Redundant transponder array for a radio-over-fiber optical fiber cable
First Claim
1. A method of providing transponder redundancy in a transponder array of two or more transponders operably supported by an optical fiber cable, comprising:
- providing at least one transponder with first and second antennas adapted to operate at respective first and second normal operating frequencies so as to form corresponding first and second substantially co-located picocells;
forming at least the first picocell at the at least one transponder by providing the at least one transponder with at least a first signal having the first frequency; and
in the event that one transponder fails to form its corresponding first picocell, forming a backup picocell that covers at least a substantial portion of the failed transponder'"'"'s first picocell by providing the second antenna of an adjacent transponder to the failed transponder with the first signal of the failed transponder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A redundant transponder array for a radio-over-fiber (RoF) optical fiber cable is disclosed. The redundant transponder array includes two or more transponders having an antenna system. The antenna system has first and second antennas adapted to form first and second substantially co-located picocells when operated at respective first and second frequencies. The second antenna is adapted to form a picocell that extends into the adjacent picocell when operated at the first frequency. A transponder thus can serve as a backup transponder to a failed adjacent transponder by redirecting the first-frequency signal sent to the failed transponder to the second antenna of the adjacent transponder.
103 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of providing transponder redundancy in a transponder array of two or more transponders operably supported by an optical fiber cable, comprising:
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providing at least one transponder with first and second antennas adapted to operate at respective first and second normal operating frequencies so as to form corresponding first and second substantially co-located picocells; forming at least the first picocell at the at least one transponder by providing the at least one transponder with at least a first signal having the first frequency; and in the event that one transponder fails to form its corresponding first picocell, forming a backup picocell that covers at least a substantial portion of the failed transponder'"'"'s first picocell by providing the second antenna of an adjacent transponder to the failed transponder with the first signal of the failed transponder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A redundant transponder array for a Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) optical fiber cable, comprising:
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two or more transponders operably supported by the radio-over-fiber (RoF) optical fiber cable; wherein at least one transponder has first and second antennas having respective first and second normal operating frequencies and that form corresponding first and second substantially co-located picocells in response to respective first and second signals having the first and second frequencies, respectively; and wherein the second antenna is adapted to form a backup picocell that covers at least a substantial portion of the first picocell of the adjacent transponder when fed the signal of the first frequency. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A radio-over-fiber (RoF) optical fiber cable system with transponder redundancy, comprising:
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two or more transponders adapted to convert RF optical signals to RF electrical signals and vice versa, wherein at least two transponders include first and second antennas adapted to form first and second substantially co-located picocells in response to first and second downlink RF signals at first and second frequencies, respectively, wherein the first and second picocells of adjacent transponders are substantially non-interfering; corresponding two or more uplink and downlink optical fiber pairs, with each pair optically coupled to a corresponding transponder; and wherein the second antenna is adapted to form a backup picocell that substantially overlaps the first picocell of the adjacent transponder when provided with the first downlink RF signal of said adjacent transponder. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification