Architecture for digital shared antenna system to support existing base station hardware

• US 20030032454A1
• Filed: 09/26/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Judd, Mano D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,003,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/562.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1301 Optical transmission, optical switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13107 Control equipment for a part of the connection, distributed control, co-processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13396 Signaling in general, in-band signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/24 Cell structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering

Abstract

A legacy support block interfaces a shared antenna system with existing base station equipment of a service provider. Processing circuitry includes digital-to-analog converter circuitry, analog-to-digital converter circuitry, a local oscillator, and mixers. A shared backhaul interfaces with the shared antenna system further consolidating of cell site equipment.

Claims

1. A legacy support block for interfacing a shared antenna system with base station equipment of a service provider comprising:

digital-to-analog converter circuitry coupled to the shared antenna system and configured to convert a first digital signal associated with the service provider to a first analog signal;

a local oscillator;

a first mixer coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and the local oscillator and configured to frequency convert the first analog signal to a baseband receive signal capable of being processed by the base station equipment;

a second mixer coupled to the existing base station equipment and the local oscillator and configured to frequency convert a transmit baseband signal processed by the base station equipment to a second analog signal; and

,

analog-to-digital converter circuitry coupled to the second mixer and configured to convert the second analog signal to a second digital signal capable of being processed by the antenna and associated with the service provider.

2. An apparatus, comprising:

a shared antenna system; and

,

a legacy support block configured to interface the shared antenna system with existing base station equipment of a first service provider.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a shared backhaul coupled to the shared antenna system.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the shared antenna system includes an array of antenna elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the array of antenna elements is configured as at least one active sector array.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the shared antenna system comprises a plurality of interface circuits coupled to the at least one active sector array through an optical fiber.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the array of antenna elements is configured as at least one passive sector array.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the shared antenna system comprises:

a plurality of multichannel power amplifiers coupled to the at least one passive active sector array;

a plurality of transceivers coupled to the plurality of multichannel power amplifiers; and

a digital multiplexer coupled to the plurality of transceivers.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the passive sector array is coupled to the plurality of multichannel power amplifiers through a plurality of coaxial cables.

10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the shared antenna system comprises a plurality of interface circuits, each coupled to the array of antenna elements and configured to process service provider specific digital signals for use in at least one of transmission and reception of provider specific data using the array of antenna elements.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface circuits is configured to bandpass filter a service provider specific digital signal.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface circuits is configured to control a beamwidth of a service provider specific beam radiated by the array of antenna elements.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface circuits is configured to steer a service provider specific beam radiated by the array of antenna elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of interface circuits is configured to perform channelization on a service provider specific signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the shared antenna system further comprises a digital backplane.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the plurality of interface circuits are coupled to the array of antenna elements through the digital backplane.

17. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the legacy support block comprises:

digital-to-analog converter circuitry coupled to the shared antenna system and configured to convert a first digital signal associated with the first service provider to a first analog signal;

a local oscillator;

a first mixer coupled to the digital-to-analog converter and the local oscillator and configured to frequency convert the first analog signal to a baseband receive signal capable of being processed by the existing base station equipment;

a second mixer coupled to the existing base station equipment and the local oscillator and configured to frequency convert a transmit baseband signal processed by the existing base station equipment to a second analog signal; and

,

analog-to-digital converter circuitry coupled to the second mixer and configured to convert the second analog signal to second digital signal capable of being processed by the antenna and associated with the first service provider.

18. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a digital base terminal station associated with a second service provider, the digital base terminal station coupled to the shared antenna system.

19. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a multiplexed backhaul associated with at least two service providers, the multiplexed backhaul coupled to the shared antenna system.

20. A shared backhaul for use with a shared antenna system, the shared antenna system capable of defining multiple beams, each beam associated with a respective service provider, the shared backhaul comprising:

a multiplexer coupled to the shared antenna system, the multiplexer capable of processing signals associated with a plurality of service providers; and

,

a microwave transceiver coupled to the multiplexer and the shared antenna system and configured to backhaul signals associated with the plurality of service providers.

21. The shared backhaul of claim 20, wherein the multiplexer is coupled to a plurality of interface circuits, each associated with a service provider, and wherein each interface circuit defines an individual beam associated with each service provider.

22. The shared backhaul of claim 20, further comprising an antenna coupled to the microwave transceiver and configured for a point-to-multipoint backhaul.

23. The shared backhaul of claim 20, further comprising an antenna coupled to the microwave transceiver and configured for a point-to-point backhaul with digital nulling.

24. A method for interfacing a shared antenna system among multiple service providers with existing base station equipment comprising:

converting a first digital signal associated with a signal received by the shared antenna system and associated with a first service provider to a first analog signal;

frequency converting the first analog signal to a receive baseband analog signal capable of being processed by existing base station equipment associated with the first service provider;

frequency converting an transmit baseband analog signal processed by the existing base station equipment associated with the first service provider to a second analog signal; and

,

converting the second analog signal to a second digital signal capable of being processed and transmitted by the shared digital antenna.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein frequency converting includes mixing the first analog signal with a local oscillator signal.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein frequency converting includes mixing the second analog signal with a local oscillator signal.

27. A method of installing a shared antenna system at an existing cell site, wherein the cell site includes base terminal station hardware associated with a first service provider, the base terminal station hardware configured to process baseband analog transmit and receive signals, the method comprising the steps of:

installing a shared antenna system, the shared antenna system configured to process a digital signal associated with the first service provider; and

,

interfacing the shared antenna system with the base terminal station hardware by installing a legacy support block intermediate the shared antenna system and the base terminal station hardware, the legacy support block performing analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion.