Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
  • H04B10/25—Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
  • H04B10/2575—Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
  • H04B10/25752—Optical arrangements for wireless networks
  • H04B10/25753—Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
  • H04B10/25754—Star network topology
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B10/00—Transmission systems employing electromagnetic waves other than radio-waves, e.g. infrared, visible or ultraviolet light, or employing corpuscular radiation, e.g. quantum communication
  • H04B10/25—Arrangements specific to fibre transmission
  • H04B10/2575—Radio-over-fibre, e.g. radio frequency signal modulated onto an optical carrier
  • H04B10/25752—Optical arrangements for wireless networks
  • H04B10/25753—Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
  • H04B10/25756—Bus network topology

Definitions

• the technology of the disclosure relates to optical fiber-based distributed communications systems for distributing radio frequency (RF) signals over optical fiber.
• RF radio frequency
• Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with ever-increasing demands for high-speed mobile data communication.
• so-called “wireless fidelity” or “WiFi” systems and wireless local area networks (WLANs) are being deployed in many different types of areas (e.g., coffee shops, airports, libraries, etc.).
• Distributed communications or antenna systems communicate with wireless devices called “clients,” which must reside within the wireless range or "cell coverage area” in order to communicate with an access point device.
• clients wireless devices
• One approach to deploying a distributed antenna system involves the use of radio frequency (RF) antenna coverage areas, also referred to as “antenna coverage areas.”
• Antenna coverage areas can have a radius in the range from a few meters up to twenty meters as an example.
• Combining a number of access point devices creates an array of antenna coverage areas. Because the antenna coverage areas each cover small areas, there are typically only a few users (clients) per antenna coverage area. This allows for minimizing the amount of RF bandwidth shared among the wireless system users. It may be desirable to provide antenna coverage areas in a building or other facility to provide distributed antenna system access to clients within the building or facility. However, it may be desirable to employ optical fiber to distribute communications signals. Benefits of optical fiber include increased bandwidth.
• Radio -over-Fiber utilizes RF signals sent over optical fibers.
• Such systems can include head-end equipment optically coupled to a plurality of remote antenna units that each provides antenna coverage areas.
• the remote antenna units can each include RF transceivers coupled to an antenna to transmit RF signals wirelessly, wherein the remote antenna units are coupled to the head-end equipment via optical fiber links.
• the RF transceivers in the remote antenna units are transparent to the RF signals.
• the remote antenna units convert incoming optical RF signals from an optical fiber downlink to electrical RF signals via optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters, which are then passed to the RF transceiver.
• O/E optical-to-electrical
• the RF transceiver converts the electrical RF signals to electromagnetic signals via antennas coupled to the RF transceiver provided in the remote antenna units.
• the antennas also receive electromagnetic signals (i.e., electromagnetic radiation) from clients in the antenna coverage area and convert them to electrical RF signals (i.e., electrical RF signals in wire).
• the remote antenna units then convert the electrical RF signals to optical RF signals via electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters.
• the optical RF signals are then sent over an optical fiber uplink to the headend equipment.
• Optical-fiber based distributed antenna systems may have limitations on performance (i.e., data rate) based on the particular components and configurations chosen for the system. It may be desired to be able to improve communications performance of optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems as the needs for the system increase over time. The data rate needs for the system may increase after initial installation as an example. It may be desirable to be able to increase the data rate of an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power.
• Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems that support multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna configurations and communications.
• MIMO communications configurations involve the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and a receiver to improve communications performance.
• MIMO can offer significant increases in data communications rates without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power by higher spectral efficiency (i.e., more data per second per hertz of bandwidth) ad link reliability or diversity to reduce fading.
• Embodiments disclosed herein also include optical fiber-based distributed antenna system that can be flexibly configured to support or not support MIMO communications configurations. When configured to support MIMO communications configurations, the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems can be provided that allow for MIMO configurations without consuming additional capacity of the system and/or using existing components in the system.
• first and second MIMO communications signals are shared on the same optical fiber communication path to avoid consuming other resources in the system and as a result potentially reducing capacity.
• frequency conversion is used to avoid the communications signals for the MIMO interfering with each other on the common optical fiber.
• the second communications signals are frequency converted to a different frequency from the radio band configured for MIMO and are provided to a remote extension unit to remote antenna unit via an interface to a remote antenna unit (RAU).
• the remote extension unit converts the frequency of the signals from the second communication path back to the radio band configured for MIMO.
• radio interfaces providing the second communications signals are also configured to convert the frequency to the radio band configured for MIMO.
• existing capacity of system components are employed to create second communication paths for MIMO configurations.
• Communications signals for MIMO do not share communications paths, and thereby frequency conversion is not required to prevent interference of the communications signals.
• providing separate communication paths for MIMO communications consumes additional system resources that may reduce the overall capacity of the system.
• an apparatus configured to distribute radio-frequency (RF) communications signals in a distributed antenna system in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) configuration.
• the apparatus comprises at least one first radio interface configured to distribute received first downlink electrical RF communications signals in a first radio band frequency into first downlink electrical RF communications signals.
• the apparatus also comprises at least one second radio interface configured to distribute received second downlink electrical RF communications signals in the first radio band frequency into second downlink electrical RF communications signals.
• the apparatus also comprises at least one first optical interface configured to receive the first downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one first radio interface, convert the received first downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one first radio interface into first downlink optical RF communications signals, and distribute the first downlink optical RF communications signals over optical fiber in a first downlink communication path to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU).
• the apparatus also comprises at least one second optical interface configured to receive the second downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one second radio interface, convert the received second downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one second radio interface into second downlink optical RF communications signals, distribute the second downlink optical RF communications signals over optical fiber in a second downlink communication path to at least one second remote unit.
• a method of distributing radio-frequency (RF) communications signals in a distributed antenna system in a multiple-input, multiple - output (MIMO) configuration comprises distributing received first downlink electrical RF communications signals in a first radio band frequency into first downlink electrical RF communications signals from at least one first radio interface.
• the method also comprises distributing received second downlink electrical RF communications signals in the first radio band frequency into second downlink electrical RF communications signals from at least one second radio interface.
• the method also comprises in at least one first optical interface: receiving the first downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one first radio interface, converting the received first downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one first radio interface into first downlink optical RF communications signals, and distributing the first downlink optical RF communications signals over optical fiber in a first downlink communication path to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU).
• RAU remote antenna unit
• the method also comprises in at least one second optical interface: receiving the second downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one second radio interface, converting the received second downlink electrical RF communications signals from the at least one second radio interface into second downlink optical RF communications signals, distributing the second downlink optical RF communications signals over optical fiber in a second downlink communication path to at least one second remote unit.
• the distributed antenna system may be an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system, but such is not required.
• the embodiments disclosed herein are also applicable to other distributed antenna systems, including those that include other forms of communications media for distribution of communications signals, including electrical conductors and wireless transmission.
• the embodiments disclosed herein may also be applicable to distributed antenna system may also include more than one communications media for distribution of communications signals.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical fiber-based distributed antenna system
• FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of exemplary head-end equipment and a remote antenna unit (RAU) that can be deployed in the optical fiber- based distributed antenna system of FIG. 1 ;
• RAU remote antenna unit
• FIG. 3A is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an exemplary building infrastructure in which the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIG. 1 can be employed;
• FIG. 3B is an alternative diagram of the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIGS. 1 and 3 A;
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of exemplary head-end equipment (HEE) to provide radio frequency (RF) communication services over optical fiber to RAUs or other remote communications devices in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system;
• HEE head-end equipment
• FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of providing digital data services as electrical signals and RF communication services over optical fiber to RAUs or other remote communications devices in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system of FIG. 5;
• FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a single band MIMO configuration upgrade in the exemplary optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIG. 5;
• FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a first radio interface employed in the HEE for a first communication path in the MIMO configuration in the distributed optical fiber- based distributed antenna system in FIG. 7;
• FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram of a second radio interface employed in the HEE for a second communication path in the MIMO configuration in the distributed optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIG. 7;
• FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a RAU configured to distribute RF communications signals for the first communication path in the MIMO configuration in the distributed optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIG. 7;
• FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an alternative single band MIMO upgrade in the system architecture of an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system of FIG. 5;
• FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating a multi-band MIMO upgrade in the system architecture of an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system
• FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating providing Ethernet data service in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system
• FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary RAU that can be employed in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system and having a Remote Expansion Unit (RXU);
• RXU Remote Expansion Unit
• FIG. 16 is an example of a main status user interface screen for an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system.
• FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a generalized representation of an exemplary computer system that can be included in any of the modules provided in the exemplary distributed antenna systems and/or their components described herein, including but not limited to a head end controller (HEC), wherein the exemplary computer system is adapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer-readable media.
• HEC head end controller
• Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems that support multiple -input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna configurations and communications.
• MIMO communications configurations involve the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and a receiver to improve communications performance.
• MIMO can offer significant increases in data communications rates without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power by higher spectral efficiency (i.e., more data per second per hertz of bandwidth) ad link reliability or diversity to reduce fading.
• Embodiments disclosed herein also include optical fiber-based distributed antenna system that can be flexibly configured to support or not support MIMO communications configurations. When configured to support MIMO communications configurations, the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems can be provided that allow for MIMO configurations without consuming additional capacity of the system and/or using existing components in the system.
• FIGS. 1-6 Before discussing examples of optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems supporting MIMO configurations and their related components and methods, an exemplary distributed antenna systems capable of distributing RF communications signals to distributed or remote antenna units is first described with regard to FIGS. 1-6.
• Embodiments of providing MIMO configurations in optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems starts at FIG. 7.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems in FIGS. 1-6 discussed below include distribution of radio frequency (RF) communications signals; however, the distributed antenna systems are not limited to distribution of RF communications signals.
• RF radio frequency
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems in FIGS. 1-6 discussed below include distribution of communications signals over optical fiber, these distributed antenna systems are not limited to distribution over optical fiber.
• Distribution mediums could also, but not limited to, include coaxial cable, twisted-pair conductors, wireless transmission and reception, and any combination thereof. Also, any combination can be employed that also involve optical fiber for portions of the distributed antenna system.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 has an antenna coverage area 20 that can be disposed about the RAU 14.
• the antenna coverage area 20 of the RAU 14 forms an RF coverage area 21.
• the HEE 12 is adapted to perform or to facilitate any one of a number of Radio -over-Fiber (RoF) applications, such as RF identification (RFID), wireless local-area network (WLAN) communication, or cellular phone service.
• RFID Radio -over-Fiber
• WLAN wireless local-area network
• cellular phone service Shown within the antenna coverage area 20 is a client device 24 in the form of a mobile device as an example, which may be a cellular telephone as an example.
• the client device 24 can be any device that is capable of receiving RF communications signals.
• the client device 24 includes an antenna 26 (e.g., a wireless card) adapted to receive and/or send electromagnetic RF signals.
• the HEE 12 includes a radio interface in the form of an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter 28.
• the E/O converter 28 converts the downlink electrical RF signals 18D to downlink optical RF signals 22D to be communicated over the downlink optical fiber 16D.
• the RAU 14 includes an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter 30 to convert received downlink optical RF signals 22D back to electrical RF signals to be communicated wirelessly through an antenna 136 of the RAU 14 to client devices 24 located in the antenna coverage area 20.
• O/E optical-to-electrical
• the antenna 136 is also configured to receive wireless RF communications from client devices 24 in the antenna coverage area 20.
• the antenna 136 receives wireless RF communications from client devices 24 and communicates electrical RF signals representing the wireless RF communications to an E/O converter 34 in the RAU 14.
• the E/O converter 34 converts the electrical RF signals into uplink optical RF signals 22U to be communicated over the uplink optical fiber 16U.
• An O/E converter 36 provided in the HEE 12 converts the uplink optical RF signals 22U into uplink electrical RF signals, which can then be communicated as uplink electrical RF signals 18U back to a network or other source.
• the HEE 12 in this embodiment is not able to distinguish the location of the client devices 24 in this embodiment.
• the client device 24 could be in the range of any antenna coverage area 20 formed by an RAU 14.
• FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the exemplary optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 10 of FIG. 1 that provides electrical RF service signals for a particular RF service or application.
• the HEE 12 includes a service unit 37 that provides electrical RF service signals by passing (or conditioning and then passing) such signals from one or more outside networks 38 via a network link 39. In a particular example embodiment, this includes providing cellular signal distribution in the frequency range from 400 MegaHertz (MHz) to 2.7 GigaHertz (GHz). Any other electrical RF signal frequencies are possible.
• the service unit 37 provides electrical RF service signals by generating the signals directly.
• the service unit 37 coordinates the delivery of the electrical RF service signals between client devices 24 within the antenna coverage area 20.
• the service unit 37 is electrically coupled to the E/O converter 28 that receives the downlink electrical RF signals 18D from the service unit 37 and converts them to corresponding downlink optical RF signals 22D.
• the E/O converter 28 includes a laser suitable for delivering sufficient dynamic range for the RoF applications described herein, and optionally includes a laser driver/amplifier electrically coupled to the laser. Examples of suitable lasers for the E/O converter 28 include, but are not limited to, laser diodes, distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers, and vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs).
• DFB distributed feedback
• FP Fabry-Perot
• VCSELs vertical cavity surface emitting lasers
• the HEE 12 also includes the O/E converter 36, which is electrically coupled to the service unit 37.
• the O/E converter 36 receives the uplink optical RF signals 22U and converts them to corresponding uplink electrical RF signals 18U.
• the O/E converter 36 is a photodetector, or a photodetector electrically coupled to a linear amplifier.
• the E/O converter 28 and the O/E converter 36 constitute a "converter pair" 35, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
• the RAU 14 also includes a converter pair 48 comprising the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34.
• the O/E converter 30 converts the received downlink optical RF signals 22D from the HEE 12 back into downlink electrical RF signals 50D.
• the E/O converter 34 converts uplink electrical RF signals 50U received from the client device 24 into the uplink optical RF signals 22U to be communicated to the HEE 12.
• the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 are electrically coupled to the antenna 136 via an RF signal-directing element 52, such as a circulator for example.
• the RF signal-directing element 52 serves to direct the downlink electrical RF signals 50D and the uplink electrical RF signals 50U, as discussed below.
• the antenna 136 can include any type of antenna, including but not limited to one or more patch antennas, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 1 1/504,999, filed August 16, 2006 entitled “Radio- over-Fiber Transponder With A Dual-Band Patch Antenna System,” and U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 11/451 ,553, filed June 12, 2006 entitled “Centralized Optical Fiber-Based Wireless Picocellular Systems and Methods,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 also includes a power supply 54 that provides an electrical power signal 56.
• the power supply 54 is electrically coupled to the HEE 12 for powering the power-consuming elements therein.
• an electrical power line 58 runs through the HEE 12 and over to the RAU 14 to power the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 in the converter pair 48, the optional RF signal-directing element 52 (unless the RF signal-directing element 52 is a passive device such as a circulator for example), and any other power-consuming elements provided.
• the electrical power line 58 includes two wires 60 and 62 that carry a single voltage and are electrically coupled to a DC power converter 64 at the RAU 14.
• the DC power converter 64 is electrically coupled to the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 in the converter pair 48, and changes the voltage or levels of the electrical power signal 56 to the power level(s) required by the power-consuming components in the RAU 14.
• the DC power converter 64 is either a DC/DC power converter or an AC/DC power converter, depending on the type of electrical power signal 56 carried by the electrical power line 58.
• the electrical power line 58 (dashed line) runs directly from the power supply 54 to the RAU 14 rather than from or through the HEE 12.
• the electrical power line 58 includes more than two wires and may carry multiple voltages.
• FIG. 3A is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of a building infrastructure 70 employing an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system.
• the system may be the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
• the building infrastructure 70 generally represents any type of building in which the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 can be deployed.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 incorporates the HEE 12 to provide various types of communication services to coverage areas within the building infrastructure 70, as an example.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 in this embodiment is configured to receive wireless RF signals and convert the RF signals into RoF signals to be communicated over the optical fiber 16 to multiple RAUs 14.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 in this embodiment can be, for example, an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide wireless service inside the building infrastructure 70.
• These wireless signals can include cellular service, wireless services such as RFID tracking, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), local area network (LAN), WLAN, public safety, wireless building automations, and combinations thereof, as examples.
• the building infrastructure 70 in this embodiment includes a first (ground) floor 72, a second floor 74, and a third floor 76.
• the floors 72, 74, 76 are serviced by the HEE 12 through a main distribution frame 78 to provide antenna coverage areas 80 in the building infrastructure 70. Only the ceilings of the floors 72, 74, 76 are shown in FIG. 3A for simplicity of illustration.
• a main cable 82 has a number of different sections that facilitate the placement of a large number of RAUs 14 in the building infrastructure 70. Each RAU 14 in turn services its own coverage area in the antenna coverage areas 80.
• the main cable 82 can include, for example, a riser cable 84 that carries all of the downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U to and from the HEE 12.
• the riser cable 84 may be routed through an interconnect unit (ICU) 85.
• the ICU 85 may be provided as part of or separate from the power supply 54 in FIG. 2.
• the ICU 85 may also be configured to provide power to the RAUs 14 via the electrical power line 58, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and discussed above, provided inside an array cable 87, or tail cable or home -run tether cable as other examples, and distributed with the downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U to the RAUs 14.
• a tail cable 89 may extend from the ICUs 85 into an array cable 93.
• Downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U in tether cables 95 of the array cables 93 are routed to each of the RAUs 14, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.
• the main cable 82 can include one or more multi-cable (MC) connectors adapted to connect select downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U, along with an electrical power line, to a number of optical fiber cables 86.
• MC multi-cable
• the main cable 82 enables multiple optical fiber cables 86 to be distributed throughout the building infrastructure 70 (e.g., fixed to the ceilings or other support surfaces of each floor 72, 74, 76) to provide the antenna coverage areas 80 for the first, second, and third floors 72, 74, and 76.
• the HEE 12 is located within the building infrastructure 70 (e.g., in a closet or control room), while in another example embodiment, the HEE 12 may be located outside of the building infrastructure 70 at a remote location.
• a base transceiver station (BTS) 88 which may be provided by a second party such as a cellular service provider, is connected to the HEE 12, and can be co-located or located remotely from the HEE 12.
• a BTS is any station or signal source that provides an input signal to the HEE 12 and can receive a return signal from the HEE 12.
• a plurality of BTSs are deployed at a plurality of remote locations to provide wireless telephone coverage.
• Each BTS serves a corresponding cell and when a mobile client device enters the cell, the BTS communicates with the mobile client device.
• Each BTS can include at least one radio transceiver for enabling communication with one or more subscriber units operating within the associated cell.
• wireless repeaters or bi-directional amplifiers could also be used to serve a corresponding cell in lieu of a BTS.
• radio input could be provided by a repeater, picocell or femtocell as other examples.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 in FIGS. 1-3B and described above provides point-to-point communications between the HEE 12 and the RAU 14.
• a multi-point architecture is also possible as well.
• each RAU 14 communicates with the HEE 12 over a distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair to provide the point-to-point communications.
• the RAU 14 is connected to a distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pair connected to the HEE 12.
• the downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U may be provided in a fiber optic cable.
• Multiple downlink and uplink optical fiber pairs can be provided in a fiber optic cable to service multiple RAUs 14 from a common fiber optic cable.
• RAUs 14 installed on a given floor 72, 74, or 76 may be serviced from the same optical fiber 16.
• the optical fiber 16 may have multiple nodes where distinct downlink and uplink optical fiber pairs can be connected to a given RAU 14.
• One downlink optical fiber 16D could be provided to support multiple channels each using wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), as discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/892,424 entitled "Providing Digital Data Services in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems, And Related Components and Methods," incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• WDM wavelength-division multiplexing
• FDM frequency-division multiplexing
• the HEE 12 may be configured to support any frequencies desired, including but not limited to US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (824-849 MHz on uplink and 869-894 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1850-1915 MHz on uplink and 1930-1995 MHz on downlink), US FCC and Industry Canada frequencies (1710-1755 MHz on uplink and 2110-2155 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (698-716 MHz and 776-787 MHz on uplink and 728-746 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (880-915 MHz on uplink and 925-960 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1710-1785 MHz on uplink and 1805-1880 MHz on downlink), EU R & TTE frequencies (1920-1980 MHz on uplink and 2110-2170 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (806-824 MHz on uplink and 851-869 MHz on downlink), US FCC frequencies (896-901 MHz on uplink and 929-9
• FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of exemplary HEE 90 that may be employed with any of the distributed antenna systems disclosed herein, including but not limited to the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 10 in FIGS. 1-3.
• the HEE 90 in this embodiment is configured to distribute RF communication services over optical fiber.
• the HEE 90 includes a head-end controller (HEC) 91 that manages the functions of the HEE 90 components and communicates with external devices via interfaces, such as an RS-232 port 92, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port 94, and an Ethernet port 96, as examples.
• HEC head-end controller
• the BTS inputs 101(1)-101(T) are downlink connections and the BTS outputs 102(1)-102(T) are uplink connections.
• Each BTS input 101(1)-101(T) is connected to a downlink radio interface in the form of a downlink BTS interface card (BIC) 104 in this embodiment, which is located in the HEE 90, and each BTS output 102(1)-102(T) is connected to a radio interface in the form of an uplink BIC 106 also located in the HEE 90.
• BIC downlink BTS interface card
• the downlink BIC 104 is configured to receive incoming or downlink RF signals from the BTS inputs 101(1)-101(T) and split the downlink RF signals into copies to be communicated to the RAUs 14, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
• thirty-six (36) RAUs 14(1)-14(36) are supported by the HEE 90, but any number of RAUs 14 may be supported by the HEE 90.
• the uplink BIC 106 is configured to receive the combined outgoing or uplink RF signals from the RAUs 14 and split the uplink RF signals into individual BTS outputs 102(1 )-102(T) as a return communication path.
• the downlink BIC 104 is connected to a midplane interface card 108 in this embodiment.
• the uplink BIC 106 is also connected to the midplane interface card 108.
• the downlink BIC 104 and uplink BIC 106 can be provided in printed circuit boards (PCBs) that include connectors that can plug directly into the midplane interface card 108.
• the midplane interface card 108 is in electrical communication with a plurality of optical interfaces provided in the form of optical interface cards (OICs) 110 in this embodiment, which provide an optical to electrical communication interface and vice versa between the RAUs 14 via the downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U and the downlink BIC 104 and uplink BIC 106.
• OICs optical interface cards
• the OICs 110 in this embodiment support up to three (3) RAUs 14 each.
• the OICs 110 can also be provided in a PCB that includes a connector that can plug directly into the midplane interface card 108 to couple the links in the OICs 110 to the midplane interface card 108.
• the OICs 110 may consist of one or multiple optical interface modules (OIMs).
• OIMs optical interface modules
• the HEE 90 is scalable to support up to thirty-six (36) RAUs 14 in this embodiment since the HEE 90 can support up to twelve (12) OICs 110.
• OICs 110 can be included in the HEE 90 and plugged into the midplane interface card 108.
• One OIC 110 is provided for every three (3) RAUs 14 supported by the HEE 90 in this embodiment.
• OICs 110 can also be added to the HEE 90 and connected to the midplane interface card 108 if additional RAUs 14 are desired to be supported beyond an initial configuration.
• the HEU 91 can also be provided that is configured to be able to communicate with the downlink BIC 104, the uplink BIC 106, and the OICs 110 to provide various functions, including configurations of amplifiers and attenuators provided therein. [0061] FIG.
• FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of another exemplary optical fiber distributed antenna system 120 that may be employed according to the embodiments disclosed herein to provide RF communication services.
• the optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 120 includes optical fiber for distributing RF communication services.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 in this embodiment is comprised of three (3) main components.
• One or more radio interfaces provided in the form of radio interface modules (RIMs) 122(1)-122(M) in this embodiment are provided in HEE 124 to receive and process downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1)-126D(R) prior to optical conversion into downlink optical RF communications signals.
• the REVIs 122(1)-122(M) provide both downlink and uplink interfaces.
• the processing of the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1)-126D(R) can include any of the processing previously described above in the HEE 12 in FIGS. 1-4.
• the notations "1-R” and “1-M” indicate that any number of the referenced component, 1-R and 1-M, respectively, may be provided.
• the HEE 124 is configured to accept a plurality of RIMs 122(1)-122(M) as modular components that can easily be installed and removed or replaced in the HEE 124. In one embodiment, the HEE 124 is configured to support up to eight (8) RIMs 122(1)-122(M).
• Each RIM 122(1)-122(M) can be designed to support a particular type of radio source or range of radio sources (i.e., frequencies) to provide flexibility in configuring the HEE 124 and the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 to support the desired radio sources.
• one RIM 122 may be configured to support the Personal Communication Services (PCS) radio band.
• Another RIM 122 may be configured to support the 700 MHz radio band.
• the HEE 124 would be configured to support and distribute RF communications signals on both PCS and LTE 700 radio bands.
• RIMs 122 may be provided in the HEE 124 that support any frequency bands desired, including but not limited to the US Cellular band, Personal Communication Services (PCS) band, Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band, 700 MHz band, Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) 900, GSM 1800, and Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS).
• PCS Personal Communication Services
• AWS Advanced Wireless Services
• 700 MHz band 700 MHz band
• GSM Global System for Mobile communications
• GSM 1800 Global System for Mobile communications
• UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System
• RIMs 122 may be provided in the HEE 124 that support any wireless technologies desired, including but not limited to Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA200, l xRTT, Evolution - Data Only (EV-DO), UMTS, High-speed Packet Access (HSPA), GSM, General Packet Radio Services (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment (EDGE), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), iDEN, and Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD).
• CDMA Code Division Multiple Access
• CDMA200 Code Division Multiple Access 200
• l xRTT Evolution - Data Only
• EV-DO Evolution - Data Only
• UMTS Universal Mobile communications Service
• GSM Global System for Mobile communications
• GPRS General Packet Radio Services
• EDGE Enhanced Data GSM Environment
• TDMA Time Division Multiple Access
• LTE Long Term Evolution
• iDEN Cellular Digital Packet Data
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1)-126D(R) are provided to a plurality of optical interfaces provided in the form of optical interface modules (OIMs) 128(1 )-128(N) in this embodiment to convert the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1)-126D(N) into downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1)-130D(R).
• OIMs 128 may be configured to provide one or more optical interface components (OICs) that contain O E and E/O converters, as will be described in more detail below.
• O/E converters provided in the RAUs 132(1)-132(P) convert the downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1)-130D(R) back into downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1)- 126D(R), which are provided over downlinks 134(1)-134(P) coupled to antennas 136(1)- 136(P) in the RAUs 132(1)-132(P) to client devices in the reception range of the antennas 136(1)-136(P).
• FIG. 5 Power may be provided in the downlink and/or uplink electrical medium 145D(1)-145D(P) and/or 145U(1)-145U(P) to the RAUs 132(1)-132(P).
• up to thirty-six (36) RAUs 112 can be supported by the OIMs 128, three RAUs 112 per OIM 128 in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 in FIG. 5.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 is scalable to address larger deployments.
• the HEE 124 is configured to support up to thirty six (36) RAUs 112 and fit in 6U rack space (U unit meaning 1.75 inches of height).
• the downlink operational input power level can be in the range of -15 dBm to 33 dBm.
• the adjustable uplink system gain range can be in the range of + 15 dB to -15 dB.
• the RF input interface in the RIMs 122 can be duplexed and simplex, N-Type.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system can include sectorization switches to be configurable for sectorization capability, as discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/914,585 filed on October 28, 2010, and entitled "Sectorization In Distributed Antenna Systems, and Related Components and Method," which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• a PSM 155 may also be provided to provide power the OIMs 128(1 )-128(N).
• An interface 151 which may include web and network management system (NMS) interfaces, may also be provided to allow configuration and communication to the RIMs 122(1)-122(M) and other components of the optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 120.
• a microcontroller, microprocessor, or other control circuitry, called a head-end controller (HEC) 157 may be included in HEE 124 (FIG. 7) to provide control operations for the HEE 124.
• HEC head-end controller
• embodiments disclosed below starting at FIG. 7 include optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems that support multiple -input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna configurations and communications.
• MIMO communications configurations involve the use of multiple antennas at both the transmitter and a receiver to improve communications performance.
• MIMO can offer significant increases in data communications rates without requiring additional bandwidth or transmit power by higher spectral efficiency (i.e., more data per second per hertz of bandwidth) ad link reliability or diversity to reduce fading.
• Embodiments disclosed herein also include optical fiber-based distributed antenna system that can be flexibly configured to support or not support MIMO communications configurations. When configured to support MIMO communications configurations, the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems are provided that allow for MIMO configurations with existing components.
• FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary single band MIMO upgrade for one reconfigured RAU 112(1)' in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120' employing components in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 in FIG. 4.
• This configuration can provide mixed single-input, single-output (SISO) configurations with MIMO as well. Common components are signified by common element numbers.
• SISO mixed single-input, single-output
• Common components are signified by common element numbers. Note that the upgrade can be provided for any of the RAUs 112 and not just RAU 112(1)'.
• the upgrade (e.g., LTE, HSPA+) provides an expansion option for additional band or single band MIMO employing a remote unit in the form of a remote expansion unit (RXU) 170 employing a separate antenna 172 coupled to the RAU 112(1)'.
• the RXU 170 contains similar components to the RAU 112(1)', including optical-to-electrical and electrical-to- optical converters.
• the RAU 112(1)' provides a first communication path with a first RIM 122(1) (also referred to herein as the "main RIM 122(1)") for a MIMO configuration.
• the RXU 170 provides a second communication path with a second REVI 122(M+1) supporting the same radio band as the main RIM 122(1).
• the RXU 170 receives RF communications signals from RIM 122(M+1) via the same optical fiber pair 133D(1), 133U(1) as the RIM 122(1) receives RF communications signals from the main RIM 122(1).
• the same optical fiber pair 133D(1), 133U(1) is used to provide multiple paths for MIMO communications for a given radio band and communication session.
• the overall capacity of RAUs 112 in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120' is not reduced, because optical fiber pairs 133D, 133U are not consumed to provide this MIMO configuration.
• the RIM 122(M+1) converts or shifts the frequency of received downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(R+1) at the MIMO band to a different frequency before distributing the signal on the downlink to the RDCs 147, 149 and the OIM 128(1) over the optical fiber pair 133D(1), 133U(1). In this manner, the frequencies of the signals for the two communication paths for the MIMO configuration do not interfere with each other when being communicated over the downlink optical fiber 133D(1).
• the downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1) from the RIM 122(M+1)' are received via the RIM 122(1)' over the downlink optical fiber 176D.
• the downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1) from the RIM 122(M+1)' are converted back to the original frequency of the radio band configured for MIMO before being transmitted as downlink electrical RF communications signals 174D through antenna 172.
• the RXU 170 converts or shifts the frequency of received uplink electrical RF communications signals 174U from antenna 172 to a different frequency before distributing the RF communications signals as uplink optical RF communications signals 138U(1) on the uplink optical fiber 176U from the RXU 170 to the RIM 122(1).
• the uplink optical RF communications signals 138U(1) on the uplink optical fiber 176U are sent on the uplink optical RF communications fiber 138U(1) back to the HEE 124 and to the RIM 122(M+1)'.
• the RIM 122(M+1)' converts or shifts the frequency back to the original radio band/frequency configured for MIMO before distributing the signals as uplink electrical RF communications signals 126U(R+1).
• power for the RXU 170 can also be provided from the main RAU 112(1)' so that the RXU does not have to employ a separate power source.
• the RXU 170 and RAU 112(1) may be co-located, including but not limited to being with a distance of each other within less than or equal to 20 meters, or less than or equal to 15 meters, or less than or equal to 10 meters, or less than or equal to 5 meters, or less than or equal to 3 meters, or less than or equal to 1 meter, as non limiting examples.
• FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the main RIM 122(1)' employed in the HEE 124 for the first communication path in the MIMO configuration in the distributed optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120' in FIG. 7.
• the main RIM 122(1)' in this embodiment and as illustrated in FIG. 8 needs no special configuration or components as compared to the RIMs described in regard to FIG. 5 above.
• the components described herein with regard to the main RIM 122(1)' are provided in the other RIMs 122 in FIG. 5 in this embodiment.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) come into the downlink of the main RIM 122(1)' on a first downlink communication path for the MIMO configuration.
• a band pass filter (BPF) 180(1) is provided that filters the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) according to the radio band configured to be supported by the main RIM 122(1)'.
• this BPF 180(1) is configured to filter radio band signals according to the radio band configured for MIMO in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120'.
• the filtered downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) are then passed through an attenuator 182(1), a gain amplifier 184(1), and another BPF 186(1) to provide additional gain control and filtering according to configuration and/or settings for the main RIM 122(1)'. Thereafter, the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) can be split into up to three sectors via sectorization switches 188(1) to provide the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1), via conversion to downlink optical RF communications signals by the OIMs 128(1) (see FIG. 7), to desired sectors. More information on sectorization that can be employed herein is discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. No. 12/914,585 previously referenced above.
• uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(1) come from the OIM 128(1) (see FIG. 7) into the uplink of the main RIM 122(1)' on a first uplink communication path for the MIMO configuration.
• Sectorization switches 190(1) control the distribution of the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(1) to the uplink of the main RIM 122(1)'. More information on sectorization that can be employed herein is discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/914,585 previously referenced above.
• a band pass filter (BPF) 192(1) is provided that filters the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(1) according to the radio band configured to be supported by the main RIM 122(1)'.
• this BPF 192(1) is configured to filter radio band signals according to the radio band configured for MIMO in the optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 120'.
• the filtered uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(1) are then passed through a gain amplifier 194(1), an attenuator 196(1), and another BPF 198(1) to provide additional gain control and filtering according to configuration and/or settings for the main RIM 122(1)'.
• the frequency of the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(R+1)' does not interfere with the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) from the main RIM 122(1)' when both signals are provided on the same single optical fiber 133D(1) to the RAU 112(1)', as illustrated in FIG. 7.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(R+1)' are then passed through an attenuator 182(M+1), a gain amplifier 184(M+1), and another BPF 186(M+1) to provide additional gain control and filtering according to configuration and/or settings for the second RIM 122(M+1)'. Thereafter, the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1) can be split into up to three sectors via sectorization switches 188(M+1) to provide the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1), via conversion to downlink optical RF communications signals by the OIMs 128(1) (see FIG. 7), to desired sectors. More information on sectorization that can be employed herein is discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/914,585 previously referenced above.
• Sectorization switches 190(M+1) control the distribution of the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1)' to the uplink of the main RIM 122(1)'. More information on sectorization that can be employed herein is discussed discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/914,585 previously referenced above.
• a band pass filter (BPF) 192(M+1) is provided that filters the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1)' according to the conversion radio band configured to be supported by the second RIM 122(M+1)'.
• this BPF 192(M+1) is configured to filter radio band signals according to the conversion radio band, not the radio band configured for MIMO in the optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 120'.
• the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1)' are passed through a frequency converter 204 to convert the frequency of the uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1)' back to the radio band configured for the MIMO configuration to provide uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1).
• the converted uplink electrical RF communications signals 142U(R+1) are then passed through another BPF 198(M+1) to provide additional filtering according to configuration and/or settings for the second REVI 122(M+1)'.
• FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the RAU 112(1)' configured to distribute RF communications signals for the first communication path in the MIMO configuration in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120' in FIG. 7.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D(1), 126D(R+1)' were converted to the downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1), 130D(R+1) in the OEVI 128(1) (see FIG. 7).
• the downlink optical RF communications signals 130D(1), 130D(R+1) are converted into downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(1), 210D(R+1) in a receive optical sub-assembly (ROSA) 211, which is an optical-to- electrical converter.
• ROSA receive optical sub-assembly
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(1), 210D(R+1) are split into four (4) paths 212 in the RAU 112(1)', which is configured to support up to four (4) radio bands in this embodiment, one of which will be the first communication path for the MIMO configuration.
• One of the paths 212 is fully illustrated in FIG. 10, described below.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(1), 210D(R+1) are also split to an downlink expansion port 214D that is coupled to the RXU 170 (see FIG. 7) to provide the second communication path for the MIMO configuration, which will be described in more detail in FIG. 11 below.
• the first communication path for the MIMO configuration in the RAU 112(1)' includes a band pass filter (BPF) 216 is provided that filters the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(1), 210D(R+1) according to the radio band configured to be supported by the main RIM 122(1)'.
• this BPF 180(1) is configured to filter radio band signals according to the radio band configured for MIMO in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120', which will pass downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(1) and not downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1).
• uplink electrical RF communications signals 226U received from the antenna 136(1) come into the RAU 112(1)'.
• a limiter/detector 228 and filter 230 are provided in the communication path to filter the uplink electrical RF communications signals 226U(1) to the radio band signals configured for the MIMO configuration.
• the filtered uplink electrical RF communications signals 226U(1) are then passed through an variable gain amplifier 228, a power amplifier 230 to a transmit optical sub-assembly (TOSA) 232, which is an electrical-to -optical converter.
• TOSA transmit optical sub-assembly
• Uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1) received by the RXU 170 at the radio band configured for MIMO are received at a converted frequency (through frequency conversion in the RXU 170 discussed in FIG. 11 below) through the uplink expansion port 214U in the RIM 122(1)'.
• the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(1), 234U(R+1) are combined and provided to the TOSA to be converted to uplink optical RF communications signals 138U(1), 138U(R+1) and communicated over the single uplink optical fiber 133U(1) to the main RIM 122(1)' and the second RIM 122(M+1)', respectively.
• the second RIM 122(M+1)' includes the frequency converter 206 that converts the frequency of the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1) to the radio band configured for MIMO.
• FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of the RXU 170 in FIG. 7 coupled to the RAU 112(1)' in FIG. 10, configured to distribute RF communications signals for the second communication path in the MIMO configuration in the distributed optical fiber- based distributed antenna system 120' in FIG. 7.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1) come into the downlink of the second RIM 122(M+1)' on a second downlink communication path for the MIMO configuration via the downlink optical fiber 176D from the downlink expansion port 214D in the RAU 112(1)', as illustrated in FIG. 10 and described above.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1) passes through a gain amplifier 240 and to a frequency converter 242 in the form of a mixer to convert the frequency of the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1) back to the native frequency supported by the second RIM 122(M+1)' to provide downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1)'.
• a local oscillator signal 244 with phase locked-loop (PLL) circuitry generated and controlled based on a master synchronization signal (not shown) is provided to frequency converter 242, as is well known.
• PLL phase locked-loop
• the frequency of the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1)' is restored back to the radio band configured for MIMO for the second downlink communication path provided by the RXU 170.
• the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1)' are then passed through an BPF 246, an attenuator 248, a gain amplifier 250, and another BPF 252 to provide additional gain control and filtering according to configuration and/or settings for the RXU 170. Thereafter, the downlink electrical RF communications signals 210D(R+1)' can be communicated through antenna 172 via the diplexer 254. More information on sectorization that can be employed herein is discussed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/914,585 previously referenced above.
• uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1)' at the native radio band configured for MIMO are received from the antenna 172 and diplexer 254 for the second uplink communication path for the MIMO configuration.
• the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1)' are passed through filtering system 258, a variable gain amplifier, and a BPF 262 to filter the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1)' according to the radio band configured for MIMO.
• the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1)' are then passed through a frequency converter 264 to convert the frequency of the uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1)' to a different frequency than the radio band configured for the MIMO configuration to provide uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1).
• the converted uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1) are then passed through another gain amplifier 268 and onto the uplink optical fiber 176U to the uplink expansion port 214U in the RAU 112(1)' in FIG. 10.
• the converted uplink electrical RF communications signals 234U(R+1) are then communicated from the RAU 112(1)' in FIG. 10 to the OIM 128(1)' over the common uplink optical fiber 133U and back to second RIM 122 (M+l)' to provide the second uplink communication path as previously discussed above.
• FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an alternative single band MIMO upgrade in an upgraded optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120", which includes components from the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 in FIG. 5. Common components are shown with common element numbers.
• a RXU is not employed. Instead, separate RAUs 112(1), 112(2) are used to provide the two communication paths for the MIMO configuration.
• the same optical fiber is not shared for the downlink and uplink communication paths for both the main RIM 122(1) and the second RIM 122(M+1).
• first and second RAUs 112(1), 112(2)' maybe configured similar to the RAU 112(1) and RXU 170, respectively, except that no expansion port need be provided in the first RAU 112(1), and frequency conversion components are not required in the second RAU 112(2).
• FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram illustrating an alternative multiple band MEVIO upgrade in an upgraded optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120"', which includes components from the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 in FIG. 5. Common components are shown with common element numbers.
• a RXU is not employed. Instead, similar to the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120" in FIG. 12, separate RAUs 112 are used to provide separate multiple raiod band communication paths configured for MIMO. In this regard, the same optical fiber is not shared for the downlink and uplink communication paths for both main RIMs 122(1)- 122(M) and the second REVIs 122(M+1)-122(M+1+Z) configured in MEVIO configuration. [0090] With continuing reference to FIG. 13, multiple main RIMs 122(1 )-122( ) are configured in MIMO configuration to provide MIMO communications for multiple radio bands. For example, each main RIM 122(1)-122(M) may be configured to support a different radio band.
• Second RIMs 122(M+1)-122(M+1+Z) may be provided for the same radio bands configured for the main RIMs 122(1 )-122(M) to provide multiple RIM 122 pairs at the multiple radio bands to provide multiple radio band communications paths for MIMO configuration.
• "Z" represents any number of second RIMs 122 up to the number of main RIMs 122 "M.” Any number of main and second RIM 122 pairs may be provided. Note that capacity of supported RIMs 122 may be reduced in this configuration if RIM 122 capacity is not increased in the HEE 194. This is one of the possible tradeoffs, as discussed above, with regard to providing separate communication paths for the multiple radio band communications paths in MIMO configuration, as opposed to provide the RXU 170 in FIG. 7.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120"' is configured, and specifically the RDCs 147, 149, so that main RIMs 122(1)-122(M) and their corresponding second RIM 122(M+1), 122(M+1+Z) distribute and receive signals through different OIMs 128(1)-128(M), respectively. Distributing and receiving signals through different OIMs 128(1)-128(M) avoids frequency conversion for the second communication paths and the associated components in the second RIMs 122(M+1), 122(M+1+Z) and the need for the RXU 170. However, this configuration can also reduce the overall RAU capacity of the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120". This is because the second RAU 112(P) is employed in lieu of the RXU 170, thus consuming an additional RAU 112.
• the signals are distributed to multi-band RAUs 112(1), 112(P), meaning that each RAU 112 is configured to support the multiple bands.
• the RAUs 112(1), 112(P) by their configuration to support the multiple communication paths from the main RIMs 122(1)-122(M) and second RIMs 122(M+1), 122(M+1+Z) in the MIMO configuration, are configured to support multiple band MIMO.
• the second RIMs 122(M+1), 122(M+1+Z) may be configured like the second RIM 122(M+1)' in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9, except that frequency conversion components are not required.
• Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems that provide and support both radio frequency (RF) communication services and digital data services.
• the RF communication services and digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber to client devices, such as remote antenna units for example.
• digital data services include WLAN, WiMax, WiFi, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and LTE, etc.
• Digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber separate from optical fiber distributing RF communication services.
• digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services.
• digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services at different wavelengths through wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and/or at different frequencies through frequency-division multiplexing (FDM).
• Power distributed in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system to provide power to remote antenna units can also be accessed to provide power to digital data service components.
• WDM wavelength-division multiplexing
• FDM frequency-division multiplexing
• Wired and wireless devices may be located in a building infrastructure that are configured to access digital data services. Examples of digital data services include, but are not limited to, Ethernet, WLAN, WiMax, WiFi, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and LTE, etc.
• Ethernet standards could be supported, including but not limited to 100 Megabits per second (Mbs) (i.e., fast Ethernet) or Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet, or ten Gigabit (10G) Ethernet.
• Mbs Megabits per second
• Gb gigabit
• 10G ten Gigabit
• Examples of digital data devices include, but are not limited to, wired and wireless servers, wireless access points (WAPs), gateways, desktop computers, hubs, switches, remote radio heads (RRHs), baseband units (BBUs), and femtocells.
• WAPs wireless access points
• RRHs remote radio heads
• BBUs baseband units
• a separate digital data services network can be provided to provide digital data services to digital data devices.
• FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary embodiment of providing digital data services over separate downlink and uplink optical fibers from RF communications services to RAUs in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system illustrated in FIG. 14 could be any of the optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems 120, 120', 120", 120"'.
• the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system in FIG. 14 could also employ other components, including those in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 90 in FIG. 4.
• the HEE 124 is provided.
• the HEE 124 receives the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D from the BTS 282.
• the HEE 124 converts the downlink electrical RF communications signals 126D to downlink optical RF communications signals 295D to be distributed to the RAUs 112.
• the HEE 124 is also configured to convert the uplink optical RF communications signals 138U received from the RAUs 112 into uplink electrical RF communications signals 126U to be provided to the BTS 282 and onto a network 280 connected to the BTS 282.
• a patch panel 284 may be provided to receive the downlink and uplink optical fibers 133D, 133U configured to carry the downlink and uplink optical RF communications signals 130D, 138U.
• the downlink and uplink optical fibers 133D, 133U may be bundled together in one or more riser cables 84 and provided to one or more ICUs 85, as previously discussed.
• a digital data services controller (also referred to as "DDS controller") 286 in the form of a media converter in this example is provided.
• the DDS controller 286 can include only a media converter for provision media conversion functionality or can include additional functionality to facilitate digital data services.
• the DDS controller 286 is configured to provide digital data services over a communications link, interface, or other communications channel or line, which may be either wired, wireless, or a combination of both.
• the DDS controller 286 may include a housing configured to house digital media converters (DMCs) 126 to interface to a DDS switch 290 to support and provide digital data services.
• the DDS switch 290 could be an Ethernet switch.
• the DDS switch 290 may be configured to provide Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet digital data service as an example.
• the DMCs 126 are configured to convert electrical digital signals to optical digital signals, and vice versa.
• the DMCs 126 may be configured for plug and play installation (i.e., installation and operability without user configuration required) into the DDS controller 286.
• the DMCs 126 may include Ethernet input connectors or adapters (e.g., RJ-45) and optical fiber output connectors or adapters (e.g., LC, SC, ST, MTP).
• the DDS controller 286 (via the DMCs 126) in this embodiment is configured to convert downlink electrical digital signals (or downlink electrical digital data services signals) 292D over digital line cables 294 from the DDS switch 290 into downlink optical digital signals (or downlink optical digital data services signals) 295D that can be communicated over downlink optical fiber 133D to RAUs 112.
• the DDS controller 286 (via the DMCs 126) is also configured to receive uplink optical digital signals 295U from the RAUs 112 via the uplink optical fiber 133U and convert the uplink optical digital signals 295U into uplink electrical digital signals 292U to be communicated to the DDS switch 290.
• the digital data services can be provided over optical fiber as part of the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 to provide digital data services in addition to RF communication services.
• Client devices located at the RAUs 112 can access these digital data services and/or RF communications services depending on their configuration.
• Exemplary digital data services include Ethernet, WLAN, WiMax, WiFi, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), and LTE, etc.
• Ethernet standards could be supported, including but not limited to 100 Megabits per second (Mbs) (i.e., fast Ethernet) or Gigabit (Gb) Ethernet, or ten Gigabit (10G) Ethernet.
• downlink and uplink optical fibers 296D, 296U are provided in a fiber optic cable 298 that is interfaced to the ICU 85.
• the ICU 85 provides a common point in which the downlink and uplink optical fibers 296D, 296U carrying digital optical signals can be bundled with the downlink and uplink optical fibers 133U, 133D carrying optical RF communications signals.
• One or more of the fiber optic cables 298, also referenced herein as array cables 298, can be provided containing the downlink and uplink optical fibers 133D, 133U for RF communications services and digital data services to be routed and provided to the PvAUs 112. Any combination of services or types of optical fibers can be provided in the array cable 298.
• the array cable 298 may include single mode and/or multi- mode optical fibers for RF communication services and/or digital data services.
• ICUs that may be provided in the optical fiber-based distributed antenna system 120 to distribute both downlink and uplink optical fibers 133D, 133U for RF communications services and digital data services are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/466,514, filed on May 15, 2009, entitled “Power Distribution Devices, Systems, and Methods For Radio-Over-Fiber (RoF) Distributed Communication," and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 13/025,719, filed on February 1 1 , 2011 , entitled “Digital Data Services and/or Power Distribution in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Communications Systems Providing Digital Data and Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Services, and Related Components and Methods,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
• RF Radio Frequency
• the downlink and uplink optical fibers 133D, 133U carrying downlink and uplink optical digital signals 295D, 295U converted from downlink and uplink electrical digital signals 292D, 292U from the DDS switch 290 are provided to the AUs 300 via the array cables 298 and RAUs 112.
• Digital data client devices can access the AUs 300 to access digital data services provided through the DDS switch 290.
• the AUs 300 may also each include an antenna 302 to provide wireless access to digital data services provided through the DDS switch 290.
• the RAU 112 may also include a DDS module 314 to provide media conversion (e.g., O/E and E/O conversions) and route digital data services received from the DDS switch 127 in FIG. 14 to externally connected power-consuming devices (PDs) 316(1)-316(Q) configured to receive digital data services.
• the DDS module 314 may be a fast Ethernet module (FEM) or Gigabit Ethernet (GE).
• FEM fast Ethernet module
• GE Gigabit Ethernet
• these two Ethernet options could be available per remote location: e.g., 100MB Option (Fast Ethernet - FE); and 1GB Option (Gigabit Ethernet - GE).
• the RAU 112 may also be configured for Power over Ethernet (PoE) to the device is provided by the FEM and complies with IEEE 802.3 af as one option standard.
• PoE Power over Ethernet
• Power from the power line 310 may be routed to the RF communications module 312, and from the RF communications module 312 to the DDS module 314.
• the digital data services are routed by the DDS module 314 through powered communications ports 318(1)-318(Q) provided in the RAU 112.
• the powered communications ports 318(1)-318(Q) may be RJ-45 connectors.
• the powered communications ports 318(1)-318(Q) may be powered, meaning that a portion of the power from the power line 310 is provided to the powered communications ports 318(1 )-318(Q).
• one or more remote expansion units (RXUs) 170(1)-170(Z) may also be connected to the RAU 112.
• the RXUs 170(1)- 170(Z) can be provided to provide additional RF communications services through the RAU 112, but remotely from the RAU 112. For example, if additional RF communications bands are needed and there are no additional bands available in a distributed antenna system, the RF communications bands of an existing RAU 112 can be expanded without additional communications bands by providing the RXUs 170(1)- 170(Z).
• the RXUs 170(1)-170(Z) are connected to the distributed antenna system through the RAU 112.
• the RXUs 170(1)-170(Z) can include the same or similar components provided in the RF communications module 312 to receive downlink optical fiber 176D and to provide received uplink optical fiber 176U from client devices to the distributed antenna system through the RAU 112.
• An optional external filter 326 may be coupled via input link 328 to receive the downlink RF communications signals received from the downlink optical fiber 176D, provide additional filtering, and return the filtered signals back via an output link 330.
• the RXUs 170(1)-170(Z) are also power-consuming modules, and thus in this embodiment, power from the power line 310 is routed by the RAU 112 to the RXUs 170(1)-170(Z) over a power line 324.
• the PDs 316(1 )-316(Q) may be configured to require more power than twenty- five (25) Watts.
• PSE power source equipment
• the RAU 112 to provide power to the powered communications ports 318(1 )-318(Q) may be required to provide up to 15.4 Watts of power to each powered communications port 318(1)-318(Q).
• PSE power source equipment
• FIG. 16 illustrates the default page 330 when the "System Notes" tab 332 has been selected by a client.
• the default page 330 is also displayed as the initial page after a user has logged in.
• the overall or “snapshot" of the system status is provided in a "System Status" area 370.
• an "RF Enabled” check box 372 is selected. RF communications can be disabled by unselecting the "RF Enabled” check box 372 if such permission is granted to the user, otherwise the "RF Enabled” check box 372 will be unselectable.
• FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram representation of additional detail regarding the exemplary HEC 91 or 157 in the exemplary form of an exemplary computer system 400 adapted to execute instructions from an exemplary computer-readable medium to perform power management functions.
• the HEC 91, 157 may also be included in the HEE 124.
• the HEC 91, 157 may comprise the computer system 400 within which a set of instructions for causing the HEC 91, 157 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein may be executed.
• the HEC 91, 157 may be connected (e.g., networked) to other machines in a LAN, an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet.
• the computer system 400 may or may not include a data storage device that includes instructions 416 stored in a computer-readable medium 418.
• the instructions 416 may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory 404 and/or within the processing device 402 during execution thereof by the computer system 400, the main memory 404 and the processing device 402 also constituting computer-readable medium.
• the instructions 416 may further be transmitted or received over a network 260 via the network interface device 410.
• computer-readable medium 418 is shown in an exemplary embodiment to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions.
• the term “computer-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the processing device and that cause the processing device to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the embodiments disclosed herein.
• the term “computer-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to, solid-state memories, optical and magnetic medium, and carrier wave signals.
• the embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a computer program product, or software, that may include a machine -readable medium (or computer- readable medium) having stored thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according to the embodiments disclosed herein.
• a machine-readable medium includes any mechanism for storing or transmitting information in a form readable by a machine (e.g., a computer).
• DSP Digital Signal Processor
• ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
• FPGA Field Programmable Gate Array
• a controller may be a processor.
• a processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine.
• a processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.
• the distributed antenna systems could include any type or number of communications mediums, including but not limited to electrical conductors, optical fiber, and air (i.e., wireless transmission).
• the distributed antenna systems may distribute any type of communications signals, including but not limited to RF communications signals and digital data communications signals, examples of which are described in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/892,424 entitled "Providing Digital Data Services in Optical Fiber-based Distributed Radio Frequency (RF) Communications Systems, And Related Components and Methods," incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
• Multiplexing such as WDM and/or FDM, may be employed in any of the distributed antenna systems described herein, such as according to the examples provided in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 12/892,424.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Optical Communication System (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44628673

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (18)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2011
  • 2011-07-08 CN CN201180072183.2A patent/CN103650385A/zh active Pending
  • 2011-07-08 BR BR112014000436A patent/BR112014000436A2/pt unknown
  • 2011-07-08 EP EP11733965.5A patent/EP2730038A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-07-08 WO PCT/US2011/043405 patent/WO2013009283A1/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events