Backhaul link for distributed antenna system

• US 10,284,259 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2018
• Issued: 05/07/2019
• 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): Timory, Kabir A
• Application Number:
  US16/000,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20180287667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 336 Days
• 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 method, comprising:

receiving, by an antenna system of a second network element of a distributed antenna system, a wireless signal from a first network element of the distributed antenna system, wherein the wireless signal includes a reference signal and includes a modulated signal that is frequency-shifted from a first spectral segment to a carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

converting, by the second network element, the wireless signal to an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal includes the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

amplifying, by the second network element, the reference signal and the modulated signal included in the electrical signal to generate an amplified reference signal and an amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency, wherein the amplified reference signal enables a third network element of the distributed antenna system to reduce signal distortion when converting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a second spectral segment; and

transmitting, by the antenna system of the second network element, the amplified reference signal and the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency as another wireless signal directed to the third network element.

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

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the converting by the third network element comprises down-converting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

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

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the converting by the third network element comprises up-converting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless signal further includes a control channel.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the control channel comprises instructions directing the third network element of the distributed antenna system to convert the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reference signal is modulated with the instructions in the control channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the modulated signal is modulated with a signaling protocol that comprises a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wireless protocol or a fifth generation cellular communications protocol.

10. A repeater system of a distributed antenna system, the repeater system comprising:

an antenna; and

communication circuitry that facilitates operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, by the antenna, a wireless signal from an upstream system of the distributed antenna system, wherein the wireless signal includes a reference signal and includes a modulated signal that is frequency-shifted from a first spectral segment to a carrier frequency without modulating or demodulating the modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

converting the wireless signal to an electrical signal, wherein the electrical signal includes the reference signal and the modulated signal at the carrier frequency;

amplifying the reference signal and the modulated signal included in the electrical signal to generate an amplified reference signal and an amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency, wherein the amplified reference signal facilitates a reduction in signal distortion when a downstream system of the distributed antenna system converts the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a second spectral segment; and

transmitting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency and the amplified reference signal in another wireless signal, wherein the transmitting is to the downstream system.

11. The repeater system of claim 10, wherein the frequency-shifting comprises up-converting, by the upstream system, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency.

12. The repeater system of claim 11, wherein the downstream system performs conversion via down-converting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

13. The repeater system of claim 10, wherein the frequency-shifting comprises down-converting, by the upstream system, the modulated signal in the first spectral segment to the modulated signal at the carrier frequency.

14. The repeater system of claim 13, wherein the downstream system performs conversion via up-converting the amplified modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the second spectral segment.

15. A repeater element of a distributed antenna system, the repeater element comprising:

an antenna system; and

communication circuitry that facilitates operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, by the antenna system, a first wireless signal in a carrier frequency from a first 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 at the carrier frequency, the second wireless signal being received by a second network element of the distributed antenna system, the second wireless signal including an amplified version of the reference signal and including an amplified version of the modulated signal at the carrier frequency, the amplified version of the reference signal enabling the second network element to reduce signal distortion when frequency shifting the amplified version of the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in a spectral segment without modulating or demodulating the amplified version of the modulated signal, the carrier frequency not overlapping in frequency with the spectral segment.

16. The repeater element of claim 15, wherein the frequency shifting comprises down-converting.

17. The repeater element of claim 15, wherein the frequency shifting comprises up-converting.

18. The repeater element of claim 15, wherein the second wireless signal further includes a control channel comprising instructions directing the second network element of the distributed antenna system to frequency shift the amplified version of the modulated signal at the carrier frequency to the modulated signal in the spectral segment.

19. The repeater element of claim 18, wherein the amplified version of the reference signal is modulated with the instructions in the control channel.

20. The repeater element of claim 15, wherein the frequency shifting further comprises frequency shifting the reference signal.