U.S. patent application number 13/939392 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-16 for distributed antenna system with managed connectivity.
The applicant listed for this patent is ADC Telecommunications, Inc.. Invention is credited to Trevor D. Smith.
Application Number | 20140016583 13/939392 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49913950 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140016583 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smith; Trevor D. |
January 16, 2014 |
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM WITH MANAGED CONNECTIVITY
Abstract
One embodiment is directed to a digital antenna system (DAS).
The DAS comprises a host unit and at least one remote antenna unit
located remotely from the host unit, wherein the remote antenna
unit is communicatively coupled to the host unit. The host unit is
configured to communicate a downstream transport signal from the
host unit to the remote antenna unit. The remote antenna unit is
configured to use the downstream transport signal to generate a
downstream radio frequency signal for radiation from an antenna
associated with the remote antenna unit. The DAS is configured to
enable full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if an
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit. Other
embodiments are directed to a host-to-host network.
Inventors: |
Smith; Trevor D.; (Shakopee,
MN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ADC Telecommunications, Inc. |
Shakoppe |
MN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49913950 |
Appl. No.: |
13/939392 |
Filed: |
July 11, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61670482 |
Jul 11, 2012 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
370/329 ;
398/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04B 10/25754 20130101;
H04W 72/04 20130101; H04W 12/1202 20190101; H04J 14/0227 20130101;
H04W 88/085 20130101; H04J 14/0256 20130101; H04J 14/0278 20130101;
H04W 12/0609 20190101 |
Class at
Publication: |
370/329 ;
398/96 |
International
Class: |
H04W 72/04 20060101
H04W072/04; H04J 14/02 20060101 H04J014/02 |
Claims
1. A digital antenna system (DAS) comprising: a host unit; and at
least one remote antenna unit located remotely from the host unit,
wherein the remote antenna unit is communicatively coupled to the
host unit; wherein the host unit is configured to communicate a
downstream transport signal from the host unit to the remote
antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to use
the downstream transport signal to generate a downstream radio
frequency signal for radiation from an antenna associated with the
remote antenna unit; wherein the DAS is configured to enable full
operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if an
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
2. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is configured to work
with remote antenna units from multiple vendors.
3. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the remote antenna unit comprises an
interface to read physical layer management (PLM) information from
at least one cable used to communicatively couple the remote
antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM
information read from the cable used to communicatively couple the
remote antenna unit to the host unit is used in the authentication
process.
4. The DAS of claim 3, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at least
some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
5. The DAS of claim 4, wherein an out-of-band channel is provided
between the host unit and the remote antenna unit over which the
remote antenna unit is configured to communicate with the PLM
aggregation point.
6. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the authentication process is
performed by at least one of: the host unit and an entity external
to the DAS.
7. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the authentication process comprises
determining if the remote antenna unit read predetermined
information from the at least one cable used to communicatively
couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit.
8. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the authentication process
comprises: receiving a first authentication code from the remote
antenna unit; generating a second authentication code; and
comparing the first authentication code to the second
authentication code.
9. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the authentication process
comprises: receiving an authentication code from the remote antenna
unit; decrypting the authentication using a key to generate plain
text; and determining if the plain text includes predetermined
information.
10. The DAS of claim 9, wherein the predetermined information
comprises at least some PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
11. The DAS of claim 10, wherein the authentication process further
comprises: receiving at least some PLM information read from the
cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the
host unit by at least one of the remote antenna unit and a device
other than the remote antenna unit.
12. The DAS of claim 11, wherein the device other than the remote
antenna unit comprises at least one of: the host unit, an expansion
hub, and a patch panel.
13. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is communicatively
coupled to the remote antenna unit using at least one intermediary
device.
14. The DAS of claim 13, wherein the intermediary device comprises
an expansion hub.
15. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to generate an upstream transport signal from an
upstream radio frequency signal received via at least one antenna
associated with the remote antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna
unit is configured to communicate the upstream transport signal
from the remote antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein the host
unit is configured to use the upstream transport signal to generate
a upstream signal that is provided by the host unit to at least one
base-station related node.
16. The DAS of claim 15, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to generate the upstream transport signal by doing at
least one of: down-converting a signal derived from the upstream
radio frequency signal; and performing an analog-to-digital
conversion (A/D) process on a signal derived from the upstream
radio frequency signal.
17. The DAS of claim 15, wherein the host unit is configured to do
at least one of the following in connection with generating the
upstream signal from the upstream transport signal: performing a
digital-to-analog conversion on a signal derived from the upstream
transport signal; and upconverting a signal derived from the
upstream transport signal.
18. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is coupled to a
base-station related node.
19. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the base-station related node
comprises at least one of a base station, a radio access
controller, and a base station controller.
20. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is configured to
receive downstream radio frequency signal from a base station and
to generate the downstream transport signal from the downstream
radio frequency signal.
21. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is configured to
receive digital downstream baseband data from a base station
related node and to generate the downstream transport signal from
the digital downstream baseband data.
22. The DAS of claim 1, wherein DAS comprises at least one of an
analog DAS and a digital DAS.
23. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the host unit is configured to
generate the downstream transport signal by doing at least one of:
generating digital downstream baseband data using a base band
module or a base station module included in the host unit;
performing an analog-to-digital conversion on a signal derived from
the downstream signal; and frequency shifting a signal derived from
the downstream signal.
24. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to do at least one of the following in connection with
generating the downstream radio frequency signal from the
downstream transport signal: performing a digital-to-analog
conversion on a signal derived from the downstream transport
signal; up-converting a signal derived from the downstream
transport signal; a filtering a signal derived from the downstream
transport signal; and amplifying a signal derived from the
downstream transport signal.
25. The DAS of claim 1, further comprising an interface to read
physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one cable
used to communicatively couple the host unit to the remote antenna
unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read from
the cable used to communicatively couple the host unit to the
remote antenna unit is used in the authentication process.
26. The DAS of claim 25, wherein the host unit is configured to
communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at least some of the PLM
information read from the cable used to communicatively couple the
host unit to the remote antenna unit.
27. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the DAS is configured to enable
full operation of an expansion unit in the DAS if an authentication
process has been successfully performed for the expansion unit,
wherein full operation of the expansion unit in the DAS is not
enabled if the authentication process has not been successfully
performed for the expansion unit, wherein the remote antenna unit
is coupled to the host unit via the expansion unit.
28. The DAS of claim 1, wherein the DAS is configured to enable
full operation of the host unit in the DAS if an authentication
process has been successfully performed for the expansion unit,
wherein full operation of the host unit in the DAS is not enabled
if the authentication process has not been successfully performed
for the host unit.
29. A remote antenna unit for use in a distributed antenna (DAS)
comprising the remote antenna unit and a host unit, the remote
antenna unit comprising: a port to attach at least one cable that
is used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the
host unit; wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to
generate a downstream radio frequency signal for radiation from an
antenna associated with the remote antenna unit from a downstream
transport signal received at the remote antenna unit from the host
unit; and wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to
communicate information used in an authentication process that is
used to determine whether to enable operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS.
30. The remote antenna unit of claim 29, further comprising at
least one programmable processor configured to execute
software.
31. The remote antenna unit of claim 29, further comprising an
interface to read physical layer management (PLM) information from
at least one cable used to communicatively couple the remote
antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM
information read from the cable used to communicatively couple the
remote antenna unit to the host unit is used in the authentication
process.
32. The remote antenna unit of claim 31, wherein the remote antenna
unit is configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at
least some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
33. The remote antenna unit of claim 32, wherein an out-of-band
channel is provided between the host unit and the remote antenna
unit over which the remote antenna unit is configured to
communicate with the PLM aggregation point.
34. The remote antenna unit of claim 29, wherein the remote antenna
unit generates the downstream radio frequency signal from the
downstream transport signal by doing at least one of: performing a
digital-to-analog process on a signal derived from the downstream
transport signal; upconverting a signal derived from the downstream
transport signal; filtering a signal derived from the downstream
transport signal; and amplifying a signal derived from the
downstream transport signal.
35. The remote antenna unit of claim 29, wherein the remote antenna
unit is configured to generate an upstream transport signal from an
upstream radio frequency signal received via at least one antenna
associated with the remote antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna
unit is configured to communicate the upstream transport signal
from the remote antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein the host
unit is configured to use the upstream transport signal to generate
a upstream signal that is provided by the host unit to at least one
base-station related node.
36. A host unit for use in a digital antenna system (DAS)
comprising the host unit and at least one remote antenna unit
located remotely from the host unit and that is communicatively
coupled to the host unit, the host unit comprising: an interface to
communicatively couple the host unit the remote antenna unit; and
wherein the host unit is configured to generate a downstream
transport signal, wherein the downstream transport signal is
communicated from the host unit to the remote antenna unit for use
by the remote antenna unit in generating a downstream radio
frequency signal for radiation from an antenna associated with the
remote antenna unit; wherein the host unit is configured to enable
full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if an
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
37. The host unit of claim 36, wherein the host unit is configured
to work with remote antenna units from multiple vendors.
38. The host unit of claim 36, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to read physical layer management (PLM) information from
at least one cable used to communicatively couple the remote
antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM
information read from the cable used to communicatively couple the
remote antenna unit to the host unit is used in the authentication
process.
39. The host unit of claim 38, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at least
some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
40. The host unit of claim 39, wherein an out-of-band channel is
provided between the host unit and the remote antenna unit over
which the remote antenna unit is configured to communicate with the
PLM aggregation point.
41. The host unit of claim 36, further comprising at least one
programmable processor configured to execute software.
42. The host unit of claim 36, further comprising an interface to
read physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one
cable used to communicatively couple the host unit to the remote
antenna unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the host unit to the
remote antenna unit is used in the authentication process.
43. The host unit of claim 42, wherein the host unit is configured
to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at least some of the
PLM information read from the cable used to communicatively couple
the host unit to the remote antenna unit.
44. The host unit of claim 36, wherein the host unit is configured
to generate the downstream transport signal by doing at least one
of: generating digital downstream baseband data using a base band
module or a base station module included in the host unit;
performing an analog-to-digital conversion on a signal derived from
the downstream signal; and frequency shifting a signal derived from
the downstream signal.
45. The host unit of claim 36, wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to generate an upstream transport signal from an
upstream radio frequency signal received via at least one antenna
associated with the remote antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna
unit is configured to communicate the upstream transport signal
from the remote antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein the host
unit is configured to use the upstream transport signal to generate
a upstream signal that is provided by the host unit to at least one
base-station related node.
46. A method for use in a digital antenna system (DAS) that
comprises a host unit and at least one remote antenna unit located
remotely from the host unit, wherein the remote antenna unit is
communicatively coupled to the host unit, the method comprising:
performing an authentication process related to the remote antenna
unit; and enabling full operation of the remote antenna unit in the
DAS if the authentication process has been successfully performed
for the remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote
antenna unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication
process has not been successfully performed for the remote antenna
unit.
47. The method of claim 46, further comprising using reading
physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one cable
used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read from
the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to
the host unit is used in the authentication process.
48. The method of claim 47, further comprising communicating, to a
PLM aggregation point, at least some of the PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna
unit to the host unit.
49. The method of claim 46, wherein the authentication process is
performed by at least one of: the host unit and an entity external
to the DAS.
50. The method of claim 46, wherein the authentication process
comprises determining if the remote antenna unit read predetermined
information from the at least one cable used to communicatively
couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit.
51. The method of claim 46, wherein the authentication process
comprises: receiving a first authentication code from the remote
antenna unit; generating a second authentication code; and
comparing the first authentication code to the second
authentication code.
52. The method of claim 46, wherein the authentication process
comprises: receiving an authentication code from the remote antenna
unit; decrypting the authentication using a key to generate plain
text; and determining if the plain text includes predetermined
information.
53. The method of claim 52, wherein the predetermined information
comprises at least some PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the authentication process
further comprises: receiving at least some PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna
unit to the host unit by at least one of the remote antenna unit
and a device other than the remote antenna unit; performing an
authentication process related to the remote antenna unit; and
enabling full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if
the authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
55. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing an
authentication process related to an expansion unit; and enabling
full operation of the expansion unit in the DAS if the
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
expansion unit, wherein full operation of the expansion unit in the
DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has not been
successfully performed for the expansion unit, wherein the remote
antenna unit is coupled to the host unit via the expansion
unit.
56. The method of claim 46, further comprising performing an
authentication process related to the host unit; and enabling full
operation of the host unit in the DAS if the authentication process
has been successfully performed for the host unit, wherein full
operation of the host unit in the DAS is not enabled if the
authentication process has not been successfully performed for the
host unit.
57. A host-to-host network comprising: a plurality of first host
units located at a first end, each of the plurality of first host
units is configured to output a plurality of optical output signals
and receive a plurality of optical input signals; a plurality of
second host units located at a second end, each of the plurality of
second host units is configured to output a plurality of optical
output signals and receive a plurality of optical input signals; a
first optical wavelength division multiplexer configured to combine
the optical outputs signals of the first host units and output a
corresponding first combined optical output over a first optical
fiber; a second optical wavelength division multiplexer configured
to receive the first combined optical output from the first fiber
and demultiplex the optical output signals and provide them as the
optical input signals for the second host units; wherein the second
optical wavelength division multiplexer is configured to combine
the optical outputs signals of the second host units and output a
corresponding second combined optical output over a second optical
fiber; and wherein the first optical wavelength division
multiplexer is configured to receive the second combined optical
output form the second fiber and demultiplex the optical output
signals and provide them as the optical input signals for the first
host units.
58. The network of claim 57, wherein each of the first host units
and second host unit includes a respective plurality of
multiplexer/serializer units and a plurality of
demultiplexer/deserializer units.
59. The network of claim 57, wherein each of the first host units
and second host units includes a respective plurality of
analog-to-digital converters and a respective plurality of
digital-to-analog converters.
60. The network of claim 57, wherein each of the first host units
and second host units includes a respective plurality of converters
for converting digital baseband unit data to a different digital
data format.
61. The network of claim 57, wherein the digital baseband unit data
comprises one of CPRI baseband data and OBSAI baseband data.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/670,482, filed on Jul. 11, 2012,
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] One way that a wireless cellular service provider can
improve the coverage provided by a given base station or group of
base stations is by using a distributed antenna system (DAS). In a
DAS, radio frequency (RF) signals are communicated between a host
unit and one or more remote antenna units (RAUs). The host unit can
be communicatively coupled to one or more base stations directly by
connecting the host unit to the base station using, for example,
coaxial cabling. The host unit can also be communicatively coupled
to one or more base stations wirelessly, for example, using a donor
antenna and a bi-directional amplifier (BDA).
[0003] RF signals transmitted from the base station (also referred
to here as "downlink RF signals") are received at the host unit.
The host unit uses the downlink RF signals to generate a downlink
transport signal that is distributed to one or more of the RAUs.
Each such RAU receives the downlink transport signal and
reconstructs the downlink RF signals based on the downlink
transport signal and causes the reconstructed downlink RF signals
to be radiated from at least one antenna coupled to or included in
that RAU. A similar process is performed in the uplink direction.
RF signals transmitted from mobile units (also referred to here as
"uplink RF signals") are received at each RAU. Each RAU uses the
uplink RF signals to generate an uplink transport signal that is
transmitted from the RAU to the host unit. The host unit receives
and combines the uplink transport signals transmitted from the
RAUs. The host unit reconstructs the uplink RF signals received at
the RAUs and communicates the reconstructed uplink RF signals to
the base station. In this way, the coverage of the base station can
be expanded using the DAS.
[0004] One or more intermediate devices (also referred to here as
"expansion hubs" or "expansion units") can be placed between the
host unit and the remote antenna units in order to increase the
number of RAUs that a single host unit can feed and/or to increase
the host-unit-to-RAU distance.
[0005] Typically, the host unit, the RAUs, and any intermediary
devices are designed to use proprietary protocols for
communications that occur within the DAS. As a result, the host
unit, the RAUs, and the intermediary devices are typically sold by
the same original equipment manufacture. However, a conventional
DAS network typically does not include any mechanism to ensure that
only authorized RAUs are used in a given DAS network.
[0006] One type of DAS is a so-called digital DAS. In one common
digital DAS configuration, a host unit digitizes analog downlink RF
signals received from one or more base stations (either directly or
via a donor antenna and BDA). The digital data that results from
digitizing each of the base station inputs is framed together and
communicated over one or more fibers to multiple RAUs, where each
RAU converts the digital data back to downstream analog RF signals
for radiation from antennas associated with each RAU. Similar
processing is performed in the upstream direction. Upstream analog
RF signals received on the antenna coupled to each RAU are
digitized, and the resulting digital data is framed together and
communicated over a fiber to the host unit. The host unit receives
the upstream digital data and converts the digital data back to
upstream analog RF signals that can be provided to a base station
for processing thereby.
[0007] Typically, such a digital DAS is implemented in a
point-to-multipoint topology, where the host unit is coupled to
each RAU over a respective pair of optical fibers.
SUMMARY
[0008] One embodiment is directed to a digital antenna system (DAS)
comprising a host unit and at least one remote antenna unit located
remotely from the host unit, wherein the remote antenna unit is
communicatively coupled to the host unit. The host unit is
configured to communicate a downstream transport signal from the
host unit to the remote antenna unit. The remote antenna unit is
configured to use the downstream transport signal to generate a
downstream radio frequency signal for radiation from an antenna
associated with the remote antenna unit. The DAS is configured to
enable full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if an
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
[0009] Another embodiment is directed to a remote antenna unit for
use in a distributed antenna (DAS) comprising the remote antenna
unit and a host unit. The remote antenna unit comprises a port to
attach at least one cable that is used to communicatively couple
the remote antenna unit to the host unit. The remote antenna unit
is configured to generate a downstream radio frequency signal for
radiation from an antenna associated with the remote antenna unit
from a downstream transport signal received at the remote antenna
unit from the host unit. The remote antenna unit is configured to
communicate information used in an authentication process that is
used to determine whether to enable operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS.
[0010] Another embodiment is directed to a host unit for use in a
digital antenna system (DAS) comprising the host unit and at least
one remote antenna unit located remotely from the host unit and
that is communicatively coupled to the host unit. The host unit
comprises an interface to communicatively couple the host unit the
remote antenna unit. The host unit is configured to generate a
downstream transport signal, wherein the downstream transport
signal is communicated from the host unit to the remote antenna
unit for use by the remote antenna unit in generating a downstream
radio frequency signal for radiation from an antenna associated
with the remote antenna unit. The host unit is configured to enable
full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if an
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
[0011] Another embodiment is directed to a method for use in a
digital antenna system (DAS) that comprises a host unit and at
least one remote antenna unit located remotely from the host unit.
The remote antenna unit is communicatively coupled to the host
unit. The method comprises performing an authentication process
related to the remote antenna unit and enabling full operation of
the remote antenna unit in the DAS if the authentication process
has been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit. Full
operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS is not enabled if
the authentication process has not been successfully performed for
the remote antenna unit.
[0012] Another embodiment is directed to a host-to-host network
comprising a plurality of first host units located at a first end,
each of the plurality of first host units is configured to output a
plurality of optical output signals and receive a plurality of
optical input signals. The network further comprises a plurality of
second host units located at a second end, each of the plurality of
second host units is configured to output a plurality of optical
output signals and receive a plurality of optical input signals.
The network further comprises a first optical wavelength division
multiplexer configured to combine the optical outputs signals of
the first host units and output a corresponding first combined
optical output over a first optical fiber. The network further
comprises a second optical wavelength division multiplexer
configured to receive the first combined optical output from the
first fiber and demultiplex the optical output signals and provide
them as the optical input signals for the second host units. The
second optical wavelength division multiplexer is configured to
combine the optical outputs signals of the second host units and
output a corresponding second combined optical output over a second
optical fiber. The first optical wavelength division multiplexer is
configured to receive the second combined optical output form the
second fiber and demultiplex the optical output signals and provide
them as the optical input signals for the first host units.
DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
distributed antenna system (DAS) that is configured to use managed
connectivity to communicatively couple the various nodes of the
DAS.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another exemplary embodiment of
a distributed antenna system (DAS) that is configured to use
managed connectivity to communicatively couple the various nodes of
the DAS.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one example of a method of
authenticating a remote antenna unit for use in a DAS.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of one example of a method of
authenticating a remote antenna unit for use in a DAS using PLM
information.
[0017] FIGS. 5A-5B are block diagrams of one exemplary embodiment
of a digital RF transport network that implements a "host-to-host"
topology.
[0018] FIGS. 6A-6B are block diagrams of another exemplary
embodiment of a digital RF transport network that implements a
"host-to-host" topology.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one exemplary embodiment of a
distributed antenna system (DAS) 100 that is configured to use
managed connectivity to communicatively couple the various nodes of
the DAS 100.
[0020] In the example shown in FIG. 1, DAS 100 is used to
distribute bi-directional wireless communications between one or
more base station-related nodes 102 and one or more wireless
devices 104 (for example, mobile telephones, mobile computers,
and/or combinations thereof such as personal digital assistants
(PDAs) and smartphones). In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG.
1, the DAS 100 is used to distribute a plurality of bi-directional
radio frequency bands. Also, each such radio frequency band is
typically used to communicate multiple logical bi-directional RF
channels.
[0021] DAS 100 can be configured to distribute wireless
communications that use licensed radio frequency spectrum, such as
cellular radio frequency communications. Examples of such cellular
RF communications include cellular communications that support one
or more of the second generation (2G), third generation (3G), and
fourth generation (4G) Global System for Mobile communication (GSM)
family of telephony and data specifications and standards, one or
more of the second generation (2G), third generation (3G), and
fourth generation (4G) Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) family
of telephony and data specifications and standards, and/or the
WIMAX family of specification and standards. DAS 100 can also be
configured to distribute wireless communications that make use of
unlicensed radio frequency spectrum such as wireless local area
networking communications that support one or more of the IEEE
802.11 family of standards. The DAS technology described here can
be used to distribute combinations of licensed and unlicensed radio
frequency spectrum in the using the same DAS.
[0022] In one exemplary implementation of the example DAS 100 shown
in FIG. 1, the DAS is configured to distribute wireless
communications that use frequency division duplexing in to order to
support bi-directional communications. In such an implementation,
each bi-directional radio frequency band distributed by the DAS 100
includes a separate radio frequency band for each of two directions
of communications. One direction of communication is from the base
station-related node 102 to a wireless device 104 and is referred
to here as the "downstream" or "downlink" direction. The other
direction of communication is from the wireless device 104 to the
base station-related node 102 and is referred to here as the
"upstream" or "uplink" direction. Each of the distributed
bi-directional radio frequency bands includes a respective
"downstream" band in which downstream RF channels are communicated
for that bi-directional radio frequency band and an "upstream" band
in which upstream RF channels are communicated for that
bi-directional radio frequency band. The downstream and upstream
bands for a given bi-directional radio frequency band need not be,
and typically are not, contiguous. To support frequency division
duplexing, the DAS 100 is configured to process and distribute the
upstream and downstream signals separately.
[0023] In other embodiments, the DAS 100 is configured to
communicate at least some wireless communications that use other
duplexing techniques (such as time division duplexing, which is
used, for example, in some WIMAX implementations). For example, in
one exemplary implementation, the DAS is configured to distribute
wireless communications that use time division duplexing in to
order to support bi-directional communications. In such an
implementation, each bi-directional radio frequency band
distributed by the DAS 100 uses the same frequency band for both
downstream and upstream communications. In such an implementation,
the various nodes in the DAS 100 include switching functionality to
switch between communicating in the downstream direction and the
communicating in the upstream direction as well as functionality
for synchronizing such switching with the time division duplexing
scheme used by the RF communications that are being distributed.
Examples of schemes for implementing such time division duplexing
are described in the following United States patent applications,
all of which are incorporated herein by reference: U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/771,320, filed Jan. 26, 2001, and titled
"METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISTRIBUTED MULTIBAND WIRELESS COMMUNICATION
SIGNALS", issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,801,767; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/144,961, filed Jun. 24, 2008, and titled
"METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FRAME DETECTION IN A COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM"; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/144,939, filed Jun.
24, 2008, and titled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SYNCHRONIZED
TIME-DIVISION DUPLEX SIGNAL SWITCHING"; U.S. patent application
Ser. No. 12/144,913, filed Jun. 24, 2008, titled "SYSTEM AND METHOD
FOR CONFIGURABLE TIME-DIVISION DUPLEX INTERFACE", issued as U.S.
Pat. No. 8,208,414.
[0024] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the DAS 100
includes a host unit 106 and one or more remote antenna units 108
that are located remotely from the host unit 106. The DAS 100 shown
in FIG. 1 uses one host unit 106 and three remote antenna units
108, though it is to be understood that other numbers of host units
106 and/or remote antenna units 108 can be used.
[0025] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the host unit 106 is
communicatively coupled to one or more base station-related nodes
102 either directly (for example, via one or more coaxial cable
connections) or indirectly (for example, via one or more donor
antennas and one or more bidirectional amplifiers). In one
implementation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the host unit 106
is communicatively coupled to one or more base stations that
transmit and receive radio frequency wireless communications (that
is, the base station-related node 102 comprises one or more base
stations). In such an implementation, the output of the one or more
base stations may need to attenuated or otherwise conditioned
before being input to the host unit 106.
[0026] In another implementation of such an embodiment, the host
unit 106 includes functionality that implements one or more
functions that historically have been performed by a traditional
base station (for example, base band processing) and, in such an
implementation, the host unit 106 is communicatively coupled to one
or more radio network controllers, base station controllers, or
similar nodes (for example, using an Internet Protocol (IP) network
and/or one or more traditional TDM links (for example, one or more
T1 or E1 connections)).
[0027] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the host unit
106 is communicatively coupled to each remote antenna units 108
over transport communication media 110. The transport communication
media 110 can be implemented in various ways. For example, the
transport communication media can be implemented using respective
separate point-to-point communication links, for example, where
respective optical fiber or copper cabling is used to directly
connect the host unit 106 to each remote antenna unit 108. One such
example is shown in FIG. 1, where the host unit 106 is directly
connected to each remote antenna unit 108 using a respective
optical fiber 112. Also, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a
single optical fiber 112 is used to connect the host unit 106 to
each remote antenna unit 108, where wave division multiplexing
(WDM) is used to communicate both downstream and upstream signals
over the single optical fiber 112. In other embodiments, the host
unit 106 is directly connected to each remote antenna unit 108
using more than one optical fiber (for example, using two optical
fibers, where one optical fiber is used for communicating
downstream signals and the other optical fiber is used for
communicating upstream signals). Also, in other embodiments, the
host unit 106 is directly connected to one or more of the remote
antenna units 108 using other types of communication media such a
coaxial cabling (for example, RG6, RG11, or RG59 coaxial cabling),
twisted-pair cabling (for example, CAT-5 or CAT-6 cabling), or
wireless communications (for example, microwave or free-space
optical communications).
[0028] The transport communication media 110 can also be
implemented using shared point-to-multipoint communication media in
addition to or instead of using point-to-point communication media.
One example of such an implementation is where the host unit 106 is
directly coupled to an intermediary unit (also sometimes referred
to as an "expansion" unit), which in turn is directly coupled to
multiple remote antenna units 108. One example of such a DAS 200 is
shown in FIG. 2, where the host unit 106 is directly connected to
an expansion unit 116 using a pair of optical fibers 118 (one fiber
being used for downstream communications and the other fiber being
used for upstream communications) and where the expansion hub 116,
in turn, is directly connected to the multiple remote antenna units
108 using respective coaxial cables 120 (over which both downstream
and upstream signals are communicated). Another example of a shared
transport implementation is where the host unit 106 is coupled to
the remote antenna units using an Internet Protocol (IP)
network.
[0029] Each remote antenna unit 108 includes or is coupled to at
least one antenna 114 via which the remote antenna unit 108
receives and radiates radio frequency signals (as described in more
detail below). Various antenna configurations can be used. For
example, a single antenna 114 can be used for transmitting and
receiving all of the frequency bands handled by given remote
antenna unit 108. Also, different antennas 114 can be used for
transmitting and receiving and/or different antennas 114 can be
used for the various frequency bands handled by a given remote
antenna unit 108. Other antenna configurations can be used (for
example diversity transmit and receive configurations or
Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) configurations).
[0030] In general, the host unit 106 receives one or more
downstream signals from the base station-related nodes 102 and
generates one or more downstream transport signals from the
received downstream signals (or from signals or data derived
therefrom). The host unit 106 then transmits the downstream
transport signals to the remote antenna units 108 via the transport
media 110 (and any intermediary devices that are located between
the host unit 106 and each remote antenna unit 108). Each remote
antenna unit 108 receives at least one downstream transport signal.
Each remote antenna unit 108 generates one or more downstream radio
frequency signals using, at least in part, the received at least
one downstream transport signal (or from signals or data derived
therefrom) and causes the one or more downstream radio frequency
signals to be radiated from the one or more remote antennas 114
coupled to or included in that remote antenna unit 108.
[0031] A similar process is performed in the upstream direction.
Upstream radio frequency signals are received at one or more remote
antenna units 108 via the antennas 114. At each remote antenna unit
108, the remote antenna unit 108 uses the received upstream radio
frequency signals to generate respective upstream transport signals
that are transmitted from the respective remote antenna units 108
to the host unit 106. The host unit 106 receives the upstream
transport signals transmitted from the remote antenna units 108.
The host unit 106 generates one or more upstream signals for
communicating to one or more of the base station-related nodes 102
from one or more of the received upstream transport signals (or
from signals or data derived therefrom). In connection with
generating the upstream signals for the base station-related nodes
102, the host unit 106 may combine signals or data received from
multiple remote antenna units 108.
[0032] In implementations where the base station-related nodes 102
comprises base stations, the downstream signals received at the
host unit 106 comprise downstream radio frequency signals and the
upstream signals generated by the host unit 106 for communicating
to the base stations comprise upstream radio frequency signals.
[0033] In such implementations, the DAS 100 can be implemented as a
digital DAS 100 in which the downstream radio frequency signals
received at the host unit 106 are digitized by the host unit 106
(for example, by down converting the received downstream radio
frequency signals to an intermediate frequency and then digitizing
the resulting intermediate frequency signals). The digitized
downstream radio frequency data is included in the downstream
transport signals that are communicated to the remote antenna units
108. The remote antenna units 108 then use the digitized downstream
radio frequency data to generate the downstream radio frequency
signals (for example, by performing a digital-to-analog (D/A)
conversion on the digitized downstream radio frequency data, up
converting the resulting analog signal to an appropriate radio
frequency band, and filtering and amplifying the resulting
downstream radio frequency signals).
[0034] In such a digital DAS example, in the upstream direction,
upstream radio frequency signals received at the remote antenna
units 108 are digitized by the remote antenna units 108 (for
example, by down converting the received upstream radio frequency
signals to an intermediate frequency and then digitizing the
resulting intermediate frequency signals). The digitized upstream
radio frequency data is included in the upstream transport signals
that are communicated from the remote antenna units 108 to the host
unit 106. The host unit 106 then uses the digitized upstream radio
frequency data to generate the upstream radio frequency signals for
communicating to the base stations (for example, by performing a
digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion on the digitized upstream radio
frequency data, up converting the resulting signals to an
appropriate radio frequency band, and filtering and amplifying the
resulting upstream radio frequency signals). The host unit 106 can
combine data or signals received from multiple remote antenna units
108.
[0035] The DAS 100 can also be implemented as an analog DAS 100 in
which the downstream and upstream transport signals comprise analog
versions of the downstream radio frequency signals received at the
host unit 106 and the upstream radio frequency signals received at
the remote antenna units 108, respectively. The downstream and
upstream transport signals can include frequency shifted or
non-frequency shifted versions of the downstream radio frequency
signals and the upstream radio frequency signals, respectively.
[0036] In one example of a frequency shifting analog DAS 100, the
downstream radio frequency signals received at the host unit 106
are frequency shifted by the host unit 106 (for example, by down
converting the received downstream radio frequency signals to an
intermediate frequency). The frequency shifted downstream signals
are included in the downstream transport signals that are
communicated to the remote antenna units 108. The remote antenna
units 108 use the frequency shifted downstream signals to generate
the downstream radio frequency signals (for example, by up
converting the frequency shifted signals to an appropriate radio
frequency band, and filtering and amplifying the resulting
downstream radio frequency signals).
[0037] In such a frequency shifting analog DAS example, in the
upstream direction, upstream radio frequency signals received at
the remote antenna units 108 are frequency shifted by the remote
antenna units 108 (for example, by down converting the received
upstream radio frequency signals to an intermediate frequency). The
frequency shifted upstream signals are included in the upstream
transport signals that are communicated from the remote antenna
units 108 to the host unit 106. The host unit 106 uses the
frequency shifted upstream signals to generate the upstream radio
frequency signals for communicating to the base stations (for
example, by up converting the frequency shifted signals to an
appropriate radio frequency band, and filtering and amplifying the
resulting upstream radio frequency signals). The host unit 106 can
combine data or signals received from multiple remote antenna units
108.
[0038] In implementations where the host unit 106 comprises one or
more functions that have traditionally been implemented by a base
station (for example, where the host unit 106 includes a small base
station or base band module), the downstream signals received at
the host unit 106 comprise downstream signals that include the
payload, signaling, control, and/or other data needed by such
functions. For example, these downstream signals can be used by the
functionality in the host unit 106 to generate digital downstream
baseband data, which is included in the downstream transport
signals that are communicated to the remote antenna units 108. The
remote antenna units 108 use the downstream baseband data to
generate the downstream radio frequency signals (for example, by
performing a digital-to-analog (D/A) conversion on the received
baseband data, up converting the resulting signals to appropriate
radio frequency bands, and filtering and amplifying the resulting
downstream radio frequency signals).
[0039] In such an example, in the upstream direction, the remote
antenna units 108 generate digital baseband data from the upstream
radio frequency signals received via the antennas 114 (for example,
by filtering, attenuating, and/or amplifying the received upstream
radio frequency signals, down converting the conditioned upstream
radio frequency signals, and performing an analog-to-digital (A/D)
conversion on the resulting down converted signals). The upstream
baseband data is included in the upstream transport signals that
are communicated from the remote antenna units 108 to the host unit
106. The functionality in the host unit 106 uses the received
upstream baseband data for the baseband or other processing
performed in the host unit 106. The host unit 106 can combine data
or signals received from multiple remote antenna units 108.
[0040] Also, DAS 100 can be implemented using combinations of any
of the aforementioned types of DAS architectures.
[0041] In some implementations, the DAS 100 is configured as a
"base station hotel" or "neutral host" in which multiple wireless
service providers share a single DAS 100.
[0042] FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of one example of a method 300 of
authenticating a remote antenna unit 108 for use in the DAS 100.
Method 300 is described in the context of DAS 100 shown in FIGS. 1
and 2 but it is to be understood that embodiments of method 300 can
be implemented in other distributed antenna systems.
[0043] Method 300 comprises performing an authentication process
related to the remote antenna unit 108 (block 302) and enabling
full operation of the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100 only
if the authentication process has been successfully performed for
the remote antenna unit 108 (block 304). Full operation of each
remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100 is not enabled if the
authentication process has not been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit 108.
[0044] Method 300 can be used to ensure that only authorized remote
antenna units 108 are being used in the DAS 100. For example, in
one usage scenario, the host unit 106 is configured to work with
remote antenna units 108 from multiple vendors. In such a scenario,
the manufacturer of the host unit 106 may wish to ensure that only
authorized remote antenna units 108 are used with the host unit
106. This may be done in connection with a certification program
run by the manufacture of the host unit 106 to ensure that the
remote antenna units 108 that are used with the host unit 106
comply with the manufacture's specifications and/or to ensure that
the remote antenna units 108 comply with regulations promulgated by
other entities such as governmental agencies (such as the United
States Federal Communications Commission) and cellular service
providers.
[0045] In one example of method 300, the nodes in the DAS 100 make
use of physical layer management (PLM) technology that is used in
authenticating the remote antenna units. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,
the host unit 106, each expansion hub 116, and each remote antenna
unit 108 includes a respective interface 122 to read physical layer
management (PLM) information any cables that are used to
communicatively couple that unit to the other units in the DAS 100.
Interface 122 is also referred to here as a "PLM" interface 122.
Each cable includes some type of PLM component 124 that is used to
store PLM information, and the PLM interface 122 is configured to
read at least some of the PLM information stored in the PLM
component 124.
[0046] At least some of the PLM information read from the PLM
component 124 is used in the authentication process.
[0047] In the example shown in FIG. 1, each remote antenna unit 108
is coupled directly to the host unit 106 over a respective optical
fiber 112. Each optical fiber 112 includes a PLM component 124 that
is attached or included in a connector 126 that terminates that
optical fiber 112.
[0048] In the example shown in FIG. 2, each remote antenna unit 108
is coupled to the host unit 106 via the expansion hub 116. In that
example, the host unit 106 is directly coupled to the expansion hub
116 over a pair of optical fibers 118. Each optical fiber 118
includes a PLM component 124 that is attached or included in a
connector 126 that terminates that optical fiber 118. Also, the
expansion hub 116 is directly coupled to each remote antenna unit
108 over a respective coaxial cable 120. Each coaxial cable 120
includes a PLM component 124 that is attached or included in a
connector 126 that terminates that coaxial cable 120.
[0049] The host unit 106, each expansion hub 116, and each remote
antenna unit 108 include one or more ports 128 to which the
respective connectors 126 for the respective optical fibers 112,
optical fibers 118, or coaxial cables 120 are connected. The port
128 includes the PLM interface 122. The PLM interface 122 is
coupled to a respective programmable processor 130, 132, or 134
that is included in the host unit 106, each expansion hub 116, and
each remote antenna unit 108. Each programmable processor 130, 132,
and 134 is configured to execute software 136, 138, and 140,
respectively, that carries out various functions performed by the
host unit 106, each expansion hub 116, and each remote antenna unit
108, respectively. The software 136, 138, and 140, comprises
program instructions that are stored (or otherwise embodied) on or
in an appropriate non-transitory storage medium or media (such as
flash or other non-volatile memory, magnetic disc drives, and/or
optical disc drives) from which at least a portion of the program
instructions are read by each programmable processor 130, 132, and
134, respectively, for execution thereby. The storage media can be
included in, and local to, the host unit 106, expansion unit 116,
or the remote antenna unit 108, or remote storage media (for
example, storage media that is accessible over the network) and/or
removable media can also be used. The host unit 106, each expansion
unit 116, and each remote antenna unit 108 also include memory for
storing the program instructions (and any related data) during
execution by the respective programmable processor 130, 132, and
134, respectively. The memory comprises, in one implementation, any
suitable form of random access memory (RAM) now known or later
developed, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM). In other
embodiments, other types of memory are used.
[0050] The software 136, 138, and 140 in the host unit 106, each
expansion unit 116, and each remote antenna unit 108 is configured
to use the respective PLM interface 122 to determine when a
connector 126 is connected to a respective port 128 and to read the
PLM information from the respective PLM component 124.
[0051] Also, in this example, the software 136, 138, and 140 is
configured to communicate at least some of the PLM information read
from the respective PLM component 124 to an aggregation point
142.
[0052] In this example, the aggregation point 142 is
communicatively coupled to each node in the DAS 100, either
directly or indirectly, via an IP network 144. An out-of-band
management or control channel that is provided between the host
unit 106 and each expansion hub 116 and each remote antenna unit
108 can be used for communicating the PLM information read by the
expansion hub 116 and each remote antenna unit 108 to the
aggregation point 132 via a connection to the IP network 144 made
by the host unit 106. The PLM information read by each expansion
hub 116 and each remote antenna unit 108 from the various PLM
components 124 can be communicated to the aggregation point 142 in
other ways.
[0053] The aggregation point 142 is implemented as middleware
software executing on one or more servers (or other computers). The
aggregation point 142 aggregates information from various entities
within a network. The information that is aggregated by the
aggregation point 142 includes information that is automatically
captured by entities that include functionality for reading PLM
components that are integrated into connectors. Such automatically
captured information includes information about the identity, type,
and length of cable used, information about the identity and type
of connector used, and information that associates each such
connector (and/or cable) with a respective jack, port, or other
attachment point of the relevant entity.
[0054] The information that is aggregated by the aggregation point
142 also includes information that is manually entered. Examples of
such manually entered information include information about the
horizontal runs (including information about the identity, type,
length, and location of cabling used), information about the wall
plate devices that terminate the various horizontal runs (including
information about the identity, type, location, and capabilities of
the wall plate device), information about switches or other
networking devices (including information about the identity, type,
location, and capabilities of the switches or other networking
devices), and information that associates each such connector
(and/or cable) with a respective jack, port, or other attachment
point of the relevant entity. Other types of information that can
be aggregated by the aggregation point 142 are described in the
patent applications listed here.
[0055] The aggregation point 142 can implement an application
programming interface (API) by which application-layer
functionality can gain access to the physical layer information
maintained by the aggregation point 142 using a software
development kit (SDK) that describes and documents the API. In this
way, applications that make use of such PLM information can be
developed without requiring those applications to directly interact
with the individual devices in the network.
[0056] One function that can be performed by the aggregation point
142 is associating various entities within the network with other
entities within the network. The lower-level associations provided
to the aggregation point 142 (either manually or automatically) are
used to construct a set of associations that identifies a physical
communication path through the devices for which the aggregation
point 142 has information. For example, the aggregation point 142
can be used to construct a set of associations that identifies a
physical communication path between the host unit 106 and each
remote antenna unit 108.
[0057] As noted above, in the example described herein, the other
units in the DAS 100 (that is, the host unit 106 and each expansion
hub 116 shown in FIG. 2) can also incorporate PLM technology to
read PLM information from the cabling attached to those units and
to communicate such information to the aggregation point 142. This
can be done in the same manner described above in connection with
the remote antenna units 108. This PLM information can be used, for
example, in connection with the authentication processing described
here and/or for other purposes (for example, general physical layer
management and network management). Moreover, PLM information
captured from other devices in the network (for example, patch
panels, inter-networking devices (such switches, routers, hubs,
gateways), optical distribution frames, etc.) can be captured and
communicated to aggregation point 142 for use in connection with
the authentication processing described here and/or for other
purposes (for example, general physical layer management and
network management).
[0058] One type of PLM technology makes use of an EEPROM or other
storage device that is attached to or integrated with a connector
on a cable, fiber, or other segment of communication media. With
this type of PLM technology, the PLM component 124 would be
implemented using the EEPROM or storage device. The storage device
is used to store information about the connector or segment of
communication media along with other information. The EEPROM or
other storage device can be read after the associated connected is
inserted into a corresponding jack or other port of a device in the
network. In this way, information about wired communication media,
devices, systems, and/or networks can be captured in an automated
manner. One example of this type of PLM technology is the
QUAREO.TM. PLM technology that is used in products commercially
available form TE Connectivity. This type of PLM technology is also
described in the following United States patent applications, all
of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/252,964, filed on Oct.
19, 2009, titled "ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3045USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/253,208, filed on Oct. 20, 2009, titled
"ELECTRICAL PLUG FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3045USP2; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/907,724, filed
on Oct. 19, 2010, titled "MANAGED ELECTRICAL CONNECTIVITY SYSTEMS",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3045USU1; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/303,948, filed on Feb. 12, 2010, titled
"PANEL INCLUDING BLADE FEATURE FOR MANAGED CONNECTIVITY", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3069USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/413,844, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, titled "COMMUNICATIONS
BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USP2; U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/439,693, filed on Feb.
4, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3069USP3; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
13/025,730, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED
PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU1; U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/025,737, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled
"COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3069USU2; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,743, filed
on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU3; U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/025,750, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "COMMUNICATIONS
BLADED PANEL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3069USU4; U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/303,961; filed on Feb.
12, 2010, titled "Fiber Plug And Adapter For Managed Connectivity",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3071USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/413,828, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, titled
"Fiber Plugs And Adapters For Managed Connectivity", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3071USP2; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/437,504, filed on Jan. 28, 2011, titled "Fiber Plugs And
Adapters For Managed Connectivity", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3071USP3; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,784, filed
on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "Managed Fiber Connectivity Systems",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3071USU1; U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 13/025,788, filed on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "Managed Fiber
Connectivity Systems", Attorney Docket No 02316.3071USU2; U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 13/025,797, filed on Feb. 11, 2011,
titled "Managed Fiber Connectivity Systems", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3071USU3; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/025,841, filed
on Feb. 11, 2011, titled "Managed Fiber Connectivity Systems",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3071USU4; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/413,856, filed on Nov. 15, 2010, titled
"CABLE MANAGEMENT IN RACK SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3090USP1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/466,696, filed on Mar. 23, 2011, titled "CABLE MANAGEMENT IN
RACK SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3090USP2; U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 61/252,395, filed on Oct. 16, 2009,
titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS", Attorney
Docket No. 02316.3021USP1; U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/905,689, filed on Oct. 15, 2010, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No. 02316.3021USU1; U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/252,386, filed on Oct.
16, 2009, titled "MANAGED CONNECTIVITY IN FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS",
Attorney Docket No. 02316.3020USP1; U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 12/905,658, filed on Oct. 15, 2010, titled "MANAGED
CONNECTIVITY IN FIBER OPTIC SYSTEMS", Attorney Docket No.
02316.3020USU1; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/467,715, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "DOUBLE-BUFFER INSERTION
COUNT STORED IN A DEVICE ATTACHED TO A PHYSICAL LAYER MEDIUM",
Attorney Docket No. 100.1176USPR; U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 61/467,725, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled
"DYNAMICALLY DETECTING A DEFECTIVE CONNECTOR AT A PORT", Attorney
Docket No. 100.1177USPR; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser.
No. 61/467,729, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "IDENTIFIER ENCODING
SCHEME FOR USE WITH MULTI-PATH CONNECTORS", Attorney Docket No.
100.1178USPR; U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
61/467,736, filed on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR
UTILIZING VARIABLE LENGTH DATA FIELD STORAGE SCHEMES ON PHYSICAL
COMMUNICATION MEDIA SEGMENTS", Attorney Docket No. 100.1179USPR;
and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/467,743, filed
on Mar. 25, 2011, titled "EVENT-MONITORING IN A SYSTEM FOR
AUTOMATICALLY OBTAINING AND MANAGING PHYSICAL LAYER INFORMATION
USING A RELIABLE PACKET-BASED COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL", Attorney
Docket No. 100.1181USPR.
[0059] Another type of PLM technology makes use of radio frequency
identification (RFID) technology. An RFID tag is attached to or
integrated with a connector on a cable, fiber, or other segment of
communication media. That is, with this type of PLM technology, the
PLM component 124 would be implemented using the RFID tag. The RFID
tag is used to store information about the connector or segment of
communication media along with other information. The RFID tag can
be read after the associated connector is inserted into a
corresponding jack or other port of a device in the network. In
this way, information about wired communication media, devices,
systems, and/or networks can be captured in an automated
manner.
[0060] Another type of PLM technology is so-called "ninth wire"
technology. Ninth wire technology makes use of special cables that
include an extra conductor or signal path (also referred to here as
the "ninth wire" conductor or signal path) that is used for
determining which port each end of the cables is inserted into.
With this type of PLM technology, the PLM component 124 would be
implemented using the ninth wire. One example of ninth wire
technology is the AMPTRAC family of connectivity management
products that are commercially available from TE Connectivity Ltd.
Also, examples of ninth wire technology are described in the
following United States patent applications, all of which are
hereby incorporated herein by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 7,160,143,
titled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING CONNECTION PATTERN OF DATA PORTS",
U.S. Pat. No. 6,961,675, titled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING CONNECTION
PATTERN OF DATA PORTS", U.S. Pat. No. 6,725,177, titled "SYSTEM FOR
MONITORING CONNECTION PATTERN OF DATA PORTS", U.S. Pat. No.
6,684,179, titled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING CONNECTION PATTERN OF DATA
PORTS", and U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,586, titled "SYSTEM FOR MONITORING
CONNECTION PATTERN OF DATA PORTS".
[0061] Other types of PLM technology can be used (for example, bar
codes).
[0062] The authentication processing is described here as being
performed by an "authentication entity". The authentication entity
can be implemented in the host unit 106 or in an entity that is
external to the DAS 100 (for example, in the aggregation point 142
or in another entity 146 that interacts with the aggregation point
142 in order to obtain information about the DAS 100 including at
least some of the PLM information read by the remote antenna unit
108).
[0063] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of one example of a method 400 of
authenticating a remote antenna unit 108 for use in the DAS 100
using PLM information. Method 400 is described in the context of
DAS 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but it is to be understood that
embodiments of method 400 can be implemented in other distributed
antenna systems.
[0064] Method 400 comprising reading PLM information from at least
one cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit
108 to the host unit 106 (block 402) and communicating, to the
aggregation point 142, at least some of the PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna
unit 108 to the host unit 106 (block 404). In this example, as a
noted above, when the software 140 executing on the programmable
processor 134 in the remote antenna unit 108 uses the PLM interface
122 to read the PLM information from the PLM component 124 and then
communicates at least some of the PLM information to the
aggregation point 142. Method 400 further comprises using at least
some of the PLM information read from the PLM component 124 to
authenticate the remote antenna unit 108 (block 406).
[0065] For example, in one implementation, the authentication
entity interacts with the aggregation point 142 to check that the
remote antenna unit 108 includes operable PLM technology and has
successfully read PLM information from the cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit 108 to the host unit
106 and communicated it to the aggregation point 142. That is, the
authentication entity, in this example, is checking if remote
antenna unit 108 includes a PLM interface 122, has read PLM
information from a cable that includes a PLM component 124, and has
communicated such PLM information the aggregation point 142. If
that is the case, the authentication entity considers the remote
antenna unit 108 to be authenticated and to have successfully
completed the authentication process and enables full operation of
the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100. If that is not the case
(for example, the remote antenna unit 108 does not include a PLM
interface 122 or a cable that includes a PLM component 124 is not
used to couple the remote antenna unit 108 to the host unit 106),
then the authentication entity considers the remote antenna unit
108 to not have been authenticated and to have not successfully
completed the authentication process and does not enable full
operation of the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100. The
authentication entity can disable or enable full operation of the
remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100 by sending a command or
other message to the host unit 106, which then either starts
distributing downstream and upstream signals with the remote
antenna unit 108 (if enabled) or does not distribute downstream and
upstream signals with the remote antenna unit 108 (if not
enabled).
[0066] In another implementation, the authentication entity
interacts with the aggregation point 142 to check if the PLM
information read by the remote antenna unit 108 and communicated to
the aggregation point 142 includes predetermined information (for
example, a serial number failing within a particular range or
predetermined code). If the PLM information includes the
predetermined information, the authentication entity considers the
remote antenna unit 108 to be authenticated and to have
successfully completed the authentication process and enables full
operation of the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100. If the PLM
information does not include the predetermined information, then
the authentication entity considers the remote antenna unit 108 to
not have been authenticated and to have not successfully completed
the authentication process and does not enable full operation of
the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100.
[0067] In other implementations, encryption is used in the
authentication process. For example, in such implementation, in
addition to reading the PLM information and communicating it to the
aggregation point 142, the remote antenna unit 108 uses at least
some of the PLM information read from the cable used to couple the
remote antenna unit 108 to the host unit 106 to generate an
authentication code. The authentication code is generated, in this
example, by encrypting the PLM information with an encryption key
that is shared with the authentication entity. The authentication
code generated by the remote antenna unit 108 is then communicated
to the authentication entity. The authentication entity can then
check the generated authentication code. One way the authentication
entity can check the authentication code generated by the remote
antenna unit 108 can be done by having the authentication entity
itself generate its own version of the authentication code by using
the shared encryption key to encrypt the PLM information read by
the remote antenna unit 108 and communicated to the aggregation
point 142. Then, the authentication entity then checks if the
authentication code generated by the remote antenna unit 108
matches the authentication code generated by the authentication
entity. If they match, the authentication entity considers the
remote antenna unit 108 to be authenticated and to have
successfully completed the authentication process and enables full
operation of the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100. If the
authentication codes do not match, then the authentication entity
considers the remote antenna unit 108 to not have been
authenticated and to have not successfully completed the
authentication process and does not enable full operation of the
remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100.
[0068] Another way the authentication entity can check the
authentication code generated by the remote antenna unit 108 is to
use the shared encryption key to decrypt the authentication code
generated by the remote antenna unit 108 in order to obtain a plain
text version of the PLM information that was encrypted by the
remote antenna unit 108. Then, the authentication entity can then
obtain the corresponding PLM information that was communicated by
the remote antenna unit 108 to the aggregation point 142 and
compare it to the plain text resulting from decrypting the
authentication code. If they match, the authentication entity
considers the remote antenna unit 108 to be authenticated and to
have successfully completed the authentication process and enables
full operation of the remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100. If
the authentication codes do not match, then the authentication
entity considers the remote antenna unit 108 to not have been
authenticated and to have not successfully completed the
authentication process and does not enable full operation of the
remote antenna unit 108 in the DAS 100.
[0069] Although the above examples have described the
authentication of remote antenna units 108 for use in a DAS 100, it
is to be understood that the other nodes in the DAS 100 can be
authenticated in the same matter (including for example the host
unit 106 and the expansion unit 116).
[0070] Also, the techniques described here can be used in DAS and
distributed base station configurations (such as distributed base
stations that implement one or more of the Common Public Radio
Interface (CPRI) and Open Base Station Architecture Initiative
(OBSAI) specifications and standards).
[0071] FIGS. 5A-5B are block diagrams of one exemplary embodiment
of a digital RF transport network 500 that implements a
"host-to-host" topology. As shown in FIG. 5A, the network 500
includes first and second ends 502 and 504. In this exemplary
embodiment, twelve host units 506 are deployed at each of the ends
502 and 504 (though it is to be understood that other number of
host units 506 can be used).
[0072] Each of the host units 506 is implemented in generally the
same way. As shown in FIG. 5B, each of the host units 506 includes
eight analog-to-digital (A/D) units 510, three
multiplexer/serializer units 512, and three optical transmitters
514. Also, each of the host units 506 includes three optical
receivers 516, three demultiplexer/deserializer units 518, and
eight digital-to-analog (D/A) units 520.
[0073] Each host unit 506 has eight analog RF inputs 522 and three
optical outputs 524. Also, each host unit 506 has three optical
inputs 526 and eight analog RF outputs 528. In FIG. 5A, for the
ease of illustration, the eight lines shown as being connected to
each host unit 506 represent both the eight analog RF inputs 522
and the eight analog RF outputs 528 for that host unit 506.
[0074] Each analog RF input 522 is provided to a respective A/D
unit 510, which down converts and digitizes the analog RF input.
Each A/D unit 510 outputs digital data to each of the three
multiplexer/serializer units 512. Each of the
multiplexer/serializer units 512 combines the digital data from one
or more of the A/D units 510 into a serial digital data stream,
which is provided to a respective optical transmitter 514. The
optical transmitter 514 transmits the serial digital data stream as
an optical signal, which is output on one of the optical outputs
524.
[0075] Each optical input 526 is received by a respective optical
receiver 516, which outputs a serial digital data stream based on
the optical input. The serial digital data stream includes digital
data for up to eight RF signals. The serial digital data stream is
provided to a respective demultiplexer/deserializer unit 518, which
deserializes and demultiplexes the digital data included on that
optical input 526 and provides the digital data for each of the
eight RF signals to an appropriate one of the D/A units 520. Each
D/A unit 520 digitally sums the digital data provided from the
three demultiplexer/deserializer units 518, converts the resulting
summed digital data to an analog signal, and upconverts the
resulting analog signal to an analog RF signal, which is output as
a respective one of the eight analog RF outputs 528.
[0076] In this exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5A, the
optical outputs 524 from all of the twelve host units 506 at each
end 502 and 504 are multiplexed together using a respective
wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexer 532 and communicated
over a respective fiber 534 and 536, where one fiber 534 is used
for communicating from the first end 502 to the second end 504 and
the other fiber 536 is used for communicating from the second end
504 to the first end 502. In other words, 36 optical signals are
communicated over each fiber 534 and 536. At the other end of each
fiber 534 and 536, the wavelength multiplexer/demultiplexer 532
demultiplexes the received optical signal and outputs the 36
optical signals communicated over the respective fiber 534 and 536.
Each of the 36 optical signals is provided to a respective one of
the optical inputs 526 of one of the host units 506.
[0077] In one example implementation, where a pair of 40 channel
dense wavelength division multiplexer/demultiplexers is used and
each host unit 506 has three optical inputs 524 and three optical
outputs 526, up to 12 host units can be used at each end. Also,
where a SLIC is used to multiplex the three optical outputs for
each host unit into a single optical output and to demultiplex a
single optical input into the three optical inputs for each host
unit, a pair of 8 channel course wavelength division
multiplexer/demultiplexers can be used with up to 12 host units at
each end.
[0078] In this way, very high capacity can be provided between the
two ends 502 and 504 of the network 500. This very high capacity
can be used in various applications. For example, this network 500
can be used to locate serval base stations units or interfaces
(providing, for example, up to 96 base station interfaces) at one
end 502 of the network 500 and the host units for multiples analog
DASs located at the other end 504 of the network 500. This network
500 can also be used in multi-operator or multi-service
applications.
[0079] In the example shown in FIG. 5, each host unit 506 has eight
analog RF inputs 522 and eight analog RF outputs 528. However, in
an alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6B, each host unit 606
includes eight digital RF inputs 622 and eight digital RF outputs
628. For example, these digital RF inputs and outputs 622 and 628
can be the digital baseband data output and received by a baseband
unit (BBU) from a distributed base station architecture system.
Examples of such digital data formats are described in
specifications and protocols published by the Common Public Radio
Interface (CPRI) consortium and the Open Base Station Architecture
Initiative (OBSAI) consortium.
[0080] In general, the network 600 and host units 606 are the same
as the network 500 and host units 506 described above in connection
with FIGS. 5A-5B, except as described here in connection with FIGS.
6A-6B. The elements of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.
6A-6B that are similar to corresponding elements of the exemplary
embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A-5B are referenced in FIGS. 6A-6B using
the same reference numerals used in FIGS. 5A-5B but with the
leading numeral changed from a "5" to a "6". Except as described
here, the description of the elements set forth above in connection
with the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A-5B applies to the
corresponding elements of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS.
6A-6B but generally will not be repeated in connection with FIGS.
6A-6B for the sake of brevity.
[0081] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6B, each digital RF
input 622 is converted to a digital format that is suitable for use
in the rest of the host unit 606 by a converter unit 610. Each
converter unit 610 outputs reformatted digital data to each of the
three multiplexer/serializer units 612, which processes the
reformatted digital data as described above in connection with
FIGS. 5A-5B.
[0082] Each demultiplexer/deserializer unit 618 deserializes and
demultiplexes digital data received on a respective optical input
626 and provides the digital data for each of the eight digital RF
outputs 628 to an appropriate one of the converter units 620. Each
converter unit 620 converts the received digital data to a digital
format that is suitable for use by the baseband unit to which the
base unit 506 is coupled. The reformatted digital is output as a
respective one of the eight digital RF outputs 628.
[0083] The managed connectivity techniques described above in
connection with FIGS. 1-4 can be used with the networks 500 and 600
of FIGS. 5A-5B and 6A-6B.
[0084] A number of embodiments have been described. Nevertheless,
it will be understood that various modifications to the described
embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope
of the claimed invention. Also, combinations of the individual
features of the above-described embodiments are considered within
the scope of the inventions disclosed here.
EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0085] Example 1 includes a digital antenna system (DAS)
comprising: a host unit; and at least one remote antenna unit
located remotely from the host unit, wherein the remote antenna
unit is communicatively coupled to the host unit; wherein the host
unit is configured to communicate a downstream transport signal
from the host unit to the remote antenna unit; wherein the remote
antenna unit is configured to use the downstream transport signal
to generate a downstream radio frequency signal for radiation from
an antenna associated with the remote antenna unit; wherein the DAS
is configured to enable full operation of the remote antenna unit
in the DAS if an authentication process has been successfully
performed for the remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of
the remote antenna unit in the DAS is not enabled if the
authentication process has not been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit.
[0086] Example 2 includes the DAS of Example 1, wherein the host
unit is configured to work with remote antenna units from multiple
vendors. Example 3 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-2,
wherein the remote antenna unit comprises an interface to read
physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one cable
used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read from
the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to
the host unit is used in the authentication process.
[0087] Example 4 includes the DAS of Example 3, wherein the remote
antenna unit is configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation
point, at least some of the PLM information read from the cable
used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit. Example 5 includes the DAS of Example 4, wherein an
out-of-band channel is provided between the host unit and the
remote antenna unit over which the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate with the PLM aggregation point.
[0088] Example 6 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-5,
wherein the authentication process is performed by at least one of:
the host unit and an entity external to the DAS. Example 7 includes
the DAS of any of the Examples 1-6, wherein the authentication
process comprises determining if the remote antenna unit read
predetermined information from the at least one cable used to
communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit.
Example 8 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-7, wherein the
authentication process comprises: receiving a first authentication
code from the remote antenna unit; generating a second
authentication code; and comparing the first authentication code to
the second authentication code.
[0089] Example 9 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-8,
wherein the authentication process comprises: receiving an
authentication code from the remote antenna unit; decrypting the
authentication using a key to generate plain text; and determining
if the plain text includes predetermined information. Example 10
includes the DAS of Example 9, wherein the predetermined
information comprises at least some PLM information read from the
cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the
host unit. Example 11 includes the DAS of Example 10, wherein the
authentication process further comprises: receiving at least some
PLM information read from the cable used to communicatively couple
the remote antenna unit to the host unit by at least one of the
remote antenna unit and a device other than the remote antenna
unit.
[0090] Example 12 includes the DAS of Example 11, wherein the
device other than the remote antenna unit comprises at least one
of: the host unit, an expansion hub, and a patch panel. Example 13
includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-12, wherein the host unit
is communicatively coupled to the remote antenna unit using at
least one intermediary device. Example 14 includes the DAS of
Example 13, wherein the intermediary device comprises an expansion
hub.
[0091] Example 15 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-14,
wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to generate an
upstream transport signal from an upstream radio frequency signal
received via at least one antenna associated with the remote
antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to
communicate the upstream transport signal from the remote antenna
unit to the host unit; and wherein the host unit is configured to
use the upstream transport signal to generate a upstream signal
that is provided by the host unit to at least one base-station
related node.
[0092] Example 16 includes the DAS of Example 15, wherein the
remote antenna unit is configured to generate the upstream
transport signal by doing at least one of: down-converting a signal
derived from the upstream radio frequency signal; and performing an
analog-to-digital conversion (A/D) process on a signal derived from
the upstream radio frequency signal. Example 17 includes the DAS of
any of the Examples 15-16, wherein the host unit is configured to
do at least one of the following in connection with generating the
upstream signal from the upstream transport signal: performing a
digital-to-analog conversion on a signal derived from the upstream
transport signal; and upconverting a signal derived from the
upstream transport signal. Example 18 includes the DAS of any of
the Examples 1-17, wherein the host unit is coupled to a
base-station related node. Example 19 includes the DAS of any of
the Examples 1-18, wherein the base-station related node comprises
at least one of a base station, a radio access controller, and a
base station controller.
[0093] Example 20 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-19,
wherein the host unit is configured to receive downstream radio
frequency signal from a base station and to generate the downstream
transport signal from the downstream radio frequency signal.
Example 21 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-20, wherein
the host unit is configured to receive digital downstream baseband
data from a base station related node and to generate the
downstream transport signal from the digital downstream baseband
data. Example 22 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-21,
wherein DAS comprises at least one of an analog DAS and a digital
DAS.
[0094] Example 23 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-22,
wherein the host unit is configured to generate the downstream
transport signal by doing at least one of: generating digital
downstream baseband data using a base band module or a base station
module included in the host unit; performing an analog-to-digital
conversion on a signal derived from the downstream signal; and
frequency shifting a signal derived from the downstream signal.
[0095] Example 24 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-23,
wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to do at least one of
the following in connection with generating the downstream radio
frequency signal from the downstream transport signal: performing a
digital-to-analog conversion on a signal derived from the
downstream transport signal; up-converting a signal derived from
the downstream transport signal; a filtering a signal derived from
the downstream transport signal; and amplifying a signal derived
from the downstream transport signal.
[0096] Example 25 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-24,
further comprising an interface to read physical layer management
(PLM) information from at least one cable used to communicatively
couple the host unit to the remote antenna unit; and wherein at
least some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the host unit to the remote antenna unit is
used in the authentication process.
[0097] Example 26 includes the DAS of Example 25, wherein the host
unit is configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at
least some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the host unit to the remote antenna unit.
Example 27 includes the DAS of any of the Examples 1-26, wherein
the DAS is configured to enable full operation of an expansion unit
in the DAS if an authentication process has been successfully
performed for the expansion unit, wherein full operation of the
expansion unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication
process has not been successfully performed for the expansion unit,
wherein the remote antenna unit is coupled to the host unit via the
expansion unit. Example 28 includes the DAS of any of the Examples
1-27, wherein the DAS is configured to enable full operation of the
host unit in the DAS if an authentication process has been
successfully performed for the expansion unit, wherein full
operation of the host unit in the DAS is not enabled if the
authentication process has not been successfully performed for the
host unit.
[0098] Example 29 includes a remote antenna unit for use in a
distributed antenna (DAS) comprising the remote antenna unit and a
host unit, the remote antenna unit comprising: a port to attach at
least one cable that is used to communicatively couple the remote
antenna unit to the host unit; wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to generate a downstream radio frequency signal for
radiation from an antenna associated with the remote antenna unit
from a downstream transport signal received at the remote antenna
unit from the host unit; and wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate information used in an authentication
process that is used to determine whether to enable operation of
the remote antenna unit in the DAS.
[0099] Example 30 includes the remote antenna unit of Example 29,
further comprising at least one programmable processor configured
to execute software. Example 31 includes the remote antenna unit of
any of the Examples 29-30, further comprising an interface to read
physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one cable
used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read from
the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to
the host unit is used in the authentication process.
[0100] Example 32 includes the remote antenna unit of Example 31,
wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to communicate, to a
PLM aggregation point, at least some of the PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna
unit to the host unit. Example 33 includes the remote antenna unit
of Example 32, wherein an out-of-band channel is provided between
the host unit and the remote antenna unit over which the remote
antenna unit is configured to communicate with the PLM aggregation
point. Example 34 includes the remote antenna unit of any of the
Examples 29-34, wherein the remote antenna unit generates the
downstream radio frequency signal from the downstream transport
signal by doing at least one of: performing a digital-to-analog
process on a signal derived from the downstream transport signal;
upconverting a signal derived from the downstream transport signal;
filtering a signal derived from the downstream transport signal;
and amplifying a signal derived from the downstream transport
signal.
[0101] Example 35 includes the remote antenna unit of any of the
Examples 29-34, wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to
generate an upstream transport signal from an upstream radio
frequency signal received via at least one antenna associated with
the remote antenna unit; wherein the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate the upstream transport signal from the
remote antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein the host unit is
configured to use the upstream transport signal to generate a
upstream signal that is provided by the host unit to at least one
base-station related node.
[0102] Example 36 includes a host unit for use in a digital antenna
system (DAS) comprising the host unit and at least one remote
antenna unit located remotely from the host unit and that is
communicatively coupled to the host unit, the host unit comprising:
an interface to communicatively couple the host unit the remote
antenna unit; and wherein the host unit is configured to generate a
downstream transport signal, wherein the downstream transport
signal is communicated from the host unit to the remote antenna
unit for use by the remote antenna unit in generating a downstream
radio frequency signal for radiation from an antenna associated
with the remote antenna unit; wherein the host unit is configured
to enable full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if
an authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
[0103] Example 37 includes the host unit of Example 36, wherein the
host unit is configured to work with remote antenna units from
multiple vendors. Example 38 includes the host unit of any of
Examples 36-37, wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to
read physical layer management (PLM) information from at least one
cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the
host unit; and wherein at least some of the PLM information read
from the cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna
unit to the host unit is used in the authentication process.
Example 39 includes the host unit of Example 38, wherein the remote
antenna unit is configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation
point, at least some of the PLM information read from the cable
used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the host
unit.
[0104] Example 40 includes the host unit of Example 39, wherein an
out-of-band channel is provided between the host unit and the
remote antenna unit over which the remote antenna unit is
configured to communicate with the PLM aggregation point. Example
41 includes the host unit of any of Examples 36-40, further
comprising at least one programmable processor configured to
execute software. Example 42 includes the host unit of any of
Examples 36-41, further comprising an interface to read physical
layer management (PLM) information from at least one cable used to
communicatively couple the host unit to the remote antenna unit;
and wherein at least some of the PLM information read from the
cable used to communicatively couple the host unit to the remote
antenna unit is used in the authentication process. Example 43
includes the host unit of Example 42, wherein the host unit is
configured to communicate, to a PLM aggregation point, at least
some of the PLM information read from the cable used to
communicatively couple the host unit to the remote antenna
unit.
[0105] Example 44 includes the host unit of any of Examples 36-43,
wherein the host unit is configured to generate the downstream
transport signal by doing at least one of: generating digital
downstream baseband data using a base band module or a base station
module included in the host unit; performing an analog-to-digital
conversion on a signal derived from the downstream signal; and
frequency shifting a signal derived from the downstream signal.
Example 45 includes the host unit of any of Examples 36-44, wherein
the remote antenna unit is configured to generate an upstream
transport signal from an upstream radio frequency signal received
via at least one antenna associated with the remote antenna unit;
wherein the remote antenna unit is configured to communicate the
upstream transport signal from the remote antenna unit to the host
unit; and wherein the host unit is configured to use the upstream
transport signal to generate a upstream signal that is provided by
the host unit to at least one base-station related node.
[0106] Example 46 includes a method for use in a digital antenna
system (DAS) that comprises a host unit and at least one remote
antenna unit located remotely from the host unit, wherein the
remote antenna unit is communicatively coupled to the host unit,
the method comprising: performing an authentication process related
to the remote antenna unit; and enabling full operation of the
remote antenna unit in the DAS if the authentication process has
been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit, wherein
full operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS is not enabled
if the authentication process has not been successfully performed
for the remote antenna unit.
[0107] Example 47 includes the method of Example 46, further
comprising using reading physical layer management (PLM)
information from at least one cable used to communicatively couple
the remote antenna unit to the host unit; and wherein at least some
of the PLM information read from the cable used to communicatively
couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit is used in the
authentication process.
[0108] Example 48 includes the method of Example 47, further
comprising communicating, to a PLM aggregation point, at least some
of the PLM information read from the cable used to communicatively
couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit. Example 49
includes the method of any of Examples 46-48, wherein the
authentication process is performed by at least one of: the host
unit and an entity external to the DAS. Example 50 includes the
method of any of Examples 46-49, wherein the authentication process
comprises determining if the remote antenna unit read predetermined
information from the at least one cable used to communicatively
couple the remote antenna unit to the host unit.
[0109] Example 51 includes the method of any of Examples 46-50,
wherein the authentication process comprises: receiving a first
authentication code from the remote antenna unit; generating a
second authentication code; and comparing the first authentication
code to the second authentication code. Example 52 includes the
method of any of Examples 46-51, wherein the authentication process
comprises: receiving an authentication code from the remote antenna
unit; decrypting the authentication using a key to generate plain
text; and determining if the plain text includes predetermined
information. Example 53 includes the method of Example 52, wherein
the predetermined information comprises at least some PLM
information read from the cable used to communicatively couple the
remote antenna unit to the host unit. Example 54 includes the
method of Example 53, wherein the authentication process further
comprises: receiving at least some PLM information read from the
cable used to communicatively couple the remote antenna unit to the
host unit by at least one of the remote antenna unit and a device
other than the remote antenna unit; performing an authentication
process related to the remote antenna unit; and enabling full
operation of the remote antenna unit in the DAS if the
authentication process has been successfully performed for the
remote antenna unit, wherein full operation of the remote antenna
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the remote antenna unit.
[0110] Example 55 includes the method of any of Examples 46-54,
further comprising: performing an authentication process related to
an expansion unit; and enabling full operation of the expansion
unit in the DAS if the authentication process has been successfully
performed for the expansion unit, wherein full operation of the
expansion unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication
process has not been successfully performed for the expansion unit,
wherein the remote antenna unit is coupled to the host unit via the
expansion unit. Example 56 includes the method of any of Examples
46-55, further comprising: performing an authentication process
related to the host unit; and enabling full operation of the host
unit in the DAS if the authentication process has been successfully
performed for the host unit, wherein full operation of the host
unit in the DAS is not enabled if the authentication process has
not been successfully performed for the host unit. Example 57
includes a host-to-host network comprising: a plurality of first
host units located at a first end, each of the plurality of first
host units is configured to output a plurality of optical output
signals and receive a plurality of optical input signals; a
plurality of second host units located at a second end, each of the
plurality of second host units is configured to output a plurality
of optical output signals and receive a plurality of optical input
signals; a first optical wavelength division multiplexer configured
to combine the optical outputs signals of the first host units and
output a corresponding first combined optical output over a first
optical fiber; a second optical wavelength division multiplexer
configured to receive the first combined optical output from the
first fiber and demultiplex the optical output signals and provide
them as the optical input signals for the second host units;
wherein the second optical wavelength division multiplexer is
configured to combine the optical outputs signals of the second
host units and output a corresponding second combined optical
output over a second optical fiber; and wherein the first optical
wavelength division multiplexer is configured to receive the second
combined optical output form the second fiber and demultiplex the
optical output signals and provide them as the optical input
signals for the first host units.
[0111] Example 58 includes the network of Example 57, wherein each
of the first host units and second host unit includes a respective
plurality of multiplexer/serializer units and a plurality of
demultiplexer/deserializer units. Example 59 includes the network
of any of Examples 57-58, wherein each of the first host units and
second host units includes a respective plurality of
analog-to-digital converters and a respective plurality of
digital-to-analog converters. Example 60 includes the network of
any of Examples 57-59, wherein each of the first host units and
second host units includes a respective plurality of converters for
converting digital baseband unit data to a different digital data
format. Example 61 includes the network of any of Examples 57-60,
wherein the digital baseband unit data comprises one of CPRI
baseband data and OBSAI baseband data.
* * * * *