U.S. patent application number 12/584348 was filed with the patent office on 2009-12-31 for radio system having distributed real-time processing.
This patent application is currently assigned to RadioFrame Networks, Inc.. Invention is credited to Elliott Hoole, Mary Jesse, Robert G. Mechaley, JR., Greg Veintimilla.
Application Number | 20090325636 12/584348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 30448208 |
Filed Date | 2009-12-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090325636 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jesse; Mary ; et
al. |
December 31, 2009 |
Radio system having distributed real-time processing
Abstract
A distributed radio system is disclosed. Transmit and receive
packets of data are transported over a relatively high-speed
multiplexed network, which in one embodiment may be an Ethernet
network. The distributed radio system comprises in one embodiment a
centrally-located network-level processing unit connected via
network connections to one or more intermediate-level processing
units. The intermediate-level processing units may be distributed
throughout the coverage area. The processing units perform digital
signal processing, as well as higher level processing such as
signal routing, speech transcoding and proper interfacing to
external environments, such as a macrocellular environment. Radio
elements are provided that are accurately timed or synchronized,
such that the radio elements have their own time base to ensure
proper transmission, even when unpredictable network delays
occur.
Inventors: |
Jesse; Mary; (Sammamish,
WA) ; Hoole; Elliott; (Sammamish, WA) ;
Mechaley, JR.; Robert G.; (Kirkland, WA) ;
Veintimilla; Greg; (Sammamish, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
VAN PELT, YI & JAMES LLP
10050 N. FOOTHILL BLVD #200
CUPERTINO
CA
95014
US
|
Assignee: |
RadioFrame Networks, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
30448208 |
Appl. No.: |
12/584348 |
Filed: |
September 2, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10373626 |
Feb 24, 2003 |
7606594 |
|
|
12584348 |
|
|
|
|
60359637 |
Feb 25, 2002 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/554.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 84/04 20130101;
H04W 88/085 20130101; H04L 12/189 20130101; H04W 88/14
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/554.1 |
International
Class: |
H04M 1/00 20060101
H04M001/00 |
Claims
1. A distributed radio system for communication between a wireless
user equipment and a network comprising: a radio unit configured
to: transmit outgoing signals to the user equipment; receive
incoming signals from the user equipment; and perform radio-level
processing on data associated with received and outgoing signals;
an intermediate-level processing unit connected to the radio unit
and configured to perform intermediate-level processing on data
associated with received and outgoing signals; and a network-level
processing unit connected to the intermediate-level processing unit
via a local network and configured to perform network-level
processing on data associated with received and outgoing signals;
wherein the network-level processing unit is configured to provide
to the wireless user equipment, via the radio unit and the
intermediate-level processing unit, access to one or more external
telecommunications networks.
2. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio-level
processing comprises RF processing.
3. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio-level
processing comprises, with respect to an outgoing signal,
performing digital signal processing on data received from the
intermediate-level processing unit.
4. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio-level
processing comprises, with respect to a received signal, performing
digital signal processing on data associated with the received
signal and sending the processed data to the intermediate-level
processing unit.
5. The distributed radio system of claim 4, wherein performing
digital signal processing on data associated with the received
signal comprises processing the received signal into a form
suitable for being communicated via a digital network.
6. The distributed radio system of claim 5, wherein processing the
received signal into a form suitable for being communicated via a
digital network comprises extracting base-band data from the
received signal.
7. The distributed radio system of claim 5, wherein processing the
received signal into a form suitable for being communicated via a
digital network comprises shifting the received signal down into a
frequency range suitable for being processed into digital form by
an analog to digital converter.
8. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the
intermediate-level processing comprises, with respect to data
associated with a received signal, processing said data associated
with a received signal into one or more protocol-appropriate data
units.
9. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the
network-level processing unit is configured to perform speech
transcoding.
10. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the
intermediate-level processing unit is configured to perform speech
transcoding.
11. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio unit
and the intermediate-level processing unit are connected by a
network cable and a timing signal is transmitted from the
intermediate-level processing unit to the radio unit via one or
more extra wire pairs in said network cable.
12. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio unit
and the intermediate-level processing unit are connected by a
network cable and power is supplied by the intermediate-level
processing unit to the radio unit via said network cable.
13. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein the radio unit
comprises one of a plurality of radio units, each radio unit having
a network connection to the intermediate-level processing unit, and
each radio unit transmits and receives modulated baseband data
traffic to and from the intermediate-level processing unit through
its associated network connection.
14. The distributed radio system of claim 13, wherein each radio
unit may be configured to support wireless communications under one
or more of a plurality of wireless communication standards.
15. The distributed radio system of claim 1, wherein: the radio
unit comprises one of a plurality of radio units; the
intermediate-level processing unit comprises one of a plurality of
intermediate-level processing units; each radio unit is associated
with and has a network connection to a corresponding one of the
plurality of intermediate-level processing units; and each radio
unit transmits and receives modulated base-band data traffic to and
from the intermediate-level processing unit with which it is
associated through its corresponding network connection to said
intermediate-level processing unit with which it is associated.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/373,626, entitled RADIO SYSTEM HAVING
DISTRIBUTED REAL-TIME PROCESSING, filed Feb. 24, 2003, which claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/359,637, entitled
RADIO SYSTEM HAVING DISTRIBUTED REAL-TIME PROCESSING filed Feb. 25,
2002, which is incorporated herein by reference for all
purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to distributed radio
systems, and more particularly to a radio system having distributed
real-time processing through a digital network.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A wide variety of wireless communications devices and
standards have proliferated in recent years. Cellular telephones
used for voice communications may be configured to operate in
accordance with one of a variety of standards for wireless voice
communications, including GSM, iDEN, and other standards. Other
wireless devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDA's) and
other devices, may be configured to exchange data by wireless
communication with public and/or private networks, such as the
Internet. In addition, wireless local area network (WLAN)
technology enables computers and other devices to be connected to
networks through wireless communications, such as via a WLAN
operating under the IEEE 802.11b standard.
[0004] To support the use, in a building or other defined service
area, of one or more of the many wireless device types and
standards available now and/or in the future, a typical prior art
installation would comprise a plurality of antennas distributed
throughout the service area, with each antenna being connected by a
cable to a centrally located processing system. FIG. 1 shows a
typical prior art wireless communication system. The wireless
communication system 100 of FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of radio
antennas 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110 connected by cables 112, 114,
116, 118, and 120, respectively, to a centrally located processing
system 122.
[0005] One shortcoming of the approach illustrated in FIG. 1 and
described above is that it can be inefficient to transmit the
modulated RF signal by cable to the centrally located processing
system for processing. This shortcoming is exacerbated in
installations that may be required to support multiple users at the
same time in or near the same area. Apart from the increased costs
associated with additional antennas and cable, the centrally
located processing system may not be able to perform all the
required processing with the speed and accuracy that may be
required to support real-time communications, such as real-time
voice communications by wireless telephone.
[0006] A further disadvantage arises where users may wish to use
two or more dissimilar wireless devices and/or standards in the
same service area. Prior to the introduction of the technology
disclosed herein, for example, to support two different types of
wireless device and/or standard a first set of antennas would
typically be provided to receive and transmit radio-frequency (RF)
signals under the first standard and a second set of antennas would
likewise typically be provided to receive and transmit RF signals
under the second standard. Each antenna of the first set would be
connected via a suitable cable to a first centrally located
processing system associated with the first standard, and each
antenna of the second set would likewise be connected via a
suitable cable to a second centrally located processing system
associated with the second standard. Data sent under the first
standard would be processed at the first centrally located
processing system in accordance with the first standard, and data
sent under the second standard would be processed at the second
centrally located processing system in accordance with the second
standard. The capacity of such a system is limited by the
processing capacity of the centrally located processing systems and
the bandwidth (information carrying capacity) of the cables
connected the respective antennas to the corresponding centrally
located processing system(s). In addition, due in large part to the
quantity of cable that must be purchased and installed, such an
approach may not be cost effective. In addition, it may be
difficult to design and install such a system, as many aspects of
performance are highly frequency dependent and each device type
and/or standard may operate at its own frequency.
[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a better way to provide
wireless communication services for a defined service area, such as
a building. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide a way
to provide for the use of dissimilar wireless devices and/or
standards in such a service area that does not suffer from the
capacity constraints and other disadvantages described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
[0009] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages
of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same
become better understood by reference to the following detailed
description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a typical prior art wireless communication
system.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a distributed processing radio
system provided in one embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a distributed
processing radio system integrated with other networks and
systems.
[0013] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment with a network processing unit
308 coupled to three airlink processing units 306a, 306b, and
306c.
[0014] FIG. 5 shows further details of an airlink processing unit
306 used in one embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 6 shows a functional diagram of a radio unit 304 used
in one embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 7 shows the functional components of a radio element
700, such as may in one embodiment correspond to one or more of
radio elements 602-608 of FIG. 6.
[0017] FIG. 8 illustrates the functional components of a radio unit
backplane interface 800 used in one embodiment to provide a radio
unit back plane such as radio unit backplane 600 of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including
as a process; an apparatus; a system; a composition of matter; a
computer program product embodied on a computer readable storage
medium; and/or a processor, such as a processor configured to
execute instructions stored on and/or provided by a memory coupled
to the processor. In this specification, these implementations, or
any other form that the invention may take, may be referred to as
techniques. In general, the order of the steps of disclosed
processes may be altered within the scope of the invention. Unless
stated otherwise, a component such as a processor or a memory
described as being configured to perform a task may be implemented
as a general component that is temporarily configured to perform
the task at a given time or a specific component that is
manufactured to perform the task. As used herein, the term
`processor` refers to one or more devices, circuits, and/or
processing cores configured to process data, such as computer
program instructions.
[0019] A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the
invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that
illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is
described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is
not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is
limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous
alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific
details are set forth in the following description in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details
are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be
practiced according to the claims without some or all of these
specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material
that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has
not been described in detail so that the invention is not
unnecessarily obscured.
[0020] A distributed processing radio system is disclosed. In one
embodiment, a first level of processing is performed at or
relatively near one of a plurality of antennas configured to
receive and transmit wireless communications. For example, a
received signal may be processed to a first level at or near the
antenna. In one embodiment, at this first level the received signal
is processed to be in a form suitable for transmission via a
digital network connection. The partially processed signal is sent
in one embodiment via a network connection to a secondary
processing unit for further processing. In one embodiment, a
connection other than a network connection may be used. In one
embodiment, this further processing comprises extracting from the
received signal data in an intermediate or final form recognized
and prescribed by the governing wireless communications protocol
under which it was sent. The term "protocol-appropriate data unit"
will be used herein to refer to data in an intermediate or final
form recognized and prescribed by a governing wireless
communications protocol, which data may either comprise raw data or
may be decoded in accordance with the governing standard to
determine raw data encoded therein or, in some embodiments or for
some standards, partially decoded. For example, a set of code words
encoded in accordance with a governing standard, such as the IEEE
802.11b standard, may in one embodiment comprise a set of
protocol-appropriate data units. For a standard such as iDEN, raw
data may comprise detected 16 QAM symbols for each of four
sub-channels. Under other protocols, the protocol-appropriate data
units may comprise raw (i.e., fully decoded) data. In general,
decoded data could include control channel information, encoded
voice data, pulse code modulated (PCM) voice data, user defined
packet data, as well as other decoded data types found in wireless
standards.
[0021] Once the secondary processing has been completed, the
received data, i.e., in the form of a set of protocol-appropriate
data units, is sent in one embodiment to a centrally located
processing system, which is configured to perform any remaining
processing that may be needed, if any, such as protocol-specific
processing, to extract and, if appropriate, perform any required
operations on or in response to, the raw data originally sent by
the device that originated the received signal. In one embodiment,
such processing at a centrally located processing system may
comprise communicating with an external network, such as the
publicly switched telephone network, a public IP network, mobile or
cellular telephone networks, or other data and/or
telecommunications networks, with respect to or in response to the
received data. As used herein, the term "network-level processing"
will be used to refer to the above-described processing at a
centrally located processing system subsequent to the "secondary
processing" described above. As used herein, the term
"intermediate-level processing" means the same things as the
"secondary processing" described above.
[0022] In one embodiment, data to be sent to a wireless device is
similarly processed in a distributed manner. Outgoing data is
received or generated at a centrally located processing system via
a network or other connection or interface. The centrally located
processing system processes the data into protocol-appropriate data
units suitable for further processing and transmission in
accordance with the prescribed protocol. The protocol-appropriate
data units are then sent via a digital network to a secondary
processing system for further processing into a form suitable for
final processing by a distributed processing system at or near an
antenna that will be used to transmit the data. At the distributed
processing system at or near the antenna, in one embodiment final
digital processing and/or RF processing may be performed. The
outgoing RF signal is then transmitted via the antenna.
[0023] In one embodiment, the processing components described above
comprise part of an integrated, private system configured to
perform distributed processing with respect to incoming and
outgoing signals, as described above, prior to interaction, if any,
with any external environment with respect to such incoming and/or
outgoing signals. As used herein, an "external environment" is a
network or system accessible to and/or used by more than one user
or user group, such as a public or private communications or data
network accessible by multiple unrelated users or groups of users
(such as multiple enterprises). Examples of systems or networks
that may comprise "external environments", depending on the
embodiment, include without limitation the public switched
telephone network (PSTN); mobility communication networks, such as
cellular telephone networks; and shared private and/or public data
networks, such as the Internet.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a distributed processing radio
system provided in one embodiment. A network processing unit 202 is
connected via digital network connections 204, 206, and 208 to a
plurality of airlink processing units 214, 216, and 218,
respectively. Airlink processing unit 214 is connected via digital
network connections 222, 224, and 226, to a plurality of radio
units 228, 230, and 232, respectively. Likewise, airlink processing
unit 216 is connected via digital network connections 242, 244, and
246, to a plurality of radio units 248, 250, and 252, respectively.
Likewise, airlink processing unit 218 is connected via digital
network connections 262, 264, and 266, to a plurality of radio
units 268, 270, and 272, respectively. While connections 204-208,
222-226, and 242-246 are described above as comprising digital
network connections, in other embodiments one or more of said
connections may comprise a connection other than a network
connection, such as a direct connection via a cable.
[0025] The airlink processing units shown in FIG. 2 in one
embodiment correspond to the secondary processing unit described
above and are configured to perform secondary processing as
described above, e.g., by receiving a partially-processed received
signal via a network connection and further processing the received
signal into protocol-appropriate data units, or by receiving a
partially-processed outgoing signal in the form
protocol-appropriate data units and further processing the data
into a form suitable for final processing by a distributed
processing system at or relatively near the antenna that will be
used to transmit the outgoing signal. In one embodiment, the radio
units shown in FIG. 2 correspond to such a distributed processing
system at or near the antenna, as described above. In one such
embodiment, the radio units are configured to receive RF signals in
accordance with a prescribed wireless communication protocol and
process such received RF signals into a form suitable for
transmission via a digital network (such as via the digital network
connections shown in FIG. 2) to a secondary processing system, such
as the airlink processing unit shown in FIG. 2. In one embodiment,
the radio units shown in FIG. 2 are configured to receive partially
processed outgoing data from an associated airlink processing unit
and further process the data into a formed suitable for RF
transmission in accordance with the applicable wireless
standard.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a distributed
processing radio system integrated with other networks and systems.
The radio system 300 is comprised of five major network elements,
including user equipment 302, one or more radio units such as radio
unit 304, one or more airlink processing units such as airlink
processing unit 306, one or more network processing units 308, and
a gateway unit 310. Two switching entities, including a private
branch exchange (PBX) 312 and a mobile switching center (MSC) 314,
are also shown. In addition, three external network
representations, including a public switched telephone network
(PSTN) 316, a system local area network (LAN) 318, and an IP
network 320, are also shown. For purposes of simplicity, FIG. 3
illustrates only one of each type of network element, although it
will be understood that multiple elements may be included in an
actual implementation of the radio system. For example, in an
actual implementation, there may be eight radio units such as radio
unit 304 associated with each airlink processing unit 306, and
there may be multiple airlink processing units 306 associated with
each network processing unit 308.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the user equipment 302 is coupled
by a radio interface 322 to the radio unit 304. The radio unit 304
is in turn coupled by a network connection 324 to the airlink
processing unit 306. The airlink processing unit 306 is coupled by
a network connection 326 to the system local area network 318,
which in turn is coupled by a network connection 328 to the network
processing unit 308. The system local area network 318 is also
coupled by a network connection 330 to IP network 320. In one
embodiment, the IP network 320 may comprise a public or private IP
network, or some combination of public and private IP networks,
with which the radio system 300 is associated. In one embodiment,
the IP network 320 may comprise a local area network (LAN) or wide
area network (WAN) associated with the radio system 300. Referring
further to FIG. 3, the IP network 320 is coupled by a network
connection 332 to the gateway unit 310.
[0028] The network processing unit 308 is coupled in one embodiment
by an interface 334 to the private branch exchange 312, and is also
coupled by an interface 336 to the public switched telephone
network 316. The PBX 312 is coupled by an interface 344 to the PSTN
316. The network processing unit 308 is also coupled by an
interface 338 to the gateway unit 310. The gateway unit 310 is
coupled by a network connection 340 to an SS7 network 342, which in
turn is coupled by a network connection 344 to the local mobile
switching center 314.
[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the radio system 300 is an
interconnected set of network elements and entities. In one
embodiment, system local area network 318 comprises a sub-network
through which all airlink processing units 306 and network
processing units 308 are interconnected. In one alternative
embodiment, system local area network 318 comprises a sub-network
through which all radio units 304, airlink processing units 306 and
network processing units 308 are interconnected; i.e., the radio
units 304 are connected to the airlink processing unit(s) 306 with
which they are associated through connections, such as connection
324, which comprise network connections comprising part of system
local area network 318. The airlink processing units 306, network
processing units 308, and gateway units 310 may have publicly
addressable IP addresses or private addresses. In one embodiment,
all other communication within the system is routed and switched at
the MAC layer (lower half of layer 2) through a system Ethernet
backbone. In such an embodiment, the Ethernet is strategically used
as the high speed digital communication bus within the system.
[0030] The radio system 300 of FIG. 3 is a highly flexible and
modular digital communications system that provides wireless
access, transport and applications for indoor wireless device
users. The system architecture can be made to provide for all
cellular and PCS standards currently in use worldwide, including
TDMA, CDMA, and GSM. In addition, specialized standards like
Motorola's iDEN, and Wireless LAN standards like IEEE 802.11b, can
also be supported. The architecture is scalable and flexible, and
the system has physical boundaries defined only by the hardware
implementations.
[0031] In one embodiment, the user equipment 302 may be a wireless
device that conforms to a particular standard or proprietary air
interface such as GSM, IEEE 802.11, PCS-1900 or iDEN. The device
may be a cellular phone, a PCS handset, an 802.11 PCMCIA card or a
variety of other devices that interoperate with a GSM, PCS-1900 or
iDEN base station, an 802.11 Access Point, or other access points
or nodes that may be defined by past, existing, or future wireless
standards and protocols.
[0032] In one embodiment, the user equipment 302 communicates via a
radio link such as radio link 322 to a radio unit such as radio
unit 304. Although more than one radio unit 304 may be available to
the user equipment 302, a particular radio unit 304 will be
designated by the user equipment 302 as most desirable generally
based on signal strength or other parameters allowed for
configuration within the user equipment 302 or the network. The
user equipment 302 can move while communicating in which case the
communication link will be handed over to the new best serving
radio unit 304 or macrocell.
[0033] In one embodiment, the user equipment 302 conforms to the
standard wireless A-Interface, which is used to communicate with
the radio unit 304. The user equipment 302 originates and
terminates voice and/or data connections to other user equipment
compatible with user equipment 302, such as telephones, computers,
or specialized voice or data devices. The user equipment 302 stores
some provisioned information about the user, like the mobile or
network IDs, authentication keys, and service preferences.
Depending upon the type of information, it is either provisioned by
the user, the equipment manufacturer or the service provider. The
user equipment 302 devices may be multibanded capable, such that
they can operate at multiple frequency bands, and/or multimodal
capable, such that they can interoperate with different air
interface types.
[0034] In one embodiment, user equipment such as user equipment 302
communicates via a radio link, such as radio link 322, to a radio
unit 304. In one embodiment, there may be a one-to-many
relationship between the radio unit 304 and the user equipment 302.
The radio unit 304 provides the RF front ends for each of the air
interface implementations in operation. The radio unit 304 also
provides the means to effectively communicate received signal data
in a form suitable for transmission via a digital data network,
such as via the network connection 324 (e.g., baseband digital
information), to and from an airlink processing unit such as
airlink processing unit 306. In one embodiment, the radio unit 304
downconverts, samples, formats and forwards baseband information
through a high speed Ethernet link to a central airlink processing
unit such as airlink processing unit 306. In one embodiment, the
radio unit 304 may be a small, ceiling mounted box that houses
printed circuit board PCB modules connected together through a
backplane printed circuit board PCB. The radio unit 304 may be
remotely powered from the airlink processing unit 306 for ease in
deployment.
[0035] In one embodiment, the airlink processing unit 306 is the
central airlink baseband processing unit for the system. The
airlink processing unit 306 receives airlink traffic from and sends
airlink traffic to as many as eight radio units 304 simultaneously
through multiple network connections such as network connection
324. In one embodiment, airlink processing comprises those physical
layer, datalink, and network layer functions required to support
the conversion of complex baseband samples to voice encoded
bitstreams. Additionally, the airlink processing comprises those
operations necessary to process and route IEEE 802.11 WLAN data to
external IP networks. Airlink processing units 306 can be
distributed throughout the system, thus providing flexible coverage
options.
[0036] In one embodiment, the airlink processing unit(s) 306
provide(s) the baseband airlink processing for the associated radio
elements comprising the radio unit(s) 304 associated with the
airlink processing unit(s) 306. The airlink processing units 306
also may function as the interface between multiple radio units 304
and network processing unit 308. In one embodiment, the functions
of the airlink processing unit 306 are as follows. Provide an
interface for up to 8 radio units 304 for the transfer of voice,
WLAN data, control, and configuration information over FAST
Ethernet. Distribute timing and power for up to eight radio units
304. Perform baseband signal processing of voice traffic to include
channel compensation, symbol mapping, and FEC. Perform partial call
processing and airlink protocol stack functions. Route Wireless LAN
data to IP networks (LANs/WANs/Internet), and support peer-to-peer
traffic only communications between airlink processing units
306.
[0037] The network processing unit 308 is the central network
processing unit for the system. In one embodiment, network
processing comprises those physical layer, datalink, and network
layer functions required to convert encoded bitstreams to PCM data
and transport that data to the public switched telephone network
316 or to a PBX such as PBX 312. In one embodiment, the network
processing unit 308 is also the central management entity for the
system from which all configuration and user information is
managed. In one embodiment, in support of circuit switched voice
traffic from user equipment such as user equipment 302, the network
processing unit 308 provides two telecommunication system
interfaces, a Q.931 or RBS interface to a PBX such as PBX 312
(e.g., interface 334), and an analog line or RBS interface to the
public switched telephone network 316 (e.g., interface 336). In
addition, the network processing unit 308 generates and relays
signaling messages to the mobility networks through the gateway
unit 310. In order to centralize network control, in an actual
implementation there may be a one-to-many relationship between the
network processing unit 308 and airlink processing units 306. In
one embodiment, with the exception of voice-over-Internet-protocol
(VoIP) applications and voice traffic processed through a gateway
or direct connection to a mobile switching center, as described
more fully below, voice traffic is routed to the public switched
telephone network 316 through the PBX 312 or the interface 336.
When implemented, VoIP traffic is routed in one embodiment through
an Ethernet connection to a gateway function, such as via
connection 330 to IP network 320 and connection 332 to gateway unit
310.
[0038] The network processing unit 308 contains a central user
database (not shown). The user database has information about all
users of the system whether active or not, and regardless of which
airlink processing unit 306 is being used. For the mobility
features, a visitor location register VLR for each user resides
within the user database. Similarly, for Wireless LAN (or more
generically packet switched device) users, information about the
location, status, authorization, identity (MAC and IP address),
care of address (for MobileIP), type of device, security and
features for each user is stored in the user database. The user
database is a central system repository for information about a
user. If the system is part of a multisystem installation and the
customer wishes to manage users centrally, the network processing
unit 308 may simply contain a link to an externally located user
database. In one embodiment, this is configurable upon
installation. Similarly, the network management system may require
a centralized server or system that contains links to the various
underlying system installations. Unlike the centralized user
database, the network management system information would still be
distributed and stored locally at each system. The central network
management system server would contain additional display and
possibly statistical data collection and analysis capabilities that
levered the local system information.
[0039] In one embodiment, the gateway unit 310 primarily functions
as a protocol translator between network processing units such as
network processing unit 308 and mobile switching centers such as
mobile switching center 314. In that capacity, the gateway unit 310
terminates the transport protocol TCP, extracts the message
contents, re-encapsulates it as a signaling message (MAP, INAP or
IS-41), and forwards it to the correct mobile switching center or
STP over an interface such as interface 340 to SS7 network 342.
Each gateway unit 310 is connected to a serving mobile switching
center such as mobile switching center 314, and/or an external
signaling network such as SS7 network 342, for message delivery. A
single gateway unit 310 may forward traffic to and from many
network processing units 308. Each gateway unit 310 is located at
or near a mobile switching center such as mobile switching center
314 or a Point of Presence connected to a signaling network and the
Internet. A separate Internet connection to the gateway unit 310 is
required for an OAMP interface and forwarding of signaling packets
to other mobile switching centers.
[0040] In one alternative embodiment, the network processing unit
308 may be configured to use Signaling Transport (SIGTRAN) or
another suitable protocol to transport SS7-based signaling, such as
Mobile Application Part (MAP) signaling, over IP and/or other
packet-switched data networks, such as system local area network
318 and/or IP network 320. In one such alternative embodiment, so
configuring the network processing unit 308 eliminates the need to
provide a separate gateway unit such as gateway unit 310, and
gateway unit 310 may be omitted from system 300 in such an
embodiment.
[0041] The mobile switching center 314 provides the basic switching
functions and coordinates the establishment of calls to and from
the mobile subscribers. The mobile switching center 314 may also be
directly responsible for transmission facilities management,
mobility management, and call processing functions. A home location
register for cellular subscribers is located and associated with a
mobile switching center such as mobile switching center 314.
Additionally, a visitor location register for active roaming
cellular system users is located and associated with a mobile
switching center such as mobile switching center 314.
[0042] The private branch exchange 312 is a local digital switch.
PBX 312 provides the basic interface necessary to send and receive
telephone calls to and from the public switched telephone network
316, and may also provide features like call forwarding, voicemail,
automatic routing, and four-digit dialing.
[0043] The public switched telephone network 316 comprises the
regular wire line telephone network that provides service to the
general public. Ordinary telephones, key telephone systems, PBX
trunks, and data transmission equipment commonly access the public
switched telephone network 316. The interface 336 from the network
processing unit 308 to the public switched telephone network 316
provides the ability to originate calls to wireline phones and
terminate calls from wireline phones.
[0044] In one embodiment, the system LAN 318 is a Fast Ethernet LAN
that may use a private addressing scheme for the communication
among network elements. The network may comprise a number of nodes
interconnected through bridges, hubs, switches and/or routers. The
system LAN 318 is differentiated from other existing or co-located
LANs because there are inherent timing and latency requirements
placed on the system LAN that may not be supported in a typical LAN
installation. Much of the circuit switched data is relatively time
critical. The system LAN 318 may in one embodiment accommodate a
variety of building configurations with lengths longer than the 100
m limit on single CAT-5 runs. Standard LAN equipment can be used to
connect remote airlink processing units 306 with the network
processing units 308 and the IP network 320. In its simplest star
implementation, the system LAN 318 may be implemented with cables
from the airlink processing units 306 to the network processing
unit 308 and a single connection to an external data network.
System timing distribution via packets can be utilized to use
off-the-shelf Ethernet equipment to extend the system LAN 318
beyond simple point-to-point wired connections, as is described in
a copending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application titled
"Method and Apparatus for Frequency and Timing Distribution Through
a Packet-Based Network," U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/132,086, filed Apr. 24, 2002, which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety.
[0045] In one embodiment, the system LAN 318, the network
processing unit 308, the network connection 328, the network
connection 326, the airlink processing unit 306, the network
connection 324, and the radio unit 304 comprise a private,
integrated system configured to perform distributed processing of
received and outgoing wireless communication signals as described
herein, prior to the transmission of outgoing signals in the case
of outgoing signals and/or prior to any interaction, if any, with
any external environment in the case of received signals. In one
embodiment, such distributed processing within the private,
integrated system described above facilitates the fast, efficient
processing of received and outgoing signals by the processing
components described above, and the fast, efficient transport of
associated data packets over the network connections comprising the
private system.
[0046] In one embodiment, the efficiency of the communication
between components of the private system over associated network
connections may be improved by defining one or more virtual local
area networks (VLANs) within the private system. For example, in
one embodiment, further efficiencies may be achieved by defining
one or more VLANs dedicated to handling a particular type of
message, such as messages associated with a particular wireless
communication standard, as in an embodiment in which the private
system is configured to handle communications under more than one
wireless communication standard. In one embodiment, defining such
dedicated VLANs may improve the overall efficiency of the private
system by providing a way to optimize network communications in
each different VLAN for the type of network traffic associated with
the wireless standard to which the VLAN is dedicated. In one
embodiment, one or more VLANs may be defined to handle other
specific types of messages, such as timing and/or control messages,
to ensure or further ensure that such messages are timely
delivered. In one embodiment a VLAN may be defined that comprises
the radio unit 304, the network connection 324, and the airlink
processing unit 306. In one embodiment, defining such a VLAN
provides for the efficient handling of the potentially very heavy
network traffic between the radio unit 304 and the airlink
processing unit 306 without affecting adversely the network traffic
between the airlink processing unit 306 and the network processing
unit 308 over system LAN 318 and the associated network connections
326 and 328.
[0047] The IP Network 320 may in one embodiment be a public or
private IP-based Local Area Network (LAN) or Wide Area Network
(WAN) that uses a standard, public addressing scheme for the
communication among network elements. The network consists of a
number of nodes interconnected through bridges, hubs, switches and
routers. This network may be the Internet, another public network,
or it may be a private network. It may also be a concatenation of
multiple IP networks.
[0048] The interface 322 is the air interface for the system, as
shown between the user equipment 302 and the radio unit 304. In one
embodiment, the air interface 322 may be one of several types of
interfaces. Some types of interfaces are listed below. It will be
understood that these are merely provided as examples and that
other types of air interfaces can also be supported by the system.
One type of air interface is a standard European GSM air interface
operating in either the 900 MHz cellular or 1800 MHz DCS bands. A
second is the IEEE 802.11b high-rate air interface operating in the
2.4 GHz ISM band. A third air interface is the iDEN air interface
operating in the 800 MHz SMR band. A fourth is the PCS-1900 air
interface modified from the European ITU standard to operate in
North American PCS frequencies. Again, numerous other types of air
interfaces may be used.
[0049] A network connection such as connection 324 connects each
radio unit 304 to its serving airlink processing unit 306. In one
embodiment, each airlink processing unit 306 supports as many as 8
radio units such as radio unit 304. In one embodiment, power, user
data, system timing and control information are passed over this
interface. All signals destined for the user equipment 302 or the
radio unit 304 are sent from the airlink processing unit 306 over a
network connection such as connection 324. Conversely, all signals
from the user equipment such as user equipment 302 or radio units
such as radio unit 304 destined for the system are sent over a
network connection such as network connection 324. In one
embodiment, a standard Fast Ethernet (100baseT) is used in a
point-to-point configuration as a transport mechanism to carry bits
between the radio units 304 and airlink processing units 306. In
one embodiment, standard CAT-5 wiring is used to carry the Ethernet
signals. The same CAT-5 wiring is also used to send DC power and a
system clock from the airlink processing unit 306 to the radio
units 304.
[0050] The network connection 326 is a standard Fast Ethernet
interface. All system information between the airlink processing
units 306 and network processing unit 308 flows over the network
connection 326 as packetized Ethernet data. Only the addressing
space and timing requirements differentiate the network connection
326 from network connection 330.
[0051] The network connection 330 is an IP network interface.
Traffic bound to and from any publicly addressable IP address
outside the system will be routed through this interface. Any
system traffic destined for or arriving from the Internet travels
across this interface. The physical and MAC layer implementation of
this interface may be implemented in a variety of ways. For
instance, the IP traffic can be routed over an Ethernet interface
to an Ethernet switch and ultimately to a router-based network.
[0052] The interface 344 is a standard T1/E1 or ISDN Primary Rate
Interface (Q.931) to a PBX. The interface 336 is a standard digital
(T1 RBS or E1 CCS) or analog line interface to the public switched
telephone network 316. The interface 338 is a persistent, dial-up
or dedicated circuit connection between the network processing unit
308 and the gateway unit 310. Cellular and PCS signaling in the
form of TCP/IP wrapped MAP, INAP or IS-41 messages between the
system and the mobility intelligent networks are sent over the
interface 338. The interface 340 is a switch-to-switch intersystem
signaling interface. In support of an IS-136 network
implementation, the interface H carries IS-41 messages over the SS7
network SS7N. To support a PCS-1900 or GSM network implementation,
the interface 340 carries MAP and INAP messages over the SS7
network SS7N.
[0053] As discussed above, the radio unit 304 provides the
front-end processing for the different air interfaces supported by
the system. This may include in one embodiment RF conversion to and
from baseband, digital sampling and analog reconstruction, clock
distribution, scanning for macrocell signals, and communications
with the airlink processing unit 306. Through these functions, the
system serves as the access interface between signals received from
mobile terminals, via a standard airlink, and the baseband and/or
other intermediate processing performed in the airlink processing
unit 306.
[0054] The system of the present invention is also described in
provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/359,637, from which
this application claims priority, and which is hereby incorporated
herein by reference in its entirety. A related system is described
in provisional U.S. patent application Ser. No. 60/359,638, filed
Feb. 25, 2002, entitled, "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIRELESS
SIMULCASTING IN A DISTRIBUTED RADIO SYSTEM", which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety, and in a U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/197,320, entitled "DISTRIBUTED RADIO SYSTEM
WITH MULTIPLE TRANSCEIVERS FOR SIMULCASTING AND SELECTIVE
PROCESSING OF RECEIVED SIGNALS", filed Jul. 16, 2002, which is also
hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
[0055] FIG. 4 shows one embodiment with a network processing unit
308 coupled to three airlink processing units 306a, 306b, and 306c.
The network processing unit 308 serves as a central processing unit
and is coupled in one embodiment through Ethernet links to airlink
processing units 306a, 306b, and 306c. The network processing unit
308 is responsible for interfacing the system to external
environments, such as a macrocellular system or the PSTN, as well
as network management of the overall system.
[0056] The network processing unit 308 comprises network processing
cards 402a, 402b, and 402c. The network processing unit 308 also
comprises a switch 404. In one embodiment, the switch 404 comprises
an Ethernet switch. The switch 404 is coupled through a connection
406 to an integrated site controller 408. In one embodiment, the
connection 406 comprises an Ethernet link. The integrated site
controller 408 in one embodiment comprises an access control
gateway (not shown). The switch 404 is connected to and operates
under the control of a central processing unit (CPU) 410.
[0057] FIG. 5 shows further details of an airlink processing unit
306 used in one embodiment. The airlink processing unit 306 shown
in FIG. 5 comprises a set of airlink processing cards 502a, 502b,
and 502c. The airlink processing unit 306 also comprises a switch
504 connected to and operated under the control of a CPU 506. In
one embodiment, the switch 504 comprises an Ethernet switch. Switch
504 is coupled through a connection 508 to network processing unit
308. In one embodiment, the connection 508 comprises an Ethernet
link. In one embodiment, the connection 508 connects the switch 504
with a switch associated with the network processing unit 308, such
as the switch 404 shown in FIG. 4. The switch 504 is further
coupled through connections 510, 512, and 514 to a series of radio
units 304a, 304b, and 304c. In one embodiment, the each of the
connections 510, 512, and 514 corresponds to the connection 324 of
FIG. 3. In one embodiment, each of the radio units 304a-c includes
one or more protocol- or standard-specific modular radio elements
(not shown in FIG. 5) for transmitting signals. The modular radio
elements are described more fully below in connection with FIGS. 6
and 7.
[0058] FIG. 6 shows a functional diagram of a radio unit 304 used
in one embodiment. The radio unit 304 is shown to comprise a radio
unit backplane 612 to which four modular radio elements 602, 604,
606, and 608 are connected. The radio unit backplane 612 is
connected by a connection 612 to an associated airlink processing
unit (APU) such as airlink processing unit 306 of FIG. 3. In one
embodiment, the connection 612 corresponds to the connection 324 of
FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 6, a radio frequency (RF) environment
monitor 610 also is connected to radio unit backplane 610. In one
embodiment, a single radio unit 304 can accommodate up to 7 modular
radio elements such as radio elements 602-608, or 6 modular radio
elements plus one RF environment monitor such as RF environment
monitor 610. Antenna functions will be performed locally on the
radio elements 602-608. Each radio element 602-608 provides the
airlink interface for the protocol or standard supported by that
particular radio element. The RF environment monitor 610 in one
embodiment is a multiband receiver that provides macrocell scanning
capability for radio unit 304 channel allocation while the radio
unit backplane 600 allows point-to-point communications with the
airlink processing unit 306 through Layer 2 Ethernet switching. In
one embodiment, communications between each module and the radio
unit backplane 600 will occur via an associated Ethernet MII
backplane connection.
[0059] As mentioned above, in one embodiment radio elements such as
radio elements 602-608 provide the front-end air interface for the
reception and transmission of signals to and from mobile terminals
in a cell. The specifications for the air interface, and therefore,
the exact functionality of the radio element, will be governed by
the standard supported for that radio element module. A single
radio element such as radio elements 602-608 may be configurable to
support more than one standard and/or multiple frequency bands, but
will be configured to operate with a single air interface defined
at a particular band. In one embodiment, the radio elements 602-608
are not dynamically reassigned, but may be remotely reconfigured on
a nondynamic basis.
[0060] In one embodiment, the radio unit backplane 600 comprises a
backplane switch (not shown) and each radio element such as radio
elements 602-608 will have a point-to-point connection with the
radio unit backplane switch for the transfer of I and Q samples or
baseband symbols, packet WLAN data, control traffic, and module
configuration information. In one embodiment, each radio element
will have separate backplane connections for the transfer of clock
and reference timing directly from the airlink processing unit 306
via spare CAT-5 pairs. In one embodiment, DC power will also be
received on the CAT-5 wiring and distributed to the radio elements
602-608 through the backplane 600. The backplane connections 616,
618, 620, and 622 in one embodiment represent all of the various
point-to-point backplane connections made between the respective
radio elements 602-608 and the radio unit backplane 600.
[0061] In one embodiment, each radio element may comprise a time
base to ensure proper transmission at the radio frequency front end
in order to compensate for the fact that data to be transmitted by
the radio element will not have a guaranteed arrival time due to
unpredictable network delays. In one embodiment, the radio element
time base may be synchronized with a second time base associated
with the airlink processing unit with which the radio unit
comprising the radio element is associated, by means of the clock
and/or reference timing signals received from the airlink
processing unit 306 via spare CAT-5 pairs as described above. In
one embodiment, the radio element time base and the airlink
processing unit time base may be further synchronized with a third
time base associated with the network processing unit 308. Such
further synchronization may be accomplished in one embodiment using
the approach described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/132,086, titled "Method and Apparatus for Frequency and Timing
Distribution Through a Packet-Based Network," filed Apr. 24, 2002,
which was incorporated herein by reference above.
[0062] When voice standards are supported, as shown in FIG. 6 an RF
environment monitor 610 may be present in the radio unit 304 to
provide information on surrounding macrocellular systems in the 800
MHz CMRS, 800 MHz SMR, PCS 1900 MHz, and European bands. This
information may be presented in the form of signal energy levels, I
and Q samples, demodulated data or demodulated control traffic to
the radio management entities in the airlink processing unit 306 or
network processing unit 308. The RF environment monitor 610 in one
embodiment has a point-to-point connection with the radio unit 304
backplane switch for the transfer of voice, data, control traffic,
and/or module configuration information. Additionally, the RF
environment monitor REM will have backplane connections for the
transfer of clock and reference timing directly from the CU via
spare CAT-5 pairs. As with the radio blades RB, the RF environment
monitor REM will receive DC power from the backplane. The backplane
connection 614 shown in FIG. 6 in one embodiment represents all of
the various point-to-point backplane connections between the RF
environment monitor 610 and the radio unit backplane 600.
[0063] In one embodiment, a single radio unit 304 is made to
support up to three 802.11 radio elements, such as radio elements
602-608, in combination with up to 4 additional mobility radio
elements. However, in one embodiment up to 7 mobility radio
elements can be present when no WLAN radio elements are used.
[0064] In one embodiment, the primary functions of a radio element
such as radio elements 602-608 are as follows. Providing an antenna
or connection to an antenna module. Performing RF downconversion of
signals received from mobile units, and RF upconversion of baseband
signals to be transmitted to mobile units. Performing digital
sampling of quadrature demodulated I and Q data, analog
reconstruction of digital I and Q data for quadrature modulation,
and possible demodulation of I and Q samples into baseband symbols.
Performing digital processing of WLAN data including airlink MAC,
service administration, and complete Layer 1 & 2 processing of
Ethernet packets for transfer between the user equipment 302 and
the airlink processing unit 306 (802.11 radio element only).
Performing clock manipulation and distribution for multiprotocol
compatibility. Providing an Ethernet MII Interface to the radio
unit 304 backplane switch. Performing RF control (power level
adjustments, RF channel selection, baseband signal biasing, receive
and transmit gain adjustments) based on received control
information. Providing storage of localized configuration
information as needed. In one embodiment, each radio element module
is configured to perform these functions under the ultimate control
of the airlink processing unit 306 and network processing unit
308.
[0065] Three examples of radio element designs that can be
implemented in one embodiment are: (1) a single radio element that
can be configured to support mobility standards at 800 MHz, 1900
MHz and European mobility bands, (2) 800 MHz iDEN, and (3) 802.11b
Wireless LAN.
[0066] FIG. 7 shows the functional components of a radio element
700, such as may in one embodiment correspond to one or more of
radio elements 602-608 of FIG. 6. As illustrated, the radio element
700 comprises an RF section component 702, which is coupled to a
digital processing component 704. Also included are a power
component 706, a timing component 708, and a network interface 710.
In one embodiment, the network interface 710 comprises an Ethernet
component. The network interface 710 provides the communication to
the radio unit backplane, such as radio unit backplane 600 of FIG.
6. The radio element 700 also communicates over an air interface
712, as was described above in connection with the air interface
322 shown in FIG. 3.
[0067] The primary function of the RF environment monitor 610 of
FIG. 6 is to provide the airlink processing unit 306 and network
processing unit 308 with information on the presence or absence of
macrocell signals in the CMRS, SMR, and PCS bands. The presence or
absence of Wireless LAN signals in the ISM band are left to the
802.11b MAC protocol to handle collisions between packets in
adjacent radio unit 304 cells. 802.11b frequency assignments are
configurable from the network processing unit 308 remotely through
the web-based system network management interface as is the case
with all system configuration information. The information provided
by the RF environment monitor 610 is used by the airlink processing
unit 306 and network processing unit 308 to allocate voice channels
in a manner that avoids interference between macrocell and radio
unit 304 links.
[0068] The RF environment monitor 610 forwards received data to the
airlink processing unit 306 for further processing. Simple energy
measurements are made on an ongoing basis to track voice traffic
channels dynamically. Initially, observing demodulated control
channel information allows for the construction of a table of
control channels in surrounding macrocells. This table can be
updated periodically as needed. The RF environment monitor 610
takes advantage of the reciprocal nature of the FDD uplink and
downlink channels and only scans the receive band at the radio unit
RFU.
[0069] FIG. 8 illustrates the functional components of a radio unit
backplane interface 800 used in one embodiment to provide a radio
unit back plane such as radio unit backplane 600 of FIG. 6. The
radio unit backplane interface 800 of the radio unit 304
facilitates high-speed intermodule communications between radio
unit 304 components as well as communications between radio unit
304 modules and the airlink processing unit 306. In one embodiment,
the radio unit backplane interface 802 comprises a network switch
802, which satisfies the bandwidth requirements for all of these
communications including the voice, data, and control traffic of
the iDEN, PCS-1900, GSM, 802.11b radio element and RF environment
monitor 610 modules. In one embodiment, the switch 802 comprises an
Ethernet 10/100BaseT layer 2 switch. The switch 802 is coupled to a
network physical interface 804. In one embodiment, the switch 802
comprises a 100BaseT physical interface. The radio unit backplane
interface 800 also comprises a clock distribution component 806
configured to provide a clock signal to the radio element(s) and/or
RF environment monitors connected to the backplane, and a power
distribution component 808 configured to supply power to such
components. In other embodiments, not illustrated in FIG. 8, other
approaches may be used to supply a clock signal and/or power to
such components.
[0070] Referring further to FIG. 8, the radio unit backplane
interface 800 further comprises a plurality of point-to-point
connections 810, each of which represents the termination of a
point-to-point connection between a radio element, such as radio
elements 602, 604, 606, and 608 of FIG. 6, on the one hand, and the
radio unit backplane, such as radio unit backplane 600 of FIG. 6,
on the other, so that all voice, data, and control traffic must be
routed through this interface. Therefore, in one embodiment, the
radio unit backplane interface 800 may provide all of the necessary
multiplexing and demultiplexing of data between the radio units
such as radio unit 304 and the airlink processing unit 306. In one
embodiment, packetizing all radio element/RF environment monitor
data into Ethernet MAC frames on the radio elements/RF environment
monitors and transferring this data via MII interfaces to an
Ethernet switch accomplishes this. In one embodiment, the radio
unit backplane interface switch 802 performs a bridge function that
forwards Ethernet data from one radio element to another radio
element, or to the airlink processing unit 306, with minimal delay.
The one exception to this paradigm in one embodiment is the
reference clock from the airlink processing unit 306. To ensure the
integrity of the reference clock, it is generally routed directly
to the radio element modules, after fan-out in the backplane, from
the airlink processing unit 306 without packetization.
[0071] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been
illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various
changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention.
[0072] Although the foregoing embodiments have been described in
some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the invention
is not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative
ways of implementing the invention. The disclosed embodiments are
illustrative and not restrictive.
* * * * *