Base station system for mobile communication

• US 20040004943A1
• Filed: 06/12/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Baik, Sung-Jun, Kim, Ki-Chul
• Granted Patent: US 7,684,435 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers

Abstract

A base station system for mobile communication between a mobile terminal and a base station controller, the base station system utilizing a digital modem unit for receiving a signal to be transmitted to the mobile terminal from the base station controller, framing the received signal according to a frame format for transmission different than an Ethernet specified data format, the frame format being a predetermined remote RF (radio frequency) unit frame, the digital modem unit transmitting a plurality of the remote RF unit frames in series over an Ethernet using twisted pair cable, at least one remote RF unit hub receiving the remote RF unit frames transmitted by the digital modem unit and distributing the received remote RF unit frames to a plurality of remote RF units via the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, and the plurality of remote RF units producing a deframed signal by deframing the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub, modulating the deframed signal to an RF signal, and transmitting the RF signal to the mobile terminal, wherein the remote RF unit frames are divided into a traffic frame for use in transmitting traffic data, which is transmitted and received by the mobile terminal and a control frame for use in transmitting a control address and control data, the control address differentiating the plurality of remote RF units from one another, the control data containing a command to control operation and functions of the plurality of remote RF units.

Claims

1. A base station system for mobile communication between a mobile terminal and a base station controller connected to a mobile exchange network, said base station system comprising:

a digital modem unit for receiving a signal to be transmitted to said mobile terminal from said base station controller, framing the received signal according to a frame format for transmission different than an Ethernet specified data format, said frame format being a predetermined remote RF (radio frequency) unit frame, said digital modem unit transmitting a plurality of said remote RF unit frames in series over an Ethernet using twisted pair cable;

at least one remote RF unit hub receiving said remote RF unit frames transmitted by said digital modem unit and distributing the received remote RF unit frames to a plurality of remote RF units via the Ethernet using twisted pair cable; and

said plurality of remote RF units producing a deframed signal by deframing the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub, modulating the deframed signal to an RF signal, and transmitting the RF signal to the mobile terminal.

2. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

said plurality of remote RF units receiving an RF signal transmitted by said mobile terminal, each said remote RF unit converting the received RF signal into an intermediate frequency IF signal, framing said IF signal according to a frame format for transmission to form a corresponding remote RF unit frame and transmitting the corresponding remote RF unit frame to said at least one remote RF unit hub via the Ethernet using twisted pair cable;

said remote RF unit hub multiplexing each of said corresponding remote RF unit frames transmitted by said remote RF units and a plurality of said remote RF unit frames in series over the Ethernet using twisted pair cable to said digital modem unit; and

said digital modem unit producing a deframed signal by deframing the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub and transmitting the deframed signal to the base station controller.

3. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one remote RF unit repeater connected between said at least one remote RF unit hub and one of said plurality of remote RF units through the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, said remote RF unit repeater performing restoration, wave-shaping and amplification of the remote RF unit frame transmitted between the at least one remote RF unit hub and said one of said plurality of remote RF units.

4. The base station system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising at least one remote RF unit repeater connected between said at least one remote RF unit hub and one of said plurality of remote RF units through the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, said remote RF unit repeater performing restoration, wave-shaping and amplification of the remote RF unit frame transmitted between the at least one remote RF unit hub and said one of said plurality of remote RF units.

5. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, said digital modem unit comprising:

a baseband modulator/demodulator receiving said signal to be transmitted to said mobile terminal from said base station controller and producing demodulated baseband traffic data;

a data receiver receiving said baseband traffic data, temporarily storing said baseband traffic data in a memory to prevent loss, and outputting said baseband traffic data in series;

a frame formatting unit receiving said baseband traffic data output by said data receiver and, according to said frame format for transmission and to produce said plurality of remote RF unit frames in series;

an interface converter coding said remote RF unit frames according to 4B/5B coding and outputting 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames; and

an Ethernet driver line coding said 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames for transmission over said Ethernet using twisted pair cable to said at least one remote RF unit hub.

6. The base station system as set forth in claim 2, said digital modem unit further comprising:

an Ethernet driver line decoding the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub and outputting line decoded signals;

an interface converter decoding, according to 4B/5B coding, said line decoded signals and outputting 4B/5B decoded remote RF unit frames;

a frame formatting unit deframing, according to said frame format for transmission, said 4B/5B decoded remote RF unit frames and outputting baseband traffic data;

a data receiver receiving said baseband traffic data, temporarily storing said baseband traffic data in a memory to prevent loss, and outputting said baseband traffic data; and

a baseband modulator/demodulator receiving said baseband traffic data and producing modulated baseband traffic data to be transmitted to said base station controller.

7. The base station system as set forth in claim 5, said digital modem unit further comprising a global positioning system receiving time and clock information for synchronous generation of a transmission clock signal, said the digital modem unit processing and transmitting data synchronously in response to said transmission clock signal.

8. The base station system as set forth in claim 7, said transmission clock signal having a 25 MHz frequency depending on a 100Base-T standard.

9. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, said at least one remote RF unit hub comprising:

a first Ethernet driver line decoding a signal comprising said plurality of said remote RF unit frames received from the digital modem unit through the twisted pair cable, and outputting a line decoded signal;

a first interface converter 4B/5B decoding the line decoded signal, and outputting the remote RF unit frames;

a first frame formatting unit deframing the remote RF unit frames output from the first interface converter according to the frame format for transmission, and outputting deframed data;

a multiplexing unit distributing the deframed data to a plurality of remote RF unit connection units;

each of the remote RF unit connection units being connected to corresponding ones of said remote RF units, each of the remote RF unit connection units framing the deframed data received from the multiplexing unit according to the frame format for transmission to output the remote RF unit frames, 4B/5B coding the output remote RF unit frames and line coding said 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames for transmission to said corresponding ones of said remote RF units via the Ethernet using said twisted pair cable; and

a remote RF unit hub controller controlling the distribution performed by the multiplexing unit.

10. The base station system as set forth in claim 9, each of said remote RF unit connection units including:

a second frame formatting unit framing the deframed data received from the multiplexing unit according to the frame format for transmission to output the remote RF unit frames;

a second interface converter 4B/5B coding the output remote RF unit frames received from the second frame formatting unit; and

a second Ethernet driver line coding said 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames for transmission to said corresponding one of said remote RF units via the Ethernet using said twisted pair cable.

11. The base station system as set forth in claim 2, said at least one remote RF unit hub comprising:

a plurality of remote RF unit connection units being connected to corresponding ones of said remote RF units, each of said remote RF unit connection units including;

a second Ethernet driver line decoding the remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit and outputting line decoded signals;

;

a second interface converter decoding, according to 4B/5B coding, said line decoded signals and outputting 4B/5B decoded remote RF unit frames; and

a second frame formatting unit deframing, according to said frame format for transmission, said 4B/5B decoded remote RF unit frames and outputting traffic data;

a multiplexing unit outputting multiplexed data by multiplexing the traffic data output from the second frame formatting unit under the control of a remote RF unit hub controller;

a first frame formatting unit producing, from the multiplexed data, a plurality of remote RF unit frames in series according to said frame format for transmission;

a first interface converter coding said remote RF unit frames according to 4B/5B coding and outputting 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames; and

a first Ethernet driver line coding said 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frames for transmission over said Ethernet using twisted pair cable to said digital modem unit.

12. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, each of said remote RF units comprising:

an Ethernet driver line decoding a signal comprising said plurality of said remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub through the twisted pair cable, and outputting a line decoded signal;

an interface converter 4B/5B decoding the line decoded signal, and outputting the remote RF unit frames;

a frame formatting unit deframing the remote RF unit frames output from the first interface converter according to the frame format for transmission, and outputting traffic data of a baseband;

an IF (intermediate frequency) processor converts traffic data of a baseband received from the frame formatting unit to an IF signal; and

an RF processor modulating the IF signal to an RF signal, and transmitting the RF signal to the mobile terminal through an antenna.

13. The base station system as set forth in claim 2, each of said remote RF units comprising:

an RF processor receiving the RF signal transmitted by said mobile terminal and converting the received RF signal into an intermediate frequency (IF) signal;

an IF processor converting the IF signal received from the RF processor to traffic data of a baseband;

a frame formatting converting the traffic data of a baseband into a remote RF unit frame according to said frame format for transmission;

an interface converter coding said remote RF unit frame according to 4B/5B coding and outputting a 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frame; and

an Ethernet driver line coding said 4B/5B coded remote RF unit frame for transmission over said Ethernet using twisted pair cable.

14. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the remote RF unit frames are divided into:

a traffic frame for use in transmitting traffic data, which is transmitted and received by the mobile terminal; and

a control frame for use in transmitting a control address and control data, the control address differentiating the plurality of remote RF units from one another, the control data containing a command to control operation and functions of the plurality of remote RF units.

15. The base station system as set forth in claim 7, said digital modem unit further comprising a global positioning system receiving time and clock information for synchronous generation of a transmission clock signal, said the digital modem unit processing and transmitting data synchronously in response to said transmission clock signal;

and

said at least one remote RF unit hub further comprising a phase locked loop clock restoring unit generating a restored transmission clock signal in response to a clock signal extracted by said first Ethernet driver from said remote RF unit frames received from the digital modem unit, said restored transmission clock signal being applied to said first interface converter, said first frame formatting unit and said remote RF unit connection units.

16. The base station system as set forth in claim 15, said transmission clock signal and said restored transmission clock signal having a 25 MHz frequency depending on a 100Base-T standard.

17. The base station system as set forth in claim 7, said digital modem unit further comprising a global positioning system receiving time and clock information for synchronous generation of a transmission clock signal, said the digital modem unit processing and transmitting data synchronously in response to said transmission clock signal;

and

each of said remote RF units further comprising a phase locked loop clock restoring unit generating a restored transmission clock signal in response to a clock signal extracted by said Ethernet driver from said remote RF frames received from the remote RF unit hub, said restored transmission clock signal being applied to said interface converter, said frame formatting unit, said IF processor and said RF processor.

18. The base station system as set forth in claim 17, said transmission clock signal and said restored transmission clock signal having a 25 MHz frequency depending on a 100Base-T standard.

19. The base station system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising at least one remote RF unit repeater connected between said at least one remote RF unit hub and one of said plurality of remote RF units through the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, said remote RF unit repeater comprising:

a first Ethernet driver line decoding a signal comprising said plurality of said remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit hub through the twisted pair cable, and outputting a line decoded signal;

a traffic shaper restoring, wave-shaping and amplifying the line decoded signal output by the first Ethernet driver, and outputting amplified data; and

a second Ethernet driver line coding the amplified data.

20. The base station system as set forth in claim 19, said digital modem unit further comprising a global positioning system receiving time and clock information for synchronous generation of a transmission clock signal, said the digital modem unit processing and transmitting data synchronously in response to said transmission clock signal;

and

said remote RF unit repeater further comprising a phase locked loop clock restoring unit generating a restored transmission clock signal in response to a clock signal extracted by said first Ethernet driver from said remote RF frames received from the remote RF unit hub, said restored transmission clock signal being applied to said traffic shaper and said second Ethernet driver.

21. The base station system as set forth in claim 20, said transmission clock signal and said restored transmission clock signal having a 25 MHz frequency depending on a 100Base-T standard.

22. The base station system as set forth in claim 2, further comprising at least one remote RF unit repeater connected between said at least one remote RF unit hub and one of said plurality of remote RF units through the Ethernet using twisted pair cable, said remote RF unit repeater comprising:

a second Ethernet driver line decoding a signal comprising said plurality of said remote RF unit frames received from the remote RF unit through the twisted pair cable, and outputting a line decoded signal;

a traffic shaper restoring, wave-shaping and amplifying the line decoded signal output by the second Ethernet driver, and outputting amplified data; and

a first Ethernet driver line coding the amplified data.