APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRANSFERRING SIGNALS BETWEEN A FIBER NETWORK AND A WIRELESS NETWORK ANTENNA
First Claim
1. An apparatus for transferring signals between a fiber network and a wireless network antenna, with the fiber network including fiber optic cables and utility poles, said apparatus comprising:
- a) a fiber module adapted to be operatively coupled to the fiber network so as to enable transfer of fiber signals to and from the fiber network, with said fiber module comprising a fiber module conversion means for converting between said fiber signals and RF signals in a bidirectional radio frequency format compatible with the DOCSIS interface standard;
b) a RF/packet converter in RF communicating relation with said fiber module so as to enable bidirectional transfer of said RF signals to and from said fiber module, with said RF/packet converter comprising at least one signal processor adapted to convert between said RF signals and data packets in a packet format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
c) a WIMAX media access control layer in packet communicating relation with said RF/packet converter so as to enable transfer of said data packets to and from said RF/packet converter, with said media access control layer comprising at least one WIMAX MAC processor adapted to bidirectionally convert between said data packets and bit stream signals in a bit stream format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
d) a baseband physical layer in bit stream communicating relation with said media access control layer so as to enable operative transfer of said bit stream signals to and from said media access control layer, with said baseband physical layer comprising a PHY processor adapted to bidirectionally convert between said bit stream signals and baseband digital signals in a baseband digital format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
e) a radio module in baseband digital communicating relation with said baseband physical layer so as to enable transfer of said baseband digital signals to and from said baseband physical layer, with said radio module comprising a radio module conversion means for converting between said baseband digital signals and analog signals in an analog format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard, with said radio module adapted to be operatively coupled to the wireless network antenna so as to enable transfer of said analog signals to and from the wireless network antenna;
wherein said apparatus operatively transfers signals between the fiber network and the wireless network antenna in a fiber to wireless stage and in a wireless to fiber stage;
wherein, in the fiber to wireless stage, said fiber module transfers said fiber signals from the fiber network, said fiber module conversion means converts said fiber signals into said RF signals, said RF/packet converter transfers said RF signals from said fiber module, said at least one signal processor converts said RF signals into said data packets, said WIMAX media access control layer transfers said data packets from said RF/packet converter, said at least one WIMAX MAC processor converts said data packets into said bit stream signals, said baseband physical layer transfers said bit stream signals from said media access control layer, said PHY processor converts said bit stream signals into said baseband digital signals, said radio module transfers said baseband digital signals from said baseband physical layer, said radio module conversion means converts said baseband digital signals into said analog signals, and said radio module transfers said analog signals to the wireless network antenna for transmission according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
wherein, in the wireless to fiber stage, said radio module transfers said analog signals from the wireless network antenna according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard, said radio module conversion means converts said analog signals into said baseband digital signals, said radio module transfers said baseband digital signals to said baseband physical layer, said PHY processor converts said baseband digital signals into said bit stream signals and said baseband physical layer transfers said bit stream signals to said WIMAX media access control layers said at least one WIMAX MAC processor converts said bit stream signals into said data packets and said WIMAX media access control layer transfers said data packets to said RF/packet converter, said at least one signal processor converts said data packets into said RF signals, said RF/packet converter transfers said RF signals to said fiber module, said fiber module conversion means converts said RF signals into said fiber signals, and said fiber module transfers said fiber signals to the fiber network.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method transfers signals between a fiber network and a wireless network antenna. In a fiber to wireless stage, fiber signals are optically transferred from the fiber network and converted into RF signals compatible with the DOCSIS interface standard. The RF signals are electronically converted into data packets, the data packets are electronically converted into baseband digital signals, and the digital signals are converted into analog signals, before being transferred to the network antenna for wireless transmission. The data packets, digital signals, and analog signals are compatible with the IEEE 802.l6 wireless networking standard. Conversely, in a wireless to fiber stage, the analog signals are transferred from the antenna, and converted into digital signals, which are then electronically converted into data packets. The data packets are electronically converted into RF signals, which are next converted into fiber signals, before being optically transferred to the fiber network.
115 Citations
47 Claims
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1. An apparatus for transferring signals between a fiber network and a wireless network antenna, with the fiber network including fiber optic cables and utility poles, said apparatus comprising:
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a) a fiber module adapted to be operatively coupled to the fiber network so as to enable transfer of fiber signals to and from the fiber network, with said fiber module comprising a fiber module conversion means for converting between said fiber signals and RF signals in a bidirectional radio frequency format compatible with the DOCSIS interface standard;
b) a RF/packet converter in RF communicating relation with said fiber module so as to enable bidirectional transfer of said RF signals to and from said fiber module, with said RF/packet converter comprising at least one signal processor adapted to convert between said RF signals and data packets in a packet format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
c) a WIMAX media access control layer in packet communicating relation with said RF/packet converter so as to enable transfer of said data packets to and from said RF/packet converter, with said media access control layer comprising at least one WIMAX MAC processor adapted to bidirectionally convert between said data packets and bit stream signals in a bit stream format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
d) a baseband physical layer in bit stream communicating relation with said media access control layer so as to enable operative transfer of said bit stream signals to and from said media access control layer, with said baseband physical layer comprising a PHY processor adapted to bidirectionally convert between said bit stream signals and baseband digital signals in a baseband digital format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
e) a radio module in baseband digital communicating relation with said baseband physical layer so as to enable transfer of said baseband digital signals to and from said baseband physical layer, with said radio module comprising a radio module conversion means for converting between said baseband digital signals and analog signals in an analog format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard, with said radio module adapted to be operatively coupled to the wireless network antenna so as to enable transfer of said analog signals to and from the wireless network antenna;
wherein said apparatus operatively transfers signals between the fiber network and the wireless network antenna in a fiber to wireless stage and in a wireless to fiber stage;
wherein, in the fiber to wireless stage, said fiber module transfers said fiber signals from the fiber network, said fiber module conversion means converts said fiber signals into said RF signals, said RF/packet converter transfers said RF signals from said fiber module, said at least one signal processor converts said RF signals into said data packets, said WIMAX media access control layer transfers said data packets from said RF/packet converter, said at least one WIMAX MAC processor converts said data packets into said bit stream signals, said baseband physical layer transfers said bit stream signals from said media access control layer, said PHY processor converts said bit stream signals into said baseband digital signals, said radio module transfers said baseband digital signals from said baseband physical layer, said radio module conversion means converts said baseband digital signals into said analog signals, and said radio module transfers said analog signals to the wireless network antenna for transmission according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
wherein, in the wireless to fiber stage, said radio module transfers said analog signals from the wireless network antenna according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard, said radio module conversion means converts said analog signals into said baseband digital signals, said radio module transfers said baseband digital signals to said baseband physical layer, said PHY processor converts said baseband digital signals into said bit stream signals and said baseband physical layer transfers said bit stream signals to said WIMAX media access control layers said at least one WIMAX MAC processor converts said bit stream signals into said data packets and said WIMAX media access control layer transfers said data packets to said RF/packet converter, said at least one signal processor converts said data packets into said RF signals, said RF/packet converter transfers said RF signals to said fiber module, said fiber module conversion means converts said RF signals into said fiber signals, and said fiber module transfers said fiber signals to the fiber network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of transferring signals between a fiber network and a wireless network antenna, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) optically transferring fiber signals to and from the fiber network;
b) converting between said fiber signals and RF signals in a bidirectional radio frequency format compatible with the DOCSIS interface standard;
c) electronically converting between said RF signals and data packets in a packet format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
d) electronically converting between said data packets and baseband digital signals in a baseband digital format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard;
e) converting between said baseband digital signals and analog signals in an analog format compatible with the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
f) transferring said analog signals to and from the wireless network antenna;
wherein, in an operative fiber to wireless stage, said fiber signals are optically transferred from the fiber network, said fiber signals are converted into said RF signals, said RF signals are electronically converted into said data packets, said data packets are electronically converted into said baseband digital signals, said baseband digital signals are converted into said analog signals, and said analog signals are transferred to the wireless network antenna for transmission according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard; and
wherein, in an operative wireless to fiber stage, said analog signals are transferred from the wireless network antenna according to the IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard, said analog signals are converted into said baseband digital signals, said baseband digital signals are electronically converted into said data packets, said data packets are electronically converted into said RF signals, said RF signals are converted into said fiber signals, and said fiber signals are optically transferred to the fiber networked. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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Specification