for ease of explanation, some blocks are in a different order than that shown and described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as they may be performed simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to practice the methods described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13G, a flow diagram of an example non-limiting embodiment of method 1360 is shown. The method 1360 may be used with one or more features and features presented in connection with FIGS. Step 1361 includes receiving, by the network element of the distributed antenna system, the reference signal, the control channel, and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the first modulated signal being provided by the base station, A first communication data directed to the mobile communication device, the instructions in the control channel converting the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in a first spectral segment The reference signal is received at an in-band frequency relative to the control channel. Step 1362 converts the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in the first spectral segment by the network element according to the instructions and based on the signal processing of the first modulation signal, Including reducing distortion during conversion utilizing a reference signal. Step 1363 includes wirelessly transmitting by the network element the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the mobile communication device.

  In various embodiments, the instructions are received as digital data via demodulation of the reference signal and / or amplitude demodulation of the reference signal.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13G for ease of explanation, some blocks are in a different order than that shown and described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as they may be performed simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to practice the methods described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13H, a flow diagram of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1365 is shown. The method 1365 can be used with one or more of the features and features presented in connection with FIGS. Step 1366 includes receiving, by the system including the circuit, a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to the mobile communication device, wherein the first modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol. Step 1367 is performed by the system based on the signal processing of the first modulated signal and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment at the first carrier frequency. The first carrier frequency is outside the first spectral segment, including converting to a first modulated signal at. Step 1368 instructs the system to instruct 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 first spectral segment. Including transmitting at Step 1369 includes transmitting, by the system, the clock signal to the network element of the distributed antenna system with the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency, the clock signal comprising the network element to recover the instructions from the control channel. Synchronize the timing of the digital control channel processing of

  In various embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting, by the system, the reference signal to the network element of the distributed antenna system with the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the reference signal having the first spectrum When reconverting a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency into a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment for wireless delivery of the first modulated signal to a mobile communication device in the segment Allows the element to reduce phase error. The instructions may be transmitted as digital data via the control channel.

  In various embodiments, the first carrier frequency may be in the millimeter wave frequency band. The first modulated signal may be generated by modulating the signals in the plurality of frequency channels according to a signaling protocol to generate a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The signaling protocol may include the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio protocol or the fifth generation cellular communication protocol.

  The conversion by the system may upconvert a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency, or convert the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment It may include downconverting to a first modulated signal at one carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may down convert a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, or alternatively, convert the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency It may include upconverting to a first modulated signal within one spectral segment.

  The method may further include, by the system, receiving a second modulated signal on the second carrier frequency from the network element, the mobile communication device receiving the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. Generating, the network element converts a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment into a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency and transmits a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency. The method comprises: converting, by the system, a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency into a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment; and, by the system, a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment. And sending the modulated signal to a base station for processing.

  The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency. The system may be mounted to a first utility pole and the network element may be mounted to a second utility pole.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13H for ease of explanation, some blocks are in a different order than that shown and described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as they may be performed simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to practice the methods described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13I, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1370 is shown. The method 1370 can be used with one or more of the features and features presented in connection with FIGS. Step 1371 includes receiving, by the network element of the distributed antenna system, the clock signal, the control channel, and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the first modulated signal being provided by the base station, The first communication data directed to the mobile communication device, the clock signal synchronizes the timing of digital control channel processing by the network element to recover the command from the control channel, and the command in the control channel is The network elements of the distributed antenna system are instructed to convert a first modulated signal at a carrier frequency of to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment. Step 1372 converts the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in the first spectral segment by the network element according to the instructions and based on the signal processing of the first modulation signal. including. Step 1373 includes wirelessly transmitting by the network element the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the mobile communication device. In various embodiments, the instructions are received as digital data via a control channel.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13I for ease of explanation, some blocks are in a different order than that shown and described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, as they may be performed simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to practice the methods described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13J, a flow diagram of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1375 is shown. The method 1375 can be used with one or more of the features and features presented in connection with FIGS. Step 1376 includes receiving, by the system including the circuit, a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment directed to the mobile communication device, wherein the first modulated signal conforms to a signaling protocol. Step 1377 is performed by the system based on the signal processing of the first modulated signal and without changing the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment at the first carrier frequency. The first carrier frequency is outside the first spectral segment, including converting to a first modulated signal at. Step 1378 is ultra wideband control instructing the system to direct 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 first spectral segment Including transmitting within the channel. Step 1359 includes the system transmitting a reference signal to the network element of the distributed antenna system with the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the reference signal to the mobile communication device in the first spectral segment A network element reduces phase error in reconverting a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment for wireless delivery of a first modulated signal of Make it possible.

  In various embodiments, the first reference signal is transmitted at an in-band frequency to the ultra wideband control channel. The method comprises: status information indicating the network status of the network element, network device information indicating the device information of the network element, or an environmental situation in the vicinity of the network element from the network element of the distributed antenna system via the ultra wideband control channel The method may further include receiving control channel data that includes an environmental measurement indicative of. The instructions may further include channel spacing, guard band parameters, uplink / downlink allocation, or uplink channel selection.

  The first modulated signal may be generated by modulating the signals in the plurality of frequency channels according to a signaling protocol to generate a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment. The signaling protocol may include the Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio protocol or the fifth generation cellular communication protocol.

  The conversion by the system may upconvert a first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency, or convert the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment It may include downconverting to a first modulated signal at one carrier frequency. The conversion by the network element may down convert a first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency to a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, or alternatively, convert the first modulated signal at a first carrier frequency It may include upconverting to a first modulated signal within one spectral segment.

  The method may further include, by the system, receiving a second modulated signal on the second carrier frequency from the network element, the mobile communication device receiving the second modulated signal in the second spectral segment. Generating, the network element converts a second modulated signal in the second spectral segment into a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency and transmits a second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency. The method comprises: converting, by the system, a second modulated signal at a second carrier frequency into a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment; and, by the system, a second modulated signal in a second spectral segment. And sending the modulated signal to a base station for processing.

  The second spectral segment may be different than the first spectral segment, and the first carrier frequency may be different than the second carrier frequency. The system may be mounted to a first utility pole and the network element may be mounted to a second utility pole.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13J for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  Referring now to FIG. 13K, a flowchart of an exemplary non-limiting embodiment of method 1380 is shown. The method 1380 can be used in conjunction with one or more features and features presented in conjunction with FIGS. Step 1381 includes receiving, by the network element of the distributed antenna system, a reference signal, an ultra wideband control channel, and a first modulation signal at a first carrier frequency, the first modulation signal being provided by the base station An instruction in an ultra-wideband control channel for converting a first modulation signal at a first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in a first spectral segment, the first communication data being directed to and being directed to a mobile communication device The reference signal is directed to the network element of the distributed antenna system to be received at an in-band frequency relative to the control channel. Step 1382 converts the first modulation signal at the first carrier frequency into a first modulation signal in a first spectral segment by the network element according to the instructions and based on signal processing of the first modulation signal, And utilizing the reference signal to reduce distortion during conversion. Step 1383 comprises wirelessly transmitting by the network element the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the mobile communication device.

  In various embodiments, the first reference signal is transmitted at an in-band frequency to the ultra wideband control channel. The method comprises status information indicating the network status of the network element, network device information indicating the device information of the network element, or an environment indicating an environmental situation in the vicinity of the network element from the network element of the distributed antenna system through the ultra wideband control channel. It may further include transmitting control channel data that includes the measurements. The instructions may further include channel spacing, guard band parameters, uplink / downlink allocation, or uplink channel selection.

  Although each process is shown and described as a series of blocks in FIG. 13K for clarity, the claimed subject matter is not limited by the order of the blocks, and some blocks are described herein. It should be understood and appreciated that the order may differ from the order shown and described and / or may occur simultaneously with other blocks. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodologies described herein.

  As used herein, the terms "store", "storage", "data store", "data storage", "database" and any other information storage component related to the operation and function of the component Component "refers to a component that includes an entity or memory embodied in" memory ". The memory components described herein may be either volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory, and are illustrative and not limiting. It may include volatile memory 1320 (see below), non-volatile memory 1322 (see below), disk storage 1324 (see below) and memory storage 1346 (see below) I will understand. In addition, non-volatile memory may be included in a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM) or a flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAMs include synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESSRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), It can be obtained in many forms, such as Direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Further, the disclosed memory components of the systems or methods herein are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

  Further, the disclosed subject matter includes single processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini computing devices, mainframe computers, and personal computers, handheld computing devices (eg, PDAs, phones, watches, tablet computers, netbook computers, etc.) It should be noted that other computer system configurations may be practiced, including microprocessor based or programmable consumer electronics or industrial electronics and the like. The illustrated aspects can also be practiced in a distributed computing environment where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. However, some, but not all aspects of the present disclosure can be practiced on a stand-alone computer. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

  Embodiments described herein can utilize artificial intelligence (AI) to facilitate automating one or more features described herein. Several embodiments (e.g., related to automatically identifying an acquisition cell site that provides maximum value / benefit after adding to an existing communication network) may use the AI to perform various embodiments. Various schemes based on can be used. In addition, classifiers can be used to rank or prioritize each cell site of the acquisition network. A classifier is a function that maps the input attribute vector x = (x1, x2, x3, x4, ..., xn) to the confidence that the input belongs to one class, that is, f (x) = confidence It is (class). Such classification is probabilistic analysis and / or statistics based analysis (eg, accounting for the utility and cost of analysis) to predict or infer actions that the user wants to be performed automatically Can be used. Support Vector Machine (SVM) is an example of a classifier that can be used. SVM works by finding a hypersurface in the space of possible inputs, which hypersurface attempts to separate the trigger criteria from non-trigger events. Intuitively, this makes classification accurate to test data that is near but not identical to training data. Other directed and undirected model classification approaches can utilize, for example, probabilistic classification models that provide independent different patterns, including naive Bayes, Bayesian networks, decision trees, neural networks, fuzzy logic models. As used herein, classification also encompasses statistical regression that is utilized to develop models of priority.

  As will be readily appreciated, one or more of the embodiments are only trained implicitly (e.g. by observing UE behavior, operator preferences, receiving historical information, external information) Rather, classifiers that are specifically trained (e.g., with general purpose training data) can be used. For example, SVMs can be configured via a learning or training phase within a classifier constructor and feature selection module. Thus, using a classifier, any acquisition cell site of the acquisition cell site will benefit the largest number of subscribers and / or any of the acquisition cell sites according to predetermined criteria, but not limited to Multiple functions can be automatically learned and performed, including determining if the acquisition cell site will add minimum values to existing communication network coverage, and so on.

  As used in this application, in some embodiments, terms such as "component", "system", etc. refer to computer related entities or usable devices having one or more specific functions. It is intended to refer to or include an entity, which may be either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software or software in execution. By way of example, the component may be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, computer executable instructions, a program and / or a computer. By way of example and not limitation, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may be present in a process and / or thread of execution, and the components may be localized on one computer and / or distributed among two or more computers. is there. In addition, these components can execute from various computer readable media having various data structures stored thereon. The components may, for example, interact with one or more data packets (in the local system, data from components interacting with other components in the distributed system, and / or with other systems via signals across the network, such as the Internet). Can be communicated via local and / or remote processes according to the signal comprising As another example, the component may be a device having a particular function provided by a mechanical component operated by an electrical or electronic circuit operated by software or firmware applications executed by the processor, the processor being the device Can be internal or external to execute at least part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, the component may be a device that provides specific functionality through the electronic component without using mechanical components, the electronic component executing software or firmware that at least partially provides the functionality of the electronic component In order to do so, it may contain a processor. Although various components have been illustrated as separate components, it is possible that multiple components can be implemented as a single component or single components can be implemented as multiple components without departing from the exemplary embodiments. I will understand.

  Further, various embodiments use standard programming and / or engineering techniques to create computer controlling software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof, in order to realize the disclosed subject matter. The present invention can be realized as a method, an apparatus or a product. As used herein, the term "product" is intended to include any computer readable device or computer program accessible from a computer readable storage / communication medium. For example, computer readable storage media include, but are not limited to, magnetic storage devices (eg, hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic strips), optical disks (eg, compact disks (CDs), digital versatile disks (DVDs)), smart cards and Flash memory devices (eg, cards, sticks, key drives) can be included. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that many modifications to this configuration can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the various embodiments.

  Further, the words "example" and "exemplary" are used herein to mean serving as an example or illustration. Any embodiment or design described herein as "exemplary" or "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs. Rather, the use of the word example or illustration is intended to specifically present the concept. As used in this application, the term "or" is intended to mean the inclusive "or" rather than the exclusive "or". That is, unless otherwise indicated, or apparent in context, "X utilizes A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive substitutions. That is, if X utilizes A, X utilizes B, or X utilizes both A and B, "X utilizes A or B" in any of the above cases. Is satisfied. Furthermore, as used in this application and the appended claims, the articles "a" and "an" are generally intended to refer to the singular, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be interpreted to mean "one or more" unless it is clear from.

  Further, terms such as "user equipment", "mobile station", "mobile subscriber station", "access terminal", "terminal", "handset", "mobile device" (and / or similar terminology) The term refers to a wireless device utilized by a subscriber or user of a wireless communication service to receive or carry data, control, voice, video, sound, games or virtually any data stream or signaling stream be able to. The above terms are used interchangeably herein and with reference to the associated drawings.

  Furthermore, terms such as "user", "subscriber", "customer", "consumer", etc. are used interchangeably throughout as long as certain differences between the terms are not justified in context. Such terms are supported through artificial intelligence (eg, the ability to infer based at least on complex mathematical forms) that can provide real human or simulated vision, speech recognition, etc. It should be understood that it may refer to an automated component.

  As used herein, the term "processor" is not limited to single-core processors, single processors with software multithread execution capabilities, multi-core processors, multi-core processors with software multithread execution capabilities, hardware multi-processors. It can refer to virtually any computing processing unit or device, including multi-core processors using thread technology, parallel platforms, parallel platforms with distributed shared memory. Furthermore, the processor may be integrated circuit, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), digital signal processor (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), programmable logic controller (PLC), complex programmable logic device (CPLD), discrete gate or It can refer to transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The processor can utilize nanoscale architectures such as, but not limited to, molecular or quantum dot based transistors, switches and gates to optimize space utilization of user equipment or to improve performance. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing processing units.

  As used herein, terms such as "data storage", "data storage", "database", and virtually any other information storage component related to the operation and function of the component " Component "or an entity embodied in" memory "or a component including memory. It will be appreciated that the memory component or computer readable storage medium described herein may be either volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or may include both volatile and non-volatile memory.

  The memory disclosed herein can include volatile memory or non-volatile memory, or can include both volatile and non-volatile memory. By way of example and not limitation, non-volatile memory may include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory can include random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of example and not limitation, the RAM may be static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESSRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct. It is available in many forms, such as Rambus RAM (DRRAM). Embodiments of memory (eg, data storage, databases) are intended to include, but are not limited to, these and any other suitable types of memory.

  What has been described above includes merely examples of the various embodiments. Of course, it is not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods to illustrate these examples, and one of ordinary skill in the art is capable of many additional combinations and permutations of this embodiment. You can recognize that. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed and / or claimed herein are intended to include all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. doing. Further, to the extent that the term "including" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are used as the transition word in the claims, including the term "including." It is intended to be as comprehensive as sometimes interpreted.

Claims (15)

A system including communication circuitry to facilitate operation, said operation comprising
Receiving a plurality of signals operating in a plurality of cellular bands, wherein the plurality of signals are modulated according to a plurality of signaling protocols;
Mixing the plurality of carrier signals with the plurality of signals to frequency shift the plurality of signals without changing the plurality of signaling protocols to generate a plurality of frequency shifted signals;
Combining the plurality of frequency shift signals with at least one reference signal, wherein the at least one reference signal is modulated with an instruction in a control channel and used for the at least one reference signal The modulation technique comprises: combining, storing at least one phase of the plurality of carrier signals for use as a phase reference;
Generating a transmission based on the plurality of frequency shift signals and the at least one reference signal;
Wirelessly directing the transmission to a first remote antenna system of a distributed antenna system, wherein the at least one reference signal comprises a first frequency shift signal of the plurality of frequency shift signals of the plurality of cellular bands. Allowing the first remote antenna system to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the plurality of signals into a first signal in a first cellular band,
The first remote antenna system comprises at least a portion of the at least one reference signal to the second remote antenna system and at least one of the plurality of frequency shifted signals via an electromagnetic wave propagating along a physical transmission medium. A second frequency shift signal of at least the portion of the plurality of frequency shift signals for wireless delivery to a communication device. A system that enables the second remote antenna system to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the plurality of signals into a second signal within a second cellular band of a plurality of cellular bands.   The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of signals are provided by a plurality of base station devices.   The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of signaling protocols are different from one another.   2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command in the control channel instructs the first remote antenna system to reconvert the first frequency shift signal to the first signal in the first cellular band. The system described in.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the first signal complies with a first signaling protocol of the plurality of signaling protocols, and the first signaling protocol includes a long term evolution wireless protocol or a fifth generation cellular communication protocol. System.   The carrier signal of each of the plurality of carrier signals is utilized to frequency shift a corresponding one of the plurality of signals into a corresponding frequency channel of at least one downlink spectral segment. system.   The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency shifting comprises upconverting the plurality of signals into the plurality of frequency shifted signals.   The system of claim 1, wherein the reconversion by the first remote antenna system comprises downconverting the first frequency shifted signal to the first signal in the first cellular band.   The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency shifting comprises downconverting the plurality of signals into the plurality of frequency shifted signals.   The system according to claim 1, wherein the reconversion by the first remote antenna system comprises upconverting the first frequency shifted signal to the first signal in the first cellular band.   The system of claim 1, wherein the receiving the plurality of signals comprises receiving the first signal in a third cellular band that is different from the first cellular band. Receiving by the circuit a plurality of signals operating in a plurality of cellular bands, wherein the plurality of signals are modulated according to a plurality of signaling protocols;
Generating a plurality of frequency shift signals by frequency shifting the plurality of signals without changing the plurality of signaling protocols by mixing a plurality of carrier wave signals with the plurality of signals by the circuit;
Combining the plurality of frequency shifted signals with at least one reference signal by the circuit, wherein the at least one reference signal is modulated with an instruction in a control channel to generate the at least one reference signal. Modulation techniques used for combining, combining, storing at least one phase of the plurality of carrier signals for use as a phase reference;
Generating a transmission based on the plurality of frequency shift signals and the at least one reference signal by the circuit;
The circuitry wirelessly directs the transmission to a first remote antenna system of the distributed antenna system, wherein the at least one reference signal comprises a plurality of first frequency shift signals of the plurality of frequency shift signals. Allowing the first remote antenna system to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the plurality of signals into a first signal in a first cellular band of the cellular band of Method,
The first remote antenna system comprises at least a portion of the at least one reference signal to the second remote antenna system and at least one of the plurality of frequency shifted signals via an electromagnetic wave propagating along a physical transmission medium. A second frequency shift signal of at least the portion of the plurality of frequency shift signals for wireless delivery to a communication device. A method of enabling the second remote antenna system to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the plurality of signals into a second signal within a second cellular band of a plurality of cellular bands.   The plurality of signals are provided by at least one base station device, and the at least one base station device is configured to receive the first signal of the plurality of signals in a third cellular band different from the first cellular band. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein:   14. The method of claim 13, wherein the command in the control channel instructs the first remote antenna system to reconvert the first frequency shift signal to the first signal in the first cellular band. The method described in.   The method of claim 12, wherein each of the plurality of signaling protocols are different from one another.