Mobile communication system and switching apparatus

• US 20020094842A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: NTT Docomo Incorporated (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation)
• Inventors: Otsu, Toru, Aburakawa, Yuji
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

When a signal is sent from a wireless base station 3-1, a wireless modem 10-1 converts the signal to a signal of a unified transmission form. The switch 11-1 switches the signal to one of wireless transceivers 12-1, 12-2 and the optical transceiver 13-1. The wireless transceiver 12-1 or 12-2 sends the signal to a control station 4 or a wireless base station 3-3 via a wireless circuit 20. The optical transceiver 13-1 converts the signal into an optical signal and sends the optical signal to a wireless base station 3-2 via an optical fiber circuit 30.

Claims

1. A mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations, a control station which controls said base stations, and switching apparatuses each of which corresponds to said base station or said control station, wherein said switching apparatuses are connected with each other by a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a sending side comprising:

a modulation part for modulating a first signal into a second signal of a unified transmission form;

a first switching part for switching an output destination of said second signal from said modulation part according to a sending destination of said second signal; and

a wireless signal transmission part for sending said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal transmission part for sending said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a receiving side comprising;

a wireless signal receiving part for receiving a third signal via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal receiving part for receiving a third signal via an optical fiber circuit; and

a demodulation part for demodulating said third signal.

2. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a sending side further comprising:

a frequency control part for controlling a frequency of said second signal output from said modulation part according to said sending destination;

wherein said first switching part switches said output destination according to said frequency of said second signal.

3. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a sending side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for sending said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

4. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 2, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a sending side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for sending said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

5. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a receiving side further comprising a second switching part for switching an output destination of said third signal to a demodulation part.

6. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second switching part switches said output destination of said third signal according to a frequency of said third signal.

7. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a receiving side further comprising a selection part for selecting a fourth signal and outputting said fourth signal to said demodulation part when a plurality of signals are received.

8. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a receiving side further comprising a frequency control part for controlling said demodulation part such that said demodulation part can demodulate said third signal according to a frequency of said third signal.

9. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 1, said switching apparatus corresponding to a base station or a control station in a receiving side further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for receiving said third signal from said wireless circuit and outputting said third signal to said wireless signal receiving part;

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control apparatus in a sending side.

10. The mobile communication system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said beam forming part directs said variable directional antenna to an antenna according to a frequency of said third signal.

11. A switching apparatus in a mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations and a control station which controls said base stations, each of said base stations and said control station having said switching apparatus, said switching apparatus being connected to another switching apparatus via a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus comprising:

a modulation part for modulating a first signal into a second signal of a unified transmission form;

a first switching part for switching an output destination of said second signal from said modulation part according to a sending destination of said second signal; and

a wireless signal transmission part for sending said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via a wireless circuit; and

an optical signal transmission part for sending said second signal from said first switching part to a base station or a control station in a receiving side via an optical fiber circuit.

12. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a frequency control part for controlling a frequency of said second signal output from said modulation part according to said sending destination;

wherein said first switching part switches said output destination according to said frequency of said second signal.

13. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for sending said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side.

14. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for sending said second signal from said wireless signal transmission part to a destination via said wireless circuit; and

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control station in a receiving side according to said frequency of said second signal.

16. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a switching part for switching an output destination of said first signal to a demodulation part.

17. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said switching part switches said output destination of said first signal according to a frequency of said first signal.

18. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a selection part for selecting a second signal and outputting said second signal to said demodulation part when a plurality of signals are received.

19. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a frequency control part for controlling said demodulation part such that said demodulation part can demodulate said first signal according to a frequency of said first signal.

20. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a variable directional antenna for receiving said first signal from said wireless circuit and outputting said first signal to said wireless signal receiving part;

a beam forming part for directing said variable directional antenna to an antenna of a base station or a control apparatus in a sending side.

21. The switching apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said beam forming part directs said variable directional antenna to an antenna according to a frequency of said first signal.

15. A switching apparatus in a mobile communication system including a plurality of base stations and a control station which controls said base stations, each of said base stations and said control station having said switching apparatus, said switching apparatus being connected to another switching apparatus via a wireless circuit or an optical fiber circuit, said switching apparatus comprising:

a wireless signal receiving part for receiving a first signal via a wireless circuit;

an optical signal receiving part for receiving a first signal via an optical fiber circuit; and

a demodulation part for demodulating said first signal.