Digital data services and/or power distribution in optical fiber-based distributed communications systems providing digital data and radio frequency (RF) communications services, and related components and methods
First Claim
1. A method for providing digital data services and/or power in an optical-fiber based distributed communications system, comprising:
- receiving, at a distribution unit comprising at least one digital data services input, electrical digital data signals;
distributing, from at least one downlink digital data services output of the distribution unit, downlink digital data signals representing the received electrical digital data signals, over at least one downlink digital data services line to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU);
distributing, from at least one uplink digital data services output of the distribution unit to head-end equipment, uplink digital data signals representing electrical digital data signals received over at least one uplink digital data services line from the at least one RAU;
receiving, at one or more radio frequency (RF) communications services inputs of the distribution unit, optical RF communications signals; and
distributing, from at least one RF communications services output of the distribution unit, the optical RF communications signals over at least one RF communications services optical fiber to the at least one RAU;
distributing power, from at least one power output of the distribution unit, over at least one power line to the at least one RAU.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for distribution of digital data services, radio frequency (RF) communications services, and power are provided for use in optical fiber-based distributed communications systems. Electrical digital data signals are received at a distribution unit. Downlink digital data signals representing the electrical digital data signals are distributed from the distribution unit over a downlink digital data services line to a remote antenna unit (RAU). Uplink digital data signals are received from the RAU over an uplink digital data services line and are distributed to head-end equipment. The distribution unit also receives optical RF communications signals and distributes the optical RF communications signals over at least one RF communications services optical fiber to the RAU. Power is also distributed, from at least one power output of the distribution unit, over at least one power line to the RAU.
777 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing digital data services and/or power in an optical-fiber based distributed communications system, comprising:
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receiving, at a distribution unit comprising at least one digital data services input, electrical digital data signals; distributing, from at least one downlink digital data services output of the distribution unit, downlink digital data signals representing the received electrical digital data signals, over at least one downlink digital data services line to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU); distributing, from at least one uplink digital data services output of the distribution unit to head-end equipment, uplink digital data signals representing electrical digital data signals received over at least one uplink digital data services line from the at least one RAU; receiving, at one or more radio frequency (RF) communications services inputs of the distribution unit, optical RF communications signals; and distributing, from at least one RF communications services output of the distribution unit, the optical RF communications signals over at least one RF communications services optical fiber to the at least one RAU; distributing power, from at least one power output of the distribution unit, over at least one power line to the at least one RAU. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An optical-fiber based distributed communications system, comprising:
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head-end equipment configured to; receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications services signals; and convert the downlink electrical RF communications services signals into downlink optical RF communications services signals to be communicated over at least one optical RF communications services downlink; a controller configured to; receive downlink digital data services signals containing at least one digital data service; and provide the downlink digital data services signals over at least one digital data services downlink; and a plurality of remote antenna units (RAUs), each of the plurality of RAUs communicatively coupled to at least one of a plurality of digital data service clients configured to support digital data services, and each of the plurality of RAUs being configured to; receive the downlink optical RF communications services signals from the at least one optical RF communications services downlink over at least one RF communications services optical fiber; receive the downlink digital data services signals from the at least one digital data services downlink over at least one digital data services line; receive power from at least one power supply over at least one power line; and provide at least a portion of the power received from the at least one power supply to one or more of the plurality of digital data service clients. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A remote antenna unit (RAU) for use in an optical-fiber based distributed communications system, the optical-fiber based distributed communications system comprising head-end equipment configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications services signals and convert the downlink electrical RF communications services signals into downlink optical RF communications services signals to be communicated over at least one optical RF communications services downlink, the RAU communicatively coupled to the head-end equipment and to at least one digital data service client configured to support digital data services, the RAU comprising:
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an optical RF input configured to receive the downlink optical RF communications services signals from the at least one optical RF communications services downlink over at least one RF communications services optical fiber; a digital data services input configured to receive downlink digital data services signals from at least one digital data services downlink over at least one digital data services line; a power input configured to receive power from at least one power supply over at least one power line; and a power output configured to provide at least a portion of the power received from the at least one power supply to the at least one digital data service client.
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Specification