Cell phone/internet communication system for RF isolated areas

• US 8,326,156 B2
• Filed: 07/07/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fiber-Span, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fiber-Span, Inc.
• Inventors: Stewart, James N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Li, Shi K
• Application Number:
  US12/459,731
• Publication Number:
  US 20110008042A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 398/115
• US Class Current: 398/83
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/02 Wavelength-division multiplex systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0201 Add-and-drop multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A communication system for providing downlink and uplink communication between Service Providers, and users located in RF remotely located isolated areas, includes the sequential series connection of Service Provider signal sectors to Radio Interface Modules (RIM'"'"'s), Service Combiner Units (SCU'"'"'s), Fiber Transceiver Units (FTU'"'"'s), Optical Multiplexer Units (OMU'"'"'s), and Remote Fiber Nodes (RFN'"'"'s), with only the RFN'"'"'s being located in the RF isolated areas. The RIM'"'"'s provide level control of RF signals bidirectional flowing between the Service Providers and SCU'"'"'s. The SCU'"'"'s both multiplex and split received downlink RF signals for inputting to the FTU'"'"'s, and also combine and split RF uplink signals received from the FTU'"'"'s for feed to the RIM'"'"'s. The FTU'"'"'s convert downlink RF signals into optical signals, and split the optical signals for connection to the OMU'"'"'s. The FTU'"'"'s also convert uplink optical signals received from the OMU'"'"'s into uplink RF signals for connection to the SCU'"'"'s. The OMU'"'"'s combine downlink optical signals received from the FTU'"'"'s for inputting into the RFN'"'"'s, and demultiplex uplink optical signals received from the RFN'"'"'s for connection to the FTU'"'"'s. The RFN'"'"'s convert downlink optical signals into RF signals, and amplify and feed these signals into an antenna system. The RFN'"'"'s also receive RF uplink signals from devices of users in RF isolated areas, and converts the RF uplink signals into optical uplink signals for connection to the OMU'"'"'s.

Claims

1. A System for providing cell phone and Internet bidirectional communication for users in RF isolated areas, said System comprising:

at least one Service Provider for services including cell phones, commercial telecommunications, data, and advanced wireless;

a plurality of Radio Interface Modules (RIM) for receiving a plurality of downlink Radio Frequency (RF) signals, respectively, from said at least one Service Provider for maintaining the signals at operable levels;

at least one Service Combiner Unit (SCU) including means for combining and amplifying signals from said plurality of RIM modules;

at least one Fiber Transceiver Unit (FTU) for receiving and converting said amplified combined signals from RF signals into optical signals;

at least one Radio Fiber Node (RFN) responsive to said optical signals from said FTU, for converting the signals into RF signals;

at least one antenna for receiving RF signals from said at least one RFN, for transmitting the RF signals into the respective RF isolated area being serviced by said at least one RFN;

wherein said means for combining and amplifying at least one SCU includes;

a signal combiner for combining the plurality of signals from said plurality of RIM modules; and

an amplifier for receiving and amplifying the combined signals from said signal combiner;

wherein said at least one FTU includes;

a dense wavelength division multiplexer (DWDM) laser receptive of said amplified combined signals, for converting these signals from RF signals into optical signals, respectively;

wherein said at least one RFN includes;

a fiber transceiver including a means for receiving optical signals from said at least one FTU and converting the signals into RF signals;

a post processor for both amplifying and maintaining a desired signal level for RF signals from said converting means;

a first bandpass filter for receiving RF signals from said post processor for passing a frequency band of interest, and reducing the noise content in the RF signals, including substantially reducing laser generated noise;

an automatic level controller for receiving RF signals from said bandpass filter, and including means for both power amplifying the bandpassed signals, while maintaining a desired power level for the power amplified RF signals;

a duplexer including a second bandpass filter, and means for receiving the downlink power amplified RF signals, and passing them through said second bandpass filter; and

an antenna distribution network for receiving the RF signals from said second bandpass filter for connection to at least one antenna; and

wherein said antenna distribution network includes;

a first directional coupler having a first port for receiving the RF signals from said second bandpass filter, a second port for providing a relatively low power sample signal, and a third port for outputting a relatively high power portion of received RF signals;

a second directional coupler having a first port for receiving RF signals from said third port of said first directional coupler, a second port for outputting a relatively low power portion of the RF signals, and a third port for outputting a relatively high power portion of the RF signals;

a third directional coupler having a first port for receiving RF signals from the second port of said second directional coupler, a second port bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving a the RF and Wi-Fi signals to and from a centrally located first antenna relative to the position of said RFN;

a splitter/combiner having a first port for connection to and receiving RF signals from the third port of said second directional coupler, and second and third ports for outputting split portions of the received RF signals, respectively;

a fourth directional coupler having a first port connected to receive RF signals from the second port of said splitter/combiner, a second port for bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving RF signals and Wi-Fi signals to and from a second antenna located relative to a right side of said RFN Node; and

a fifth directional coupler having a first port connected to receive RF signals from the third port of said splitter/combiner, a second port for bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving RF signals and Wi-Fi to and from a third antenna located relative to a left side of said RFN Node.

2. The system of claim 1, further including an Ethernet/LAN subsystem connected to said second ports of said third through fifth directional couplers, respectively, for Wi-Fi services.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said at least one RFN further includes:

said duplexer further including a third bandpass filter for receiving user device generated uplink RF signals associated with said at least one service provider;

an uplink signal processor for receiving filtered uplink RF signals from said duplexer, said processor including;

an RF amplifier for amplifying the RF signals;

a digital attenuator for receiving and attenuating the amplified RF signals to control the uplink signal sensitivity of said system;

another RF amplifier for receiving and amplifying the attenuated uplink RF signals;

a sixth directional coupler having a first port for receiving the amplified and attenuated uplink RF signals, a second port for tapping off a relatively small portion of the signals to provide a monitoring signal to said local microcontroller, and a third port for outputting a relatively large portion of said uplink RF signals;

a fourth bandpass filter for receiving and filtering the uplink RF signals from said sixth directional coupler;

a combiner/splitter having a first port for receiving the uplink RF signals from said fourth bandpass filter, and splitting the signals for outputting at second and third ports thereof, respectively;

an RF level conditioning circuit for receiving uplink RF signals from the second port of said combiner/splitter, for providing E911 uplink RF signals; and

said Fiber Transceiver further including means for converting said level controlled uplink RF signals into uplink optical signals.

4. The system of claim 3, further including:

said FTU including at least one optical receiver for receiving said uplink optical signals from said at least one RFN, and converting these signals back into uplink RF signals;

said at least one SCU Unit being receptive of said uplink RF signals, and including splitter means for splitting these RF signals for individual connection to said plurality of RIM modules, respectively; and

said RIM modules adjusting the level of individually received uplink RF signals for connection to said at least one Service Provider.

5. A System for providing cell phone and Internet bidirectional communication for users in RF isolated areas, said System comprising:

a plurality of Service Providers (SP) for services including cell phones, commercial telecommunications, data, and advance wireless;

a plurality of Radio Interface Modules (RIM) for receiving Radio Frequency (RF) signals from said plurality of Service Providers (SP), respectively, for maintaining the signals at operable levels;

a plurality of Service Combiner Units (SCU) each including means for receiving signals from said plurality of RIM'"'"'s and amplifying respective groups of the signals;

a plurality of Fiber Transceiver Units (FTU) for receiving and converting said amplified signal groups from RF signals into optical signals;

a plurality of Optical Multiplexer Units (OMU) for receiving said plurality of optical signals from said plurality of FTU Units, and multiplexing the signals into a plurality of multiplexed groups of said signals, each multiplexed group including optical signals corresponding to RF signals from each of said plurality of Service Providers, respectively;

a plurality of Remote Fiber Nodes (RFN) each responsive to a plurality of said multiplexed groups of said optical signals, for converting the signals into RF signals;

a plurality of antennas connected to said plurality of RFN Nodes, for receiving RF signals therefrom, respectively, for transmitting the RF signals into RF isolated areas being serviced by said plurality of RFN'"'"'s, respectively;

wherein said plurality of Service Providers include;

a first group (SG1 ) of said providers for providing a plurality of personal communication services (PCS), and cellular sectors, respectively;

a second group (SG2) of said providers for providing a plurality of advanced wireless services (AWS), and 900 MHz sectors, respectively; and

a third group (SG3) of said providers for providing a plurality of 700 MHz, 800 MHz, and Data Service sectors, respectively;

wherein said plurality of RIM modules include first, second, and third groups thereof for level maintaining RF signals from said first, second, and third groups (SG1-SG3) of said providers, respectively; and

wherein said plurality of SCU Units includes;

a first SCU Unit including;

a signal combiner for receiving and combining SG1 RF signals from said first group of RIM'"'"'s ; and

a first amplifier for amplifying the combined SG1 RF signals;

a second group of SCU'"'"'s including;

a signal combiner for receiving and combining SG2 RF signals from said second group of RIM'"'"'s ; and

a second amplifier for amplifying the combined SG2 RF signals; and

a third group of SCU'"'"'s including;

a signal combiner for receiving and combining SG3 RF signals from said third group of RIM'"'"'s ; and

a third amplifier for amplifying the combined SG3 RF signals.

6. The System of claim 5, wherein said plurality of FTU'"'"'s include:

a first FTU-RF including;

first through third means for receiving and converting the combined and amplified SG1 through SG3 RF signals into SG1 through SG3 optical signals, respectively; and

first through third optical splitters for splitting the SG1 through SG3 optical signals, respectively, each into a predetermined number of SG1 through SG3 optical output signals equal in number to a number of RFN Nodes selected for servicing by said first FTU-RF.

7. The System of claim 6, wherein said plurality of OMU'"'"'s include:

a first OMU including;

a first plurality of optical add/drop wavelength division multiplexers (OADM) configured for receiving and multiplexing the SG1 through SG3 optical output signals together for insertion into each one of said number of RFN Nodes selected for servicing by said first FTU-RF, respectively.

8. The System of claim 7, wherein said plurality of RFN Nodes each include:

an OMU Unit including a plurality of OADM multiplexers configured for demultiplexing said SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals into separate individual optical signals, respectively;

SG1, SG2, and SG3 signal processors each including a Fiber Transceiver for converting said SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals into SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively;

said SG1, SG2, and SG3 signal processors further including post processors, respectively, for selectively maintaining the signal level of said SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively;

said SG1, SG2, and SG3 signal processors each further including a crossband coupler, respectively, for converting the SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals from said post processors into high and low frequency components, respectively;

SG1, SG2, and SG3 communication band processors, each including;

means for bandpass filtering said SG1, SG2, and SG3 high and low frequency components, respectively; and

means for power amplifying and level controlling said bandpassed SG1, SG2, and SG3 high and low frequency components, respectively;

a plurality of duplexers for bandpass filtering said power amplified and level controlled SG1, SG2, and SG3 high and low frequency components, and feeding the signals onto a common output line; and

an antenna distribution network connected to said common output line for receiving said power amplified and level controlled SG1, SG2, and SG3 high and low frequency components, for connection to at least one antenna.

9. The System of claim 8, wherein said antenna distribution network include:

a first directional coupler having a first port connected via said common output line to said plurality of duplexers for receiving therefrom the bandpass filtered power amplified level controlled SG1, SG2, and SG3 high and low frequency component RF signals, respectively, a second port for providing a relatively low level sample signal, and a third port for outputting a relatively high level portion of the received RF signals;

a second directional coupler having a first port for receiving RF signals from said third port of said first directional coupler, a second port for outputting a relatively low power portion of the RF signals, and a third port for outputting a relatively high power portion of received RF signals; and

a third directional coupler having a first port for receiving RF signals from the second port of said second directional coupler, a second port for bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving the RF signals and Wi-Fi signals to and from a centrally located first antenna relative to the position of said RFN.

10. The System of claim 9, wherein said antenna distribution system further includes:

a splitter/combiner having a first port for connection to and receiving RF signals from the third port of said second directional coupler, and second and third ports for outputting split portions of the received RF signals, respectively;

a fourth directional coupler having a first port connected to receive RF signals from the second port of said splitter/combiner, a second port for bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving RF signals and Wi-Fi signals to and from a second antenna located relative to a right side of said RFN Node; and

a fifth directional coupler having a first port connected to receive RF signals from the third port of said splitter/combiner, a second port for bidirectionally coupling to Wi-Fi signals, and a third port for feeding and receiving RF signals and Wi-Fi signals to and from a third antenna located relative to a left side of said RFN Node.

11. The System of claim 10, further including an Ethernet/LAN subsystem connected to said second ports of said third through fifth directional couplers, respectively, for Wi-Fi services.

12. The System of claim 8, wherein each one of said plurality of RFN Nodes each further include:

said plurality of duplexers being further configured for receiving via said common output line user generated uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively, and bandpass filtering these signals;

said SG1, SG2, and SG3 Communication Band Processors further include;

first means for both amplifying and level controlling said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively; and

second means connected to an output of said first means for receiving and bandpass filtering the amplified and level controlled said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively;

said SG1, SG2, and SG3 signal processors being connected to said SG1, SG2, and SG3 Communication Band Processors, and including;

first means for both amplifying and level controlling the bandpass filtered said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively; and

second means connected to first means for converting the amplified and level controlled said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively, into respective optical signals;

said dedicated OMU Unit being connected to said SG1, SG2, and SG3 signal processors and including a second plurality of OADM multiplexers configured for multiplexing said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals for outputting on a single signal line.

13. The System of claim 12, wherein each of said first OMU Unit includes a second plurality of OADM multiplexers configured for connection to and receiving from a single signal line of said dedicated OMU Unit of an associated one of said plurality of RFN'"'"'s the multiplexed said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals, whereby said first OMU demultiplexes these signals into individual uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals.

14. The System of claim 13, wherein said first FTU-RF further includes:

a plurality of optical receivers for receiving from said first OMU Unit the individual said uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 optical signals, respectively, and converting these signals into individual uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively.

15. The System of claim 14, further including:

said first through third SCU Units further including;

a signal combiner for receiving and combining individual uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals from said plurality of RFN Nodes, respectively;

an amplifier for amplifying the combined uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals, respectively; and

means for receiving and splitting the amplified combined uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals for connection to associated said plurality of RIM'"'"'s, respectively and said plurality of RIM'"'"'s being operable for both maintaining the individual ones of said split uplink SG1, SG2, and SG3 RF signals at operable signal levels, and for connecting the signals to individual sectors of each one of first, second, and third Service Providers.

16. The System of claim 5, further including means connected to both said plurality of RIM modules, and said plurality of FTU Units, respectively, for providing an Ethernet LAN connection thereto, whereby said plurality of Service Group Providers, and users of the System are connected to said Ethernet LAN.

17. The System of claim 5, further including a Master Controller connected to said system for providing control signals, monitoring sampling signals, and issuing alarm signals.

18. The System of claim 5, further including means for connecting the system to the Internet for remote monitoring and control.