Distribution of time-division multiplexed (TDM) management services in a distributed antenna system, and related components, systems, and methods
First Claim
1. A central unit for providing communications signals and management signals in a distributed antenna system and comprising a media access controller in communication with a transceiver circuit, the central unit being configured to:
- receive a plurality of downlink management signals from at least one management controller for distribution to a respective plurality of remote units;
time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of downlink management signals into time slots of the respective plurality of remote units to form a TDM downlink management frame signal;
receive downlink radio frequency (RF) communication signals of at least one RF-communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service;
combine the TDM downlink management frame signal with the downlink RF communication signals;
send the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communications signals to the respective plurality of remote units over a downlink communications link, wherein the plurality of downlink management signals includes at least one of a configuration management signal, a gain control signal, a status signal, an alarm signal, and a fault signal, and wherein at least a portion of the downlink communications link is comprised of at least one downlink optical fiber; and
modulate the TDM downlink management frame signal in a management services frequency band different from the at least one RF communications frequency band, whereinthe central unit comprises at least one electrical-to-optical converter configured to convert the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communication signals into a combined TDM downlink optical management frame signal and downlink optical RF communications signals.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Distribution of management services in distributed antenna systems having a central unit and remote units configured to time-division multiplex (TDM) downlink and/or uplink management signals into time slots to form a TDM management frame signal. In this manner, collision will not occur between multiple management signals communicated over a common communications medium at the same time in the distributed antenna system. Collision detection and management mechanism can add design complexity, cost by requiring additional components, and require additional area on electronic boards. The TDM management frame signal may also be modulated at a carrier frequency before being combined with RF communications signals so that the combined signals are within a linear range of shared certain communications components to reduce cost and area.
812 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A central unit for providing communications signals and management signals in a distributed antenna system and comprising a media access controller in communication with a transceiver circuit, the central unit being configured to:
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receive a plurality of downlink management signals from at least one management controller for distribution to a respective plurality of remote units; time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of downlink management signals into time slots of the respective plurality of remote units to form a TDM downlink management frame signal; receive downlink radio frequency (RF) communication signals of at least one RF-communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service; combine the TDM downlink management frame signal with the downlink RF communication signals; send the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communications signals to the respective plurality of remote units over a downlink communications link, wherein the plurality of downlink management signals includes at least one of a configuration management signal, a gain control signal, a status signal, an alarm signal, and a fault signal, and wherein at least a portion of the downlink communications link is comprised of at least one downlink optical fiber; and modulate the TDM downlink management frame signal in a management services frequency band different from the at least one RF communications frequency band, wherein the central unit comprises at least one electrical-to-optical converter configured to convert the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communication signals into a combined TDM downlink optical management frame signal and downlink optical RF communications signals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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at least one central unit comprising a media access controller in communication with a transceiver circuit, the central unit being configured to; receive a plurality of downlink management signals from at least one management controller for distribution to a respective plurality of remote units; time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of downlink management signals into time slots of the respective plurality of remote units to form a TDM downlink management frame signal; receive downlink radio frequency (RF) communication signals of at least one RF communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service; combine the TDM downlink management frame signal with the downlink RF communication signals; and send the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communications signals to the plurality of remote units over a downlink communications link; and the plurality of remote units each configured to; receive a plurality of uplink management signals from at least one client device; time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of uplink management signals into individual time slots to form a TDM uplink management frame signal; receive uplink RF communication signals of at least one RF communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service; combine the TDM uplink management frame signal with the uplink RF communication signals; and send the combined TDM uplink management frame signal and the uplink RF communications signals to the at least one central unit over an uplink communications link, wherein the central unit is further configured to receive a plurality of combined uplink RF communications signals and TDM uplink management frame signals over an uplink communications link from each of the plurality of remote units for the at least one RF communications service, and wherein the central further comprises at least one optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the plurality of combined uplink RF communications signals and TDM uplink management frame signals into a combined uplink optical RF communications signals and TDM uplink optical management frame signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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at least one central unit comprising a media access controller in communication with a transceiver circuit, the central unit being configured to; receive a plurality of downlink management signals from at least one management controller for distribution to a respective plurality of remote units; time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of downlink management signals into time slots of the respective plurality of remote units to form a TDM downlink management frame signal; receive downlink radio frequency RF communication signals of at least one RF communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service; combine the TDM downlink management frame signal with the downlink RF communication signals; and send the combined TDM downlink management frame signal and the downlink RF communications signals to the plurality of remote units over a downlink communications link; and the plurality of remote units each configured to; receive a plurality of uplink management signals from at least one client device; time-division multiplex (TDM) the plurality of uplink management signals into individual time slots to form a TDM uplink management frame signal; receive uplink RF communication signals of at least one RF communications frequency band for at least one RF communications service; combine the TDM uplink management frame signal with the uplink RF communication signals; and send the combined TDM uplink management frame signal and the uplink RF communications signals to the at least one central unit over an uplink communications link, wherein the remote unit further comprises at least one electrical-to-optical converter configured to convert the combined TDM uplink management frame signal and the uplink RF communications signals into a combined TDM uplink optical management frame signal and uplink optical RF communications signals, and wherein the remote unit is further configured to receive a plurality of combined downlink RF communications signals and TDM downlink management frame signals over a downlink communications link from the central unit for the at least one RF communications service.
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Specification