Integration of wireless LAN and cellular distributed antenna

• US 20030087672A1
• Filed: 08/30/2002
• Published: 05/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Kattukaran, Paul, Ong, Tien Yu
• Granted Patent: US 7,082,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A system and method for supporting wireless in-building communications uses a wireless local area network access point, a cellular distributed antenna system, and a cellular radio base station coupled to the cellular distributed antenna system. The cellular radio base station provides cellular communication service via the cellular distributed antenna system. A coupler couples the wireless local area network access point to the cellular distributed antenna system in reverse mode, such that the wireless local area network access point provides wireless local area network service via the cellular distributed antenna system.

Claims

1. A wireless in-building communication system, comprising:

a wireless local area network access point;

a cellular distributed antenna system;

a cellular radio base station coupled to said cellular distributed antenna system for providing cellular communication service via said cellular distributed antenna system; and

a coupler for coupling the wireless local area network access point to the cellular distributed antenna system in reverse mode, wherein said wireless local area network access point provides wireless local area network service via said cellular distributed antenna system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said reverse mode of said coupler provides at least one of:

substantially maximizing a wireless local area network signal directed toward the distributed antenna system;

substantially maximizing an isolation between the wireless local area network access point and the cellular radio base station; and

substantially minimizing an insertion loss to the cellular distributed antenna system.

3. A method for integrating a wireless local area network with a cellular distributed antenna system, comprising:

providing a wireless local area network access point;

providing a cellular distributed antenna system; and

coupling the wireless local area network access point to the cellular distributed antenna system using a coupler in reverse mode.