Distributed antenna system using time division duplexing scheme
First Claim
1. A communication system, comprising:
- a first master host unit configured to communicate first wireless spectrum with a first service provider interface using a first 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 configured to communicate a first digitized spectrum in first N-bit words over a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links;
wherein the first master host unit is further configured to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum;
a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by the first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and configured to communicate the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further configured to convert between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second 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 configured to communicate the second 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 configured to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the first analog communication link, the first analog remote antenna unit further configured to communicate first wireless signals over a first air interface using a first antenna;
a first switch positioned in a first data path between the first service provider interface and the first antenna, wherein the first switch is selected between a transmit path and a receive path in response to a first switching control signal; and
wherein at least one of;
at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit is further configured to receive the switching control signal from an external source external to the communication system; and
at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit further includes a first switch signal controller that generates the first switching control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system includes a master host unit that communicates wireless spectrum with a service provider interface using analog spectrum. Master host unit communicates digitized spectrum in N-bit words over a digital communication link. Master host unit converts between analog spectrum and N-bit words of digitized spectrum. Communication system includes hybrid expansion unit coupled to master host unit by digital communication link. Hybrid expansion unit communicates N-bit words of digitized spectrum with master host unit across digital communication link. Hybrid expansion unit converts between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and analog spectrum. Hybrid expansion unit communicates analog spectrum across analog communication link to analog remote antenna unit. Analog remote antenna unit communicates wireless signals using first antenna. Communication system further includes a switch in a data path between service provider interface and antenna. The switch selects between transmit path and receive path in response to switching control signal.
204 Citations
72 Claims
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1. A communication system, comprising:
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a first master host unit configured to communicate first wireless spectrum with a first service provider interface using a first 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 configured to communicate a first digitized spectrum in first N-bit words over a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links; wherein the first master host unit is further configured to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum; a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by the first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and configured to communicate the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further configured to convert between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second 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 configured to communicate the second 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 configured to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the first analog communication link, the first analog remote antenna unit further configured to communicate first wireless signals over a first air interface using a first antenna; a first switch positioned in a first data path between the first service provider interface and the first antenna, wherein the first switch is selected between a transmit path and a receive path in response to a first switching control signal; and wherein at least one of; at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit is further configured to receive the switching control signal from an external source external to the communication system; and at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit further includes a first switch signal controller that generates the first switching control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method comprising:
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converting first wireless spectrum between a first set of bands of analog spectrum and first N-bit words of digitized spectrum using a first master host unit; transporting the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum on a first digital medium between the first master host unit and a first hybrid expansion unit; converting first wireless spectrum between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum at the first hybrid expansion unit; transporting the second set of bands of analog spectrum on a first analog medium between the first hybrid expansion unit and a first analog remote antenna unit; switching the first analog remote antenna unit between a transmit mode and a receive mode based on a first switching control signal; when the first analog remote unit is in the transmit mode, transmitting first wireless spectrum at the first analog remote antenna unit using a first antenna; when the first analog remote antenna unit is in the receive mode, receiving a second wireless spectrum at the first analog remote antenna unit using a second antenna; and at least one of; receiving the first switching control signal from an external source using at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit; and generating the first switching control signal using at least one of the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, and the first analog remote antenna unit. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A hybrid expansion unit comprising:
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at least one digital communication interface configured to communicate first and second sets of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with an upstream device; at least one analog communication interface configured to communicate first and second sets of bands of analog spectrum with a downstream device; wherein the hybrid expansion unit is configured to convert 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 further configured to communicate a switching control signal to the downstream device using the at least one analog communication interface, wherein the switching control signal indicates when a switch positioned in a first data path between the hybrid expansion unit and at least one downstream antenna should be selected between a transmitter and a receiver; and wherein the hybrid expansion unit is further configured to at least one of; generate the switching control signal using a switch signal controller within the hybrid expansion unit; and receive a digital switching control signal from another device and convert the digital switching control signal to the switching control signal using a switch signal converter within the hybrid expansion unit. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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70. A method comprising:
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communicating a first set of N-bit words of digitized spectrum between a hybrid expansion unit and an upstream device; communicating a first set of bands of analog spectrum between the hybrid expansion unit and a downstream device; converting 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; communicating a switching control signal to the downstream device from the hybrid expansion unit, wherein the switching control signal indicates when a switch positioned in a first data path between the hybrid expansion unit and at least one downstream antenna should be selected between a transmit path and a receive path; and at least one of; receiving the switching control signal from another device; and generating the switching control signal at the hybrid expansion unit. - View Dependent Claims (71, 72)
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Specification