Radio-over-fiber (ROF) system for protocol-independent wired and/or wireless communication

• US 9,729,238 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2016
• Issued: 08/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: George, Jacob, Thelen, Dean Michael, Sauer, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hahn
• Application Number:
  US15/283,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20170026127A1
• Time in Patent Office: 309 Days
• Field of Search: 398115, 398116, 398117, 398118, 398128, 398130, 398 45, 398 48, 398 49, 398 50, 398 58, 398 79, 398 66, 398 68, 398 72, 398 57, 398126, 398135, 455561, 4555621, 455562, 455445, 455422, 455524, 370328, 370329, 370315, 370351, 370318, 370352, 370465
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25751 Optical arrangements for CATV or video distribution adaptations of television systems for optical transmission H04N7/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/25754 Star network topology
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/20 between access points

Abstract

A switched wireless system is used to increase the range of peer-to-peer communications. The optically-switched fiber optic communication system includes a head-end unit (HEU) having a switch bank. Cables couple the HEU to one or more remote access points in different coverage areas. The switch bank in the HEU provides a link between the remote access points in the different coverage areas such that devices in the different cellular coverage areas communicate with each other, such as through videoconferencing. By using the switched communication system, the range and coverage of communication between devices may be extended such that devices in different coverage areas and devices using different communication protocols can communicate.

Claims

1. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit (HEU) having an optical switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals including WLAN signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area;

dynamically establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link; and

the first one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the second peer device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

sensing a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area; and

automatically establishing the RoF-based optical link between the first coverage area and the second coverage area when the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area are common radio frequencies.

3. The method of claim 2, comprising receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device from one of the first and second peer devices.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device from a device other than one of the first and second peer devices.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of the remote access units comprises at least one of a radio frequency (RF) input/output, a DC input/output, an optical input/output, at least one optical-to-electrical converter, and an antenna system.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one of the remote access units comprises at least one optical-to-electrical converter, at least one electrical-to-optical converter, and an antenna system.

7. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit (HEU) having a switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area; and

establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link, wherein establishing the RoF-based optical link comprises;

sensing a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area; and

automatically establishing the RoF-based optical link when the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area are common radio frequencies.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device at a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point optically coupled to the HEU via at least one of the fiber optic cables.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one of the remote access units comprises a radio frequency (RF) input/output, a DC input/output, and an optical input/output.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one remote access unit further comprises at least one electrical-to-optical converter, at least one DC power converter, and an antenna system.

11. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit, an optical switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area;

dynamically establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link;

the first one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the second peer device, wherein

at least one of the remote access units comprises;

a radio frequency (RF) input/output;

a DC input/output;

an optical input/output;

at least one electrical-to-optical converter;

at least one optical-to-electrical converter; and

an antenna system; and

sensing a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and a radio frequency of at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area; and

automatically establishing the RoF-based optical link between the first coverage area and the second coverage area when the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the first peer device in the first coverage area and the radio frequency of the at least one signal received from the second peer device in the second coverage area are common radio frequencies.

12. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit, an optical switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area;

dynamically establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link;

the first one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the second peer device, wherein

at least one of the remote access units comprises;

a radio frequency (RF) input/output;

a DC input/output;

an optical input/output;

at least one electrical-to-optical converter;

at least one optical-to-electrical converter; and

an antenna system; and

receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device from one of the first and second peer devices.

13. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit, an optical switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area;

dynamically establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link;

the first one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the second peer device, wherein

at least one of the remote access units comprises;

a radio frequency (RF) input/output;

a DC input/output;

an optical input/output;

at least one electrical-to-optical converter;

at least one optical-to-electrical converter; and

an antenna system; and

receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device from a device other than one of the first and second peer devices.

14. A method of enabling communication via a wireless communication system between a first peer device in a first coverage area and a second peer device in a second, different coverage area, the wireless communication system having a head-end unit, an optical switch bank, at least one fiber optic cable, and a plurality of remote access points, the method comprising:

optically linking a plurality of the remote access points to a head-end unit (HEU) via a plurality of the fiber optic cables, each of the plurality of fiber optic cables being configured to carry broadband signals from the HEU to the plurality of remote access points;

forming a first coverage area associated with a first one of the plurality of remote access points;

forming a second coverage area associated with a second one of the plurality of remote access points different from the first coverage area;

dynamically establishing an RoF-based optical link over at least one of the plurality of fiber optic cables to allow the first peer device to communicate with the second peer device at least in part over the RoF-based optical link;

the first one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the first peer device and the second one of the plurality of remote access points wirelessly communicating with the second peer device, wherein

at least one of the remote access units comprises;

a radio frequency (RF) input/output;

a DC input/output;

an optical input/output;

at least one electrical-to-optical converter;

at least one optical-to-electrical converter; and

an antenna system; and

receiving a request to establish communications between the first peer device and the second peer device at a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) access point optically coupled to the HEU via at least one of the fiber optic cables.