Distributing multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications streams to remove units in a distributed communication system (DCS) to support configuration of interleaved MIMO communications services

• US 10,056,948 B1
• Filed: 08/29/2017
• Issued: 08/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chamarti, Aravind, Kollat, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): Fang, Keith
• Application Number:
  US15/689,629
• Time in Patent Office: 357 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0413 MIMO systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/0686 Hybrid systems, i.e. switching and simultaneous transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2025/03426 transmission using multiple-input and multiple-output channels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03904 cooperative design, e.g. exchanging of codebook information between base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

Distributed communications systems (DCSs) supporting configuring or reconfiguring the distribution of MIMO communications streams to designated remote units in the DCS to provide interleaved MIMO cell bonding of remote units are disclosed. In one example, the DCS includes different physical layers that are maintained from the central unit to the remote units. In this manner, the central unit can be configured or reconfigured to distribute separate MIMO communications streams to the desired physical layers in the DCS to support distributing MIMO communications streams to the desired remote units to provide the desired interleaved MIMO communications services. In this manner, interleaved MIMO communications services can be configured for a DCS using an existing infrastructure of remote units having substantially non-overlapping remote coverage areas, by directing the MIMO communications streams over the configured physical layers to be provided to the desired remote units to facilitate interleaved MIMO cell bonding of remote units.

Claims

1. A distributed communications system (DCS), comprising:

a central unit comprising a routing configuration assigning received one or more downlink communications signals to one or more downlink physical layers among a plurality of downlink physical layers each coupled to a dedicated remote unit among a plurality of remote units;

the central unit configured to;

distribute the received one or more downlink communications signals to the plurality of downlink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units according to the routing configuration; and

distribute received one or more uplink communications signals from the plurality of remote units over a plurality of uplink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units; and

the plurality of remote units each coupled to a downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers and an uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers, each remote unit among the plurality of remote units comprising at least one antenna and configured to;

distribute received uplink communications signals received over the at least one antenna over a coupled uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers to the central unit; and

distribute received downlink communications signals from a coupled downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers through the at least one antenna;

the central unit further configured to;

configure the routing configuration to;

assign a first multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for a first MIMO communications service to a first remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a first remote coverage area; and

assign a second MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a second remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a second remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the first remote unit and the second remote unit.

2. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the central unit is further configured to configure the routing configuration to:

assign a third MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area and the second remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit to the first remote unit and the second remote unit; and

assign a fourth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area, the second remote coverage area, and the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the fourth remote unit to the first remote unit, the second remote unit, and the third remote unit.

3. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the central unit is further configured to configure the routing configuration to:

assign a third MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for a second MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area; and

assign a fourth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit and the fourth remote unit.

4. The DCS of claim 3, wherein the central unit is further configured to configure the routing configuration to:

assign a fifth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a fifth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fifth remote coverage area; and

assign a sixth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a sixth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a sixth remote coverage area overlapping with the fifth remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the fifth remote unit and the sixth remote unit.

5. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the central unit comprises at least one MIMO splitter circuit configured to:

split the first MIMO communications signal into at least two first split MIMO communications signals;

split the first MIMO communications signal into at least two second split MIMO communications signals;

the central unit configured to configure the routing configuration to;

assign a first split MIMO communications signal of the at least two first split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to the first remote unit among the plurality of remote units having the first remote coverage area; and

assign a second split MIMO communications signal of the at least two first split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to the second remote unit among the plurality of remote units having the second remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the first remote unit and the second remote unit;

assign a first split MIMO communications signal of the at least two second split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area; and

assign a second split MIMO communications signal of the at least two second split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit and the fourth remote unit.

6. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the central unit comprises at least one MIMO splitter circuit configured to:

split the first MIMO communications signal into at least two first split MIMO communications signals.

7. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the plurality of downlink physical layers and the plurality of uplink physical layers are the same respective physical layers.

8. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the first remote unit is located within at least 20 meters of the second remote unit.

9. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the first remote unit is located within at least 12 meters of the second remote unit.

10. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the first remote coverage area is substantially non-overlapping with the second remote coverage area.

11. The DCS of claim 1, wherein the central unit further comprises an external interface and a controller configured to:

receive routing assignments for the routing configuration from the external interface; and

store the routing assignments in the routing configuration.

12. The DCS of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to:

receive an interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request from the external interface indicating if interleaved MIMO communications services are to be configured for the DCS;

determine from the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request if the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to remain existing or be redesigned; and

in response to the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request indicating the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to remain existing;

determine existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services;

determine an interleaved MIMO routing configuration to support interleaved MIMO communications services in the DCS with the existing plurality of remote units;

send the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration to the external interface; and

store the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration as the routing configuration in response to receiving an indication over the external interface to enable the interleaved MIMO routing configuration.

13. The DCS of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to determine the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services by being configured to:

simulate at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on the existing plurality of remote units; and

determine at least one performance characteristic of the simulated at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on the existing plurality of remote units.

14. The DCS of claim 12, further comprising a controller configured to:

in response to the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request indicating the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to be redesigned;

determine the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services according to a redesign of the plurality of remote units;

determine an interleaved MIMO routing configuration to support the interleaved MIMO communications services in the DCS with the plurality of remote units;

send the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration to the external interface; and

store the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration as the routing configuration in response to receiving an indication over the external interface to enable the interleaved MIMO routing configuration.

15. The DCS of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to determine the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services by being configured to:

simulate at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on at least one redesigned infrastructure of a plurality of remote units; and

determine at least one performance characteristic of the simulated at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on at least one redesigned infrastructure of the plurality of remote units.

16. A method of configuring a distributed communications system (DCS) for providing interleaved multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications services, comprising:

receiving an interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request from an external interface indicating if interleaved MIMO communications services are to be configured for a DCS, the DCS comprising;

a central unit comprising a routing configuration assigning received one or more downlink communications signals to one or more downlink physical layers among a plurality of downlink physical layers each coupled to a dedicated remote unit among a plurality of remote units;

the central unit configured to;

distribute the received one or more downlink communications signals to the plurality of downlink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units according to the routing configuration; and

distribute received one or more uplink communications signals from the plurality of remote units over a plurality of uplink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units; and

the plurality of remote units each coupled to a downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers and an uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers, each remote unit among the plurality of remote units comprising at least one antenna and configured to;

distribute received uplink communications signals received over the at least one antenna over a coupled uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers to the central unit; and

distribute received downlink communications signals from a coupled downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers through the at least one antenna;

determining from the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request if the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to remain existing or be redesigned; and

in response to the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request indicating the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to be redesigned;

determining an existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services according to a redesign of the plurality of remote units;

determining an interleaved MIMO routing configuration to support the interleaved MIMO communications services in the DCS with the plurality of remote units;

sending the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration to the external interface; and

storing the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration as the routing configuration in response to receiving an indication over the external interface to enable the interleaved MIMO routing configuration;

assign a first MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for a first MIMO communications service to a first remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a first remote coverage area; and

assigning a second MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a second remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a second remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the first remote unit and the second remote unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services comprises:

simulating at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on the existing plurality of remote units; and

determining at least one performance characteristic of the simulated at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on the existing plurality of remote units.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

in response to the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request indicating the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to be redesigned;

determining the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services according to a redesign of the plurality of remote units;

determining an interleaved MIMO routing configuration to support the interleaved MIMO communications services in the DCS with the plurality of remote units;

sending the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration to the external interface; and

storing the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration as the routing configuration in response to receiving an indication over the external interface to enable the interleaved MIMO routing configuration.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising determining the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services by being configured to:

simulate at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on at least one redesigned infrastructure of a plurality of remote units; and

determine at least one performance characteristic of the simulated at least one interleaved MIMO communications service for the DCS based on at least one redesigned infrastructure of the plurality of remote units.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the routing configuration further comprises:

assigning a third MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area and the second remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit to the first remote unit and the second remote unit; and

assigning a fourth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area, the second remote coverage area, and the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the fourth remote unit to the first remote unit, the second remote unit, and the third remote unit.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein configuring the routing configuration further comprises:

assigning a third MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for a second MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area; and

assigning a fourth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit and the fourth remote unit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein configuring the routing configuration further comprises:

assigning a fifth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a fifth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fifth remote coverage area; and

assigning a sixth MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the second MIMO communications service to a sixth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a sixth remote coverage area overlapping with the fifth remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the fifth remote unit and the sixth remote unit.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

splitting the first MIMO communications signal into at least two first split MIMO communications signals;

splitting the first MIMO communications signal into at least two second split MIMO communications signals;

wherein configuring the routing configuration comprises;

assigning a first split MIMO communications signal of the at least two first split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to the first remote unit among the plurality of remote units having the first remote coverage area; and

assigning a second split MIMO communications signal of the at least two first split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to the second remote unit among the plurality of remote units having the second remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the first remote unit and the second remote unit;

assigning a first split MIMO communications signal of the at least two second split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a third remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a third remote coverage area; and

assigning a second split MIMO communications signal of the at least two second split MIMO communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a fourth remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a fourth remote coverage area overlapping with the third remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the third remote unit and the fourth remote unit.

24. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive an interleaved multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications service configuration request from an external interface indicating if interleaved MIMO communications services are to be configured for a distributed communications system (DCS), the DCS comprising;

a central unit comprising a routing configuration assigning received one or more downlink communications signals to one or more downlink physical layers among a plurality of downlink physical layers each coupled to a dedicated remote unit among a plurality of remote units;

the central unit configured to;

distribute the received one or more downlink communications signals to the plurality of downlink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units according to the routing configuration; and

distribute received one or more uplink communications signals from the plurality of remote units over a plurality of uplink physical layers each dedicated to a remote unit among the plurality of remote units; and

the plurality of remote units each coupled to a downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers and an uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers, each remote unit among the plurality of remote units comprising at least one antenna and configured to;

distribute received uplink communications signals over the at least one antenna over a coupled uplink physical layer among the plurality of uplink physical layers to the central unit; and

distribute received downlink communications signals from a coupled downlink physical layer among the plurality of downlink physical layers through the at least one antenna;

determine from the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request if the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to remain existing or be redesigned; and

in response to the received interleaved MIMO communications service configuration request indicating the plurality of remote units in the DCS are to be redesigned;

determine the existing performance of the plurality of remote units to provide interleaved MIMO communications services according to a redesign of the plurality of remote units;

determine an interleaved MIMO routing configuration to support the interleaved MIMO communications services in the DCS with the plurality of remote units;

send the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration to the external interface; and

store the determined interleaved MIMO routing configuration as the routing configuration in response to receiving an indication over the external interface to enable the interleaved MIMO routing configuration;

assign a first MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for a first MIMO communications service to a first remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a first remote coverage area; and

assign a second MIMO communications signal among the received one or more downlink communications signals for the first MIMO communications service to a second remote unit among the plurality of remote units having a second remote coverage area overlapping with the first remote coverage area to interleave MIMO cell bond the first remote unit and the second remote unit.