U.S. patent number RE48,351 [Application Number 15/268,453] was granted by the patent office on 2020-12-08 for distributed digital reference clock.
This patent grant is currently assigned to CommScope Technologies LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is CommScope Technologies LLC. Invention is credited to Larry G. Fischer, David Hart, Lance K. Uyehara, Dean Zavadsky.
United States Patent |
RE48,351 |
Uyehara , et al. |
December 8, 2020 |
Distributed digital reference clock
Abstract
A communication system includes master host unit, hybrid
expansion unit, and remote antenna unit. Master host unit
communicates analog signals with service provider interfaces.
Master host unit and hybrid expansion unit communicate N-bit words
of digitized spectrum over communication link. Hybrid expansion
unit converts between N-bit words and analog spectrum. Hybrid
expansion unit and remote antenna unit communicate analog spectrum
over analog communication medium. Remote antenna unit transmits and
receives wireless signals over air interfaces. Master host unit
includes master clock distribution unit that generates digital
master reference clock signal. Master host unit communicates
digital master reference clock signal over communication link.
Hybrid expansion unit receives digital master reference clock
signal from master host unit over communication link and generates
analog reference clock signal based on digital master reference
clock signal. Hybrid expansion unit sends, and remote antenna unit
receives, analog reference clock signal across analog communication
medium.
Inventors: |
Uyehara; Lance K. (San Jose,
CA), Fischer; Larry G. (Waseca, MN), Hart; David
(Sunnyvale, CA), Zavadsky; Dean (Shakopee, MN) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CommScope Technologies LLC |
Hickory |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
CommScope Technologies LLC
(Hickory, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
1000005233883 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/268,453 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
12845060 |
Jun 25, 2013 |
8472579 |
|
|
Reissue of: |
13914838 |
Jun 11, 2013 |
8837659 |
Sep 16, 2014 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04L
7/0008 (20130101); H04J 3/0685 (20130101); H04J
3/0685 (20130101); H04W 28/04 (20130101); H04W
28/04 (20130101); H04B 1/40 (20130101); H04B
1/40 (20130101); H04L 7/0008 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H03L
7/00 (20060101); H04J 3/06 (20060101); H04B
1/40 (20150101); H04L 7/00 (20060101); H04W
28/04 (20090101) |
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|
Primary Examiner: Hotaling; John M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Fogg & Powers LLC
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
.Iadd.This Reissue Application is a reissue of application Ser. No.
13/914,838, filed Jun. 11, 2013, which issued as U.S. Pat. No.
8,837,659. .Iaddend.The present application is a continuation
application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,060
(hereafter "the '060 Application") entitled "DISTRIBUTED DIGITAL
REFERENCE CLOCK", filed on Jul. 28, 2010 (currently pending). The
present application is also related to commonly assigned and
co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/150,820 (hereafter
"the '820 Application") entitled "PROVIDING WIRELESS COVERAGE INTO
SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED ENVIRONMENTS", filed on Jun. 10, 2005
(currently pending). The present application is also related to
commonly assigned and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
12/775,897 (hereafter "the '897 Application") entitled "PROVIDING
WIRELESS COVERAGE INTO SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED ENVIRONMENTS", filed on
May 7, 2010 (currently pending). The '060 Application, '820
Application, and the '897 Application are incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A communication system, comprising: a master host unit
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate
.[.digital.]. signals with a plurality of service provider
interfaces.[., wherein the master host unit includes a master clock
distribution unit that generates a digital master reference clock
signal.].; .[.a plurality of communication links coupled to the
master host unit, wherein.]. the master host unit .[.is.]. further
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum in N-bit words over
.[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.plurality of communication links
.Iadd.coupled to the master host unit.Iaddend.; the master host
unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to interface
between the .[.digital.]. signals for the plurality of service
provider interfaces and N-bit words of .[.digitized.].
.Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum for the plurality of communication
links; the master host unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to communicate .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.digital master
reference clock signal over the plurality of communication links;
at least one hybrid expansion unit, communicatively coupled to the
master host unit over at least one of the plurality of
communication links and .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
communicate N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum with the master host unit across the at least one
of the plurality of communication links, the at least one hybrid
expansion unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
convert between the N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum and a first set of bands of analog spectrum;
.[.an analog communication medium coupled to the at least one
hybrid expansion unit, wherein.]. the at least one hybrid expansion
unit .[.is.]. further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
communicate the first set of bands of analog spectrum across
.[.the.]. .Iadd.an .Iaddend.analog communication medium
.Iadd.coupled to the at least one hybrid expansion unit.Iaddend.;
each hybrid expansion unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to: receive the digital master reference clock signal
across one of the plurality of communication links; generate an
analog reference clock signal based on the .[.received.]. digital
master reference clock signal; and send the analog reference clock
signal across the analog communication medium; and at least one
remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to one of the at least
one hybrid expansion .[.units.]. .Iadd.unit .Iaddend.over the
analog communication medium and .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to communicate the first set of bands of analog spectrum
with the one of the at least one hybrid expansion .[.units.].
.Iadd.unit .Iaddend.across the analog communication medium, each
remote antenna unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to transmit and receive wireless signals over a plurality
of air interfaces for .[.the.]. associated service provider
interfaces; each of the .[.plurality of.]. .Iadd.at least one
.Iaddend.remote antenna .[.units.]. .Iadd.unit .Iaddend.further
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to receive the analog
reference clock signal across the analog communication medium.
2. The system of claim 1, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the master host unit is .[.adapted.].
.Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to interface between the digital signals
for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum for the plurality
of communication links includes converting between the digital
signals for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit
words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum for the
plurality of communication links by reformatting digital data
between the digital signals and the N-bit words of .[.digitized.].
.Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum used for communication across the
at least one of the plurality of communication links between the
master host unit and the .Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.hybrid
expansion unit.
3. The system of claim 1, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the master host unit is .[.adapted.].
.Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to interface between the digital signals
for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum for the plurality
of communication links by communicating digital data as is without
reformatting between the digital signals and the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum used for
communication across the at least one of the plurality of
communication links between the master host unit and the .Iadd.at
least one .Iaddend.hybrid expansion unit.
4. The system of claim .[.1.]. .Iadd.40.Iaddend., wherein the
master clock distribution unit generates the digital master
reference clock signal based on an external reference clock
external to the master host unit.
5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the .[.plurality of.].
.Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.remote antenna .[.units.]. .Iadd.unit
.Iaddend.is further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
synchronize at least one component with the system using the analog
reference clock .Iadd.signal.Iaddend..
6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the .[.plurality of.].
.Iadd.at least one .Iaddend.remote antenna .[.units.]. .Iadd.unit
.Iaddend.is further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
frequency convert the first set of bands of analog spectrum to a
second set of bands of analog spectrum.
7. The system of claim 1, wherein each hybrid expansion unit
generates an analog reference clock signal using a phase-locked
loop.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one hybrid expansion
unit is further configured to receive the digital master reference
clock signal across one of the plurality of communication links by
extracting the digital master reference clock signal from a data
stream containing the N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum.
9. The system of claim 1, wherein the digital master reference
clock signal is used to generate clock signals used to convert
between the .[.digital.]. signals for the plurality of service
provider interfaces and N-bit words of .[.digitized.].
.Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum for the plurality of communication
links.
10. The system of claim 1, wherein the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum are communicated in
a data stream generated from clock signals derived from the
.Iadd.digital .Iaddend.master reference clock signal.
11. The system of claim 1, further including a digital expansion
unit interposed between the master host unit and at least two
hybrid expansion units.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote antenna
unit is part of an analog remote antenna cluster.
13. The system of claim 4, wherein the external reference clock
external to the master host unit is from at least one of the
plurality of service provider interfaces.
14. The system of claim 4, wherein the external reference clock
external to the master host unit is from at least one of a base
station, a GPS unit, and a cesium atomic clock.
15. The system of claim 6, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the digital signals for the plurality
of service provider interfaces are a digital representation of the
second set of bands of analog spectrum.
16. The system of claim 10, wherein the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum are extracted from
the data stream at each hybrid expansion unit.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein the digital expansion unit is
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate the digital
master reference clock signal over the plurality of communication
links between the master host unit and the at least two hybrid
expansion units.
18. The system of claim 13, wherein the master clock distribution
unit derives the external reference clock .[.signal.].
.Iadd.external to the master host unit .Iaddend.from a data stream
communicating the .[.digital.]. signals between the plurality of
service provider interfaces and the master host unit.
19. A method comprising: interfacing wireless spectrum for at least
two wireless services at a master host unit between .[.digital.].
signals and N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum; .[.generating a digital master reference clock
signal at the master host unit;.]. transporting the .[.digitized.].
.Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum as a multiplexed signal on a
digital medium between the master host unit and a hybrid expansion
unit; transporting .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.digital master
reference clock .Iadd.signal .Iaddend.on the digital medium between
the master host unit and the hybrid expansion unit; converting
wireless spectrum for the at least two wireless services between
the N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum
and a first set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion
unit; generating an analog reference clock signal based on the
digital master reference clock signal received at the hybrid
expansion unit; transporting the first set of bands of analog
spectrum for the at least two wireless services on an analog medium
between the hybrid expansion unit and at least one remote unit
having an air interface for each of the at least two wireless
services; transporting the analog reference clock signal on the
analog medium between the hybrid expansion unit and the at least
one remote unit; and communicating the wireless spectrum in analog
format at the at least one remote unit.
20. The method of claim 19, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein interfacing the wireless spectrum for
the at least two wireless services at the master host unit between
digital signals and N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum includes converting the wireless spectrum for the
at least two wireless services at the master host unit between
digital signals and N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum by reformatting digital data between the digital
signals and the N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum used for transport on the digital medium between
the master host unit and the hybrid expansion unit.
21. The method of claim 19, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein interfacing the wireless spectrum for
the at least two wireless services at the master host unit between
digital signals and N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum includes communicating digital data as is without
reformatting between the digital signals and the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum used for transport
on the digital medium between the master host unit and the hybrid
expansion unit.
22. The method of claim .[.19.]. .Iadd.41.Iaddend., wherein
generating the digital master reference clock signal at the master
host unit is based on an external reference clock external to the
master host unit.
23. The method of claim 19, wherein generating the analog reference
clock signal includes extracting the digital master reference clock
signal from a data stream containing the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum and converting the
digital master reference clock signal to the analog reference clock
signal.
24. The method of claim 19, wherein converting the digital master
reference clock signal to the analog reference clock signal occurs
using a phase-locked loop.
25. The method of claim 19, further comprising: frequency
converting the first .Iadd.set of .Iaddend.bands of analog spectrum
between a first frequency and a second frequency at the hybrid
expansion unit; and wherein the second frequency is different from
the first frequency.
26. The method of claim 19, wherein the analog reference clock
signal and the .Iadd.first set of .Iaddend.bands of analog spectrum
are transported as a multiplexed signal.
27. The method of claim 19, wherein transporting the first set of
bands of analog spectrum for the at least two wireless services on
an analog medium between the hybrid expansion unit and at least one
remote unit includes: transporting the first set of bands of analog
spectrum to a master analog remote antenna unit; transporting at
least a first subset of the first set of bands of analog spectrum
from the master analog remote antenna unit to a first slave remote
antenna unit; and transporting at least a second subset of the
first set of bands of analog spectrum from the master analog remote
antenna unit to a second slave remote antenna unit.
28. The method of claim 22, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. further comprising: receiving the wireless
spectrum for the at least two wireless services as the digital
signals at the master host unit from at least one service provider
interface.
29. The method of claim 22, wherein .[.generating.]. the external
reference clock external to the master host unit is from at least
one of a base station, a GPS unit, and a cesium atomic clock.
30. The method of claim 27, wherein communicating the wireless
spectrum in analog format at the at least one remote unit includes:
communicating at least a first subset of wireless spectrum
corresponding to the first subset of the first set of bands of
analog spectrum at the first slave remote antenna unit; and
communicating at least a second subset of wireless spectrum
corresponding to the second subset of the first set of bands of
analog spectrum at the second slave remote antenna unit.
31. The method of claim 28, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein generating the digital master
reference clock signal at the master host unit includes deriving
the external reference clock .[.signal.]. .Iadd.external to the
master host unit .Iaddend.from a data stream containing the digital
signals received from the at least one service provider
interface.
32. A communication system, comprising: a master host unit, the
master host unit .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
communicate .[.digital.]. signals with service provider interfaces;
a hybrid expansion unit coupled to the master host unit by a
communication link, the master host unit and the hybrid expansion
unit .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate N-bit
words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum over the
communication link, the hybrid expansion unit further .[.adapted.].
.Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to convert between the N-bit words of
.[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum and a first set of
bands of analog spectrum, a remote antenna unit coupled to the
hybrid expansion unit by an analog communication medium, the hybrid
expansion unit and the remote antenna unit .[.adapted.].
.Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate the first set of bands of
analog spectrum over the analog communication medium, the remote
antenna unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
transmit and receive wireless signals over air interfaces;
.[.wherein the master host unit includes a master clock
distribution unit, the master clock distribution unit adapted to
generate a digital master reference clock signal,.]. the master
host unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
communicate .[.the.]. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.digital master reference
clock signal over the communication link; wherein the hybrid
expansion unit is further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to receive the digital master reference clock signal from
the master host unit over the communication link, the hybrid
expansion unit further .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to
generate an analog reference clock signal based on the digital
master reference clock signal, the hybrid expansion unit further
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to send the analog
reference clock signal across the analog communication medium; and
wherein the remote antenna unit is further .[.adapted.].
.Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to receive the analog reference clock
signal across the analog communication medium.
33. The system of claim 32, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the master host unit is further
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to convert between the
digital signals for the service provider interfaces and the N-bit
words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum by
reformatting digital data between the digital signals and the N-bit
words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum used for
communication across the .[.at least one of the plurality of.].
communication .[.links.]. .Iadd.link .Iaddend.between the master
host unit and the hybrid expansion unit.
34. The system of claim 32, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the master host unit is further
.[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured .Iaddend.to communicate digital data
as is without reformatting between the digital signals and the
N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital .Iaddend.spectrum used
for communication across the .[.at least one of the plurality of.].
communication .[.links.]. .Iadd.link .Iaddend.between the master
host unit and the hybrid expansion unit.
35. The system of claim .[.32.]. .Iadd.42.Iaddend., wherein the
master clock distribution unit is .[.adapted.]. .Iadd.configured
.Iaddend.to generate the digital master reference clock signal
based on an external reference clock external to the master host
unit.
36. The system of claim .[.32.]. .Iadd.35.Iaddend., wherein the
external reference clock external to the master host unit is from
at least one of a base station, a GPS unit, and a cesium atomic
clock.
37. The system of claim 32, wherein the hybrid expansion unit is
further configured to receive the digital master reference clock
signal from the master host unit over the communication link by
extracting the digital master reference clock signal from a data
stream containing the N-bit words of .[.digitized.]. .Iadd.digital
.Iaddend.spectrum.
38. The system of claim 35, wherein the external reference clock
external to the master host unit is from at least one of the
service provider interfaces.
39. The system of claim 38, .Iadd.wherein the signals are digital
signals; and.Iaddend. wherein the master clock distribution unit
derives the external reference clock from a data stream
communicating the digital signals between service provider
interfaces and the master host unit.
.Iadd.40. The system of claim 1, wherein the master host unit
includes a master clock distribution unit, the master clock
distribution unit configured to generate the digital master
reference clock signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.41. The method of claim 19, further comprising: generating
the digital master reference clock signal at the master host
unit..Iaddend.
.Iadd.42. The system of claim 32, wherein the master host unit
includes a master clock distribution unit, the master clock
distribution unit configured to generate the digital master
reference clock signal..Iaddend.
.Iadd.43. The system of claim 1, wherein the signals are analog
signals; and wherein the master host unit is further configured to
interface between the signals for the plurality of service provider
interfaces and N-bit words of digital spectrum for the plurality of
communication links at least in part by being configured to convert
between the analog signals and the N-bit words of digital spectrum
for the plurality of communication links..Iaddend.
.Iadd.44. The method of claim 19, wherein the signals are analog
signals; and wherein interfacing wireless spectrum for the at least
two wireless services at the master host unit between the signals
and N-bit words of digital spectrum includes converting the
wireless spectrum for the at least two wireless services at the
master host unit between the signals and N-bit words of digital
spectrum..Iaddend.
.Iadd.45. The system of claim 32, wherein the signals are analog
signals..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND
Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) are used to distribute wireless
signal coverage into buildings or other substantially closed
environments. For example, a DAS may distribute antennas within a
building. The antennas are typically connected to a radio frequency
(RF) signal source, such as a service provider. Various methods of
transporting the RF signal from the RF signal source to the
antennas have been implemented in the art.
SUMMARY
A communication system includes a master host unit, a hybrid
expansion unit coupled to the master host unit by a communication
link, and a remote antenna unit coupled to the hybrid expansion
unit by an analog communication medium. The master host unit is
adapted to communicate analog signals with service provider
interfaces using a first set of bands of analog spectrum. The
master host unit and the hybrid expansion unit are adapted to
communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum over the
communication link. The hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to
convert between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second
set of bands of analog spectrum. The hybrid expansion unit and the
remote antenna unit are adapted to communicate the second set of
bands of analog spectrum over the analog communication medium. The
remote antenna unit is further adapted to transmit and receive
wireless signals over air interfaces. The master host unit includes
a master clock distribution unit. The master clock distribution
unit is adapted to generate a digital master reference clock
signal. The master host unit is further adapted to communicate the
digital master reference clock signal over the communication link.
The hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to receive the digital
master reference clock signal from the master host unit over the
communication link. The hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to
generate an analog reference clock signal based on the digital
master reference clock signal. The hybrid expansion unit is further
adapted to send the analog reference clock signal across the analog
communication medium. The remote antenna unit is further adapted to
receive the analog reference clock signal across the analog
communication medium.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for
providing wireless coverage into a substantially enclosed
environment.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a master host unit
for the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hybrid expansion
unit for the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an analog remote
antenna cluster for the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a master analog
remote antenna unit for the analog remote antenna unit cluster of
FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a slave analog
remote antenna unit for the analog remote antenna unit cluster of
FIG. 4.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a digital expansion
unit for the system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 is block diagram of one embodiment of a system 100 for
providing wireless coverage into a substantially enclosed
environment. The system 100 includes at least one service provider
interface 102, at least one master host unit (MHU) 104, at least
one hybrid expansion unit (HEU) 106, and at least one analog remote
antenna cluster (ARAC) 108. Specifically, example system 100
includes hybrid expansion unit 106-1 and hybrid expansion unit
106-2 though hybrid expansion unit 106-N. In addition, example
system 100 includes analog remote antenna clusters 108-1 through
108-M, 108-N through 108-P, and 108-Q through 108-R. Example system
100 also includes at least one digital expansion unit (DEU) 110.
Other example systems include greater or fewer service provider
interfaces 102, master host units 104, hybrid expansion units 106,
analog remote antenna clusters 108, and digital expansion units
110.
Service provider interface 102 may include an interface to one or
more of a base transceiver station (BTS), a repeater, a
bi-directional amplifier, a base station hotel or other appropriate
interface for one or more service provider networks. In one
embodiment, service provider interface 102 provides an interface to
a plurality of services from one or more service providers. The
services may operate using various wireless protocols and in
various bands of frequency spectrum. For example, the services may
include, but are not limited to, 800 MHz cellular service, 1.9 GHz
Personal Communication Services (PCS), Specialized Mobile Radio
(SMR) services, Enhanced Special Mobile Radio (ESMR) services at
both 800 MHz and 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz Advanced Wireless
Services (AWS), 700 MHz uC/ABC Single Input Single Output (SISO)
and Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) services, two way paging
services, video services, Public Safety (PS) services at 450 MHz,
900 MHz and 1800 MHz Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM),
2100 MHz Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS),
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), 3rd
Generation Partnership Projects (3GPP) Long Term Evolution (LTE),
or other appropriate communication services.
In system 100, service provider interface 102 is connected to
master host unit 104 over at least one analog communication link
112. Each analog communication link 112 includes two analog
communication media, such as coaxial cables or fiber optic cables.
One analog communication media is for downstream communication and
the other is for upstream communication. The downstream and
upstream analog communication media have been shown as a single
analog communication link 112 for simplicity. In other embodiments,
each analog communication link 112 only includes a single physical
media, which is used to carry both the downlink and uplink streams
between the service provider interface 102 and the master host unit
104.
The master host unit 104 receives downstream bands of radio
frequency (RF) spectrum from the at least one service provider
interface 102 over the at least one analog communication link 112.
In addition, the master host unit 104 sends upstream bands of radio
frequency (RF) spectrum to the at least one service provider
interface 102 over the at least one analog communication link 112.
In other embodiments, the service provider interface 102 and the
master host unit 104 are connected over at least one digital
communication link using at least one digital communication media.
In some embodiments, separate analog communications links 112 are
used for each service provider interface 102. Thus, while this
disclosure describes at least one analog communication link 112,
the format of this interface is not essential to operation of
system 100. If an analog interface is used, the master host unit
104 converts the analog signal to a digital format as described
below. If a digital interface is used, the master host unit 104
will either communicate the digital data as is or reformat the data
into a representation that can be used for transport within the
digital domain 116 described below. In example embodiments using a
single physical medium for each analog communication link 112,
frequency division multiplexing (FDM), time division multiplexing
(TDM), and optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) are used
to achieve a duplex connection over the single medium.
System 100 uses both digital and analog transport to extend the
coverage of the wireless services into the substantially enclosed
environment. First, system 100 uses digital transport over at least
one digital communication link 114 to transport digitized RF
spectrum between the master host unit 104 and the at least one
hybrid expansion unit 106 and between the master host unit 104 and
the at least one digital expansion unit 110. Each digital
communication link 114 includes two digital communication media,
such as fiber optic cables. One digital communication medium is for
downstream communication and the other is for upstream
communication. The downstream and upstream digital communication
media have been shown as a single digital communication link 114
for simplicity. The areas of digital transport are called the
digital domain 116. In other implementations, digital transport can
be used to transport between other components as well and the
digital domain 116 is more expansive. In other embodiments, each
digital communication link 114 only includes a single physical
media, which is used to carry both the downlink and uplink streams
between the master host unit 104 and the at least one digital
expansion unit 110. In example embodiments using a single physical
media for each digital communication link 114, optical multiplexing
techniques (i.e., wavelength division multiplexing (WDM), coarse
wavelength division multiplexing (CWDM), or dense wavelength
division multiplexing (DWDM)) are used to achieve a duplex
connection over the single medium.
While an optical fiber is used in the example system 100, other
appropriate communication media can also be used for the digital
transport. For example, other embodiments use free space optics,
high speed copper or other wired, wireless, or optical
communication media for digital transport instead of the optical
fibers used in each of the at least one digital communication link
114. By using digital transport over the at least one digital
communication link 114, the bands of RF spectrum provided by the
service provider interface 102 can be transported over long
distances with minimal errors and more resiliency and robustness to
signal loss and distortion of the physical medium. Thus, system 100
may extend coverage for wireless services to buildings located
significant distances from the service provider interface 102.
Second, system 100 uses analog transport over at least one analog
communication link 118 between the at least one hybrid expansion
unit 106 and the at least one analog remote antenna cluster 108 to
extend the reach of the digital transport into the substantially
enclosed environment. Each analog communication link 118 includes
two analog communication media, such as coaxial cable. One analog
communication media is for downstream communication and the other
is for upstream communication. The downstream and upstream analog
communication media have been shown as a single analog
communication link 118 for simplicity. While coaxial cable is used
in the example system 100, other appropriate communication media
can also be used for the analog transport. The areas of analog
transport are called the analog domain 120. In other
implementations, analog transport can be used to transport between
other components as well and the analog domain 120 is more
expansive. In other embodiments, each analog communication link 118
only includes a single physical medium, which is used to carry both
the downlink and uplink streams between each hybrid expansion unit
106 and each analog remote antenna cluster 108. In example
embodiments using a single physical medium for each analog
communication link 118, frequency division multiplexing (FDM), time
division multiplexing (TDM), and optical wavelength division
multiplexing (WDM) are used to achieve a duplex connection over the
single medium.
As discussed in further detail below, the various components of
system 100 convert the various bands of RF spectrum between radio
frequencies (RF), various intermediate frequencies (IF), digitized
bands of RF spectrum, and digitized IF. As baseband representations
of the signals can also be used, the invention can be generalized
to convert between analog and digital signals. These various
conversions require that the digital domain 116 and the analog
domain 120 be synchronized in time and frequency. Time
synchronization is important to the sampling and reconstruction of
the signals. Time synchronization is also important when time
alignment of signals in the various parallel branches of the system
is necessary. Frequency synchronization is important to maintaining
the absolute frequency of the signals at the external interfaces of
the system. In order to synchronize the digital domain 116 and the
analog domain 120, a common reference clock is distributed
throughout both the digital domain 116 and the analog domain 120 as
described in detail below. This common clock allows for accurate
conversion and recovery between RF, IF, digitized bands of RF
spectrum, and digitized IF, or more broadly between analog spectrum
and digital spectrum.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one embodiment of the Master host unit
104 of system 100. Master host unit 104 includes at least one
digital-analog conversion unit (DACU) 202, at least one digital
multiplexing unit (DMU) 204, at least one digital input-output unit
(DIOU) 206, at least one central processing unit (CPU) 208, at
least one master clock distribution unit (MCDU) 210, and at least
one power supply 212. In addition, the example master host unit 104
also includes at least one splitter/combiner 214.
The master host unit 104 communicates at least one band of analog
spectrum with the at least one service provider interface 102. In
the example system 100, there are a plurality of service provider
interfaces 102-1, 102-2, 102-3, through 102-N. In addition, there
are a plurality of DACUs 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, through 202-N. Each
DACU 202 is coupled with at least one service provider interface
102. These couplings may be accomplished in various ways. For
example, service provider interface 102-1 is directly coupled to
DACU 202-1 through analog communication link 112-1. In contrast,
service provider interface 102-2 is coupled to a first side of
splitter/combiner 214-1 through analog communication link 112-2,
DACU 202-2 is coupled to a second side of splitter/combiner 214-1
through analog communication link 112-3, and DACU 202-3 is coupled
to the second side of splitter/combiner 214-1 through analog
communication link 112-4. In addition, service provider interface
102-3 is coupled to a first side of splitter/combiner 214-2 through
analog communication link 112-5, service provider interface 102-N
is coupled to the first side of splitter/combiner 214-2 through
analog communication link 112-6, and DACU 202-N is coupled to a
second side of splitter/combiner 214-2 through analog communication
link 112-7. As noted above, each analog communication link 112 of
system 100 represents two analog media, one for downstream
communication and one for upstream communication. In other
embodiments, each link includes greater or fewer analog medium. In
other embodiments, the master host unit communicates at least one
band of digital spectrum with at least one service provider
interface across at least one digital communication link using
digital data or digitized spectrum. In these embodiments, the
signals from the service provider interfaces 102-1, 102-2, 102-3,
through 102-N are first converted from analog to digital before
being transmitted across the at least one digital communication
link to the master host unit 104.
Each DACU 202 operates to convert between at least one band of
analog spectrum and N-bit words of digitized spectrum. In some
embodiments, each DACU 202 is implemented with a Digital/Analog
Radio Transceiver (DART board) commercially available from ADC
Telecommunications, Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn. as part of the
FlexWave.TM. Prism line of products. The DART board is also
described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/627,251, assigned
to ADC Telecommunications, Inc., published in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2008/0181282, and incorporated herein
by reference. In some implementations, this occurs in stages, such
that the analog spectrum is first converted to an IF frequency and
subsequently converted to N-bit words of digitized spectrum. The
bands of analog spectrum include signals in the frequency spectrum
used to transport a wireless service, such as any of the wireless
services described above. In some embodiments, master host unit 104
enables the aggregation and transmission of a plurality of services
to a plurality of buildings or other structures so as to extend the
wireless coverage of multiple services into the structures with a
single platform.
The DMU 204 multiplexes N-bit words of digitized spectrum received
from a plurality of DACU 202 (DACU 202-1 through DACU 202-N) and
outputs at least one multiplexed signal to at least one DIOU 206
(DIOU 206-1 through DIOU 206-N). The DMU 204 also demultiplexes at
least one multiplexed signal received from at least one DIOU 206
and outputs demultiplexed N-bit words of digitized spectrum to a
plurality of DACU 202. In some embodiments, each DMU 204 is
implemented with a Serialized RF (SeRF board) commercially
available from ADC Telecommunications, Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn.
as part of the FlexWave.TM. Prism line of products. The SeRF board
is also described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/627,251,
assigned to ADC Telecommunications, Inc., published in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 2008/0181282, and incorporated herein
by reference.
Each DIOU 206 communicates at least one digitized multiplexed
signal across at least one digital communication link 114 (digital
communication link 114-1 through digital communication link 114-N)
using digital transport. The digitized multiplexed signal
communicated across the digital communication link 114 includes
N-bit words of digitized spectrum. Each DIOU 206 also receives at
least one digitized multiplexed signal from the at least one
digital communication link 114 using digital transport and sends
the at least one digitized multiplexed signal to the DMU 204. In
system 100 shown in FIG. 1, the digital communication link 114-1 is
connected to hybrid expansion unit 106-1 and digital communication
link 114-N is connected to digital expansion unit 110. DIOU 206-1
communicates using digital transport with hybrid expansion unit
106-1 and DIOU 206-N communicates using digital transport with
digital expansion unit 110. As noted above, each digital
communication link 114 represents two digital media, one for
downstream communication and one for upstream communication. In
addition to carrying the digitized multiplexed signals, the digital
communication link 114 is also used to communicate other types of
information such as system management information, control
information, configuration information and telemetry information.
The hybrid expansion unit 106 and digital expansion unit 110 are
described in detail below.
Each DACU 202 and DMU 204 is synchronized with the other components
of master host unit 104 and system 100 generally. Master clock
distribution unit 210 generates a digital master reference clock
signal. This signal is generated using any stable oscillator, such
as a temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO), an oven
controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO), or a voltage controlled
crystal oscillator (VCXO). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the
stable oscillator is included in the master clock distribution unit
210. In other embodiments, a reference clock external to the master
host unit is used, such as a clock from a base station, a GPS unit,
or a cesium atomic clock. In embodiments where digital data is
communicated between service provider interface 102 and master host
unit 104, the master clock distribution unit 210 may derive the
reference clock signal from the digital data stream itself or an
external clock signal may be used.
The digital master reference clock signal is supplied to each DACU
202 and each DMU 204 in the master host unit 104. Each DACU 202
uses the clock to convert between at least one band of analog
spectrum and N-bit words of digitized spectrum. The DMU 204 uses
the clock to multiplex the various streams of N-bit words of
digitized spectrum together and outputs the multiplexed signal to
each DIOU 206. Thus, the downstream digital data streams output by
each DIOU 206 are synchronized to the digital master reference
clock signal. Thus, through the clocking of the downstream digital
data streams, the digital master reference clock signal is
distributed to each hybrid expansion unit 106 and each digital
expansion unit 110 through each corresponding digital communication
link 114.
CPU 208 is used to control each DACU 202 and each DMU 204. An
input/output (I/O) line 216 coupled to CPU 208 is used for network
monitoring and maintenance. Typically, I/O line 216 is an Ethernet
port used for external communication with the system. Other
communication protocols such as Universal Serial Bus (USB), IEEE
1394 (FireWire), and serial may also be used. Power supply 212 is
used to power various components within master host unit 104.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a hybrid expansion
unit 106 of system 100. Hybrid expansion unit 106 of system 100
includes at least one digital input-output unit (DIOU) 302, at
least one digital multiplexing unit (DMU) 304, at least one
digital-analog conversion unit (DACU) 306, at least one analog
multiplexing unit (AMU) 308, at least one central processing unit
(CPU) 310, at least one digital expansion clock unit (DECU) 312, at
least one analog domain reference clock unit (ADRCU) 314, and at
least one power supply 316.
Each hybrid expansion unit 106 communicates at least one band of
digitized spectrum with the master host unit 104 in the form of a
multiplexed digitized signal containing N-bit words of digitized
spectrum. The multiplexed digitized signal is received at the at
least one DIOU 302 through at least one digital communication link
114. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, only one DIOU 302-1 is
necessary if the hybrid expansion unit 106 is only coupled with a
single upstream master host unit 104 (or single upstream digital
expansion unit 110 as described in detail below). DIOU 302-2
through DIOU 302-N are optional. For example, in other embodiments,
hybrid expansion unit 106 has multiple DIOUs 302 (DIOU 302-1
through DIOU 302-N) and is connected to multiple upstream master
host units 104 or digital expansion units 110 through digital
communication links 114. In other embodiments, hybrid expansion
unit 106 is connected to other hybrid expansion units through DIOU
302. In some embodiments including multiple upstream connections,
the hybrid expansion unit 106 selects one DIOU 302 to extract the
clock signal from.
The at least one DIOU 302 communicates the multiplexed digitized
signal containing N-bit words of digitized spectrum to the DMU 304.
The DMU 304 demultiplexes N-bit words of digitized spectrum
received from the at least one DIOU 302 and sends N-bit words of
digitized spectrum to the at least one DACU 306. The at least one
DACU 306 converts the N-bit words of digitized spectrum to at least
one band of analog spectrum. In some embodiments, the at least one
DACU 306 converts the digitized signal back to the original analog
frequency provided by the at least one service provider interface
102. In other embodiments, the at least one DACU 306 converts the
digitized signal to an intermediate frequency (IF) for transport
across the at least one analog communication link 118. In other
embodiments, other components are included in the hybrid expansion
unit 106 that frequency convert at least one band of analog
spectrum output by the DACU 306 into an intermediate frequency for
transport.
Each DACU 306 is coupled with the AMU 308. Each DACU 306 also
converts at least one band of analog spectrum received from the AMU
308 into N-bit words of digitized spectrum. AMU 308 receives
multiple bands of analog spectrum from multiple DACU 306 and
multiplexes the bands of analog spectrum together into at least one
multiplexed analog signal including multiple bands of analog
spectrum. In some embodiments, there are a plurality of multiplexed
analog signals output from the AMU 308. In some embodiments, all of
the bands of analog spectrum from each DACU 306 are included on
each multiplexed signal output by AMU 308. In other embodiments, a
subset of the bands of analog spectrum from a plurality of DACU 306
are multiplexed onto one signal output on one of the at least one
analog communication link 118, while a different subset of bands of
analog spectrum from a plurality of DACU 306 are multiplexed onto
another signal output on another of the at least one analog
communication link 118. In other embodiments, different
combinations of bands of analog spectrum from various DACU 306 are
multiplexed onto various analog communication links 118.
In some embodiments, each DACU 306 converts a band of digitized
spectrum to a different analog frequency from the other DACU 306.
Each band of analog spectrum is pre-assigned to a particular analog
frequency. Then, the AMU 308 multiplexes the various pre-assigned
analog frequencies together, in addition to the analog domain
reference clock and any communication, control, or command signals
and outputs them using at least one analog communication link 118.
In other embodiments, each DACU 306 converts a band of analog
spectrum to the same analog frequency as the other DACU 306. Then,
the AMU 308 shifts the received signals into distinct analog
frequencies and multiplexes them together and outputs them using at
least one analog communication link 118. In the embodiment shown in
FIG. 3, the AMU 308 multiplexes the analog frequencies received
from each DACU 306 onto each analog communication link 118.
In other embodiments, bands of frequency spectrum from certain DACU
306 are selectively distributed to certain analog communication
links 118. In one example embodiment, analog communication link
118-1 is coupled to analog remote antenna cluster 108-1 and only a
first subset of bands of analog spectrum are transported using
analog communication link 118-1. Further, analog communication link
118-2 is coupled to analog remote antenna cluster 108-2 and only a
second subset of bands of analog spectrum are transported using
analog communication link 118-2. In another embodiment, a first
subset of bands of analog spectrum are transported to analog remote
antenna cluster 108-1 using analog communication link 118-2 and a
second subset of bands of analog spectrum are transported to the
same remote cluster 108-1 using analog communication link 118-1. It
is understood that these examples are not limiting and that other
system hierarchies and structures are used in other
embodiments.
Each DMU 304, DACU 306, and AMU 308 is synchronized with the other
components of hybrid expansion unit 106 and system 100 generally.
In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 3, DIOU 302-1 receives the
data stream from a master host unit 104 via a digital communication
link 114 in an optical format. DIOU 302-1 converts the data stream
from the optical format to an electrical format and passes the data
stream onto the DMU 304. The DMU 304 extracts the digital master
reference clock signal from the data stream itself. Because the
data stream was synchronized with the digital master reference
clock signal at the master host unit 104, it can be recovered from
the data stream itself. The extracted digital master reference
clock signal is sent to the digital expansion clock unit 312. Each
DIOU 302 is not required to be synchronized to the other parts of
the hybrid expansion unit unless it performs some type of function
that requires it to be synchronized. In one embodiment, the DIOU
302 performs the extraction of the digital master reference clock
in which case it would be synchronized to the remainder of the
hybrid expansion unit.
The digital expansion clock unit 312 receives the digital master
reference clock signal extracted from the data stream received from
the master host unit 104. The digital expansion clock unit 312
communicates the digital master reference clock signal to various
components of the hybrid expansion unit 106, including the DMU 304
and each DACU 306. Each DMU 304 and DACU 306 uses the digital
master reference clock signal to synchronize itself with the system
100. In other embodiments, the digital expansion clock unit 312
could receive a copy of the data stream from the DMU 304 and
extract the digital master reference clock signal from the data
stream itself. In some embodiments, each DIOU 302 is selectable and
configurable, so that one DIOU 302 can be selected to receive the
digital master reference clock signal and other DIOUs 302 can be
used to send the digital master reference clock signal upstream to
other system components, such as secondary master host units,
digital expansion units, or other hybrid expansion units.
In addition, the digital expansion clock unit 312 distributes the
digital master reference clock signal to the analog domain
reference clock unit 314. The analog domain reference clock unit
314 in turn generates an analog domain reference clock signal based
on the digital master reference clock signal. This analog domain
reference clock signal is used to synchronize analog components in
the hybrid expansion unit 106, such as analog frequency conversion
functions in the AMU 308. In addition, the AMU multiplexes the
analog domain reference clock signal onto the multiplexed signals
sent on each analog communication link 118 to the at least one
analog remote antenna cluster 108.
In the embodiment of hybrid expansion unit 106 shown in FIG. 3, the
analog domain reference clock unit 314 generates the analog domain
reference clock signal by running the digital master reference
clock signal through a phase locked loop circuit. In some
embodiments, the digital master reference clock signal is
approximately 184.32 MHz and the analog domain reference clock
signal is generated as a 30.72 MHz clock based on the 184.32 MHz
digital master reference clock signal. Thus, the 30.72 MHz clock is
multiplexed onto the multiplexed signals sent on each analog
communication link 118 to at least one analog remote antenna
cluster 108.
CPU 310 is used to control each DMU 304 and each DACU 306. An
input/output (I/O) line 318 coupled to CPU 310 is used for network
monitoring and maintenance. Typically, I/O line 318 is an Ethernet
port used for external communication with the system. Power supply
316 is used to power various components within hybrid expansion
unit 106.
In addition to performing the analog frequency conversion functions
described above, the AMU 308 couples power onto the analog
communication link 118. This power is then supplied through the
analog communication link 118 to the downstream remote antenna
cluster 108, including mater remote antenna unit 402 and slave
remote antenna units 404-1 as described below. The power coupled
onto the analog communication link 118 is supplied from the power
supply 316. In the example embodiment shown, 28 volts DC is
received by AMU 308 from the power supply 316 and is coupled to the
analog communication link 118 by AMU 308.
In the embodiments described and depicted in FIGS. 4-6, the term
analog intermediate frequency (IF) spectrum is used to describe the
analog signals transported in the analog domain 120 between the
hybrid expansion units 106 and the analog remote antenna clusters
108. The term analog IF spectrum is used to distinguish the signals
from the analog RF spectrum format that is communicated to the
service provider interface and the mobile devices over the air.
Example system 100 uses analog IF spectrum for transport within the
analog domain 120 that is lower in frequency than the analog RF
spectrum. In other example embodiments, the RF spectrum can be
transmitted at its native frequency within the analog domain 120 or
using an analog IF spectrum that is higher in frequency than the
analog RF spectrum.
FIG. 4 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an analog remote
antenna cluster 108 for system 100. Analog remote antenna cluster
108 includes a master analog remote antenna unit 402 and a
plurality of slave analog remote antenna units 404-1 through 404-N.
In other embodiments, other configurations are used instead of this
master/slave configuration.
In example analog remote antenna cluster 108, the master analog
remote antenna unit 402 is coupled to at least one analog
communication link 118. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the at
least one coaxial cable includes two coaxial cables. A first
coaxial cable is used to transport downstream communication from a
hybrid expansion unit 106 and the analog remote cluster 108,
including the bands of downstream analog spectrum associated with
the service providers. A second coaxial cable is used to transport
upstream communication from the analog remote cluster 108 to the
hybrid expansion unit 106, including the bands of upstream analog
spectrum associated with the service providers. The downstream
analog spectrum and the upstream analog spectrum are transported on
separate coaxial cables in this example embodiment due to bandwidth
limitations of the coaxial cable being used as media. In other
example embodiments, a single analog communication link 118 is used
to transport both the downstream and upstream analog spectrum. In
other example embodiments, the at least one analog communication
link 118 includes greater than two coaxial cables in order to
transport even more bands. In other example embodiments, different
media such as twisted pair (i.e., unshielded twisted pair (UTP) or
screened unshielded twisted pair (ScTP)), CATV fibers, or optical
fibers are used to transport the analog signals instead of coaxial
cables.
In example analog remote antenna cluster 108, the master analog
remote antenna unit 402 coordinates the distribution of various
bands of analog RF spectrum to various slave analog remote antenna
units 404 through analog communication links 406. The master analog
remote antenna unit 402 is discussed in further detail below. In
the example analog remote antenna cluster 108, each slave analog
remote antenna unit 404-1 through 404-N receive at least one band
of analog RF spectrum from the master remote antenna unit. Each
slave analog remote antenna unit 404-1 through 404-N then transmits
and receives the at least one band of analog RF spectrum wirelessly
across an air medium using at least one antenna. The slave analog
remote antenna unit 404 is discussed in further detail below.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a master analog
remote antenna unit 402 from the analog remote antenna cluster 108.
Master analog remote antenna unit 402 includes an analog interface
unit (AIU) 502, an IF signal conditioning unit 504, an IF signal
distribution unit 506, a master remote reference clock 508, a power
supply 510, and a controller 512. Other example embodiments of
master analog remote antenna unit include greater or fewer
components.
The at least one analog communication link 118 is connected to the
master analog remote antenna unit 402 through the AIU 502. One of
the primary functions of the AIU is to handle any type of media
conversion that may be necessary which in some embodiments may
involve impedance transformation. Specifically, in the example
embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the AIU 502 performs impedance
conversion from the 75 ohms of the coaxial cables carrying the
downstream and upstream bands of analog spectrum to the 50 ohms
used within the master analog remote antenna unit 402. The AIU 502
also includes a coupler that is used to extract the DC power
received from the hybrid expansion unit 106 across the at least one
analog communication link 118.
In addition, the analog reference clock signal is extracted from
the signal received from the hybrid expansion unit 106 across the
at least one analog communication link 118. This analog reference
clock signal is sent to the master remote reference clock unit 508.
Any control signals received from the hybrid expansion unit 106
across the at least one analog communication link 118 are also
extracted and sent to the controller 512.
Power supply 510 receives DC power from the AIU 502 and then
generates the necessary DC power for operation of the various
components onboard the master analog remote antenna unit 402. Thus,
master analog remote antenna unit 402 does not need a separate
power source other than the power that is received across the at
least one analog communication link 118. In the example embodiment
shown, 28 volts DC is extracted from the signal received across the
at least one analog communication link 118 by the AIU 502. This 28
volts DC is then used by the power supply 510 to generate 5 volts
DC and 12 volts DC to power the various devices in the master
analog remote antenna unit. In addition, the power received across
the analog communication link 118 is sent by the power supply 510
to the IF signal distribution unit 506 where it is coupled onto the
analog communication links 406 that connect to each slave remote
antenna unit 404 so that each slave remote antenna units 404 can
also derive power from the cable instead of having a separate
external power source. Thus, power for both the master analog
remote antenna unit 402 and each slave analog remote antenna unit
404 is provided by the hybrid expansion unit 106 through the analog
communication links 118 and 406.
As noted above, the AIU 502 extracts the clock signal and supplies
it to the master remote reference clock unit 508. The master remote
reference clock unit 508 refines the original clock signal received
from the hybrid expansion unit 106 across the at least one analog
communication link 118. In example embodiments, the master remote
reference clock unit 508 processes the clock signal through a phase
locked loop to refine the signal. In this way, noise, distortion,
and other undesirable elements are removed from the reference clock
signal. In other embodiments, the clock signal is processed through
a filter to remove adjacent spurious signals. The refined signal
output from the master remote reference clock unit 508 is sent to
the IF signal distribution unit 506, where it is coupled onto the
outputs of the IF signal distribution unit 506 that are connected
to the slave analog remote antenna units 404. In this way, the
master reference clock signal is redistributed by the master analog
remote antenna unit 402 to all the slave analog remote antenna
units 404.
IF signal conditioning unit 504 is configured to remove distortion
in the analog IF signals that traverse the analog communication
link 118. In the example master analog remote antenna unit 402
shown in FIG. 5, IF signal conditioning unit 504 performs cable
equalization for signals sent and received across the at least one
analog communication link 118. The at least one analog
communication link 118 is generally quite long, causing the gain to
vary as a function of frequency. IF signal conditioning unit 504
adjusts for gain at various frequencies to equalize the gain
profile. IF signal conditioning unit 504 also performs filtering of
the analog IF signals to remove adjacent interferers or spurious
signals before the signals are propagated further through the
system 100.
Controller 512 receives control signals from the AIU 502 that are
received from hybrid expansion unit 106 across the at least one
analog communication link 118. Controller 512 performs control
management, monitoring, and can configure parameters for the
various components of the master analog remote antenna unit 402. In
the example master analog remote antenna unit 402, the controller
512 also drives the cable equalization algorithm.
IF signal distribution unit 506 is used to distribute the signals
processed by the IF signal conditioning unit 504 to various slave
analog remote antenna units 404 across analog communication links
406-1 through 406-N. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 5, two
bands are sent across each analog communication link 406 at two
different analog IF frequencies. As noted above, the IF signal
distribution unit 506 is also used to couple the DC power, the
analog reference clock, and any other communication signals from
the master analog remote antenna unit 402 onto analog communication
link 406. The IF signal conditioning occurs at the IF signal
conditioning unit 504 before the various analog signals are
distributed at the IF signal distribution unit 506 in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 5. In other embodiments, the IF signal
conditioning could be done after the distribution of the analog
signals.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a slave analog
remote antenna unit 404 for the analog remote antenna unit cluster
108. The slave analog remote antenna unit 404 includes an analog
interface unit (AIU) 602, an IF signal conditioning unit 604, a
splitter/combiner 606, a plurality of IF conditioners 608, a
plurality of frequency converters 610, a plurality of RF
conditioners 612, a plurality of RF duplexers 614, and a RF
diplexer 616. While the slave analog remote antenna unit 404 is
described as a separate component, in some example embodiments, a
slave analog remote antenna unit 404 is integrated with a master
analog remote antenna unit 402.
The AIU 602 is connected to the analog communication link 406. The
AIU 602 includes a coupler that is used to extract the DC power
received from the master analog remote antenna unit 402 across the
analog communication link 406. The AIU 602 passes the extracted DC
power to the power supply 620. The power supply 620 in turn powers
the various components of the slave analog remote antenna unit 404.
The AIU 602 also extracts control signals received from the master
analog remote antenna unit 402 across the analog communication link
406. The control signals are sent by the AIU 602 to the controller
618. The controller 618 uses the control signals to control various
components of the slave analog remote antenna unit 404. In
particular, the control signals are used by the controller 618 to
control the gain in the IF signal conditioning unit 604.
Adjustments may be made based on temperature changes and other
dynamic factors. The control signals are also used for the
configuration of the subsequent frequency conversion 610 and signal
conditioning functions 608 and 612.
The AIU 602 also extracts the analog reference clock and sends it
to the slave remote reference clock unit 622. In the embodiment
shown in FIG. 6, the slave remote reference clock unit 622 refines
the reference clock signal using a band pass filter. In other
embodiments, the reference clock signal drives a phase locked loop
to generate a refined reference clock signal. The slave remote
reference clock unit 622 distributes the refined reference clock
signal to the local oscillator generator 624, which generates local
oscillator signals for the mixers used for frequency conversion.
The local oscillator signals are generated using a phase locked
loop. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the local oscillator
generator 624 generates four local oscillator frequencies for each
of the carrier signals of a first and second band. A first local
oscillator frequency is used for downlink data in a first band and
a second local oscillator frequency is used for the uplink data in
the first band. A third local oscillator frequency is used for the
downlink data in a second band and a fourth local oscillator
frequency is used for the uplink data in the second band. In other
example embodiments, greater or fewer bands are used and greater or
fewer local oscillator signals are created by the local oscillator
generator 624. For example, some embodiments may require diversity,
so that two uplinks are needed for each downlink and three local
oscillators would need to be generated for each band. In example
embodiments, the AIU 602 is also used to impedance convert between
the signal received on the analog communication link 406 and the
signal processed by various components of the slave analog remote
antenna unit 404.
Various analog spectrum received across the analog communication
link 406 by the AIU 602 is passed to the IF signal conditioning
unit 604. The IF signal conditioning unit 604 filters out noise,
distortion, and other undesirable elements of the signal using
amplification and filtering techniques. The IF signal conditioning
unit passes the analog spectrum to the splitter/combiner 606, where
the various bands are split out of the signal in the downlink and
combined together in the uplink. In the downstream, a first band is
split out and passed to the IF conditioner 608-1 and a second band
is split out and passed to the IF conditioner 608-2. In the
upstream, a first band is received from the IF conditioner 608-1, a
second band is received from the IF conditioner 608-2, and the two
upstream bands are combined by the splitter/combiner 606.
In the downstream for band A, IF conditioner 608-1 passes the IF
signal for band A to the frequency converter 610-1. The frequency
converter 610-1 receives a downstream mixing frequency for band A
from local oscillator generator 624. The frequency converter 610-1
uses the downstream mixing frequency for band A to convert the
downstream IF signal for band A to a downstream RF signal for band
A. The downstream RF signal for band A is passed onto the RF
conditioner 612-1, which performs RF gain adjustment and filtering
on the downstream RF signal for band A. The RF conditioner 612-1
passes the downstream RF signal for band A to the RF duplexer
614-1, where the downstream RF signal for band A is combined onto
the same medium with an upstream RF signal for band A. Finally, the
RF diplexer 616 combines band A and band B together. Thus, both
band A and band B are transmitted and received across an air medium
using a single antenna 626. In other embodiments, multiple antennas
are used. In one specific embodiment, the RF diplexer 616 is not
necessary because band A and band B are transmitted and received
using independent antennas. In other embodiments, the downstream
signals are transmitted from one antenna and the upstream signals
are received from another antenna. In embodiments with these types
of alternative antenna configurations, the requirements and design
of the RF duplexers 614 and the RF diplexers 616 will vary to meet
the requirements of the antenna configuration.
In the downstream for band B, IF conditioner 608-2 passes the IF
signal for band B to the frequency converter 610-2. The frequency
converter 610-2 receives a downstream mixing frequency for band B
from local oscillator generator 624. The frequency converter 610-2
uses the downstream mixing frequency for band B to convert the
downstream IF signal for band B to a downstream RF signal for band
B. The downstream RF signal for band B is passed onto the RF
conditioner 612-2, which performs more RF adjustment and filtering
on the downstream RF signal for band B. The RF conditioner 612-2
passes the downstream RF signal for band B to the RF duplexer
614-2, where the downstream RF signal for band B is combined onto
the same medium with an upstream RF signal for band B. Finally, the
RF diplexer 616 combines band A and band B together as described
above, such that both band A and band B are transmitted and
received across an air medium using antenna 626.
In the upstream, antenna 626 receives the RF signal for both band A
and band B and passes both onto RF diplexer 616 which separates
band A from band B. Then, band A is passed to RF duplexer 614-1,
where the upstream RF and downstream RF signals for band A are
separated onto different signal lines. The upstream RF signal for
band A is then passed to the RF conditioner 612-1, which performs
gain adjustment and filtering on the upstream RF signal for band A.
Finally, the upstream RF signal for band A is passed to frequency
converter 610-1, which frequency converts the upstream RF signal
for band A into an upstream IF signal for band A using an upstream
mixing frequency generated by the local oscillator generator
624.
In addition, band B is passed from the RF diplexer 616 to the RF
duplexer 614-2, where the upstream RF and downstream RF signals for
band B are separated onto different signal lines. The upstream RF
signal for band B is then passed to the RF conditioner 612-1, which
performs gain adjustment and filtering on the upstream RF signal
for band B. Finally, the upstream RF signal for band B is passed to
frequency converter 610-2, which frequency converts the upstream RF
signal for band B into an upstream IF signal for band B using an
upstream mixing frequency generated by the local oscillator
generator 624.
In embodiments where the functions of the master remote antenna
unit 402 and the slave remote antenna unit 404-1 are integrated
into the same physical package, as depicted in FIG. 4, some of the
redundant functions in the master remote antenna unit 402 and the
slave remote antenna unit 404-1 may be removed. For example, the
two units may share the same controller and power supply. The slave
remote reference clock 622 may not be required as the signal from
the master remote reference clock unit 508 could be routed directly
to the local oscillator generator 624.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a digital expansion
unit 110 of system 100. Digital expansion unit 110 includes at
least one digital input-output unit (DIOU) 702, at least one
digital multiplexing unit (DMU) 704, at least one digital
input-output unit (DIOU) 706, at least one central processing unit
(CPU) 708, at least one digital expansion clock unit 710, and at
least one power supply 712.
The digital expansion unit 110 communicates N-bit words of
digitized spectrum between the master host unit 104 and at least
one hybrid expansion unit 106. Each DIOU 702 (DIOU 702-1 through
DIOU 702-N) of the digital expansion unit 110 operates to convert
between optical signals received across a digital communication
link 114 and electrical signals processed within the digital
expansion unit 110. In the downstream, the converted signals are
passed from each DIOU 702 to the DMU 704, where they are
multiplexed together and output to at least one DIOU 706 which
converts the electrical signals to optical signals and outputs the
optical signals to at least one hybrid expansion unit or another
digital expansion unit for further distribution. In the upstream,
each DIOU 706 converts optical signals received from a downstream
hybrid expansion unit or digital expansion unit into electrical
signals, which are passed onto the DMU 704. The DMU 704 takes the
upstream signals and multiplexes them together and outputs them to
at least one DIOU 702, which converts the electrical signals into
optical signals and sends the optical signals across a digital
communication link 114 toward the master host unit. In other
embodiments, multiple digital expansion units are daisy chained for
expansion in the digital domain.
In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the CPU 708 is used to
control each DMU 704. An input/output (I/O) line 714 coupled to CPU
708 is used for network monitoring and maintenance. Typically, I/O
line 714 is an Ethernet port used for external communication with
the system. The DMU 704 extracts the digital master reference clock
signal from any one digital data stream received at any one of the
DIOU 702 and DIOU 706 and sends the digital master reference clock
signal to the digital expansion clock unit 710. The digital
expansion clock unit 710 then provides the digital master reference
clock signal to other functions in the DMU that require a clock
signal. Power supply 712 is used to power various components within
digital expansion unit 110.
* * * * *
References