Multiple data services over a distributed antenna system

• US 8,195,224 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2009
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Mobileaccess Ltd.
• Inventors: Saban, Ofer, Shapira, Isaac
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, ANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/465,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20100093391A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,119 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/552.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0226 based on location or mobility handoff or reselection H04W36/00; mobile application services making use of the location of users or terminals H04W4/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting multiple time division duplexed (TDD) based wireless services or frequency division duplexed (FDD) wireless services on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). A DAS can support a many wireless services, including voice and data services using the same physical equipment. TDD based services use a common clock signal to synchronize the components of the DAS for transmission and reception of TDD signals. In accordance with the invention, the DAS can include a GPS receiver which can extract a timing signal (such as a 1 pps signal) from a GPS signal and distribute the timing signal to any and all components of the DAS to enable synchronization of the components for transmitting and receiving TDD signals. The GPS receiver can be part of the interface that connects a TDD based service to the DAS or separate component of the DAS. In accordance with the invention, the DAS can distribute a reference clock signal to all of the components of the DAS in order to maintain zero frequency shift while manipulating with the carrier frequencies of the various wireless services carried by the DAS. In addition, and in accordance with the invention, two analog architectures for better integration between the services sources (BTS) and the DAS are disclosed.

Claims

1. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one wireless source connected to at least one wiring closet unit, said at least one wireless source providing signals corresponding to a first wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

at least one cable run connecting the at least one wiring closet unit to at least one antenna unit and transferring signals corresponding to at least one wireless service between the at least one wiring closet unit and at least one antenna unit;

an interface adapted to connect a second wireless source providing a second wireless service to the distributed antenna system and transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the distributed antenna system; and

a GPS receiver connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to receive a GPS signal and produce a timing signal, said timing signal being transferred over the distributed antenna system wherein the GPS receiver transfers a 1.5 GHz timing signal to the interface.

2. A distributed antenna system according to claim 1 further comprising a reference clock connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to produce and send a reference timing signal over the distributed antenna system.

3. A distributed antenna system according to claim 1 further comprising a second wireless source connected to the interface, wherein the GPS receiver is connected to the second wireless source and adapted to transfer the timing signal to the interface.

5. A distributed antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the timing signal is modulated onto a carrier signal and transferred over the distributed antenna system using the carrier signal.

6. A distributed antenna system according to claim 1 wherein the timing signal is transferred over the distributed antenna system to at least one antenna unit and used by the antenna unit to synchronize an operation of the antenna unit.

7. A distributed antenna system according to claim 1 further comprising a micro cell providing a second wireless source and wherein the micro cell includes the GPS receiver.

4. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one wireless source connected to at least one wiring closet unit, said at least one wireless source providing signals corresponding to a first wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

at least one cable run connecting the at least one wiring closet unit to at least one antenna unit and transferring signals corresponding to at least one wireless service between the at least one wiring closet unit and at least one antenna unit;

an interface adapted to connect a second wireless source providing a second wireless service to the distributed antenna m and transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the distributed antenna system; and

a GPS receiver connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to receive a GPS signal and produce a timing signal, said timing signal being transferred over the distributed antenna system

wherein the GPS receiver transfers a 1 pulse per second timing signal to the interface.

8. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one wireless source coupled to at least one wiring closet unit, said at least one wireless source providing signals corresponding to a first wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

at least one cable run connecting the at least one wiring closet unit to at least one antenna unit and transferring signals corresponding to at least one wireless service between the at least one wiring closet unit and at least one antenna unit;

an interface adapted to connect a second wireless source providing a second wireless service to the distributed antenna system and transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the distributed antenna system; and

an envelop detector connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to receive a signal corresponding to a wireless service and produce a timing signal, said timing signal being transferred over the distributed antenna system.

9. A distributed antenna system according to claim 8 further comprising a reference clock connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to produce and send a reference timing signal over the distributed antenna system.

10. A distributed antenna system according to claim 8 further comprising a second wireless source connected to the interface, wherein the envelop detector is connected to the second wireless source and adapted to transfer the timing signal to the interface.

11. A distributed antenna system according to claim 10 wherein the envelop detector transfers a 1 pulse per second timing signal to the interface.

12. A distributed antenna system according to claim 8 wherein the timing signal is modulated onto a carrier signal and transferred over the distributed antenna system using the carrier signal.

13. A distributed antenna system according to claim 8 wherein the timing signal is transferred over the distributed antenna system to at least one antenna unit and used by the antenna unit to synchronize an operation of the antenna unit.

14. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one wireless source connected to a main wiring closet unit, said at least one wireless source producing signals corresponding to a first wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

a remote wiring closet unit connected to the main wiring closet unit, the remote wiring closet unit including at least one combining unit, the at least one combining unit being adapted to transfer signals corresponding to two or more wireless services between the at least one wireless source and at least one cable run to an antenna unit;

at least one cable run connecting the at least one combining unit to at least one antenna unit to transfer the signals corresponding to the first wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

an interface adapted to connect a second wireless service to the distributed antenna system and transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the distributed antenna system;

a reference clock connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to produce and send a reference timing signal over the distributed antenna system; and

a GPS receiver, distinct from the reference clock and adapted to receive a GPS signal, connected to the distributed antenna system and adapted to produce and send a timing signal over the distributed antenna system.

15. A distributed antenna system according to claim 14 wherein the interface is connected to the remote wiring closet unit and adapted to transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the DAS.

16. A distributed antenna system according to claim 14 wherein the interface is connected to the at least one antenna unit and adapted to transfer signals corresponding to the second wireless service over the at least one antenna unit.

17. A distributed antenna system comprising:

at least one cable run connecting a first combining unit to at least one antenna unit;

the first combining unit including a base station connection capable of connecting a base station to the first combining unit, the first combining unit being capable of transferring signals corresponding to a first wireless service between the base station and the cable run;

at least one wireless service access point connected to the first combining unit, the first combining unit being capable of transferring signals corresponding to a second wireless service between the at least one wireless access point and the cable run;

a first interface module connected to the wireless service access point and capable of converting a control signal sent from the wireless service access point to an intermediate frequency (IF) control signal and transferring the IF control signal between the wireless service access point and the first combining unit, the first combining unit being capable of transferring the IF control signal between the first interface module and the cable run; and

a second combining unit connected to the cable run and capable of receiving the IF control signal and converting the IF control signal back to the control signal and transferring the control signal to the at least one antenna unit of the distributed antenna system.

18. A distributed antenna system according to claim 17 further comprising:

a reference clock signal generator connected to the first combining unit and capable of generating a reference clock signal, the first combining unit being capable of receiving the reference clock signal and transmitting the reference clock signal over the cable run to at least one antenna unit.

19. A distributed antenna system according to claim 18, wherein the first combining unit uses the reference clock signal to convert a signal received from the access point corresponding to the second wireless service to an intermediate frequency signal and transfers the intermediate frequency signal over the cable run to at least one antenna unit.