BACKHAUL LINK FOR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM

• US 20140155054A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul Shala, Blandino, George, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barzegar, Farhad, Willis, Thomas M. III, Barnickel, Donald J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,113,347 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25759 Details of the reception of RF signal or the optical conversion before the optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/38 for signals in two different frequency ranges transmitted in opposite directions over the same transmission path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A distributed antenna and backhaul system provide network connectivity for a small cell deployment. Rather than building new structures, and installing additional fiber and cable, embodiments described herein disclose using high-bandwidth, millimeter-wave communications and existing power line infrastructure. Above ground backhaul connections via power lines and line-of-sight millimeter-wave band signals as well as underground backhaul connections via buried electrical conduits can provide connectivity to the distributed base stations. An overhead millimeter-wave system can also be used to provide backhaul connectivity. Modules can be placed onto existing infrastructure, such as streetlights and utility poles, and the modules can contain base stations and antennas to transmit the millimeter-waves to and from other modules.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, to facilitate execution of the instructions to perform operations, comprising;

facilitating receipt of a first guided wave received via a power line;

converting the first guided wave to an electronic transmission;

facilitating transmission of an electronic signal determined from the electronic transmission to a base station device;

converting the electronic transmission to a second guided wave; and

facilitating transmission of the second guided wave via the power line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guided wave is received via a first transceiver and the second guided wave is transmitted by a second transceiver and the first and second transceivers transmit and receive transmissions.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guided wave and the second guided wave travel in a same direction along the power line.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising an inductive power supply that provides power to the system, wherein the inductive power supply receives the power from the power line.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

amplifying the electronic transmission.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an antenna that transmits the electronic signal to a mobile device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guided wave is received from and the second guided wave is transmitted to the power line via a quasi-optical coupling.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first guided wave is received via a first transceiver and the second guided wave is transmitted by a second transceiver, wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver include dielectric waveguides and lenses that send the first guided wave and receive the second guided wave via the power line, and wherein the power line has a set of reflectors that reflect the first and second guided waves along the power line.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the first guided wave is received via a first transceiver and the second guided wave is transmitted by a second transceiver, and wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver are supplied power from a power transformer coupled to the power line.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guided wave is received via a first transceiver and the second guided wave is transmitted by a second transceiver, and wherein the first transceiver and the second transceiver respectively send and receive the first and second guided waves via an underground conduit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first guided wave and the second guided wave propagate in a millimeter-wave frequency range from about 30 GHz to about 300 GHz.

12. A system, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

a processor, communicatively coupled to the memory, to facilitate execution of the instructions to perform operations, comprising;

facilitating receipt of a first transmission from a first radio repeater device;

directing a second transmission to a second radio repeater device, wherein the first and second transmissions are at a frequency of at least about 57 GHz;

determining an electronic signal from the first transmission; and

directing the electronic signal to a base station device.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of antennas arrayed radially outwards and parallel to a ground level to facilitate the receipt of the first transmission.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising 16 antennas, each having a beamwidth of 24 degrees to facilitate the receipt of the first transmission.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the electronic signal is determined from an antenna of the plurality of antennas that is selected to receive the first transmission based on an outcome of a signal strength measurement test analysis of a signal received by the antenna from the first radio repeater device.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein an antenna of the plurality of antennas is selected to transmit the second transmission to the second radio repeater device based on an outcome of a signal strength measurement test analysis of a signal received by the antenna.

17. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a device including a processor, a first surface wave transmission via a power line;

converting, by the device, the first surface wave transmission into an electronic transmission;

extracting, by the device, a communication signal from the electronic transmission;

sending, by the device, the communication signal to a base station device; and

transmitting, by the device, the electronic transmission as a second surface wave transmission over the power line, wherein the first surface wave transmission and the second surface wave transmission are at a frequency of at least 30 GHz.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving further includes reflecting the first surface wave transmission from a power line to a dielectric receiver using a quasi-optical coupler.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving further includes receiving the first surface wave transmission from an underground conduit.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising receiving, by the device, power inductively from the power line.