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 first digital signals, the first master host unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path with a second service provider interface using second digital signals;
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 interface the first MIMO path between the first digital signals and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum;
wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to interface the second MIMO path between the second digital signals 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 first 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 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the second 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.
196 Citations
37 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 first digital signals, the first master host unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path with a second service provider interface using second digital signals; 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 interface the first MIMO path between the first digital signals and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum; wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to interface the second MIMO path between the second digital signals 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 first 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 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the second 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, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. 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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interfacing the first MIMO path between a first digital signals and first N-bit words of digitized spectrum at a first master host unit; interfacing the second MIMO path between a second digital signals 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 first 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 second set of bands of analog spectrum at the first hybrid expansion unit; transporting the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using 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; 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 (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. 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 first digital signals, the first master host unit further adapted to communicate the second MIMO path with a second service provider interface using second digital signals; 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 digital signals 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 digital signals 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 first 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 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using 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 adapted to communicate the first MIMO path using the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second MIMO path using the second 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 (36, 37)
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Specification