Multiprotocol antenna system for multiple service provider-multiple air interface co-located base stations

• US 8,290,483 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2012
• Issued: 10/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Sabat, John Jr., Yelle, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Magloire, Vladimir
• Application Number:
  US13/433,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20120184268A1
• Time in Patent Office: 201 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422.1, 455/426.1, 455/448, 455/446
• US Class Current: 455/422.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/14 Backbone network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/12 between access points and access point controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/14 between access point controllers and backbone network device

Abstract

A hub unit is configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations from more than one wireless service provider. The hub unit is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data. The hub unit comprises a reconfigurable interconnect to selectively provide, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals. Each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to reconstruct, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiate each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a hub unit configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise base stations from more than one wireless service provider;

a plurality of radio access nodes, each of the plurality of radio access nodes located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit;

wherein the hub unit is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

wherein the hub unit comprises a reconfigurable interconnect to selectively provide, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals;

where each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to reconstruct, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiate each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the base stations comprise cellular base stations.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a first air interface and wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a second air interface.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub unit combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared transport medium comprises an optical communication medium and wherein the hub unit electrically combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the reconstructed analog radio frequency versions of the respective two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals that are radiated from each radio access node are radiated from at least one shared antenna that is coupled to or included in that radio access node.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to separately amplify each reconstructed analog radio frequency version radiated from that radio access node.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to reconstruct each of the reconstructed analog radio frequency versions of the respective two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals using a separate digital-to-analog converters included in that radio access node.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to separately filter each reconstructed analog radio frequency version radiated from that radio access node.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the hub unit is co-located with the base stations.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog downlink radio frequency signals are of different radio frequency bands.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the analog downlink radio frequency signals are of different bandwidths.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the system comprises a distributed antenna system.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein data packets are communicated over the shared transport medium between the hub unit and the radio access nodes.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the data packets comprise Internet Protocol (IP) packets.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the shared transport medium comprises a network of optical communication media.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the network of optical communication media comprises at least one of a star network topology and a ring network topology.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein each radio access node is configured to digitize wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and provide the uplink digital data to the hub unit using the shared transport medium;

wherein the hub unit comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the reconfigurable interconnect is configured to selectively provide, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to;

reconstruct, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

provide the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

19. A hub unit comprising:

a base station interface configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise base stations from more than one wireless service provider, wherein the base station interface is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

a reconfigurable interconnect to selectively provide, to each of a plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals for use by that radio access node in reconstructing analog radio frequency versions of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiating each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node;

wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit.

20. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a first air interface and wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a second air interface.

21. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the hub unit combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

22. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the shared transport medium comprises an optical communication medium and wherein the hub unit electrically combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

23. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the hub unit is co-located with the base stations.

24. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the analog downlink radio frequency signals are of different radio frequency bands.

25. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the analog downlink radio frequency signals are of different bandwidths.

26. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein data packets are communicated over the shared transport medium between the hub unit and the radio access nodes.

27. The hub unit of claim 26, wherein the data packets comprise Internet Protocol (IP) packets.

28. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the shared transport medium comprises a network of optical communication media.

29. The hub unit of claim 28, wherein the network of optical communication media comprises at least one of a star network topology and a ring network topology.

30. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein each radio access node is configured to digitize wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and provide the uplink digital data to the hub unit using the shared transport medium;

wherein the hub unit comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the reconfigurable interconnect is configured to selectively provide, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to;

reconstruct, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

provide the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

31. The hub unit of claim 19, wherein the base stations comprise cellular base stations.

32. A method comprising:

receiving, at a hub unit, wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations comprise base stations from more than one wireless service provider;

digitizing each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

selectively providing via a reconfigurable interconnect included in the hub unit, to each of a plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals; and

for each of the plurality of radio access nodes, reconstructing, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiating each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node;

wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

at each radio access node, digitizing wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and providing the uplink digital data to the hub unit using the shared transport medium;

wherein the hub unit comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

at the hub unit, selectively providing via the reconfigurable interconnect, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, at the hub unit;

reconstructing, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

providing the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

34. A system comprising:

a hub unit configured to interface with a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations comprises base stations from more than one wireless service provider;

a plurality of radio access nodes, each of the plurality of radio access nodes located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit;

wherein each radio access node is configured to digitize wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and provide the uplink digital data to the hub unit using a shared transport medium;

wherein the hub unit comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

wherein the hub unit further comprises a the reconfigurable interconnect that is configured to selectively provide, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to;

reconstruct, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

provide the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the base stations comprise cellular base stations.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a first air interface and wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a second air interface.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein each radio access node combines the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit.

38. The system of claim 34, wherein the shared transport medium comprises an optical communication medium and wherein the hub unit electrically combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein each radio access node receives the respective analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations using at least one shared antenna that is coupled to or included in that radio access node.

40. The system of claim 34, wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to separately amplify the analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

41. The system of claim 34, wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to separately filter the analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the hub unit is co-located with the base stations.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the analog uplink radio frequency signals are of different radio frequency bands.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein the analog uplink radio frequency signals are of different bandwidths.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the system comprises a distributed antenna system.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein data packets are communicated over the shared transport medium between the hub unit and the radio access nodes.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the data packets comprise Internet Protocol (IP) packets.

48. The system of claim 34, wherein the shared transport medium comprises a network of optical communication media.

49. The system of claim 48, wherein the network of optical communication media comprises at least one of a star network topology and a ring network topology.

50. The system of claim 34, wherein the hub unit is configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations;

wherein the hub unit is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

wherein the reconfigurable interconnect in the hub unit is configured to selectively provide, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using the shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals;

where each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to reconstruct, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiate each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.

51. A hub unit comprising:

a base station interface configured to interface with a plurality of base stations, wherein the plurality of base stations comprises base stations from more than one wireless service provider;

a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

a plurality of radio access node interfaces to communicatively couple the hub unit to a plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit; and

a reconfigurable interconnect;

wherein each radio access node is configured to digitize wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of the plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and provide the uplink digital data to the hub unit using the shared transport medium;

wherein the reconfigurable interconnect is configured to selectively provide, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, the hub unit is configured to;

reconstruct, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

provide the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station.

52. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a first air interface and wherein at least one of the base stations is configured to use a second air interface.

53. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the each radio access node combines the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit.

54. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the shared transport medium comprises an optical communication medium and wherein the hub unit electrically combines the downlink digital data provided to each radio access node.

55. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the hub unit is co-located with the base stations.

56. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the analog uplink radio frequency signals are of different radio frequency bands.

57. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the analog uplink radio frequency signals are of different bandwidths.

58. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein data packets are communicated over the shared transport medium between the hub unit and the radio access nodes.

59. The hub unit of claim 58, wherein the data packets comprise Internet Protocol (IP) packets.

60. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the shared transport medium comprises a network of optical communication media.

61. The hub unit of claim 60, wherein the network of optical communication media comprises at least one of a star network topology and a ring network topology.

62. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the base station interface is configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations;

wherein the base station interface is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

wherein the hub unit is configured to use the reconfigurable interconnect to selectively provide, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using the shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals for use by that radio access node in reconstructing analog radio frequency versions of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiating each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.

63. The hub unit of claim 51, wherein the base stations comprise cellular base stations.

64. A method comprising:

at each of a plurality of radio access nodes, digitizing wireless analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for at least two of a plurality of base stations in order to generate uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals and providing the uplink digital data to a hub unit using a shared transport medium;

wherein the hub unit comprises a plurality of digital-to-analog converters, each of which is associated with one of the plurality of base stations;

at the hub unit, selectively providing via a reconfigurable interconnect included in the hub unit, to each of the digital-to-analog converters, the uplink digital data provided to the hub unit that is indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for the base station associated with that digital-to-analog converter; and

wherein, for each of the base stations, at the hub unit;

reconstructing, using the digital-to-analog converter associated with that base station, an analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station using the uplink digital data indicative of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station; and

providing the reconstructed analog radio frequency version of the analog uplink radio frequency signals destined for that base station;

wherein the plurality of base stations comprise base stations from more than one wireless service provider;

wherein each of the plurality of radio access nodes is located at a respective location that is remote from the hub unit.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

receiving, at the hub unit, wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from the plurality of base stations;

digitizing each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data indicative of that analog downlink radio frequency signal;

selectively providing via the reconfigurable interconnect included in the hub unit, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using the shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals; and

for each of the plurality of radio access nodes, reconstructing, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiating each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.