Translation unit for wireless communications system

• US 20030036410A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Andrew Corporation (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ommodt, Kevin W., Judd, Mano D., Varghese, Johnsy C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,133,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/561
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/045 between access point and backbone network device

Abstract

A translation unit for use in a wireless communications system comprises translation circuitry configured to be interfaced between an RF antenna network and a backhaul network. The translation circuitry is operable for translating the frequency of signals directly between an RF network and a backhaul network without conversion to audio in order to provide direct communications between a base station and a backhaul destination.

Claims

1. A translation unit for use in a wireless communications system comprising:

translation circuitry configured to be interfaced between an RF antenna network and a backhaul network;

the translation circuitry operable for translating the frequency of signals directly between an RF network and a backhaul network without conversion to audio to provide direct communications between a base station and a backhaul destination.

2. The translation unit of claim 1 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating the frequency of the signals without modulation.

3. The translation unit of claim 1 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating RF signals, in a plurality of channels spread over an RF frequency band, into a backhaul band.

4. The translation unit of claim 3 wherein the RF channels have a total bandwidth comprising a first bandwidth, the translation unit operable for translating the RF signals into a backhaul band having a second bandwidth at least as great as said first bandwidth.

5. The translation unit of claim 1 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless microwave network, the translation circuitry operable for translating the signals between an RF band and the microwave backhaul band.

6. The translation unit of claim 5 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network and the backhaul band includes at least a band from the group of:

LMDS, MMDS 2500, MMDS 2100, PCS 1900, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 GHz UNII, 5.8 GHz UNII, 900 UNLICENSED, CELL 800, 3.5 GHZ.

7. The translation unit of claim 1 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating RF signals over an RF frequency band which includes at least a band from the group of:

PCS 1900, 3G 1900, CELLULAR 800, 4G, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 UNII, 5.8 UNII, UMTS 1900/2100, DCS-1800, DCS 900.

8. The translation unit of claim 5 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals directly between the RF band and the microwave band.

9. The translation unit of claim 5 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals to an intermediate IF band when translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

10. The translation unit of claim 9 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals to multiple intermediate IF bands before translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

11. The translation unit of claim 9 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for filtering the signals when in the IF band.

12. The translation unit of claim 1 further comprising a power amplifier coupled to the translation circuitry for amplifying the translated signals.

13. The translation unit of claim 1 further comprising a low noise amplifier coupled to the translation circuitry for amplifying the signals prior to translation.

14. The translation unit of claim 1 wherein the translation circuitry is configured for mounting on a tower structure.

15. The translation unit of claim 1 further comprising D/A circuitry operable for converting signals between analog and digital formats between an RF network and a backhaul network.

16. The translation unit of claim 15 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating between an RF band and an IF band, the D/A circuitry converting between digital and analog IF signals.

17. The translation unit of claim 1 further comprising fiber transceiver circuitry coupled to the translation circuitry for providing communications over fiber between a base station and a switching center.

18. Translation circuitry for coupling between an RF antenna network and a backhaul network at a base station, the translation circuitry comprising:

circuitry operable for transforming signals between an RF format and a backhaul format without modulation to provide communications between the base station and a backhaul destination.

19. The translation circuitry of claim 18 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating the frequency of the signals between an RF network and a backhaul network.

20. The translation circuitry of claim 19 further operable for translating RF signals, in a plurality of channels spread over an RF frequency band, into a backhaul band.

21. The translation circuitry of claim 20 wherein the RF channels have a total bandwidth comprising a first bandwidth, the translation unit operable for translating the RF signals into a backhaul band having a second bandwidth at least as great as said first bandwidth.

22. The translation circuitry of claim 19 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network, the translation circuitry operable for translating the signals between an RF band and a backhaul band.

23. The translation circuitry of claim 19 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network and the backhaul band includes at least a band from the group of:

LMDS, MMDS 2500, MMDS 2100, PCS 1900, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 GHz UNII, 5.8 GHz UNII, 900 UNLICENSED, CELL 800, 3.5 GHZ.

24. The translation circuitry of claim 19 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating RF signals over an RF frequency band which includes at least a band from the group of:

PCS 1900, 3G 1900, CELLULAR 800, 4G, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 UNII, 5.8 UNII, UMTS 1900/2100, DCS-1800, DCS 900.

25. The translation circuitry of claim 22 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals directly between the RF band and the microwave band.

26. The translation circuitry of claim 22 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals to an intermediate IF band when translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

27. The translation circuitry of claim 26 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals to multiple intermediate IF bands before translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

28. The translation circuitry of claim 18 wherein the translation circuitry is configured for mounting on a tower structure of the base station.

29. The translation circuitry of claim 18 further comprising D/A circuitry operable for converting signals between analog and digital formats between an RF network and a backhaul network.

30. The translation circuitry of claim 18 further comprising fiber transceiver circuitry coupled to the translation circuitry for providing communications over fiber between a base station and a backhaul destination.

31. A base station for a wireless communications system comprising:

at least one RF antenna for transceiving RF signals;

a backhaul antenna for transceiving signals with a backhaul destination;

translation circuitry configured to be interfaced between the RF antenna and the backhaul antenna;

the translation circuitry operable for translating the frequency of signals directly between the RF antenna and the backhaul antenna without conversion to audio to provide direct communications between a base station and a backhaul destination.

32. The base station of claim 31 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating the frequency of the signals without modulation.

33. The base station of claim 31 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating RF signals, in a plurality of channels spread over an RF frequency band, into a backhaul band.

34. The base station of claim 31 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating the signals between an RF band and a microwave backhaul band.

35. The base station of claim 34 wherein the backhaul band includes at least a band from the group of:

LMDS, MMDS 2500, MMDS 2100, PCS 1900, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 GHz UNII, 5.8 GHz UNII, 900 UNLICENSED, CELL 800, 3.5 GHZ.

36. The base station of claim 34 wherein RF band includes at least a band from the group of:

PCS 1900, 3G 1900, CELLULAR 800, 4G, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 UNII, 5.8 UNII, UMTS 1900/2100, DCS-1800, DCS 900.

37. The base station of claim 34 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals directly between the RF band and the microwave band.

38. The base station of claim 34 wherein said translation circuitry is operable for translating signals to an intermediate IF band when translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

39. The base station of claim 31 further comprising a power amplifier coupled to the translation circuitry for amplifying the translated signals.

40. The base station of claim 39 wherein the power amplifier is a part of the RF antenna.

41. The base station of claim 31 further comprising a low noise amplifier coupled to the translation circuitry for amplifying the signals prior to translation.

42. The base station of claim 41 wherein the low noise amplifier is a part of the RF antenna.

43. The base station of claim 31 wherein the translation circuitry is configured for mounting on a tower structure associated with the base station.

44. A base station for a wireless communications system comprising:

at least one RF antenna for transceiving RF signals;

a backhaul interface for interfacing with a backhaul destination;

translation circuitry configured to be interfaced between the RF antenna and the backhaul interface;

the translation circuitry operable for translating the frequency of signals directly between the RF antenna and the backhaul interface without conversion to audio to provide direct communications between a base station and a backhaul destination.

45. The base station of claim 44 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating the frequency of the signals without modulation.

46. The base station of claim 44 wherein the translation circuitry is configured for mounting on a tower structure associated with the base station.

47. The base station of claim 44 wherein the backhaul interface includes a cable interface.

48. The base station of claim 44 further comprising D/A circuitry operable for converting signals between analog and digital formats between the RF antenna and the backhaul interface.

49. The base station of claim 48 wherein the translation circuitry is operable for translating between an RF band and an IF band, the D/A circuitry converting between digital and analog IF signals.

50. The base station of claim 47 wherein the cable interface further comprises fiber transceiver circuitry coupled to the translation circuitry for providing communications over fiber between a base station and a backhaul destination.

51. A method for backhauling in a wireless communications system comprising:

transceiving RF signals with an RF antenna network;

communicating with a backhaul destination through a backhaul network;

translating the frequency of signals directly between the RF network and the backhaul network without conversion to audio to provide direct communications between the RF antenna network and a backhaul destination.

52. The method of claim 51 further comprising translating the frequency of the signals without modulation.

53. The method of claim 52 further comprising translating RF signals, in a plurality of channels spread over an RF frequency band, into a backhaul band and communicating over the backhaul band with a backhaul antenna.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein the RF channels have a total bandwidth comprising a first bandwidth, and further comprising translating the RF signals into a backhaul band having a second bandwidth at least as great as said first bandwidth.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless microwave network, and further comprising translating the signals between an RF band and a microwave backhaul band.

56. The method of claim 51 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network operating in a backhaul band including at least a band from the group of:

LMDS, MMDS 2500, MMDS 2100, PCS 1900, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 GHz UNII, 5.8 GHz UNII, 900 UNLICENSED, CELL 800, 3.5 GHZ.

57. The method of claim 51 further comprising transceiving RF signals over an RF frequency band which includes at least a band from the group of:

PCS 1900, 3G 1900, CELLULAR 800, 4G, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 UNII, 5.8 UNII, UMTS 1900/2100, DCS-1800, DCS 900.

58. The method of claim 55 further comprising translating signals directly between the RF band and the microwave band.

59. The method of claim 55 further comprising translating signals to an intermediate IF band when translating between the RF band and the microwave band.

60. The method of claim 51 further comprising translating the signals on a tower structure proximate the RF antenna network.

61. A method for backhauling in a wireless communication system comprising:

transceiving RF signals with an RF network;

communicating with a backhaul destination through a backhaul network;

transforming signals between an RF format and a backhaul format without modulation to provide communications between the RF network and a backhaul destination.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the RF signals include channels having a total bandwidth comprising a first bandwidth, the method further comprising translating the signals into a backhaul band having a second bandwidth at least as great as said first bandwidth.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the backhaul network is a wireless network, and further comprising translating the signals between an RF band and a backhaul band.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the backhaul band includes at least a band from the group of:

LMDS, MMDS 2500, MMDS 2100, PCS 1900, WCS 2300, 2400 UNLICENSED, 5.1 GHz UNII, 5.8 GHz UNII, 900 UNLICENSED, CELL 800, 3.5 GHZ.

65. A method for backhauling in a wireless communications system comprising:

transceiving RF signals with an RF antenna network;

communicating with a backhaul destination over a cable backhaul network;

translating the frequency of signals directly between the RF network and the backhaul network without conversion to audio;

converting signals between analog and digital formats between the RF network and the backhaul network.

66. The method of claim 65 further comprising converting the digital format signals to a fiber format for providing communications over fiber with the backhaul destination.