Backhaul link for distributed antenna system

• US 10,009,065 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul Shala, Barzegar, Farhad, Blandino, George, Gerszberg, Irwin, Barnickel, Donald J, Willis, III, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US15/179,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20160323015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 746 Days
• Field of Search: 455402
• 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 10/25759 Details of the reception of RF signal or the optical conversion before the optical fibre
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5441 Wireless systems or telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5479 using repeaters
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/542 the information being in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/22 for handling the traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/32 by location or mobility data, e.g. speed data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/326 by proximity to another entity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A distributed antenna and backhaul system provide network connectivity for a small cell deployment. Rather than building new structures, and installing additional fiber and cable, embodiments described herein disclose using high-bandwidth, millimeter-wave communications and existing power line infrastructure. Above ground backhaul connections via power lines and line-of-sight millimeter-wave band signals as well as underground backhaul connections via buried electrical conduits can provide connectivity to the distributed base stations. An overhead millimeter-wave system can also be used to provide backhaul connectivity. Modules can be placed onto existing infrastructure, such as streetlights and utility poles, and the modules can contain base stations and antennas to transmit the millimeter-waves to and from other modules.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an antenna; and

communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising;

receiving, by the antenna, a first wireless signal including a first modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first modulated signal modulated according to a signaling protocol;

converting the first wireless signal to a first electronic signal including the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment;

frequency shifting the first electronic signal to generate an updated first electronic signal, the updated first electronic signal comprising the first modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a first carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the first modulated signal, the first carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and

converting the updated first electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a network element of a distributed antenna system, wherein the reference signal enables the network element to reduce signal distortion when the network element converts the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in a second spectral segment.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency converting further comprises frequency shifting the reference signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions directing the network element of the distributed antenna system to convert the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the reference signal is modulated with instructions of a control channel.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel, and wherein the reference signal is modulated with a clock signal utilized by the network element to receive instructions in the control channel.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the second spectral segment is at least similar or equal to the first spectral segment.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the signaling protocol comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or a fifth generation cellular communications protocol.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the converting by the network element comprises down-converting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting the first modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the converting by the network element comprises up-converting the first modulated signal at the first carrier frequency to the first modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving from the network element a third wireless signal in a second carrier frequency, the third wireless signal including a second modulated signal modulated conforming to the signaling protocol, wherein a mobile communication device generates the second modulated signal in a third spectral segment, and wherein the network element facilitates frequency converting the second modulated signal in the third spectral segment to the second modulated signal at the second carrier frequency and transmits the third wireless signal including the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency;

converting the third wireless signal to a second electronic signal including the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency;

frequency converting the second electronic signal to generate an updated second electronic signal that shifts the second modulated signal in the second carrier frequency to a fourth spectral segment without modifying the signaling protocol of the second modulated signal, the second carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the fourth spectral segment; and

sending the updated second electronic signal including the second modulated signal in the fourth spectral segment to a base station.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the fourth spectral segment is at least similar or equal to the third spectral segment.

14. A method, comprising:

receiving, by an antenna system of a first network element of a distributed antenna system, a first wireless signal including a modulated signal in a first spectral segment, the first wireless signal generated by a mobile communication device, and the modulated signal conforming to a signaling protocol;

converting, by the first network element, the first wireless signal to an electronic signal including the modulated signal in the first spectral segment;

frequency shifting, by the first network element, the electronic signal to generate an updated electronic signal, the updated electronic signal comprising the modulated signal frequency-shifted from the first spectral segment to a carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the modulated signal, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the first spectral segment; and

converting, by the antenna system of the first network element, the updated electronic signal into a second wireless signal that includes a reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the reference signal enabling the second network element to reduce signal distortion when converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a second spectral segment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the frequency converting comprises up-converting, by the first network element, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the converting by the second network element comprises down-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the frequency converting comprises down-converting, by the first network element, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, and wherein the converting by the second network element comprises up-converting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions directing the second network element of the distributed antenna system to reconvert the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment, and wherein the reference signal is modulated with the instructions in the control channel.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the second spectral segment is at least similar to the first spectral segment.

19. A first network element of a distributed antenna system, comprising:

an antenna system;

communication circuitry that facilitates operations, comprising;

receiving, by the antenna system, a first wireless signal in a carrier frequency from a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the first wireless signal including a reference signal and a modulated signal at the carrier frequency; and

transmitting, by the antenna system, a second wireless signal in the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a third network element of the distributed antenna system, the second wireless signal including the reference signal and the modulated signal in the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal corresponding to a retransmission of the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the reference signal enabling the third network element to reduce signal distortion when frequency shifting the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a spectral segment without modulating or demodulating the modulated signal, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the spectral segment.

20. The first network element of claim 19, wherein the first wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions that direct the first network element to retransmit the reference signal and the modulated signal in the carrier frequency to the third network element.