RADIO-OVER-FIBER (ROF) SYSTEM FOR PROTOCOL-INDEPENDENT WIRED AND/OR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
First Claim
1. A method of videoconferencing between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second different coverage area, comprising:
- linking a plurality of broadband access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of cables, each of the plurality cables having at least one optical fiber and being configured to carry a signal from the HEU to the plurality of broadband access points;
forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of broadband access points;
forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of broadband access points different from the first coverage area;
using an optical switch bank to dynamically establish a link over at least one of the plurality of cables to allow the first peer device to videoconference with the second peer device at least in part over the link;
receiving a request to establish videoconferencing between the first peer device and the second peer device from one of the first and second peer devices, whereinthe first one of the plurality of broadband access points communicates with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of broadband access points communicates with the second peer device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switched wireless system is used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system includes a head-end unit (HEU) having a switch bank. Cables couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas communicate with each other, such as through videoconferencing. By using the switched communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of videoconferencing between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second different coverage area, comprising:
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linking a plurality of broadband access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of cables, each of the plurality cables having at least one optical fiber and being configured to carry a signal from the HEU to the plurality of broadband access points; forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of broadband access points; forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of broadband access points different from the first coverage area; using an optical switch bank to dynamically establish a link over at least one of the plurality of cables to allow the first peer device to videoconference with the second peer device at least in part over the link; receiving a request to establish videoconferencing between the first peer device and the second peer device from one of the first and second peer devices, wherein the first one of the plurality of broadband access points communicates with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of broadband access points communicates with the second peer device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A wireless communication system configured to provide videoconferencing, comprising:
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a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank; and a plurality of fiber optic cables each comprising at least one optical fiber and configured to carry a Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) signal from the HEU to a plurality of remote access points, wherein a first one of the plurality of remote access points is configured to form a corresponding first coverage area, and a second one of the plurality of remote access points is configured to form a corresponding second, different coverage area, wherein the optical switch bank is configured to establish a RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables such that a first peer device in the first coverage area can videoconference with a second peer device in the second coverage area over the RoF-based optical link, and wherein the HEU is further configured to receive a request from a first one of the first and second peer devices to videoconference with a second one of the first and second peer devices via at least one WLAN access point associated with at least one of the first and second peer devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An optical fiber-based wireless communication system configured to provide videoconferencing, comprising:
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a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank; a plurality of fiber optic cables configured to carry a signals from the HEU to a plurality of broadband access points, wherein a first one of the plurality of broadband access points is configured to form a corresponding first coverage area, and a second one of the plurality of broadband access points is configured to form a corresponding second, different coverage area; and at least one Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point, wherein the optical switch bank is configured to establish an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables such that a first peer device in the first coverage area can communicate with a second peer device in the second coverage area at least in part over the RoF-based optical link, and the at least one WLAN access point is configured to receive a request from either of the first and second peer devices to establish videoconferencing between the first and second peer devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification