Interface module for a unit of an antenna distribution system, and antenna distribution system

• US 10,142,009 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2016
• Issued: 11/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Braz, Oliver, Stefanik, Joerg, Hoffman, Jaroslav
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Dhaval
• Application Number:
  US15/019,560
• Publication Number:
  US 20160156403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 375211, 375222, 375259, 375267, 4554221, 455444, 455450, 455561, 4555621
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15 Active relay systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A distributed antenna system includes at least one master unit communicatively coupled to at least one base station and a plurality of remote units located remotely from the at least one master unit. The plurality of remote units are communicatively coupled to the master unit over at least one transport communication link. The system is configured to distribute uplink and downlink signals between a base station and mobile units. A digital unit generates digital samples indicative of spectrum included in at least one of the uplink and downlink signals. A network interface communicates with an external computer. The digital unit is configured to process the digital samples and communicate information indicative of the spectrum to the external computer via the network interface.

Claims

1. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one master unit communicatively coupled to at least one base station; and

a plurality of remote units located remotely from the at least one master unit, wherein each of the plurality of remote units is communicatively coupled to the master unit over at least one transport communication link;

the system configured to distribute a first signal, received from the at least one base station, from the master unit to at least one remote unit in analog form, wherein the at least one remote unit radiates a second signal derived from the first signal from at least one antenna associated with the at least one remote unit;

a digital circuit configured to generate digital samples by digitally sampling the first signal;

a network interface for communicating with an external central control computer configured for central control of the distributed antenna system, wherein the external central control computer is distinct from the at least one base station;

the digital circuit configured to process the digital samples and communicate information about parameters of the first signal to the external central control computer via the network interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital circuit is configured to generate digital samples indicative of multiple frequency bands included in the first signal, and the digital circuit being configured to process the digital samples and communicate information indicative of the multiple frequency bands to the external central control computer via the network interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine modulation information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the modulation information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine clocking information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the clocking information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the digital circuit is configured to evaluate the digital samples and to select a particular frequency band from the multiple frequency bands included in the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to process the digital samples of the particular frequency band separately from the digital signals of other of the multiple frequency bands.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine signal strength information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the signal strength information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine propagation time information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the propagation time information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the transport communication link is a wireless link.

9. The system of claim 1, the digital circuit configured to receive control data associated with the first signal via the network interface.

10. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one master unit communicatively coupled to at least one base station; and

a plurality of remote units located remotely from the at least one master unit, wherein each of the plurality of remote units is communicatively coupled to the master unit over at least one transport communication link;

the system configured to distribute a first signal, received from at least one mobile unit, from at least one remote unit to the at least one master unit in analog form, wherein the at least one master unit forwards a second signal derived from the first signal to the at least one base station;

a digital circuit configured to generate digital samples by digitally sampling the first signal;

a network interface for communicating with an external central control computer configured for central control of the distributed antenna system, wherein the external central control computer is distinct from the at least one base station;

the digital circuit configured to process the digital samples and communicate information about parameters of the first signal to the external central control computer via the network interface.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital circuit is configured to generate digital samples indicative of multiple frequency bands included in the first signal, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and communicate information indicative of the multiple frequency bands to the external central control computer via the network interface.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine modulation information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the modulation information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine clocking information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the clocking information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital circuit is configured to evaluate the digital samples and to select a particular frequency band from the multiple frequency bands included in the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to process the digital samples of the particular frequency band separately from the digital signals of other of the multiple frequency bands.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine signal strength information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the signal strength information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the digital circuit is configured to process the digital samples and determine propagation time information regarding the first signal, and

wherein the digital circuit is further configured to communicate the propagation time information to the external central control computer via the network interface.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the transport communication link is a wireless link.

18. The system of claim 10, the digital circuit configured to receive control data associated with the first signal via the network interface.