Configuration Sub-System for Telecommunication Systems

• US 20130071112A1
• Filed: 09/17/2012
• Published: 03/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Wireless Systems GmbH (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Eisenwinter, Stefan, Stefanik, Joerg, Dussmann, Alfons, Melester, Matthew Thomas, Hmimy, Ahmed H., Mini, Massimiliano
• Granted Patent: US 8,831,593 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/006 using switches for selecting the desired band H04B1/0057 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/40 Circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/0085 using test signal generators
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/12 of transmit antennas, e.g. of the amplitude or phase
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/143 Downlink power control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/24 using SIR [Signal to Interference Ratio] or other wireless path parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/245 taking into account received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

Certain aspects are directed to a configuration sub-system for telecommunication systems. The configuration sub-system can include a test signal generator, a power measurement device, at least one additional power measurement device, and a controller. The test signal generator can be integrated into components of a telecommunication system. The test signal generator can provide a test signal to a signal path of the telecommunication system. The power measurement device and the additional power measurement device can respectively be integrated into different components of the telecommunication system. The power measurement device and the additional power measurement device can respectively measure the power of the test signal at different measurement points in the signal path. The controller can normalize signals transmitted via the telecommunication system by adjusting a path gain for the signal path based on measurements from the power measurement device and the additional power measurement device.

Claims

1. A configuration sub-system, comprising:

a test signal generator integrated into one or more components of a telecommunication system, the test signal generator being configured to provide a test signal to a signal path of the telecommunication system;

a power measurement device integrated into at least one component of the telecommunication system, the power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal or any other service signal at a measurement point in the signal path traversed by the test signal;

at least one additional power measurement device integrated into at least one additional component of the telecommunication system, the at least one additional power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal or any other service signal at at least one additional measurement point in the signal path traversed by the test signal; and

a controller configured to normalize signals transmitted via the telecommunication system by adjusting a path gain for the signal path based on measurements from the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device.

2. The configuration sub-system of claim 1,

wherein the signal path comprises a downlink path of a distributed antenna system;

and

wherein the controller is configured to normalize a plurality of downlink signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system by;

determining a signal power loss or drop in the downlink path based on power measurements from the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device; and

compensating for the signal power loss or drop in the downlink path by adjusting the path gain of the downlink path such that downlink signals are transmitted at a specified power level by a remote antenna unit of the downlink path.

3. The configuration sub-system of claim 2, wherein the test signal generator is disposed in a base station router of the distributed antenna system, the power measurement device is disposed in an optical transceiver of the distributed antenna system, and the at least one additional power measurement device is disposed in the remote antenna unit.

4. The configuration sub-system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the path gain of the downlink path by modifying a signal attenuation by an attenuator in one or more of a base station router of the distributed antenna system, a sector matrix of the distributed antenna system, a splitter/combiner of the distributed antenna system having a variable attenuator, an optical transceiver of the distributed antenna system, or the remote antenna unit.

5. The configuration sub-system of claim 1,

wherein the signal path comprises an uplink path of a distributed antenna system;

and

wherein the controller is configured to normalize a plurality of uplink signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system by;

determining a noise level at the measurement point;

determining at least one additional noise level at the at least one additional measurement point; and

adjusting the path gain of the uplink path such that noise included in an uplink signal traversing the uplink path is prevented from corrupting at least one additional uplink signal from at least one additional uplink path, wherein the uplink signal is combined with the at least one additional uplink signal at a combiner of the distributed antenna system.

6. The configuration sub-system of claim 5, wherein the test signal generator is disposed in a remote antenna unit of the distributed antenna system, the power measurement device is disposed in a base station router of the distributed antenna system, and the at least one additional power measurement device is disposed in an optical transceiver of the distributed antenna system.

7. The configuration sub-system of claim 1,

wherein the test signal generator is further configured to provide the test signal and an additional test signal to a downlink path of a distributed antenna system;

wherein the controller is further configured to select respective frequencies of the test signal and the additional test signal such that mixing the test signal and the additional test signal generates a passive intermodulation product having a frequency in an uplink frequency band, wherein the uplink frequency band comprises a plurality of frequencies of uplink signals received by a remote antenna unit of the distributed antenna system; and

wherein the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device are disposed in an uplink path of the distributed antenna system and are further configured to measure a signal power of the passive intermodulation product.

8. The configuration sub-system of claim 1,

further comprising an identification signal module configured to provide an identification signal with the test signal, wherein the identification signal identifies a device from which the identification signal originated;

and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a respective report from each component in the signal path indicating receipt of the identification signal; and

generate a network schematic and net-list including each component of the signal path reporting receipt of the identification signal.

9. The configuration sub-system of claim 8,

wherein test signal generator is further configured to provide at least one additional test signal to at least one additional signal path;

wherein the identification signal module is further configured to provide at least one additional identification signal with the at least one additional test signal; and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a respective report from each component in the at least one additional signal path indicating receipt of the at least one additional identification signal; and

generate the network schematic and net-list to include each component and signal route of the at least one additional signal path reporting receipt of the identification signal.

10. The configuration sub-system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically modify signal coverage provided by at least one base station in communication with the telecommunication system based on at least one trigger.

11. The configuration sub-system of claim 10 wherein the at least one trigger comprises one or more of an external trigger received via by the controller via an input/output interface, a schedule, or an alarm condition.

12. A method comprising:

providing, by a configuration sub-system, a test signal to a signal path in a telecommunication system;

receiving, by the configuration sub-system, a power measurement for the test signal at two or more measurement points in the signal path;

normalizing, by the configuration sub-system, signals transmitted via the telecommunication system by adjusting a path gain for the signal path based on power measurements at the two or more measurement points.

13. The method of claim 12,

wherein the signal path comprises a downlink path of a distributed antenna system;

and

wherein normalizing signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system comprises;

determining a signal power loss or drop in the downlink path on the power measurements at the two or more measurement points; and

compensating for the signal power loss or drop in the downlink path by adjusting the path gain of the downlink path such that downlink signals are transmitted at a specified power level by a remote antenna unit of the downlink path.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the path gain of the downlink path comprises modifying a signal attenuation by an attenuator in the downlink path, wherein the attenuator is disposed in one or more of a base station router of the distributed antenna system, a sector matrix of the distributed antenna system, an optical transceiver of the distributed antenna system, or the remote antenna unit.

15. The method of claim 12,

wherein the signal path comprises an uplink path of a distributed antenna system;

and

wherein normalizing signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system comprises;

determining noise levels and RF power levels at each of the two or more measurement points;

adjusting the path gain of the uplink path such that noise included in an uplink signal traversing the uplink path is prevented from corrupting at least one additional uplink signal from at least one additional uplink path, wherein the uplink signal is combined with the at least one additional uplink signal at a combiner of the distributed antenna system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein adjusting the path gain of the uplink path comprises modifying a signal attenuation by an attenuator in the uplink path, wherein the attenuator is disposed in one or more of a base station router of the distributed antenna system, a sector matrix of the distributed antenna system, an optical transceiver, or a remote antenna unit of the distributed antenna system.

17. A distributed antenna system, comprising:

a test signal generator disposed in a base station router, the test signal generator configured to provide a respective test signal to each of a plurality of signal paths of the distributed antenna system, wherein each of the plurality of signal paths comprises;

a power measurement device integrated into one or more units of the respective signal path, the power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal at a measurement point in the respective signal path traversed by the test signal;

at least one additional power measurement device integrated into at least one additional component of the respective signal path, the at least one additional power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal at at least one additional measurement point in the respective signal path traversed by the test signal; and

a controller disposed in the base station router, the controller configured to normalize signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system by adjusting a path gain for each signal path based on power measurements from the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device.

18. The distributed antenna system of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of signal paths comprises a plurality of downlink paths;

and

wherein the controller is configured to normalize a plurality of downlink signals transmitted via the plurality of downlink paths by;

determining a signal power loss or drop in each downlink path based on the power measurements from the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device; and

compensating for the signal power loss or drop in each downlink path by adjusting the path gain of each downlink path such that downlink signals are transmitted at a specified power level by a respective remote antenna unit of each downlink path.

19. The distributed antenna system of claim 18, wherein the power measurement device is disposed in a respective optical transceiver in communication with the respective remote antenna unit and wherein the at least one additional power measurement device is disposed in the respective remote antenna unit.

20. The distributed antenna system of claim 17,

wherein the signal path comprises a plurality of uplink paths;

and

wherein at least one of the test signal generator or an additional test signal generator disposed in a respective remote antenna unit is configured to generate an additional test signal to be routed through the respective remote antenna unit of each uplink path;

wherein the controller is configured to normalize a plurality of uplink signals transmitted via the distributed antenna system by;

determining a noise level or RF power level at the measurement point;

determining at least one additional noise level at the at least one additional measurement point; and

adjusting the path gain of the uplink path such that noise included in each uplink signal traversing the uplink path is prevented from corrupting other uplink signals from other uplink paths, wherein each uplink signal is combined with the other uplink signals at a combiner of the distributed antenna system.

21. The distributed antenna system of claim 17,

wherein the plurality of signal paths comprises a plurality of downlink paths;

and

wherein the test signal generator is further configured, for each of the plurality of downlink paths, to provide the test signal and an additional test signal;

wherein the controller is further configured to select respective frequencies of the test signal and the additional test signal such that mixing the test signal and the additional test signal generates a passive intermodulation product having a frequency in an uplink frequency band, wherein the uplink frequency band comprises a plurality of frequencies of uplink signals received by a remote antenna unit of the distributed antenna system; and

wherein the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device are disposed in an uplink path of the distributed antenna system and are further configured to measure a signal power of the passive intermodulation product.

22. The distributed antenna system of claim 17,

further comprising an identification signal module disposed in the base station router, the identification signal module configured to provide a respective identification signal with each test signal, wherein each identification signal identifies the base station router;

and

wherein the controller is further configured to;

receive a report from each component in each signal path indicating receipt of the respective identification signal; and

generate one or more of a network schematic or net-list including each component of each signal path reporting receipt of the respective identification signal.

23. The distributed antenna system of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one additional test signal generator in at least one remote antenna unit, the at least one additional test signal generator configured to transmit at least one additional test signal; and

a plurality of remote power measurement devices in a plurality of adjacent remote antenna units adjacent to the at least one remote antenna unit, each of the plurality of remote power measurement devices configured to measure a respective power of the at least one additional test signal at each of adjacent remote antenna units, each of the adjacent remote antenna units configured to provide a respective power measurement to the controller;

wherein the controller is further configured to minimize an overlap in signal coverage between the at least one remote antenna units and the adjacent remote antenna units based on the power measurements from the adjacent remote antenna units, wherein the overlap in signal coverage is minimized by configuring one or more of the at least one remote antenna units and the adjacent remote antenna units to adjust a respective output power.

24. The distributed antenna system of claim 17, wherein each test signal comprises a coded test signal, the coded test signal including an identifier identifying a respective sector and further comprising a portable measurement receiver configured to, for each coded test signal:

receive the coded test signal;

determine the respective sector identified by the coded test signal; and

output the identifier identifying the respective sector.

25. The distributed antenna system of claim 17, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a signal quality at one or more components of in a respecitive signal path of a respective test signal.

26. A configuration sub-system, comprising:

a test signal generator integrated into one or more components of a telecommunication system, the test signal generator being configured to provide a test signal to a signal path of the telecommunication system;

an identification signal module configured to provide an identification signal with the test signal, wherein the identification signal identifies a device from which the identification signal originated; and

a controller configured to;

receive a respective report from each component in the signal path indicating receipt of the identification signal; and

identify each component of the signal path reporting receipt of the identification signal.

27. The configuration sub-system of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to identify each component of the signal path by generating one or more of a network schematic or a net-list including each component of the signal path and identifying connections between respective components of the signal path.

28. The configuration subs-system of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to:

provide an interface describing a process for connecting components of the telecommunication system, wherein the interface is generated based on a network schematic or net-list accessible by the controller;

responsive to a first component being connected to a second component, configure the test signal generator to provide the test signal to a signal path of the telecommunication system;

determine that a connection between the first component and second component does not correspond to the network schematic or net-list accessible by the controller; and

based on determining that the connection between the first component and second component does not correspond to the network schematic or net-list, generate one or more alarms identifying a connection error.

29. The configuration subs-system of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to:

access a network schematic or net-list describing the telecommunication system;

determine that the components of the signal path are connected differently than described in the network schematic or net-list; and

responsive to determining that the components of the signal path are connected differently than described in the network schematic or net-list, generate an alarm identifying a connection error in the telecommunication system.

30. The configuration subs-system of claim 29, wherein the controller is further configured to:

determine that multiple alarms are identifying a common connection error or identifying a common signal path; and

extract a single alarm or a root-cause alarm from the multiple alarms.

31. The configuration subs-system of claim 29, wherein the controller is further configured to correlate the alarm with one or more of an operator or service communicating via the telecommunication system, a sector of the telecommunication system, and a coverage area of the telecommunication system.

32. The configuration sub-system of claim 26,

further comprising

wherein the controller is further configured to:

a power measurement device integrated into a component of the telecommunication system, the power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal at a measurement point in the signal path traversed by the test signal;

at least one additional power measurement device integrated into at least one additional component of the telecommunication system, the at least one additional power measurement device being configured to measure the power of the test signal at at least one additional measurement point in the signal path traversed by the test signal;

wherein the controller is further configured to normalize signals transmitted via the telecommunication system by adjusting a path gain for the signal path based on measurements from the power measurement device and the at least one additional power measurement device.