Method and communication node for broadband distribution

• US 10,536,180 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2019
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2016
• 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: Gerszberg, Irwin, Blandino, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Siu M
• Application Number:
  US16/238,950
• Publication Number:
  US 20190140680A1
• Time in Patent Office: 376 Days
• Field of Search: 375295, 375260, 375259, 375288, 375286
• 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: H04L 12/2867 Physical combinations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2878 Access multiplexer, e.g. DSLAM generic distributed time multiplexers, e.g. TDM/TDMA H04J3/1694
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a communication node having a modem that receives first data streams from a source communication node via a first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines. A multiplexer selects a first subset of the first data streams and a second subset of the first data streams. A wireless transceiver wirelessly transmits the first subset of the first data streams as radio frequency signals via an antenna to at least one device. A distribution point unit transmits the second subset of the first data streams on a second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines to a destination communication node of a distributed antenna system.

Claims

1. A communication node of a distributed antenna system, the communication node comprising:

a modem configured to receive first data streams from a source communication node of the distributed antenna system via a first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines;

a multiplexer configured to select a first subset of the first data streams and a second subset of the first data streams;

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the first subset of the first data streams as radio frequency signals via an antenna to at least one device; and

a distribution subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM), the DSLAM configured to transmit the second subset of the first data streams on a second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines to a destination communication node of the distributed antenna system.

2. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the at least one device is a customer premises system wireless modem.

3. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the antenna is a dielectric antenna and wherein the wireless transceiver generates electromagnetic waves to convey the first subset of the first data streams, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided to the dielectric antenna via a dielectric core.

4. The communication node of claim 3, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the dielectric core without an electrical return path.

5. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the modem and the DSLAM operate in accordance with a G.fast digital subscriber line standard.

6. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the modem is further configured to transmit second data streams to the source communication node via the first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines;

wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to wirelessly receive a first subset of the second data streams via the antenna from the at least one device;

wherein the DSLAM is further configured to receive a second subset of the second data streams via the second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines from the destination communication node; and

wherein the multiplexer is further configured to transfer the first subset of the second data streams and the second subset of the second data streams to the modem.

7. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) or fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless protocol.

8. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signals are in a millimeter wave frequency band.

9. The communication node of claim 1, wherein the multiplexer includes a router and a software defined network controller.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving first data streams from a source communication node of a distributed antenna system via a first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines;

routing a first subset of the first data streams to a wireless transceiver;

transmitting, via the wireless transceiver, the first subset of the first data streams as radio frequency signals via an antenna;

routing a second subset of the first data streams to a distribution subscriber line access multiplexer (DSLAM); and

sending, via the DSLAM, the second subset of the first data streams on a second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines to a destination communication node of the distributed antenna system.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the radio frequency signals are transmitted to a customer premises system wireless modem.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the antenna is a dielectric antenna and wherein the wireless transceiver generates electromagnetic waves to convey the first subset of the first data streams, and wherein the electromagnetic waves are guided to the dielectric antenna via a dielectric core.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the electromagnetic waves propagate along the dielectric core without an electrical return path.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the DSLAM operates in accordance with a G.fast digital subscriber line standard.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting second data streams to the source communication node via the first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines;

wirelessly receiving, via the wireless transceiver, a first subset of the second data streams via the antenna from at least one device;

receiving, via the DSLAM, a second subset of the second data streams via the second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines from the destination communication node; and

transferring the first subset of the second data streams and the second subset of the second data streams to a modem.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless transceiver operates in accordance with a fourth generation (4G) or fifth generation (5G) mobile wireless protocol.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the radio frequency signals are in a millimeter wave frequency band.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the DSLAM includes a router and a software defined network controller.

19. A communication node of a distributed antenna system, the communication node comprising:

a modem configured to receive first data streams from a source communication node of the distributed antenna system via a first plurality of twisted pair transmission lines;

a multiplexer configured to select a first subset of the first data streams and a second subset of the first data streams;

a wireless transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit the first subset of the first data streams as radio frequency signals via an antenna to at least one device; and

a digital subscriber line (DSL) interface including a processor, the DSL interface configured to transmit the second subset of the first data streams on a second plurality of twisted pair transmission lines to a destination communication node of the distributed antenna system.

20. The communication node of claim 19, wherein the modem and the DSL interface operate in accordance with a G.fast digital subscriber line standard.