Method and system for integrating an RF module into a digital network access point

• US 9,026,036 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 05/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd. (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saban, Ofer, Shapira, Isaac, Hazani, Ami, Atias, Nissim, Ben Shlomo, Dror
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US12/954,110
• Publication Number:
  US 20110130163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• Field of Search: 455 7- 111, 709203-206
• US Class Current: 455/7
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting wireless RF services over a wired digital data network infrastructure, such as an Ethernet network. The system includes a control unit that can be connected to a base station that supports one or more wireless RF services. The control unit converts the wireless RF signals to an intermediate frequency (IF) that does not interfere with the data network signals and combines the IF signals onto the cable run to a remote network device on the digital data network. The remote network device includes a multiplexer or a low pass filter and a high pass filter that separates the IF signals from the digital data signals on the downlink and combines the IF signals with digital data signals on the uplink over the cable run. The IF signals can be input to an RF module connected to the remote network device which converts the IF signals back to the original RF signals for transmission by a transceiver to wireless devices. Similarly, on the uplink, RF signals received from the wireless devices through the transceiver can be converted to IF for transmission over the cable run to the base station. In one conventional data network each cable run includes 4 pair of conductors and each pair can be used to carry a different IF frequency band. In addition, each pair can be configured to carry more than one IF frequency band using FDD or TDD. Additional signaling channels, such as for management signaling can be provided using differential signaling between 2 pair of conductors. The filters can be implemented using various technologies, including silicon, LTCC and discrete components and active filters can be provided to allow for configuring and tuning of performance in the field.

Claims

1. A system for transferring network data and RF based services over a common facility, the system comprising:

an RF base station and a network switch connected to a control unit;

one or more cable runs, each cable run connecting the control unit to a network access point;

at least one network access point including an RF module for providing RF based services, the network access point including a low pass filter and a high pass filter for separating network signals and intermediate frequency (IF) signals on the downlink and combining network signals and IF signals on the uplink, wherein the RF module can be disconnected from the network access point;

wherein the control unit includes an up-down converter for converting each RF signal associated with RF based service to an IF and transmitting the IF signal over the cable run to the network access point and for converting IF signals received over the cable run from the network access point to RF signals; and

the RF module includes an up-down converter for converting each RF signal associated with RF based service to an IF and transmitting the IF signal over the cable run to the control unit and for converting IF signals received over the cable run from the control unit to RF signals.

2. A system according to claim 1 further comprising a connector, connecting the RF module to the network access point and enabling the RF module to be disconnected from the network access point.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein at least one cable run includes 4 pair of wires and each pair of wires carries network data signals and at least one RF based service signal at an IF.

4. A system for transferring network data and RF based services over a common facility, the system comprising:

a network device configured to;

couple to one or more cable runs and receive from the one or more cable runs downlink digital signals complying with an Ethernet protocol;

wirelessly transmit the downlink digital signals in a radio frequency spectrum;

wirelessly receive uplink digital signals in the radio frequency spectrum; and

send the uplink digital signals over the one or more cable runs as digital signals complying with the Ethernet protocol;

a RF module configured to;

couple to the one or more cable runs and receive from the one or more cable runs downlink intermediate frequency signals;

convert the downlink intermediate frequency signals to downlink RF signals;

wirelessly transmit the downlink RF signals in the radio frequency spectrum;

wirelessly receive uplink RF signals in the radio frequency spectrum; and

send the uplink RF signals over the one or more cable runs as uplink intermediate frequency signals; and

an interconnection between the network device and the RF module for providing management signals between the network device and the RF module.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the interconnection comprises multiple parallel connections.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the interconnection comprises multiple serial connections.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the management signals provide local management for controlling and monitoring operation of the RF module.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the interconnection comprises a digital interface.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the digital interface is configured to support advanced self-configuration capability.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the RF module comprises noise suppression circuitry configured to suppress one or more of items selected from the group consisting of:

cross-talk, low frequency noise, and common mode noise.

11. The system of claim 4, wherein the RF module comprises a component configured to generate one or more access keys that can be used to control the use of the RF module.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the network device is configured to request one or more access keys from the component in the RF module.

13. The system of claim 4, further comprising the one or more cable runs.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein each of the one or more cable runs comprises four pairs of conductors, and each pair of conductors is configured to carry a different intermediate frequency band.

15. The system of claim 4, wherein the network device comprises a multiplexer configured to compensate for common mode noise.