Wireless communication subsystem with a digital interface

• US 20100272163A1
• Filed: 07/06/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NETGEAR, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Adaptix, Inc. (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Inventors: a'Nyeholt, Heinz Lycklama, Prager, David, Randall, Dave, Rothaar, Bruce C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,755,395 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/220
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/54 using one central controller connected to several sub-controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which provide wireless communication systems implementing subsystems adapted for flexible deployment configurations and to resist the introduction of interference. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless communication system configuration in which an ODU subsystem is coupled to an IDU subsystem using a fiber optic link. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ODU subsystem is adapted to provide conversion between digital and analog to thereby facilitate the use of a digital link between the ODU subsystem and a corresponding IDU subsystem. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a plurality of ODU subsystems configured according to the present invention to provide wireless communication coverage of a service area, such as to provide a wireless application termination system (WATS) hub for use in providing wireless communication links with respect to a plurality of subscriber units.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system comprising:

an outdoor unit comprising a wireless interface and a first digital interface to communicate subscriber data, wherein the outdoor unit performs all analog signal processing associated with the wireless communication system;

an indoor unit comprising a digital communication backbone interface and a second digital interface to communicate subscriber data, wherein the indoor unit performs only digital signal processing; and

;

a first digital link coupled to the first digital interface and the second digital interface to provide digital communication between the indoor and outdoor units.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the digital link is a fiber optic cable.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1 further comprising:

a timing circuitry to synchronize the digital communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit, wherein a portion of the digital communication includes control data.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein:

the outdoor unit comprises a third digital interface and the indoor unit comprises a fourth digital interface, wherein a second digital link is coupled to the third and fourth digital interfaces.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 4 wherein the second digital interface comprises multi-port data routing functionality.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 4 wherein the second digital interface comprises multi-port switching functionality.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the outdoor unit comprises:

a frequency converter;

coupled to the wireless interface to convert carrier frequency between an intermediate frequency and a radio frequency;

a digital to analog circuitry coupled to the frequency converter and a digital multiplexer;

an analog to digital circuitry coupled to the frequency converter and the digital multiplexer; and

wherein the first digital interface is coupled to the digital multiplexer.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the indoor unit comprises:

an OFDM digital modem coupled to the digital communication backbone;

a digital multiplexer coupled to the OFDM digital modem; and

wherein the second digital interface is coupled to the digital multiplexer.

9. A wireless communication method comprising:

providing an outdoor unit comprising a wireless interface and a first digital interface to communicate subscriber data, wherein the outdoor unit performs all analog signal processing associated with the wireless communication system;

providing an indoor unit comprising a digital communication backbone interface and a second digital interface to communicate subscriber data, wherein the indoor unit performs only digital signal processing; and

;

providing digital communication between the indoor and outdoor units by coupling the first digital interface and the second digital interface using a first digital link.

10. The wireless communication method of claim 9 wherein the digital link is a fiber optic cable.

11. The wireless communication method of claim 9 further comprising:

synchronizing the digital communication between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit using a timing circuitry, wherein a portion of the digital communication includes control data.

12. The wireless communication method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing a third digital interface for the outdoor unit;

providing a fourth digital interface for the indoor unit; and

coupling the third and fourth digital interfaces using a second digital link.

13. The wireless communication method of claim 12 wherein the second digital interface comprises multi-port data routing functionality.

14. The wireless communication method of claim 12 wherein the second digital interface comprises multi-port switching functionality.

15. The wireless communication method of claim 9 further comprising:

coupling a frequency converter to the wireless interface of the outdoor unit to convert carrier frequency between an intermediate frequency and a radio frequency;

coupling a digital to analog circuitry to the frequency converter and a digital multiplexer;

coupling an analog to digital circuitry to the frequency converter and the digital multiplexer; and

coupling the first digital interface to the digital multiplexer.

16. The wireless communication method of claim 9 wherein the indoor unit comprises:

coupling an OFDM digital modem to the digital communication backbone interface of the indoor unit;

coupling a digital multiplexer to the OFDM digital modem; and

coupling the second digital interface to the digital multiplexer.