BACKHAUL LINK FOR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM

• US 20160278094A1
• Filed: 05/27/2016
• Published: 09/22/2016
• 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: BARNICKEL, DONALD J. Jr., Henry, Paul Shala, BARZEGAR, FARHAD, BLANDINO, GEORGE, GERSZBERG, IRWIN, WILLIS, THOMAS M. III
• Granted Patent: US 10,194,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 device, comprising:

an antenna;

a memory to store instructions; and

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

receiving a plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of a plurality of cellular bands, and each conforming to one of a plurality of signaling protocols;

converting the plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of the plurality of cellular bands to a plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of a plurality of frequency bands, the plurality of frequency bands differing from the plurality of cellular bands, and the converting being performed without modifying the plurality of signaling protocols; and

transmitting, by the antenna, the plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of the plurality of frequency bands for receipt by a recipient antenna of a recipient system of a plurality of systems, each of the plurality of systems including an antenna to form a distributed antenna system, the recipient antenna providing the plurality of frequency converted signals to the recipient system to convert at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals to at least one modulated signal operating in at least one cellular band of the plurality of cellular bands for wireless delivery to a wireless communication device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modulated signals is received from at least one cellular base station.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of signaling protocols comprises at least one cellular communications protocol.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting is performed by a wireless access point.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a wireless mobile communication device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device comprises a wireless stationary communication device.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the converting includes at least in part up-converting at least one of the plurality of modulated signals operating in at least one of the plurality of cellular bands to at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in at least one of the plurality of frequency bands, the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands having a higher frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the converting by the recipient system includes at least in part down-converting the at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands to at least one modulated signal operating in the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands for wireless delivery to the wireless communication device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the converting includes at least in part down-converting at least one of the plurality of modulated signals operating in at least one of the plurality of cellular bands to at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in at least one of the plurality of frequency bands, the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands having a lower frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the converting by the recipient system includes at least in part up-converting the at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands to at least one modulated signal operating in the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands for wireless delivery to the wireless communication device.

11. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first system, wireless signals from a plurality of communication devices, the first system being part of a plurality of systems that each include an antenna to form a distributed antenna system, the wireless signals corresponding to a plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of a plurality of cellular bands, and each conforming to a signaling protocol of a plurality of signaling protocols;

converting, by the first system, the plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of the plurality of cellular bands to a plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of a plurality of frequency bands, the plurality of frequency bands differing from the plurality of cellular bands, and the converting being performed without modifying the plurality of signaling protocols; and

transmitting, by the first system, the plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of the plurality of frequency bands for receipt by a second system of the plurality of systems, the second system converting at least one frequency converted signal of the plurality of frequency converted signals to at least one modulated signal of the plurality of modulated signals operating in at least one cellular band of the plurality of cellular bands for delivery to a base station for processing.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of communication devices comprises a wireless mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the plurality of communication devices comprises a wireless stationary communication device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first system comprises a first antenna and a second antenna, the first antenna configured for receiving the wireless signals from the plurality of communication devices, and the second antenna configured for transmitting the plurality of frequency converted signals.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the converting by the first system includes at least in part up-converting the at least one modulated signal to the at least one frequency converted signal, the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands having a higher frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the converting by the second system includes at least in part down-converting the at least one frequency converted signal to the at least one modulated signal.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the converting by the first system includes at least in part down-converting the at least one modulated signal to the at least one frequency converted signal, the at least one of the plurality of frequency bands having a lower frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of cellular bands.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the converting by the second system includes at least in part up-converting the at least one frequency converted signal to the at least one modulated signal.

19. A base station, comprising:

a memory to store instructions; and

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

receiving a plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of a plurality of first frequency bands, and each conforming to one of a plurality of signaling protocols;

converting the plurality of modulated signals each operating in one of the plurality of first frequency bands to a plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of a plurality of second frequency bands, the plurality of second frequency bands differing from the plurality of first frequency bands, and the converting being performed without modifying the plurality of signaling protocols; and

transmitting, by an antenna, the plurality of frequency converted signals each operating in one of the plurality of second frequency bands for receipt by a recipient antenna of a recipient system of a plurality of systems, each of the plurality of systems including an antenna to form a distributed antenna system, the recipient antenna providing the plurality of frequency converted signals to the recipient system to convert at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals to at least one modulated signal operating in at least one first frequency band of the plurality of first frequency bands for wireless delivery to a communication device.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the converting includes at least in part up-converting at least one of the plurality of modulated signals operating in at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands to at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands, the at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands having a higher frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands.

21. The base station of claim 20, wherein the converting by the recipient system includes at least in part down-converting the at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in the at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands to at least one modulated signal operating in the at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands for wireless delivery to the communication device.

22. The base station of claim 19, wherein the converting includes at least in part down-converting at least one of the plurality of modulated signals operating in at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands to at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands, the at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands having a lower frequency range than the at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands.

23. The base station of claim 22, wherein the converting by the recipient system includes at least in part up-converting the at least one of the plurality of frequency converted signals operating in the at least one of the plurality of second frequency bands to at least one modulated signal operating in the at least one of the plurality of first frequency bands for wireless delivery to the communication device.

24. The base station of claim 19, wherein the communication device comprises a mobile communication device.

25. The base station of claim 19, wherein the communication device comprises a stationary communication device.