Distinct transport path for MIMO transmissions in distributed antenna systems
First Claim
1. A communication system for distributing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal having a first MIMO path and a second MIMO path, comprising:
- a first master host unit adapted to communicate the first MIMO path with a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum, the first master host unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path with a second service provider interface using a second set of bands of analog spectrum;
a plurality of digital communication links coupled to the first master host unit, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path over the plurality of digital communication links using first N-bit words of digitized spectrum, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path over the plurality of digital communication links using second N-bit words of digitized spectrum;
wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to convert the first MIMO path between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum;
wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to convert the second MIMO path between the second set of bands of analog spectrum and the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum;
a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second MIMO path using the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert the first MIMO path between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert the second MIMO path between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;
a first analog communication link coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit, wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the third set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum across the first analog communication link;
a first analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit by the first analog communication link and adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the third set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the first analog communication link, the first analog remote antenna unit further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using first wireless signals over a first air interface using a first antenna, and the first analog remote antenna unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path using second wireless signals over a second air interface using a second antenna; and
wherein the first MIMO path between the first master host unit and the first antenna is distinct from the second MIMO path between the first master host unit and the second antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid expansion unit includes at least one digital communication interface adapted to communicate first and second sets of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with an upstream device. The hybrid expansion unit further includes at least one analog communication interface adapted to communicate first and second sets of bands of analog spectrum with a downstream device. The hybrid expansion unit is adapted to convert between the first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the first set of bands of analog spectrum. The hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to convert between the second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second set of bands of analog spectrum. The first set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a first frequency range and the second set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a second frequency range. The first frequency range and the second frequency range do not overlap.
194 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A communication system for distributing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal having a first MIMO path and a second MIMO path, comprising:
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a first master host unit adapted to communicate the first MIMO path with a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum, the first master host unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path with a second service provider interface using a second set of bands of analog spectrum; a plurality of digital communication links coupled to the first master host unit, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path over the plurality of digital communication links using first N-bit words of digitized spectrum, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path over the plurality of digital communication links using second N-bit words of digitized spectrum; wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to convert the first MIMO path between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum; wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to convert the second MIMO path between the second set of bands of analog spectrum and the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum; a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second MIMO path using the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert the first MIMO path between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert the second MIMO path between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum; a first analog communication link coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit, wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the third set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum across the first analog communication link; a first analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit by the first analog communication link and adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the third set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the first analog communication link, the first analog remote antenna unit further adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using first wireless signals over a first air interface using a first antenna, and the first analog remote antenna unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path using second wireless signals over a second air interface using a second antenna; and wherein the first MIMO path between the first master host unit and the first antenna is distinct from the second MIMO path between the first master host unit and the second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 27)
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13. A method for distributing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal having a first MIMO path and a second MIMO path, the method comprising:
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converting the first MIMO path between a first set of bands of analog spectrum and first N-bit words of digitized spectrum at a first master host unit; converting the second MIMO path between a second set of bands of analog spectrum and second N-bit words of digitized spectrum at a first master host unit; transporting the first MIMO path using first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second MIMO path using second N-bit words of digitized spectrum on a first digital medium between the first master host unit and a first hybrid expansion unit; converting the first MIMO path between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum at the first hybrid expansion unit; converting the second MIMO path between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum at the first hybrid expansion unit; transporting the first MIMO path using the third set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum on a first analog medium between the first hybrid expansion unit and a first analog remote antenna unit; communicating the first MIMO path using first wireless spectrum over a first air interface at the first analog remote antenna unit using a first antenna; communicating the second MIMO path using second wireless spectrum over a second air interface at the first analog remote antenna unit using a second antenna; and wherein the first MIMO path between the first master host unit and the first antenna is distinct from the second MIMO path between the first master host unit and the second antenna. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 28)
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25. A hybrid expansion unit for distributing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal having a first MIMO path and a second MIMO path, the hybrid expansion unit comprising:
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at least one digital communication interface adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using a first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second MIMO path using a second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with an upstream device; at least one analog communication interface adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using a first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using a second set of bands of analog spectrum with a downstream device; wherein the hybrid expansion unit is adapted to convert the first MIMO path between the first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the first set of bands of analog spectrum; wherein the hybrid expansion unit is adapted to convert the second MIMO path between the second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second set of bands of analog spectrum; wherein the first set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a first frequency range and the second set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a second frequency range; wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range do not overlap; and wherein the first MIMO path is distinct from the second MIMO path. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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26. A method for distributing a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signal having a first MIMO path and a second MIMO path, the method comprising:
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transporting the first MIMO path using a first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second MIMO path using a second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum between a hybrid expansion unit and an upstream device; simultaneously transporting the first MIMO path using a first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using a second set of bands of analog spectrum between the hybrid expansion unit and a downstream device; converting the first MIMO path between the first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the first set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion unit; converting the second MIMO path between the second set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion unit; wherein the first set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a first frequency range and the second set of bands of analog spectrum occupy a second frequency range; and wherein the first frequency range and the second frequency range do not overlap; and wherein the first MIMO path is distinct from the second MIMO path. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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Specification