U.S. patent application number 14/518574 was filed with the patent office on 2015-02-05 for distributed antenna system architectures.
The applicant listed for this patent is CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to William Patrick Cune, Bernhard Arthur Maria Deutsch, Jason Elliott Greene, Thomas Knuth.
Application Number | 20150037041 14/518574 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48407778 |
Filed Date | 2015-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150037041 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cune; William Patrick ; et
al. |
February 5, 2015 |
DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM ARCHITECTURES
Abstract
Optical fiber-based wireless systems and related components and
methods are disclosed. The systems support radio frequency (RF)
communications with clients over optical fiber, including
Radio-over-Fiber (RoF) communications. The systems may be provided
as part of an indoor distributed antenna system (IDAS) to provide
wireless communication services to clients inside a building or
other facility. The systems incorporate various functions, such as
optical network terminal (ONT), splitter, and local powering, in
antenna coverage areas.
Inventors: |
Cune; William Patrick;
(Charlotte, NC) ; Deutsch; Bernhard Arthur Maria;
(Hickory, NC) ; Greene; Jason Elliott; (Hickory,
NC) ; Knuth; Thomas; (Berlin, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC |
HICKORY |
NC |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48407778 |
Appl. No.: |
14/518574 |
Filed: |
October 20, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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PCT/US2013/037090 |
Apr 18, 2013 |
|
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14518574 |
|
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61638219 |
Apr 25, 2012 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
398/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 2011/0016 20130101;
H04B 10/808 20130101; H04B 10/25753 20130101; H04J 14/06 20130101;
H04B 10/25754 20130101; H04B 10/25752 20130101; H04J 14/025
20130101; H04Q 11/0071 20130101; H04J 14/0278 20130101; H04J
14/0246 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
398/116 |
International
Class: |
H04B 10/2575 20060101
H04B010/2575 |
Claims
1. A wireless communication system deployed in a building
infrastructure, the system comprising: a head end unit; and at
least five remote units coupled to the head end unit by an optical
communication path and deployed over at least two floors of the
building infrastructure, wherein each remote unit comprises: at
least one antenna system, each antenna system being capable of
transmitting radio frequency (RF) signals into a respective
coverage area of the remote unit, and to receive uplink RF
communications signals from a respective coverage area; and an
optical network terminal (ONT) component, the ONT component being
capable of terminating one or more optical fibers and
demultiplexing optical signals into component parts, wherein at
least one of the remote units is electrically connected to an
electrical power source located in its respective coverage area,
and wherein the optical communication path comprises at least one
splitter component with at least one input fiber and a plurality of
output fibers, the splitter component being capable of routing
optical RF data transmissions based on at least one of wavelength
and polarization.
2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, further comprising
a plurality of electrically conductive cables connecting the remote
units to their respective electrical power sources.
3. The wireless communications system of claim 2, wherein the
wireless communications system is deployed in a multiple dwelling
unit (MDU) and each remote unit is located in a respective living
unit of the MDU, and wherein the electrical power source for each
remote unit is located in its respective living unit.
4. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the HEU is
configured to: receive downlink communications signals from the at
least one RF source and to provide the downlink communications
signals to the remote units; and return uplink communications
signals received from the remote units back to the at least one RF
source.
5. The wireless communication system of claim 4, wherein each
remote unit includes an optical-to-electrical converter configured
to convert received downlink optical communications signals to
electrical uplink communications signals to be communicated
wirelessly through the antenna system of the remote unit.
6. The wireless communication system of claim 5, further comprising
at least one radio frequency (RF) source connected to the head end
unit and providing downlink RF communications signals to the head
end unit.
7. The wireless communication system of claim 2, wherein the
optical communication path includes: a riser cable deployed between
the head end unit and the splitter component; and a plurality of
optical fiber cables connecting the splitter component to the
remote units.
8. A wireless communication system, comprising: a head end unit;
and a plurality of remote units coupled to the head end unit by an
optical communication path, wherein each remote unit comprises: an
optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert received
downlink optical communications signals to downlink electrical
communications signals; and at least one antenna system, each
antenna system being capable of transmitting the downlink
communications signals into a respective coverage area of the
remote unit and receiving uplink communications signals from the
coverage area; an ONT component configured to terminate one or more
optical fibers and to demultiplex optical signals into component
parts, wherein at least one of the remote units is electrically
connected to an electrical power source located in its respective
coverage area, and wherein the head end unit is configured to
receive downlink communications signals from at least one RF source
and to provide the downlink communications signals to the remote
units, and to return uplink communications received from the remote
units back to the at least one RF source.
9. The wireless communications system of claim 8, wherein the
wireless communications system is deployed in a multiple dwelling
unit (MDU) and each remote unit is located in a respective living
unit of the MDU, and at least one of the remote units is deployed
in a ceiling of a living unit.
10. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the
plurality of remote units comprises at least five remote units
deployed on multiple floors of the MDU, the electrical power source
for each remote unit being located in its respective living
unit.
11. The wireless communication system of claim 9, wherein the
optical communication path comprises at least one splitter
component with at least one input fiber and a plurality of output
fibers, the splitter component being capable of routing optical RF
transmissions based on at least one of wavelength and
polarization.
12. The wireless communication system of claim 11, further
comprising a plurality of electrically conductive cables connecting
the plurality of remote units to their respective electrical power
sources.
13. The wireless communication system of claim 12, wherein the
optical communication path includes: a riser cable deployed between
the head end unit and the splitter component; and a plurality of
optical fiber cables connecting the splitter component to the
remote units, wherein each remote unit is coupled to the splitter
component by at least one optical fiber communication path.
14. A wireless communication system deployed in multiple floors of
a building infrastructure, the system, comprising: a head end unit;
an optical communication path comprising at least one splitter
component with at least one input fiber and a plurality of output
fibers, the splitter component being capable of routing optical
transmissions based on at least one of wavelength and polarization,
and a plurality of optical cables coupling the head end unit to a
plurality of remote units deployed over multiple floors of the
building infrastructure, each remote unit comprising: at least one
antenna system, each antenna system being capable of transmitting
RF signals into a respective coverage area of the remote unit; an
ONT component configured to terminate one or more optical fibers
and demultiplex optical signals into component parts, wherein at
least one of the remote units is electrically connected to an
electrical power source located in its respective coverage
area.
15. The wireless communication system of claim 14, wherein each
remote unit includes an optical-to-electrical converter configured
to convert received downlink optical communications signals to
downlink electrical communications signals to be communicated
wirelessly through the antenna system of the remote unit.
16. The wireless communication system of claim 15, wherein each
antenna system is configured to receive uplink RF communications
signals from a respective coverage area.
17. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein at least
one of the remote units is deployed in a ceiling of a living
unit.
18. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the HEU
is configured to: receive downlink RF communications signals from
the at least one RF source and to provide the communications to the
remote units; and return communications received from the remote
units back to the at least one RF source.
19. The wireless communication system of claim 18, further
comprising a plurality of electrically conductive cables connecting
the plurality of remote units to their respective electrical power
sources.
Description
PRIORITY APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of International
Application No. PCT/US13/37090 filed on Apr. 18, 2013, which claims
the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.
61/638,219, filed on Apr. 25, 2012, both applications being
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The technology of the disclosure relates to distributed
antenna systems and alternative powering and connectivity
architectures therefor.
[0004] 2. Technical Background
[0005] Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with increasing
demands for high-speed mobile data communication. "Wireless
fidelity" or "WiFi" systems and wireless local area networks
(WLANs) are being deployed in many different types of areas to
communicate with wireless devices called "clients," "client
devices," or "wireless client devices." Distributed antenna systems
are particularly useful when deployed inside buildings or other
indoor environments where client devices may not otherwise be able
to receive radio frequency (RF) signals from a source.
[0006] One approach to deploying a distributed communications
system involves the use of RF antenna coverage areas, or "antenna
coverage areas." Antenna coverage areas can have a relatively short
range from a few meters up to twenty meters. Combining a number of
access point devices creates an array of antenna coverage areas.
Because the antenna coverage areas each cover small areas, there
are typically only a few users per antenna coverage area. This
minimizes the amount of bandwidth shared among users.
[0007] One type of distributed communications system for creating
antenna coverage areas, called "Radio-over-Fiber" or "RoF,"
utilizes RF signals sent over optical fibers. Such systems can
include a head-end station optically coupled to multiple remote
antenna units that each provide antenna coverage areas. The remote
antenna units each include RF transceivers coupled to an antenna to
transmit RF signals wirelessly, wherein the remote antenna units
are coupled to the head-end station via optical fiber links.
[0008] It may be desired to provide such optical fiber-based
distributed communications systems indoors, such as inside a
building or other facility, to provide indoor wireless
communication for clients. In such cases, power for the remote
antenna units on each floor is often provided from an intermediate
distribution frame (IDF) at each floor. Because the remote antenna
units may be located at long distances from the IDF, power must be
also conveyed over long distances from the IDF to the antenna
units. Long power transmission distances lead to high voltage
drops, which increases the power requirements for the IDF, as well
as the voltage ratings for the transmission cables.
SUMMARY OF THE DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] One embodiment of the disclosure relates to a wireless
communication system comprising a head end unit and at least one
remote at least one remote unit coupled to the head end unit by an
optical communication path. The remote unit comprises at least one
antenna system, each antenna system being capable of transmitting
radio frequency (RF) signals into a coverage area, and an optical
network terminal (ONT) component. The ONT component is capable of
terminating one or more optical fibers and demultiplexing optical
signals into component parts. According to one aspect, the remote
unit can be coupled to a power source within the coverage area so
that power need not be conveyed over long distances to the remote
unit.
[0010] An additional embodiment of the disclosure relates to a
wireless communication system comprising a head end unit, at least
one remote unit coupled to the head end unit by an optical
communication path, and at least one ONT optically coupled and
electrically coupled to the at least one remote unit. The remote
unit comprises a plurality of antenna systems, each antenna system
being capable of transmitting RF signals into a coverage area, and
a splitter component with at least one input fiber and a plurality
of output fibers. The splitter component is capable of routing
optical RF data transmissions to the antenna systems.
[0011] Yet another embodiment relates to a wireless communication
system comprising a head end unit and at least one remote unit
coupled to the head end unit by a remote unit optical communication
path. The at least one remote unit comprises at least one antenna
system capable of transmitting RF signals into a coverage area. The
system further comprises at least one ONT optically coupled to the
head end unit by an ONT optical communication path, and
electrically coupled to a corresponding remote unit. The optical
communication paths comprise a splitter component with at least one
input fiber and a plurality of output fibers, the splitter
component being capable of routing optical RF data transmissions to
the at least one remote unit.
[0012] Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the
detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily
apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or
recognized by practicing the embodiments as described in the
written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended
drawings.
[0013] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are merely
exemplary, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to
understand the nature and character of the claims.
[0014] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further
understanding, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of
this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more
embodiment(s), and together with the description serve to explain
principles and operation of the various embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] According to common practice, the various features of the
drawings discussed below are not necessarily drawn to scale.
Dimensions of various features and elements in the drawings may be
expanded or reduced to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of
the disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical
fiber-based wireless infrastructure.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of exemplary
head end equipment and a remote antenna unit (RAU) that can be
deployed in the wireless infrastructure of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of an
exemplary building infrastructure in which the wireless
infrastructure in FIG. 1 can be employed.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical
fiber-based wireless infrastructure in which antenna unit and ONT
functionalities are collocated.
[0020] FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical
fiber-based wireless infrastructure in which the antenna unit and
splitter functionalities are collocated.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary optical
fiber-based wireless infrastructure in which ONT and antenna
functionalities are located proximate to one another and the
antenna is powered from the ONT.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] The present embodiments combine various cable and hardware
infrastructures to address requirements of distributed antenna
systems (DAS), fiber-to-the-home (FTTH), multiple dwelling units
(MDU), and passive optical LAN (POL). Alternative powering concepts
are disclosed, such as using multiple POL or FTTH terminal
locations (wall outlet, optical network terminal "ONT", etc.) to
provide distributed power sources. The disclosed embodiments
combine selected DAS cabling and hardware infrastructures with
FTTH, MDU, and POL infrastructures. This arrangement can be used to
reduce cost and complexity while eliminating the need for parallel
cabling and hardware solutions.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an optical
fiber-based distributed antenna system, or "DAS". In this
embodiment, the system is an optical fiber-based DAS 10 that is
configured to create antenna coverage areas for establishing
communications with wireless client devices located in the antenna
coverage areas. The optical fiber-based DAS 10 provides RF
communications services (e.g., cellular services). The DAS 10
includes head end equipment in the form of a head-end unit (HEU)
12, one or more remote antenna units (RAUs) 14, and an optical
fiber 16 that optically couples the HEU 12 to the RAU 14. The HEU
12 is configured to receive communications over downlink electrical
RF communications signals 18D from sources, such as a network or
carrier, and provide such communications to the RAU 14. The HEU 12
is also configured to return communications received from the RAU
14, via uplink electrical RF communications signals 18U, back to
the source or sources. The optical fiber 16 includes at least one
downlink optical fiber 16D to carry signals communicated from the
HEU 12 to the RAU 14 and at least one uplink optical fiber 16U to
carry signals communicated from the RAU 14 back to the HEU 12. One
downlink optical fiber 16D and one uplink optical fiber 16U could
be provided to support multiple channels each using
wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM), as discussed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/892,424.
[0024] The antenna coverage area or service area 20 of the RAU 14
forms an RF coverage area 21 substantially centered about the RAU
14. The HEU 12 is adapted to perform a number of wireless
applications, including but not limited to Radio-over-Fiber (RoF),
radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless local-area network
(WLAN) communication, public safety, cellular, telemetry, and other
mobile or fixed services. Shown within the antenna service area 20
is a client device 24 in the form of a mobile device which may be a
cellular telephone. The client device 24 can be any device that is
capable of receiving RF communication signals. The client device 24
includes an antenna 26 (e.g., a wireless card) adapted to receive
and/or send electromagnetic RF communications signals.
[0025] With continuing reference to FIG. 1, to communicate the
electrical RF communications signals over the downlink optical
fiber 16D to the RAU 14, to in turn be communicated to the client
device 24 in the antenna coverage area 20, the HEU 12 includes an
electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter 28. The E/O converter 28
converts the downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D to
downlink optical RF communications signals 22D to be communicated
over the downlink optical fiber 16D. The RAU 14 includes an
optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter 30 to convert received
downlink optical RF communications signals 22D back to electrical
RF communications signals to be communicated wirelessly through an
antenna 32 of the RAU 14 to client devices 24 in the coverage area
20. Similarly, the antenna 32 receives wireless RF communications
from client devices 24 and communicates electrical RF
communications signals representing the wireless RF communications
to an E/O converter 34 in the RAU 14. The E/O converter 34 converts
the electrical RF communications signals into uplink optical RF
communications signals 22U to be communicated over the uplink
optical fiber 16U. An O/E converter 36 provided in the HEU 12
converts the uplink optical RF communications signals 22U into
uplink electrical RF communications signals, which can then be
communicated as uplink electrical RF communications signals 18U
back to a network or other source.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a more detailed schematic diagram of the DAS 10 of
FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the HEU 12 includes a service unit 37
that provides electrical RF service signals by passing such signals
from one or more outside networks 38 via a network link 39. In
another embodiment, the service unit 37 provides electrical RF
service signals by generating the signals directly. In another
exemplary embodiment, the service unit 37 coordinates the delivery
of the electrical RF service signals between client devices 24
within the antenna coverage area 20. The service unit 37 is
electrically coupled to the E/O converter 28 that receives the
downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D from the service
unit 37 and converts them to corresponding downlink optical RF
communications signals 22D.
[0027] The HEU 12 also includes the O/E converter 36, which is
electrically coupled to the service unit 37. The O/E converter 36
receives the uplink optical RF communications signals 22U and
converts them to corresponding uplink electrical RF communications
signals 18U. The service unit 37 in the HEU 12 can include an RF
communications signal conditioner unit 40 for conditioning the
downlink electrical RF communications signals 18D and the uplink
electrical RF communications signals 18U, respectively. The service
unit 37 can include a digital signal processing unit ("digital
signal processor" or "DSP") 42 for providing to the RF
communications signal conditioner unit 40 an electrical signal that
is modulated onto an RF carrier to generate a desired downlink
electrical RF communications signal 18D. The DSP 42 is also
configured to process a demodulation signal provided by the
demodulation of the uplink electrical RF communications signal 18U
by the RF communications signal conditioner unit 40. The service
unit 37 in the HEU 12 can also include a central processing unit
(CPU) 44 for processing data and otherwise performing logic and
computing operations, and a memory unit 46 for storing data. The
RAU 14 also includes a converter pair 48 comprising the O/E
converter 30 and the E/O converter 34. The O/E converter 30
converts the received downlink optical RF communications signals
22D from the HEU 12 back into downlink electrical RF communications
signals 50D. The E/O converter 34 converts uplink electrical RF
communications signals 50U received from the client device 24 into
the uplink optical RF communications signals 22U to be communicated
to the HEU 12. The O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter 34 are
electrically coupled to the antenna 32 via an RF signal-directing
element 52, such as a circulator. The RF signal-directing element
52 directs the downlink electrical RF communications signals 50D
and the uplink electrical RF communications signals 50U.
[0028] With continuing reference to FIG. 2, the DAS 10 also
includes a power supply 54 that generates an electrical power
signal 56. The power supply 54 is electrically coupled to the HEU
12 for powering the power-consuming elements therein. In an
exemplary embodiment, an electrical power line 58 runs through the
HEU 12 and over to the RAU 14 to power the O/E converter 30 and the
E/O converter 34 in the converter pair 48, the optional RF
signal-directing element 52 (unless the RF signal-directing element
52 is a passive device), and any other power-consuming elements
provided. The electrical power line 58 can include two wires 60 and
62 that carry a single voltage and that are electrically coupled to
a DC power converter 64 at the RAU 14. The DC power converter 64 is
electrically coupled to the O/E converter 30 and the E/O converter
34 in the converter pair 48, and changes the voltage or levels of
the electrical power signal 56 to the power level(s) required by
the power-consuming components in the RAU 14.
[0029] FIG. 3 is a partially schematic cut-away diagram of a
building infrastructure 70 employing an optical fiber-based DAS.
The DAS 10 incorporates the HEU 12 to provide various types of
communication services to coverage areas within the building
infrastructure 70. The DAS 10 is configured to receive wireless RF
communications signals and convert the signals into RoF signals to
be communicated over the optical fiber 16 to multiple RAUs 14 to
provide wireless services inside the building infrastructure 70.
The building infrastructure 70 includes a first (ground) floor 72,
a second floor 74, and a third floor 76. The floors 72, 74, 76 are
serviced by the HEU 12 through a main distribution frame 78 to
provide antenna coverage areas 80 in the building infrastructure
70. A main cable 82 has a number of different sections that
facilitate the placement of a large number of RAUs 14 in the
building infrastructure 70. Each RAU 14 in turn services its own
coverage area in the antenna coverage areas 80. The main cable 82
can include, for example, a riser cable 84 that carries all of the
downlink and uplink optical fibers 16D, 16U to and from the HEU 12.
The riser cable 84 may be routed through an interconnect unit (ICU)
85. The ICU 85 may be provided as part of or separate from the
power supply 54 in FIG. 2. The ICU 85 may also provide power to the
RAUs 14 via the electrical power line 58 (FIG. 2) and provided
inside an array cable 87.
[0030] An RF source such as a base transceiver station (BTS) 88,
which may be provided by a second party such as a cellular service
provider, is connected to the HEU 12. A BTS is any station or
source that provides an input signal to the HEU 12 and can receive
a return signal from the HEU 12. In a typical cellular system, for
example, a plurality of BTSs are deployed at a plurality of remote
locations to provide wireless telephone coverage. Each BTS serves a
corresponding cell and when a mobile station enters the cell, the
BTS communicates with the mobile station. The DAS 10 in FIGS. 1-3
provides point-to-point communications between the HEU 12 and the
RAU 14. Each RAU 14 communicates with the HEU 12 over a distinct
downlink and uplink optical fiber pair to provide the
point-to-point communications. Multiple downlink and uplink optical
fiber pairs can be provided in a fiber optic cable to service
multiple RAUs 14 from a common fiber optic cable. The DAS can
support a wide variety of radio sources, such as Long Term
Evolution (LTE), US Cellular (CELL), Global System for Mobile
Communications (GSM), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time
Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Advanced Wireless Services (AWS),
iDEN (e.g., 800 MegaHertz (MHz), 900 MHz, and 1.5 GHz), etc. These
radios sources can range from 400 MHz to 2700 MHz as an
example.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a generalized embodiment of
wireless system, in the form of an optical fiber-based distributed
antenna system 110. In this embodiment, the optical fiber-based
wireless system 110 is configured to create one or more coverage
areas in a building infrastructure. The building infrastructure
comprises multiple stories, including a first floor 112, which can
be, for example, a ground or basement floor, a second floor 114,
and N additional floors (not illustrated). According to one aspect,
remote antenna unit (RAU) and optical network terminal (ONT)
functionalities are collocated at a remote unit. According to
another aspect, power for the remote unit can be provided
`locally`, such as at the coverage area of the remote unit.
[0032] The components and operation of the system 110 in providing
RF communications and data services can otherwise be generally
similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, the
optical fiber-based wireless system 110 includes a head-end unit
(HEU) 120 adapted to perform or to facilitate any one of a number
of RoF applications, such as radio frequency (RF) identification
(RFID), wireless local-area network (WLAN) communication, cellular
phone services, etc., as in the HEU 12 illustrated in FIG. 3. The
HEU 120 can be connected to one or more RF sources 122, such as a
base transceiver station (BTS) through an interface, integral with
a BTS, or otherwise in communication with a BTS, to receive
downlink electrical RF signals from the BTS 122 and to transmit RF
signals to the BTS 122.
[0033] The HEU 120 can also be connected to an optical line
terminal 126 (OLT), and a switch 128, such as an Ethernet switch,
to provide additional services to the building infrastructure. The
HEU 120 is connected to a splitter 130 by a cable 135 and a patch
panel 137. The cable 135 can be, for example, a riser cable having
one or more optical fibers. According to one aspect of the present
embodiment, the splitter 130 is connected to a plurality of
ONT/remote antenna units ("ONT/RAU"), or simply, `remote units` 150
by cables 155. The splitter 130 has least one input fiber and a
plurality of output fibers, and is capable of routing optical RF
data transmissions based on at least one of signal wavelength and
polarization. The cables 135, 155 can be, for example, optical
cables having one or more optical fibers. The cables 135, 155 can
generally be referred to as `optical communication paths`, and the
cables 135, 155, as well as the splitter 130, form optical
communication paths 160 from the HEU 120 to the remote units 150.
Additional transmission media, such as sections of optical cable,
can be included in the optical transmission paths 160. A continuous
fiber communication path may therefore extend from the each remote
unit 150, through the splitter 130, back to the patch panel 137,
and to the OLT 126 and the HEU 120.
[0034] The remote units 150 each include an uplink/downlink antenna
system 170 connected by cable 172, which can be, for example, an
electrically conductive coaxial cable. The antenna systems 170
provide uplink/downlink for RF communication, data, etc. service
signals in a coverage area 180. The remote units 150 can include
the components and functionalities of the RAUs 14 illustrated in
FIGS. 1-3, For example, the remote units 150 may include an
optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to convert received downlink
optical RF communications signals to electrical RF communications
signals to be communicated wirelessly through the antenna system
170 to client devices in its coverage area. Similarly, the antenna
system 170 receives wireless RF communications from client devices
and communicates electrical RF communications signals representing
the wireless RF communications to an E/O converter in the remote
units 150. The E/O converter converts the electrical RF
communications signals into uplink optical RF communications
signals to be communicated to an O/E converter provided in the HEU
120 for further transmission by the HEU. The remote units 150 also
include an ONT component effective to terminate one or more fiber
optic lines, demultiplex optical signals into their component parts
(e.g., voice telephone, television, and Internet), and to provide
electrical power.
[0035] In the illustrated embodiment, each coverage area or service
area 180 can coincide with, for example, an individual living unit
in a multiple dwelling unit (MDU), or some other delineation
between spaces in a building infrastructure, such as an office. At
the remote units 150, the functionalities and hardware of a remote
antenna unit and the ONT may be collocated and/or combined into a
single chassis. Power for both the RAU and ONT components in the
remote unit 150 can be provided at the desk (e.g., POL level) or
living unit level (e.g., FTTH MDU), within the individual living
unit, or other location where a network device is terminated and
has power available. Power thus need not be provided at each floor
in a wiring closet, IDF, etc., and conveyed over long lengths of
cable resulting in electrical losses. Power is instead transmitted
over electrically conductive network cables over relatively short
distances. The remote unit 150 can be located, for example, such
that it can be connected to a wall outlet in the living unit of an
MDU, such that power for a remote unit 150 may be delivered from
the coverage area of the remote unit.
[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of another embodiment of a
wireless system, in the form of an optical fiber-based distributed
antenna system 210. The building infrastructure comprises multiple
stories, including a first floor 112, which can be a ground or
basement floor, a second floor 114, and N additional floors (not
illustrated). According to one aspect, remote antenna unit (RAU)
and splitter functionalities are collocated, such as combined in a
single chassis, frame and/or platform. According to another aspect,
power for the remote unit can be provided locally, such as at a
coverage area of the remote unit, or in one or more of the coverage
areas of the remote unit.
[0037] The components and operation of the system 210 in providing
RF communications and data services can otherwise be generally
similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. For example, the
optical fiber-based wireless system 210 includes an HEU 220 adapted
to perform or to facilitate any one of a number of RoF
applications, such as RFID, WLAN communication, cellular phone
services, etc., as in the HEU 12 illustrated in FIG. 3. The HEU 220
can be connected to one or more RF sources 222, such as a BTS
through an interface, integral with a BTS, or otherwise in
communication with a BTS, to receive downlink electrical RF signals
from the BTS 222 and to transmit RF signals to the BTS 222. The HEU
220 can also be connected to an OLT 226, and a switch 228, such as
an Ethernet switch, to provide additional services to the building
infrastructure.
[0038] The HEU 220 is connected to a remote antenna/splitter unit
230, or simply `remote unit` 230, by a cable 235 and a patch panel
237. The cable 235 can be, for example, an optical transmission
path comprising a cable or cables having one or more optical fibers
suited for riser and/or horizontal (e.g. duct) deployments. In the
illustrated embodiment, the cable 235 extends in sections
vertically through the building as well as horizontally, and may be
comprised of multiple sections joined, for example, at an
interconnect unit (not illustrated).
[0039] According to one aspect of the present embodiment, the
remote antenna/splitter unit, or remote unit 230 is connected to a
first ONT 242 by a fiber path 247 and by an electrical path 249.
The fiber path 247 can comprise, for example, a fiber optic cable
with one or more optical fibers for transporting data. The
electrical path 249 can comprise one or more electrical conductors
for providing data and/or electrical power to the antenna/splitter
unit 230. The fiber path 247 and the electrical path 249 can be
combined, for example in a single, composite optical
fiber/electrical cable having one or more optical and electrical
conductors. The remote unit 230 can also be connected to a second
ONT 244 by a fiber optic communication path 257. A continuous fiber
communication path may therefore extend from the ONT 244, through
the remote unit 230, back to the patch panel 237, and to the OLT
226 and the HEU 220. Similarly, a continuous fiber optical
communication path may extend from the ONT 242, through the remote
unit 230, back to the patch panel 237, and to the OLT 226 and the
HEU 220.
[0040] The remote antenna/splitter unit 230 includes one or more
uplink/downlink antenna systems 270 connected by cable 272, which
can be, for example, an electrically conductive coaxial cable. Each
antenna system 270 provides uplink/downlink for RF communicating
service signals into a respective coverage area 280. The remote
units 230 may include an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to
convert received downlink optical RF communications signals to
electrical RF communications signals to be communicated wirelessly
through two or more antenna systems 270 to client devices in the
respective coverage areas of the antenna systems. Similarly, each
antenna system 270 receives wireless RF communications from client
devices in its coverage area and communicates electrical RF
communications signals representing the wireless RF communications
to an E/O converter in the remote unit 230. The E/O converter
converts the electrical RF communications signals into uplink
optical RF communications signals to be communicated to an O/E
converter provided in the HEU 220 for further transmission by the
HEU. Because the remote unit 230 includes multiple antenna systems
270, it may include additional processing capabilities, converters
etc., to accommodate the additional data and/or RF communications
into multiple coverage areas.
[0041] The remote antenna/splitter unit 230 also includes at least
one splitter component (not illustrated). The splitter component
has least one input fiber and a plurality of output fibers, and is
capable of routing optical RF data transmissions based on at least
one of signal wavelength and polarization. Optical data signals
entering an input fiber can be transmitted through one or more of
the output fibers. Accordingly, the remote unit 230 can route RF
and/or data transmissions (based on wavelength, polarization, or
other factors) to the ONTs 242, 244, as well as multiple antenna
systems 270, to provide service to multiple coverage areas 280 in
multiple living units. In the illustrated embodiment, the exemplary
remote unit 230 routes RF and/or data transmissions to two antenna
systems 270, although three, four, or more antenna systems 270 can
be provided with transmissions from the remote unit 230.
[0042] The combined antenna/splitter chassis consolidates the
splitter function and antenna functions at a single location.
Accordingly, a single chassis, frame, or platform can be used to
provide optical communications to the ONTs, and to provide RF
signals for transmission to multiple antenna systems 270 in
separate living units. In addition, the remote unit 230 can be
located in the infrastructure where the power for the remote unit
230 can be provided from the ONT 242, or alternatively, from the
ONT 244. The coverage areas 280 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be, for
example, coverage areas corresponding to adjacent living or work
spaces, such as in an MDU or office. Accordingly, antenna systems
270, as well as ONTs 242, 244, can be located in adjacent coverage
areas and connected to a common remote unit 230.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of yet another generalized
embodiment of wireless system, in the form of an optical
fiber-based distributed antenna system 310. In this embodiment, the
optical fiber-based wireless system 310 is configured to create one
or more coverage areas in a building infrastructure. According to
one aspect, a power cable may be run from an ONT to a nearby remote
unit, thus eliminating the need for a composite cable and an
interconnect unit (ICU) to inject electrical power for remote units
on each floor. The components and operation of the system 310 in
providing RF communications and data services can otherwise be
generally similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-3. The HEU 320
can be connected to one or more RF sources 322, such as a base
transceiver station (BTS) through an interface, integral with a
BTS, or otherwise in communication with a BTS, to receive downlink
electrical RF signals from the BTS 322 and to transmit RF signals
to the BTS 322.
[0044] The HEU 120 can also be connected to an OLT 326, and a
switch 328, such as an Ethernet switch, to provide additional
services to the building infrastructure. The HEU 320 is connected
to a splitter/fiber distribution component 330 by a cable 335 and a
patch panel 337. The cable 335 can be, for example, a riser cable
having one or more optical fibers. According to one aspect of the
present embodiment, the splitter/fiber distribution component 330
is connected to a plurality of remote antenna units, or simply,
`remote units` 340 by cables 352. The cables 352 can be, for
example, optical cables having one or more optical fibers. The
cables 335, 352 can generally be referred to as `optical
communication paths`, and the cables 335, 352, as well as the
splitter/fiber distribution component 330, form optical
communication paths 360 from the HEU 320 to each remote unit 340.
Additional transmission media, such as sections of optical cable,
can be included in the optical transmission paths 360. The
splitter/fiber distribution component 330 has least one input fiber
and a plurality of output fibers, and is capable of routing optical
RF data transmissions based on at least one of signal wavelength
and polarization.
[0045] The splitter/fiber distribution component 330 is also
connected to a plurality ONTs 370 by cables 372. The cables 372 may
be optical fiber cables, and the cables 372, along with the
splitter/fiber distribution component 330 and the cable 335, form
an optical communication path 376 from the HEU 320 to each ONT 370.
Each ONT 370 can be electrically connected to a nearby remote unit
340 by an electrically conductive cable 378 having one or more
electrical conductors.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 6, a continuous optical communication path
is formed from each ONT 370, through the splitter/fiber
distribution component 330, back to the patch panel 337, the HEU
320, and the OLT 326. Similarly, a continuous optical communication
path is formed from each remote unit 340, through the
splitter/fiber distribution component 330, back to the patch panel
337, the HEU 320, and the OLT 326.
[0047] According to one aspect, for the ONTs 370 and remote units
340 on a particular floor of the infrastructure, the ONT optical
communication paths and remote unit optical communication path can
run through a common splitter component. The splitter component
need not be formed from a single optical splitter, but can be part
of a group of collocated splitters. A single splitter component can
alternatively connect to ONTs and remote units on multiple floors,
such as on adjacent floors.
[0048] The remote units 340 each include an uplink/downlink antenna
system 380 connected by cable 382, which can be, for example, an
electrically conductive coaxial cable. The antenna systems 380
provide uplink/downlink for RF communication, data, etc. service
signals in a coverage area 390. The remote units 340 may each
include an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter to convert
received downlink optical RF communications signals to electrical
RF communications signals to be communicated wirelessly through the
antenna system 380 to client devices in its respective coverage
area. Similarly, the antenna system 380 receives wireless RF
communications from client devices and communicates electrical RF
communications signals representing the wireless RF communications
to an E/O converter in the remote units 340. The E/O converter
converts the electrical RF communications signals into uplink
optical RF communications signals to be communicated to an O/E
converter provided in the HEU 320 for further transmission by the
HEU.
[0049] The ONTs 370 are effective, for example, to terminate one or
more fiber optic lines, and to demultiplex optical signals into
their component parts (e.g., voice telephone, television, and
Internet).
[0050] According to one aspect, the functionalities and hardware of
a remote antenna unit and an optical network terminal are
collocated, for example in a coverage area 390, so that the ONT 370
can power a nearby RAU 340 by an electrical cable. Therefore, there
is no need to install a composite cable between an interconnect
unit (ICU) at an intermediate distribution frame (IDF) and a remote
unit. Power for the ONT, and thus the corresponding RAU, can be
instead be provided at the desk (POL level) or living unit level
(FTTH MDU), for each remote unit 340, within the individual living
unit, office, commercial space, and similar infrastructure
subdivisions. Power thus need not conveyed over long lengths of
cable resulting in electrical losses.
[0051] In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 4-6, only a first
floor 112 and a second floor 114 are illustrated. For each of the
disclosed embodiments, it is to be understood that the arrangement
on the second floor 114 may be repeated on N additional floors of
the building, with the HEU servicing multiple floors. It should be
further understood that while only two units (e.g., living unit,
office unit, commercial unit, and other infrastructure
subdivisions) with two coverage areas are shown for the second
floor 114, three, four, or more living units can be included in any
and all of the disclosed embodiments.
[0052] According to the various embodiments as disclosed in this
specification, power for DAS components can be provided `locally`,
such as from a coverage area of a DAS component, or an adjacent
subdivision of a building infrastructure. Long power transmission
distances from interconnect units (ICU) to DAS remote units can
thus be reduced and/or eliminated. Because power need not be
injected from an ICU, there is also no need for composite cable
connections from an ICU to remote units as fiber only cables will
suffice. The integration of ONT functions with DAS components also
reduces installation by eliminating the need for parallel cable and
hardware infrastructures. The footprint for hardware in IDF closets
is also reduced.
[0053] In the illustrated embodiments, the wireless communication
systems are described as adapted to receive RF communications from
RF sources such as BTSs. Other signal sources can provide RF and
other communication data to the illustrated wireless systems,
including bidirectional amplifiers (BDA), Femtocells, etc.
[0054] While the computer-readable medium may be as a single
medium, the term "computer-readable medium" should be taken to
include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or
distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that
store the one or more sets of instructions. The term
"computer-readable medium" shall also be taken to include any
medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of
instructions for execution.
[0055] The embodiments disclosed herein may be provided as a
computer program product, or software, that may include a
machine-readable medium (or computer-readable medium) having stored
thereon instructions, which may be used to program a computer
system (or other electronic devices) to perform a process according
to the embodiments disclosed herein.
[0056] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be implemented or performed with a processor, a Digital
Signal Processor (DSP), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit
(ASIC), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or other
programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic,
discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed
to perform the functions described herein. A controller may be a
processor.
[0057] The embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied in hardware
and in instructions that are stored in hardware, and may reside,
for example, in Random Access Memory (RAM), flash memory, Read Only
Memory (ROM), Electrically Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically
Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), registers, a hard disk, a
removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of computer-readable
medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to
the processor such that the processor can read information from,
and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative,
the storage medium may be integral to the processor.
[0058] The terms "fiber optic cables" and/or "optical fibers"
include all types of single mode and multi-mode light waveguides,
including one or more optical fibers that may be upcoated, colored,
buffered, ribbonized and/or have other organizing or protective
structure in a cable such as one or more tubes, strength members,
jackets or the like.
[0059] The antenna arrangements may include any type of antenna
desired, including but not limited to dipole, monopole, and slot
antennas. The distributed antenna systems that employ the antenna
arrangements disclosed herein could include any type or number of
communications mediums, including but not limited to electrical
conductors, optical fiber, and air (i.e., wireless transmission).
The distributed antenna systems may distribute and the antenna
arrangements disclosed herein may be configured to transmit and
receive any type of communications signals, including but not
limited to RF communications signals and digital data
communications signals, examples of which are described in U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 12/892,424.
[0060] Unless otherwise expressly stated, it is in no way intended
that any method set forth herein be construed as requiring that its
steps be performed in a specific order. Accordingly, where a method
claim does not actually recite an order to be followed by its steps
or it is not otherwise specifically stated in the claims or
descriptions that the steps are to be limited to a specific order,
it is no way intended that any particular order be inferred.
[0061] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the disclosure. Since modifications
combinations, sub-combinations and variations of the disclosed
embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the
disclosure may occur to persons skilled in the art, the disclosure
should be construed to include everything within the scope of the
appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *