BACKHAUL LINK FOR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- an antenna; and
communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising;
receiving, by the antenna, a first wireless signal including a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first modulated signal modulated according to a signaling protocol;
converting the first wireless signal to a first electronic signal including the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment;
frequency converting the first electronic signal to generate an updated first electronic signal, the updated first electronic signal comprising the first modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a first carrier frequency without modifying the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, the first carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and
converting the updated first electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a network element of a distributed antenna system, and the reference signal enabling the network element to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment.
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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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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an antenna; and communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising; receiving, by the antenna, a first wireless signal including a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first modulated signal modulated according to a signaling protocol; converting the first wireless signal to a first electronic signal including the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment; frequency converting the first electronic signal to generate an updated first electronic signal, the updated first electronic signal comprising the first modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a first carrier frequency without modifying the signaling protocol of the first modulated signal, the first carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and converting the updated first electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a network element of a distributed antenna system, and the reference signal enabling the network element to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method, comprising:
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receiving, by an antenna system of a first network element of a distributed antenna system, a first wireless signal including a modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first wireless signal generated by a mobile communication device, and the modulated signal conforming to a signaling protocol; converting, by the first network element, the first wireless signal to an electronic signal including the modulated signal in the first spectral segment; frequency converting, by the first network element, the electronic signal to generate an updated electronic signal, the updated electronic signal comprising the modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a carrier frequency without modifying the signaling protocol of the modulated signal, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and converting, by the antenna system of the first network element, the updated electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the reference signal enabling the second network element to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a second spectral segment. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A first network element of a distributed antenna system, comprising:
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an antenna system; communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising; receiving, by the antenna system, a first wireless signal in a carrier frequency from a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the first wireless signal including a reference signal and a modulated signal at the carrier frequency; and transmitting, by the antenna system, a second wireless signal in the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a third network element of the distributed antenna system, the second wireless signal including the reference signal and the modulated signal in the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal corresponding to a retransmission of the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the reference signal enabling the third network element to reduce signal distortion when reconverting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a spectral segment, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the spectral segment. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification