Host node device and methods for use therewith

• US 10,411,788 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2018
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bennett, Robert, Henry, Paul Shala, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Barnickel, Donald J., Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Solinsky, Peter G
• Application Number:
  US16/125,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20190007125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 370293
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15528 Control of operation parameters of a relay station to exploit the physical medium
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a repeater device having a first coupler to extract downstream channel signals from first guided electromagnetic waves bound to a transmission medium of a guided wave communication system. An amplifier amplifies the downstream channel signals to generate amplified downstream channel signals. A channel selection filter selects one or more of the amplified downstream channel signals to wirelessly transmit to the at least one client device via an antenna. A second coupler guides the amplified downstream channel signals to the transmission medium of the guided wave communication system to propagate as second guided electromagnetic waves. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A host node device comprising:

a first transceiver of a distributed antenna system configured to wirelessly communicate with a first plurality of client devices via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

a second transceiver configured to wirelessly communicate with at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system;

a terminal interface configured to receive first channel signals from a communication network; and

a channel duplexer configured to transfer the first channel signals to the first transceiver and the second transceiver;

wherein the first transceiver transmits at least a portion of the first channel signals to the first plurality of client devices via the first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

wherein the second transceiver converts the first channel signals to a frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system based on a reference signal that includes a pilot signal used to generate a local oscillator signal at a frequency and phase that corresponds to the conversion of the first channel signals from an original frequency spectrum to the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system, and transmits, via a second antenna of the distributed antenna system, the first channel signals and the reference signal in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system.

2. The host node device of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver sends, in a control channel, instructions for the at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system to convert selected ones of the first channel signals from the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to first channel signals in a spectral segment for free space wireless communication with a second plurality of client devices via a second antenna of the distributed antenna system.

3. The host node device of claim 2, wherein the reference signal is transmitted at an out of band frequency relative to the control channel.

4. The host node device of claim 2, wherein the reference signal is transmitted at an in band frequency relative to the control channel.

5. The host node device of claim 2, wherein the control channel is transmitted via ultra-wideband signaling.

6. The host node device of claim 2, wherein the second transceiver further transmits a clock signal in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to the at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system, wherein the clock signal synchronizes a digital signal processing by the at least one client node device in converting the first channel signals in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to the spectral segment.

7. The host node device of claim 1, wherein the second transceiver receives second channel signals from the distributed antenna system;

wherein the channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the second channel signals to the terminal interface; and

wherein the terminal interface is further configured to send the second channel signals to the communication network.

8. The host node device of claim 7, wherein the second transceiver receives third channel signals from the at least one client node device via the second antenna;

wherein the channel duplexer is further configured to transfer the third channel signals to the terminal interface; and

wherein the terminal interface is further configured to send the third channel signals to the communication network.

9. The host node device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals is formatted in accordance with a data over cable system interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol.

10. The host node device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals is formatted in accordance with a mobile wireless protocol.

11. A method comprising:

wirelessly communicating, via a first transceiver of a distributed antenna system, with a first plurality of client devices via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

wirelessly communicating, via a second transceiver of a distributed antenna system, with at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system;

receiving first channel signals from a communication network;

transferring the first channel signals to the first transceiver and the second transceiver;

transmitting, via the first transceiver, at least a portion of the first channel signals to the first plurality of client devices via the first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

converting, via the second transceiver the first channel signals to a frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system based on a reference signal that includes a pilot signal used to generate a local oscillator signal at a frequency and phase that corresponds to the converting of the first channel signals from an original frequency spectrum to the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system; and

transmitting, via a second antenna of the distributed antenna system, the first channel signals and the reference signal in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending in a control channel, via the second transceiver sends, instructions for the at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system to convert selected ones of the first channel signals from the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to first channel signals in a spectral segment for free space wireless communication with a second plurality of client devices via a second antenna of the distributed antenna system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reference signal is transmitted at an out of band frequency relative to the control channel.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the reference signal is transmitted at an in band frequency relative to the control channel.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the control channel is transmitted via ultra-wideband signaling.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting, via the second transceiver, a clock signal in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to the at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system, wherein the clock signal synchronizes a digital signal processing by the at least one client node device in converting the first channel signals in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to the spectral segment.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, via the second transceiver, second channel signals from the distributed antenna system; and

sending the second channel signals to the communication network.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, via the second transceiver, third channel signals from the at least one client node device via the second antenna; and

sending the third channel signals to the communication network.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the first channel signals is formatted in accordance with a data over cable system interface specification (DOCSIS) protocol.

20. A host node device comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating, via a distributed antenna system, with a first plurality of client devices via a first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

means for wirelessly communicating, via the distributed antenna system, with at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system;

means for receiving first channel signals from a communication network;

means for transmitting at least a portion of the first channel signals to the first plurality of client devices via the first antenna of the distributed antenna system;

means for converting the first channel signals to a frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system based on a reference signal that includes a pilot signal used to generate a local oscillator signal at a frequency and phase that corresponds to converting of the first channel signals from an original frequency spectrum to the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system; and

means for transmitting, via a second antenna of the distributed antenna system, the first channel signals and the reference signal in the frequency spectrum of the distributed antenna system to at least one client node device of the distributed antenna system.