Optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems, components, and related methods for calibration thereof
First Claim
1. A wireless communication system, comprising:
- a plurality of remote units, each configured to provide RF communications to devices located in a coverage area;
a downlink RF signal source interface configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) signals from at least one RF signal source;
at least one optical interface module (OIM) configured to;
receive and convert the downlink electrical RF signals from the downlink RF signal source interface into downlink optical signals on at least one communication downlink; and
receive and convert uplink optical signals from at least one of the remote units into uplink electrical RF signals on at least one communication uplink;
an uplink RF signal source interface configured to receive and communicate the uplink electrical RF signals from the at least one communication uplink to the at least one RF signal source; and
a controller configured to;
inject at least one calibration signal over the at least one communication downlink;
calibrate at least one downlink gain in the at least one communication downlink based on a loss incurred in the at least one calibration signal in the at least one communication downlink;
cause the at least one calibration signal to be switched from the at least one communication downlink to the at least one communication uplink;
calibrate at least one uplink gain in the at least one communication uplink, andcalibrate at least one remote unit calibration gain in the at least one remote unit by setting the at least one remote unit calibration gain in at least one attenuator in the at least one remote unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF) communications with clients over optical fiber, including Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided as part of an indoor distributed antenna system to provide wireless communication services to clients inside a building or other facility. The communications can be distributed between a head end unit (HEU) that receives carrier signals from one or more service or carrier providers and converts the signals to RoF signals for distribution over optical fibers to end points, which may be remote antenna units (RAUs). In one embodiment, calibration of communication downlinks and communication uplinks is performed to compensate for signal strength losses in the system.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of remote units, each configured to provide RF communications to devices located in a coverage area; a downlink RF signal source interface configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) signals from at least one RF signal source; at least one optical interface module (OIM) configured to; receive and convert the downlink electrical RF signals from the downlink RF signal source interface into downlink optical signals on at least one communication downlink; and receive and convert uplink optical signals from at least one of the remote units into uplink electrical RF signals on at least one communication uplink; an uplink RF signal source interface configured to receive and communicate the uplink electrical RF signals from the at least one communication uplink to the at least one RF signal source; and a controller configured to; inject at least one calibration signal over the at least one communication downlink; calibrate at least one downlink gain in the at least one communication downlink based on a loss incurred in the at least one calibration signal in the at least one communication downlink; cause the at least one calibration signal to be switched from the at least one communication downlink to the at least one communication uplink; calibrate at least one uplink gain in the at least one communication uplink, and calibrate at least one remote unit calibration gain in the at least one remote unit by setting the at least one remote unit calibration gain in at least one attenuator in the at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of remote units, each configured to provide RF communications to devices located in a coverage area; a downlink signal source interface configured to receive downlink electrical signals from at least one signal source; at least one optical interface module (OIM) configured to; receive and convert the downlink electrical signals from the downlink signal source interface into downlink optical signals on at least one communication downlink; and receive and convert uplink optical signals from at least one of the remote units into uplink electrical signals on at least one communication uplink; an uplink signal source interface configured to receive and communicate the uplink electrical signals from the at least one communication uplink to the at least one signal source; and a controller configured to; inject at least one calibration signal over the at least one communication downlink; calibrate at least one downlink gain in the at least one communication downlink based on a loss incurred in the at least one calibration signal in the at least one communication downlink; cause the at least one calibration signal to be switched from the at least one communication downlink to the at least one communication uplink; calibrate at least one uplink gain in the at least one communication uplink; determine a total uplink loss for the at least one communication uplink; determine an uplink signal source loss from the total uplink loss; calibrate an uplink signal source calibration gain in the uplink signal source interface based on the uplink signal source loss; and calibrate at least one OIM calibration gain in the at least one OIM as the total uplink loss minus the uplink signal source loss. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A wireless communication system, comprising:
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a plurality of remote units, each configured to provide RF communications to devices located in a coverage area; a downlink RF signal source interface configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) signals from at least one RF signal source; at least one optical interface module (OIM) configured to; receive and convert the downlink electrical RF signals from the downlink RF signal source interface into downlink optical signals on at least one communication downlink; and receive and convert uplink optical signals from at least one of the remote units into uplink electrical RF signals on at least one communication uplink; an uplink RF signal source interface configured to receive and communicate the uplink electrical RF signals from the at least one communication uplink to the at least one RF signal source; and a controller configured to; inject at least one calibration signal over the at least one communication downlink; calibrate at least one downlink gain in the at least one communication downlink; cause the at least one calibration signal to be switched from the at least one communication downlink to the at least one communication uplink; calibrate at least one uplink gain in the at least one communication uplink based on a loss incurred in the at least one calibration signal in the at least one communication uplink; and calibrate at least one remote unit calibration gain in the at least one remote unit by setting the at least one remote unit calibration gain in at least one attenuator in the at least one remote unit. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification