System and method for passive optical network backhaul

• US 8,902,812 B1
• Filed: 03/14/2006
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Harold W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Banks Harold, Marsha D
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYLLIE, CHRISTOPHER T
• Application Number:
  US11/374,912
• Time in Patent Office: 3,185 Days
• Field of Search: 370/328, 370/356, 370/318, 370/351, 370/401, 370/338, 370/340, 398/66, 398/67, 398/70, 398/115, 359/125
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25752 Optical arrangements for wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/27 Arrangements for networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/40 Transceivers
• 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: H04Q 11/0071 Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface

Abstract

A system is described for providing backhaul over an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON). The backhaul may be backhaul for EV-DO and/or EV-DO Rev. A communications. The system for includes at least one cell site. At least two base transceiver stations are located at the cell site. The base transceiver stations receive radio signals from respective mobile stations. A first one of the base transceiver stations provides a first backhaul signal, and a second one of the base transceiver stations provides a second backhaul signal. The cell site multiplexes these backhaul signals together onto an Ethernet passive optical network. In one embodiment, these signals are provided on different pseudowire connections within a single wavelength lambda on the passive optical network. In another embodiment, the signals are provided on different lambdas of the network.

Claims

1. A backhaul method comprising:

receiving a first radio signal at a first base transceiver station;

receiving a second radio signal at a second base transceiver station;

generating a first backhaul signal from the first radio signal;

generating a second backhaul signal from the second radio signal;

multiplexing the first and second backhaul signals into respective first and second pseudowire connections on an Ethernet passive optical network, wherein the first base transceiver station communicates with a first mobile switching center over the first pseudowire connection, and the second base transceiver station communicates with a second mobile switching center over the second pseudowire connection;

receiving the first backhaul signal and the second backhaul signal at a first mobile switching center;

relaying the second backhaul signal from the first mobile switching center to the second mobile switching center; and

receiving the relayed second backhaul signal at the second mobile switching center;

wherein the first base transceiver station and the first mobile switching center are operated by a first service provider; and

wherein the second base transceiver station and the second mobile switching center are operated by a second service provider different from the first service provider.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein multiplexing includes providing the first and second backhaul signals on separate lambdas of the Ethernet passive optical network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second pseudowire connections are sent over the same lambda of the Ethernet passive optical network.

4. A backhaul method comprising:

receiving a first radio signal at a first base transceiver station;

generating a first backhaul signal from the first radio signal;

sending the first backhaul signal on a first pseudowire connection on a passive optical network;

receiving a second radio signal at a second base transceiver station different from the first base transceiver station;

generating a second backhaul signal from the second radio signal;

sending the second backhaul signal on a second pseudowire connection on the passive optical network;

receiving and processing the first backhaul signal at a first mobile switching center;

receiving the second backhaul signal at the first mobile switching center, and forwarding the second backhaul signal to a second mobile switching center; and

receiving and processing the forwarded second backhaul signal at the second mobile switching center;

wherein the first base transceiver station and the first mobile switching center are operated by a first service provider; and

wherein the second base transceiver station and the second mobile switching center are operated by a second service provider different from the first service provider.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second base transceiver stations are provided at a single cell site, and wherein sending the first and second backhaul signals includes:

multiplexing the first and second backhaul signals onto separate pseudowire circuits; and

providing the separate pseudowire circuits over a single lambda of the passive optical network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the passive optical network is an Ethernet passive optical network.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second base transceiver stations are provided at a single cell site, and wherein sending the first and second backhaul signals includes:

providing the first backhaul signal on a first lambda of the passive optical network; and

providing the second backhaul signal on a second lambda of the passive optical network, wherein the second lambda is different from the first lambda.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the passive optical network is an Ethernet passive optical network.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second base transceiver stations are at different locations, and wherein sending the first and second backhaul signals is performed at an aggregation point.