Method and System for Integrating an RF Module into a Digital Network Access Point

• US 20110130163A1
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Published: 06/02/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Mobileaccess Networks Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: BEN SHLOMO, Dror, SHAPIRA, Isaac, SABAN, Ofer, ATIAS, Nissim, HAZANI, Ami
• Granted Patent: US 9,026,036 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting wireless RF services over a wired digital data network infrastructure, such as an Ethernet network. The system includes a control unit that can be connected to a base station that supports one or more wireless RF services. The control unit converts the wireless RF signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) that does not interfere with the data network signals and combines the IF signals onto the cable run to a remote network device on the digital data network. The remote network device includes a multiplexer or a low pass filter and a high pass filter that separates the IF signals from the digital data signals on the downlink and combines the IF signals with digital data signals on the uplink over the cable run. The IF signals can be input to an RF module connected to the remote network device which converts the IF signals back to the original RF signals for transmission by a transceiver to wireless devices. Similarly, on the uplink, RF signals received from the wireless devices through the transceiver can be converted to IF for transmission over the cable run to the base station. In one conventional data network each cable run includes 4 pair of conductors and each pair can be used to carry a different IF frequency band. In addition, each pair can be configured to carry more than one IF frequency band using FDD or TDD. Additional signaling channels, such as for management signaling can be provided using differential signaling between 2 pair of conductors. The filters can be implemented using various technologies, including silicon, LTCC and discrete components and active filters can be provided to allow for configuring and tuning of performance in the field.

Claims

1. A network device comprising:

a network connector adapted for connecting the network device to a cable run of a network;

a network interface connected to the network connector and adapted for transmitting and receiving, and processing network signals transferred over the network;

a first low pass filter connected between the network connector to the network interface;

an RF module connected to the network connector; and

a high pass filter in the RF module connecting the network connector to the RF module.

2. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising an expansion connector connecting the RF module to the network connector and enabling the RF module to be disconnected from the network device.

3. The network device according to claim 2 wherein the expansion connector includes a control signal line connecting a controller in the network device with a controller in the RF module.

4. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising a control signal line connecting a controller in the network device with a controller in the RF module.

5. The network device according to claim 1 wherein the RF module further includes an inductor network connected to at least two conductors of the network connector for transferring network management signals between the RF module and the network.

6. The network device according to claim 1 further comprising a network transformer connected between the first low pass filter and the network connector.

7. The network device according to claim 6 further comprising a second low pass filter connected between the network transformer and the network connector.

8. The network device according to claim 1 wherein the network device is a wireless network access point.

9. The network device according to claim 1 wherein the network device is one of a network hub, a network switch and a network router.

10. The network device according to claim 1 wherein the RF module includes a transceiver configured to transmit RF signals associated with one or more of cellular telephony services, medical telemetry services and global positioning system services.

11. A network access point comprising:

a network connector adapted for connecting the network access point to a cable run of a network;

a network interface connected to a network signal processor and a wireless transceiver;

a first low pass filter connecting the network connector to the network interface; and

an expansion connector for connecting an RF module to the network access point, the expansion connector being connected to the network connector.

12. The network access point according to claim 11 further comprising an RF module connected to the expansion connector connecting the RF module to the network connector;

and wherein the RF module includes a high pass filter the network connector to a transceiver in the RF module.

13. The network access point according to claim 12, wherein the expansion connector allows the RF module to be disconnected from the network device.

14. The network access point according to claim 12 wherein the RF module further includes an inductor network connected to at least two conductors of the network connector for transferring network management signals between the RF module and the network.

15. The network access point according to claim 11 further comprising a control signal line connecting a controller in the network device with a controller in the RF module.

16. The network access point according to claim 11 further comprising a network transformer connected between the first low pass filter and the network connector.

17. The network access point according to claim 16 further comprising a second low pass filter connected between the network transformer and the network connector.

18. The network access point according to claim 11 wherein the network access point is an Ethernet wireless network access point.

19. The network access point according to claim 11 wherein the RF module includes a transceiver configured to transmit RF signals associated with one or more of cellular telephony services, medical telemetry services and global positioning system services.

20. The network access point according to claim 11 wherein network the access point receives power over the cable run.

21. A system for transferring network data and RF based services over a common facility, the system comprising:

an RF base station and a network switch connected to a control unit;

one or more cable runs, each cable run connecting the control unit to a network access point;

at least one network access point including an RF module for providing RF based services, the network access point including a low pass filter and a high pass filter for separating network signals and IF signals on the downlink and combining network signals and IF signals on the uplink, wherein the RF module can be disconnected from the network access point;

wherein the control unit includes an up-down converter for converting each RF signal associated with RF based service to an intermediate frequency (IF) and transmitting the IF signal over the cable run to the network access point and for converting IF signals received over the cable run from the network access point to RF signals; and

the RF module includes an up-down converter for converting each RF signal associated with RF based service to an intermediate frequency (IF) and transmitting the IF signal over the cable run to the control unit and for converting IF signals received over the cable run from the control unit to RF signals;

22. A system according to claim 21 further comprising a connector, connecting the RF module to the network access point and enabling the RF module to be disconnected from the network access point.

23. A system according to claim 21 wherein at least one cable run includes 4 pair of wires and each pair of wires carries network data signals and at least one RF based service signal at an IF.