METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR USING DISTRIBUTED ANTENNAS

• US 20080212969A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 09/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ExteNet Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Larsen, Tormod, Fasshauer, David, Lekacz, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,023,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/116
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1242 Rigid masts specially adapted for supporting an aerial
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A distributed antenna system for using distributed antennas provides for locating a plurality of distributed antennas on existing infrastructure such as existing utility poles, traffic lights/signals, streetlights, etc. Each of the distributed antennas is connected to a base station hotel using a fiber optic cable. The distributed antenna system allows users to access wireless services provided by a plurality of carriers and using a plurality of communication technologies using a truly shared network and without having to implement duplicative wireless infrastructure components.

Claims

1. A distributed antenna system for providing wireless communication, the system comprising:

a base station hotel having a plurality of base transceiver stations, each of the plurality of base transceiver stations receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals;

a plurality of antennas located remotely from the base station hotel and communicatively connected to the base station via a fiber optic cable; and

an optical conversion equipment adapted to (i) receive signal from and transmit signal to the plurality of base transceiver stations, (ii) convert the signal received from the base transceiver stations into optical signal, (iii) receive optical signal from one of the plurality of antennas, and (iv) convert the optical signal and communicate the converted signal to one of the plurality of base transceiver stations.

2. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas are located on at least one of:

(1) a traffic light;

(2) a utility pole;

(3) a streetlight pole; and

(4) a mounting bracket located on a mid-span of a roadway.

3. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is attached to a cable-span.

4. The distributed antenna system of claim 3, wherein the antenna attached to the cable-span is an omni-directional antenna.

5. The distributed antenna system of claim 3, wherein the antenna attached to the cable-span is a directional antenna.

6. The distributed antenna system of claim 3, wherein the antenna attached to the cable-span is attached to two steel braided cables.

7. The distributed antenna system of claim 3, wherein the antenna attached to the cable-span using a bracket adapted to provide at least one of (1) adjustable down-tilt;

(2) azimuth adjustment; and

(3) stability to the antenna.

8. The distributed antenna system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is attached to a pole using a support bracket.

9. The distributed antenna system of claim 8, wherein the support bracket is adapted to provide adjustable down tilt and azimuth adjustment to the antenna.

10. The distributed antenna system of claim 8, wherein the support bracket is adapted to support the antenna against wind load in excess of one hundred and fifty miles per hour.

11. The distributed antenna system of claim 10, wherein the support bracket comprises:

a horizontal arm adapted to be attached to a top of the pole;

a vertical arm fixedly attached to the horizontal arm and further adapted to be attached to a side of the pole;

an angular arm adjustably attached to the horizontal arm and the vertical arm;

a cylindrical arm movably attached to the horizontal arm and adapted to support an antenna.

12. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, further comprising an antenna seat slidably attached to the cylindrical arm.

13. The distributed antenna system of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical arm further comprises a vertical cylindrical arm adapted to install an antenna;

and

wherein the vertical cylindrical arm is adapted to be rotated around an azimuthal axis.

14. The distributed antenna system of claim 13, further comprising a radom mounted on the support bracket wherein the radom is adapted to house the antenna.

15. A method of providing communication between a wireless carrier'"'"'s network and a consumer wireless device, the method comprising:

receiving a communication signal from the carrier'"'"'s network at a base station hotel;

converting the signal received from the carrier'"'"'s network into an optical signal;

transmitting the optical signal to a plurality of distributed remote nodes, wherein the plurality of remote nodes are located on plurality of utility poles;

transmitting the optical signal to an antenna for conversion into a wireless signal; and

communicating the wireless signal to the consumer wireless device using the antenna.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the antenna is located on one of the plurality of utility poles.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the antenna is located on an antenna mounting bracket attached to cable span.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the antenna is at least one of an omni-directional antenna and a directional antenna.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising installing a radom around the antenna.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the antenna is integrated into the pole structure of the utility pole.