WIRELESS OVER PON

• US 20100040372A1
• Filed: 09/24/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alvarion Limited
• Original Assignee: Passover, Inc. (Alvarion Limited)
• Inventors: Gejbrowitz, Mordechai, Sade, Dan, Shacham, Gil, Zussman, Mordechai
• Granted Patent: US 9,554,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/71
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/271 Combination of different networks, e.g. star and ring configuration in the same network or two ring networks interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A system for communicating wireless signals includes a passive optical network (PON) between a central office (CO) and network subscribers. The CO has an optical line terminal (OLT) and a wireless base station. An RF/Optic converter converts base station radio frequency (RF) signals to and from corresponding optical signals. An optical combiner combines signals of the OLT and signals of the RF/Optic converter for communication over the PON with at least one optical network unit (ONU) at a location of one or more of the network subscribers, so that signals of the OLT and converted wireless base station signals are carried together over the PON. A fiber mounted wireless antenna unit (FMCA) having an optical interface and a wireless antenna, and communicating wireless signals of the wireless antenna with the ONU, including performing conversions between wireless RF signals and optical signals.

Claims

1. A system for communicating wireless signals, comprising:

a passive optical network (PON) between a central office (CO) and network subscribers, the CO having an optical line terminal (OLT) and a wireless base station;

an RF/Optic converter converting base station radio frequency (RF) signals to and from corresponding optical signals;

an optical combiner combining signals of the OLT and signals of the RF/Optic converter for communication over the PON with at least one optical network unit (ONU) at a location of one or more of the network subscribers, whereby signals of the OLT and converted wireless base station signals are carried together over the PON;

a fiber mounted wireless antenna unit (FMCA) having an optical interface and a wireless antenna, and communicating wireless signals of the wireless antenna with the ONU, including performing conversions between wireless RF signals and optical signals;

wherein the FMCA obtains the converted wireless base station signals from the PON and converts them back to provide reconverted RF signals for transmission by the FMCA using the wireless antenna, and obtains wireless RF signals from the wireless antenna and converts them to provide optical signals for communication over the PON to the wireless base station at the CO, thereby providing wireless coverage at the location of the one or more of the network subscribers.

2. The system for communicating wireless signals as set forth in claim 1, wherein the FMCA and the ONU are integrated together.

3. The system for communicating wireless signals as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless signals converted to optical signals are carried over the PON on dedicated frequencies.

4. The system for communicating wireless signals as set forth in claim 3, wherein the native frequency of the wireless signals is frequency-converted prior to conversion to optical signals.

5. The system for communicating wireless signals as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless signals are combined other RF signals to be carried over the PON prior to the conversion to optical signals.

6. The system for communicating wireless signals as set forth in claim 5, wherein the native frequency of the wireless signals is frequency-converted prior to conversion to optical signals.

7. A central office (CO) configured to operate in the system as set forth in claim 1.

8. A fiber mounted wireless antenna unit (FMCA) configured to operate in the system as set forth in claim 1.