DISTRIBUTED DIGITAL REFERENCE CLOCK
First Claim
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with a plurality of service provider interfaces using a first set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the master host unit includes a master clock distribution unit that generates a digital master reference clock signal;
a plurality of communication links coupled to the master host unit, wherein the master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in N-bit words over the plurality of communication links;
the master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit words of digitized spectrum for the plurality of communication links;
the master host unit further adapted to communicate the digital master reference clock signal over the plurality of communication links;
at least one hybrid expansion unit, communicatively coupled to the master host unit over at least one of the plurality of communication links and adapted to communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the master host unit across the at least one of the plurality of communication links, the at least one hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum;
an analog communication medium coupled to the at least one hybrid expansion unit, wherein the at least one hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the analog communication medium;
each hybrid expansion unit further adapted to;
receive the digital master reference clock signal across one of the plurality of communication links;
generate an analog reference clock signal based on the received digital master reference clock signal; and
send the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium; and
at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to one of the at least one hybrid expansion units over the analog communication medium and adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the one of the at least one hybrid expansion units across the analog communication medium, each remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals over a plurality of air interfaces for the associated service provider interfaces;
each of the plurality of remote antenna units further adapted to receive the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes master host unit, hybrid expansion unit, and remote antenna unit. Master host unit communicates analog signals with service provider interfaces. Master host unit and hybrid expansion unit communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum over communication link. Hybrid expansion unit converts between N-bit words and analog spectrum. Hybrid expansion unit and remote antenna unit communicate analog spectrum over analog communication medium. Remote antenna unit transmits and receives wireless signals over air interfaces. Master host unit includes master clock distribution unit that generates digital master reference clock signal. Master host unit communicates digital master reference clock signal over communication link. Hybrid expansion unit receives digital master reference clock signal from master host unit over communication link and generates analog reference clock signal based on digital master reference clock signal. Hybrid expansion unit sends, and remote antenna unit receives, analog reference clock signal across analog communication medium.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with a plurality of service provider interfaces using a first set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the master host unit includes a master clock distribution unit that generates a digital master reference clock signal; a plurality of communication links coupled to the master host unit, wherein the master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in N-bit words over the plurality of communication links; the master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit words of digitized spectrum for the plurality of communication links; the master host unit further adapted to communicate the digital master reference clock signal over the plurality of communication links; at least one hybrid expansion unit, communicatively coupled to the master host unit over at least one of the plurality of communication links and adapted to communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the master host unit across the at least one of the plurality of communication links, the at least one hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum; an analog communication medium coupled to the at least one hybrid expansion unit, wherein the at least one hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the analog communication medium; each hybrid expansion unit further adapted to; receive the digital master reference clock signal across one of the plurality of communication links; generate an analog reference clock signal based on the received digital master reference clock signal; and send the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium; and at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to one of the at least one hybrid expansion units over the analog communication medium and adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the one of the at least one hybrid expansion units across the analog communication medium, each remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals over a plurality of air interfaces for the associated service provider interfaces; each of the plurality of remote antenna units further adapted to receive the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A hybrid expansion unit, comprising:
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means for communicating N-bit words of digitized spectrum with a master host unit across at least one digital communication link; means for converting between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a set of bands of analog spectrum; means for communicating the set of bands of analog spectrum across at least one analog communication medium; means for generating an analog reference clock signal based on a digital master reference clock signal received across the at least one digital communication link; and means for sending the analog reference clock signal across the at least one digital communication link. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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converting wireless spectrum for at least two wireless services at a master host unit between a first set of bands of analog spectrum and N-bit words of digitized spectrum; generating a digital master reference clock signal at the master host unit; transporting the digitized spectrum as a multiplexed signal on a digital media between the master host unit and a hybrid expansion unit; transporting the digital master reference clock on the digital media between the master host unit and the hybrid expansion unit; converting wireless spectrum for the at least two wireless services between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion unit; generating an analog reference clock signal based on the digital master reference clock signal received at the hybrid expansion unit; transporting the second set of bands of analog spectrum for the at least two wireless services on an analog media between the hybrid expansion unit and at least one remote unit having an air interface for each of the at least two wireless services; transporting the analog reference clock signal on the analog media between the hybrid expansion unit and the at least one remote unit; and communicating the wireless spectrum in analog format at the at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A communication system, comprising:
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a master host unit, the master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with service provider interfaces using a first set of bands of analog spectrum; a hybrid expansion unit coupled to the master host unit by a communication link, the master host unit and the hybrid expansion unit adapted to communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum over the communication link, the hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum, a remote antenna unit coupled to the hybrid expansion unit by an analog communication medium, the hybrid expansion unit and the remote antenna unit adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum over the analog communication medium, the remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals over air interfaces; wherein the master host unit includes a master clock distribution unit, the master clock distribution unit adapted to generate a digital master reference clock signal, the master host unit further adapted to communicate the digital master reference clock signal over the communication link; wherein the hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to receive the digital master reference clock signal from the master host unit over the communication link, the hybrid expansion unit further adapted to generate an analog reference clock signal based on the digital master reference clock signal, the hybrid expansion unit further adapted to send the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium; and wherein the remote antenna unit is further adapted to receive the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium.
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Specification