Bitrate efficient transport through distributed antenna systems
First Claim
1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
- a host unit configured to receive downlink wireless network information from a radio access network interface, wherein the wireless network information is formatted according to a radio access technology protocol having a radio access technology stack, wherein the wireless network information is in a first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack;
at least one antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit by at least one digital communication link;
wherein the host unit is configured to convert the downlink wireless network information received from the radio access network interface into downlink data stream control layer protocol data units in a data stream control layer of the radio access technology protocol stack, wherein the downlink data stream control layer is higher than the first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack, wherein the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units transport information using fewer bits than the downlink wireless network information;
wherein the host unit is configured to communicate the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to the at least one antenna unit across the at least one digital communication link using a distributed antenna system transport protocol, wherein the distributed antenna system transport protocol is configured for communicating within the distributed antenna system, and wherein the radio access technology protocol is configured for wirelessly communicating over an air interface with at least one subscriber unit;
wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to convert the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to downlink radio frequency signals; and
wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to communicate the downlink radio frequency signals wirelessly using at least one antenna.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed antenna system includes a host unit configured to receive downlink wireless network information from a radio access network interface and at least one antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit by at least one digital communication link. Host unit is configured to convert downlink wireless network information received from radio access network interface from first protocol layer to second protocol layer. Second protocol layer uses relevant bits more efficiently than first protocol layer. Host unit is configured to communicate downlink wireless network information to at least one antenna unit across at least one digital communication link. At least one antenna unit is configured to convert downlink wireless network information communicated from host unit from second protocol layer to downlink radio frequency signals. At least one antenna unit is configured to communicate downlink radio frequency signals wirelessly using at least one antenna.
258 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a host unit configured to receive downlink wireless network information from a radio access network interface, wherein the wireless network information is formatted according to a radio access technology protocol having a radio access technology stack, wherein the wireless network information is in a first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack; at least one antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit by at least one digital communication link; wherein the host unit is configured to convert the downlink wireless network information received from the radio access network interface into downlink data stream control layer protocol data units in a data stream control layer of the radio access technology protocol stack, wherein the downlink data stream control layer is higher than the first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack, wherein the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units transport information using fewer bits than the downlink wireless network information; wherein the host unit is configured to communicate the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to the at least one antenna unit across the at least one digital communication link using a distributed antenna system transport protocol, wherein the distributed antenna system transport protocol is configured for communicating within the distributed antenna system, and wherein the radio access technology protocol is configured for wirelessly communicating over an air interface with at least one subscriber unit; wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to convert the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to downlink radio frequency signals; and wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to communicate the downlink radio frequency signals wirelessly using at least one antenna. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a host unit configured to transmit uplink wireless network information to a radio access network interface, wherein the uplink wireless network information is formatted according to a radio access technology protocol having a radio access technology stack, wherein the wireless network information is in a first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack; at least one antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit by at least one digital communication link; wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to receive uplink radio frequency signals wirelessly using at least one antenna; wherein the at least one antenna unit is further configured to convert the uplink radio frequency signals to uplink data stream control layer protocol data units within a data stream control layer of the radio access technology protocol stack, wherein the uplink radio data stream control layer is higher than the first layer of the radio access technology protocol stack; wherein the at least one antenna unit is further configured to communicate the uplink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to the at least one antenna unit across the at least one digital communication link using a distributed antenna system transport protocol, wherein the distributed antenna system transport protocol is configured for communicating within the distributed antenna system, and wherein the radio access technology protocol is configured for wirelessly communicating over an air interface with at least one subscriber unit; wherein the host unit is configured to convert the uplink data stream control layer protocol data units to the uplink wireless network information that transports information using more bits than the data stream control layer used by the uplink data stream control layer protocol data units. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A distributed antenna system comprising:
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a host unit configured to receive downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within a data stream control layer from a radio access network interface, wherein the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units are formatted according to a radio access technology protocol having a radio access technology stack including the data stream control layer and at least one layer below the data stream control layer within the radio access technology protocol; at least one antenna unit communicatively coupled to the host unit by at least one digital communication link; wherein the host unit is configured to communicate the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to the at least one antenna unit across the at least one digital communication link using a distributed antenna system transport protocol, wherein the distributed antenna system transport protocol is configured for communicating within the distributed antenna system, and wherein the radio access technology protocol is configured for wirelessly communicating over an air interface with at least one subscriber unit; wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to convert the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units within the data stream control layer to downlink radio frequency signals for a radio access technology; wherein the at least one antenna unit is configured to communicate the downlink radio frequency signals wirelessly using at least one antenna; and wherein the downlink data stream control layer protocol data units transport information using fewer bits than a radio access technology physical layer signal for the radio access technology. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification