Localization services in optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods

• US 9,967,032 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baker, Kenneth Robert, Sauer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): KRETZER, CASEY L
• Application Number:
  US14/616,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20150155942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25753 Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/00 Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices

Abstract

Optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods to provide localization services for client devices are disclosed. The localization services allow the providing and/or determination of the location of client devices in communication with a component or components of the optical fiber-based distributed communications system. The location of client devices can be provided and/or determined based on knowledge of the location of the component or components in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system in communication with the client device. This information can be used to determine or provide a more precise area of location or area of location for client devices. The optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods disclosed herein may be well-suited for indoor environments where other methods of providing and/or determining location of client devices may be obstructed or not possible due to the indoor environment.

Claims

1. A method for providing localization services in a distributed communications system, comprising:

configuring at least one distinct location zone in the distributed communications system, wherein the at least one distinct location zone comprises a tracking remote antenna unit (RAU);

providing at least one tracking signal to the tracking RAU in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the at least one tracking signal carries an identification of the at least one tracking signal that identifies the at least one distinct location zone;

broadcasting the at least one tracking signal from the tracking RAU;

receiving an uplink radio frequency (RF) communications signal from a client device located in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the uplink RF communications signal comprises client device identification information and the identification of the at least one tracking signal; and

locating the client device based on the client device identification information and the identification of the at least one tracking signal.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the at least one tracking signal from a tracking signal generator or a pilot generator or a beacon generator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the uplink RF communications signal from the client device without providing the at least one tracking signal to the tracking RAU in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the uplink RF communications signal comprises the client device identification information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising not splitting or combining the at least one tracking signal.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicatively coupling the tracking RAU to channels dedicated to carry the at least one tracking signal.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving the client device identification information from the client device after communicating the at least one tracking signal.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving the client device identification information from the client device without communicating the at least one tracking signal.

8. A method for configuring a distributed communications system to provide localization services, comprising:

configuring at least one distinct location zone in the distributed communications system, wherein the at least one distinct location zone comprises a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs);

identifying and configuring a tracking RAU among the plurality of RAUs;

providing a distributed communications apparatus in the distributed communications system, further comprising;

configuring at least one first downlink input to receive downlink radio frequency (RF) communications signals, wherein the downlink RF communications signals are configured to carry downlink communication data;

configuring at least one second downlink input to receive at least one tracking signal identifying the at least one distinct location zone; and

configuring at least one uplink output to receive and communicate uplink RF communications signals from a communications uplink, wherein the uplink RF communications signals carry client device identification information and an identification of the at least one tracking signal identifying the at least one distinct location zone; and

configuring the tracking RAU in the at least one distinct location zone to receive and transmit the at least one tracking signal identifying the at least one distinct location zone.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising configuring the tracking RAU to transmit the at least one tracking signal and the downlink communication data carried in the downlink RF communications signals.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising associating the client device identification information to a location of the tracking RAU.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising not splitting or combining the uplink RF communications signals received from the tracking RAU with the uplink RF communications signals received from another RAU among the plurality of RAUs.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising communicatively coupling the tracking RAU to channels dedicated to carry the at least one tracking signal.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving the client device identification information from a client device after communicating the at least one tracking signal.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving the client device identification information from a client device without communicating the at least one tracking signal.

15. A distributed communications system for providing localization services, comprising:

at least one distinct location zone in the distributed communications system, wherein the at least one distinct location zone comprises a tracking remote antenna unit (RAU); and

a distributed communications apparatus configured to;

provide at least one tracking signal to the tracking RAU in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the at least one tracking signal carries an identification of the at least one tracking signal that identifies the at least one distinct location zone;

broadcast the at least one tracking signal from the tracking RAU;

receive an uplink radio frequency (RF) communications signal from a client device located in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the uplink RF communications signal comprises client device identification information and the identification of the at least one tracking signal; and

locate the client device based on the client device identification information and the identification of the at least one tracking signal.

16. The distributed communications system of claim 15, wherein the distributed communications apparatus is further configured to generate the at least one tracking signal from a tracking signal generator or a pilot generator or a beacon generator.

17. The distributed communications system of claim 15, wherein the distributed communications apparatus is further configured to receive the uplink RF communications signal from the client device without providing the at least one tracking signal to the tracking RAU in the at least one distinct location zone, wherein the uplink RF communications signal comprises the client device identification information.

18. The distributed communications system of claim 15, wherein the distributed communications apparatus is further configured not to split or combine the at least one tracking signal.

19. The distributed communications system of claim 15, wherein the tracking RAU is communicatively coupled to channels dedicated to carry the at least one tracking signal.

20. The distributed communications system of claim 19, wherein the distributed communications apparatus is further configured to receive the client device identification information from the client device after communicating the at least one tracking signal.

21. The distributed communications system of claim 19, wherein the distributed communications apparatus is further configured to receive the client device identification information from the client device without communicating the at least one tracking signal.