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UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`FILING or
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`TOT CLAIMS IND CLAIMS
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`62508/809556
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`CONFIRMATION NO.1552
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`FILING RECEIPT
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`07/11/2011
`61/506,363
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`10881
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`Date Mailed: 07/26/2011
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`Receipt is acknowledged of this provisional patent application. It will not be examined for patentability and will
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`Applicant( s)
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`Thomas Kummetz, Forest, VA;
`
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`Matthew Thomas Melester, McKinney, TX;
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`Stefan Eisenwinter, Buchdorf, DE;
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`Morgan C. Kurk, Sachse, TX;
`Power of Attorney:
`Jason Gardner--58180
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`07/19/2011
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`is US 61 /506,363
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`Early Publication Request:
`Title
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`publication not eligible for pre-grant Projected Publication Date: None, application is
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`Intelligent Point of Interface for Distributed Antenna Systems
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`PROTECTING YOUR INVENTION OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
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`of patent applications on the same invention in member countries, but does not result in a grant of "an international
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`PTO/SB/16 (12-08)
`Approved for use through 09/30/2010. OMB 0651-0032
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION FOR PATENT COVER SHEET - Page 1 of 2
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`Express Mail Label No~·~VI"'-=A"-=EF~S"-'"W~E~B'""-"-'(O~n~h~·n~e).__~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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`Given Name (first and middle [if any])
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`INVENTOR(S)
`Family Name or Surname
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`Residence
`ICitv and either State or Foreian Countrvl
`
`Thomas
`
`Matthew Thomas
`
`Stefan
`
`MorganC.
`
`Kummetz
`
`Me lester
`
`Eisenwinter
`
`Kurk
`
`Forest, VA
`
`McKinney, TX
`
`Buchdorf, DE
`
`Sachse, TX
`
`Additional inventors are being named on the
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`separately numbered sheets attached hereto
`TITLE OF THE INVENTION (500 characters max):
`INTELLIGENT POINT OF INTERFACE FOR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS
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`Direct all correspondence to:
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`us2008 2694
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`PROVISIONAL APPL/CATION COVER SHEET
`Page 2of 2
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`PTO/SB/16 (12-08)
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`The invention was made by an agency of the United States Government or under a contract with an agency of the United States Government.
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`SIGNATURE /Jason D. Gardner 58180/
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`Date
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`July 11, 2011
`
`TYPED or PRINTED NAME
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`Jason D. Gardner
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`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-
`
`REGISTRATION NO. _58--',_18_0 _ _ _ _ _
`(if appropriate)
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`TELEPHONE 404-815-6500
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`Docket Number: 62508/809556
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`US2008 2694346.l
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`US2008 2694346.l
`
`

`

`INTELLIGENT POINT OF INTERFACE FOR DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEMS
`
`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`Brief Description of the Drawings
`
`[0001]
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`Figure 1 is a schematic view of a distributed antenna system having an
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`intelligent point of interface (i-POI) according to one embodiment.
`
`[0002]
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`Figure 2 is a block diagram of an i-POI system with an interface section,
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`an output section, and a backplane according to one embodiment.
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`[0003]
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`Figures 3A and 38 are modeling diagrams of various configurations of an
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`i-POI system providing sectors to coverage zones according to one embodiment.
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`[0004]
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`Figure 4 is a block diagram of interconnected i-POI systems according to
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`one embodiment.
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`[0005]
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`Figure 5 is a block diagram of an i-POI system configured to communicate
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`with other i-POI systems according to one embodiment.
`
`1
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`Detailed Description
`
`[0006]
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`Certain aspects and embodiments are directed to an intelligent point of
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`interface ("i-POI") system that can be disposed in a distributed antenna system (DAS)
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`and that can redistribute capacity among coverage zones serviced by the DAS. A DAS
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`can include a unit, such as an i-POI system, in communication with carrier systems,
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`such as base stations of cellular service providers. The i-POI system can provide one
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`or more signals, such as analog RF signals or digitized RF signals, over a serial link to
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`the remote antennas in the coverage zone. An example of an i-POI system is an
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`intelligent base transceiver station ("BTS") router.
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`[0007]
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`A coverage zone can include one or more remote antennas that provide
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`signal coverage to an area. The remote antennas in a coverage zone can communicate
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`with the i-POI system over a serial link.
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`The remote antennas can wirelessly
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`communicate the signals from the i-POI system to wireless devices positioned in a
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`coverage zone.
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`[0008]
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`The i-POI system can redistribute capacity by changing which sectors are
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`provided
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`to which coverage zones.
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`A sector can
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`represent an amount of
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`telecommunication capacity that can be allocated to wireless devices in one or more
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`coverage zones.
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`Increasing the bandwidth associated with a sector can increase the
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`capacity represented by the sector. A sector can include one or more analog RF
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`channels or digital signals representing RF channels, signals in one or more analog or
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`digital RF bands, and/or one or more multiple-input and multiple-output ("MIMO") data
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`streams.
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`2
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`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`[0009]
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`The signals of a sector can be provided to a coverage zone via the i-POI
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`system. The signals of a sector can also be divided among two or more coverage
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`zones providing coverage to a physical area. All of the signals of a sector can be
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`radiated by the remote antennas of one or more coverage zones included in a physical
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`area.
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`[001 O]
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`Increasing the number of coverage zones to which a sector is distributed
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`can decrease the capacity density of each coverage zone. The capacity density of a
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`coverage zone can include the number of sectors distributed to the coverage zone.
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`If
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`more wireless devices are concentrated in a first coverage zone than are concentrated
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`in a second coverage zone, the i-POI system can shift capacity from the second
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`coverage zone to the first coverage zone. The i-POI can shift capacity by reducing the
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`number of coverage zones to which a sector is distributed. By distributing the sector to
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`fewer coverage zones (and thus a smaller physical area), the capacity density (i.e., the
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`capacity per physical area) is increased. The number of coverage zones to which an i-
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`POI system distributes sectors can be greater than or equal to the number of sectors
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`distributed by the i-POI system.
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`[0011]
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`Sectors from base stations associated with different telecommunications
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`system operators can be distributed to one or more common coverage zones. The i-
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`POI system can allocate the respective capacities of different telecommunications
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`system operators among coverage zones such that different capacity densities are
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`associated with different telecommunication system operators within a specific coverage
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`zone. For example, four sectors of a first telecommunication system operator may be
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`distributed among six coverage zones and two sectors of a second telecommunication
`
`3
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`system operator may be distributed among the same six coverage zones. The capacity
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`density for the first telecommunication system operator thus exceeds the capacity
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`density for the second telecommunication system operator in the same physical area
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`including the six coverage zones.
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`[0012]
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`An i-POI system can include donor interface cards, a backplane, and zone
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`interface cards. A donor interface card interfaces with a base station and can provide
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`digital data streams representing the signals of a sector to the backplane. The
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`backplane can route digital signals from donor cards to one or more zone interface
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`cards. The i-POI system can provide signals of a sector via the zone interface card to
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`one or more remote antennas in a coverage zone.
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`[0013]
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`An i-POI system can also determine the location of a specific wireless
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`device within the environment of the DAS. The i-POI system can communicate with a
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`base station to determine an identifier for the specific wireless device. The i-POI
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`system can then determine a channel over which the specific wireless device is
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`communicating. A channel can include a connection, such as a transmit and receive
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`frequency, over which a wireless device and a base station communicate via the DAS.
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`The i-POI system can determine a coverage zone to which the channel is being
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`provided and which remote antenna in a coverage zone is associated with the wireless
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`device. The i-POI system can determine which remote antenna is associated with the
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`wireless device by determining the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of an uplink
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`signal from the wireless device at each remote antenna. The remote antenna
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`associated with the wireless device receives the uplink signal at the strongest RSSI.
`
`The i-POI system can access a data file that includes the location of each remote
`
`4
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`antenna to determine, based on which remote antenna is communicating with the
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`wireless device, the location of the wireless device.
`
`[0014]
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`An i-POI system can also include a separate copper or optical interface
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`card
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`for connecting
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`the
`
`i-POI system
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`to another
`
`i-POI system
`
`in
`
`the DAS.
`
`Interconnecting multiple i-POI systems can increase the number of coverage zones
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`supported by a sector.
`
`[0015]
`
`Detailed descriptions of these embodiments are discussed below. These
`
`illustrative examples are given to introduce the reader to the general subject matter
`
`discussed here and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosed concepts. The
`
`following sections describe various additional embodiments and examples with
`
`reference to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like elements, and directional
`
`descriptions are used to describe the illustrative embodiments but, like the illustrative
`
`embodiments, should not be used to limit the present invention.
`
`[0016]
`
`Figure 1 depicts a DAS 10 having an i-POI system 14 in communication
`
`with the base stations 12a-n and with the remote antennas 18a-p of coverage zones
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`16a-f. The DAS 10 can be positioned in an area, such as a stadium or office building, to
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`extend wireless communication coverage of the base stations 12a-n. Different base
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`stations 12a-n can be associated with different sectors of one telecommunication
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`system operator and/or be associated with different telecommunication system
`
`operators.
`
`[0017]
`
`In the downlink direction, the DAS 10 can receive signals from the base
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`stations 12a-n via a wired or wireless communication medium. Downlink signals can
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`include signals provided from the base stations 12a-n and radiated into the coverage
`
`5
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`zones 16a-f by the remote antennas 18a-p. The downlink signals received by the i-POI
`
`system 14 can be associated with one or more sectors from the base stations 12a-n.
`
`[0018]
`
`The i-POI system 14 can communicate sectors between the base stations
`
`12a-n and the coverage zones 16a-f. Each of the coverage zones 16a-f can
`
`correspond to a physical area within the environment of the DAS 10. The DAS 10 can
`
`distribute a sector to a single physical area that includes multiple coverage zones. The
`
`remote antennas in the coverage zones of the physical area can radiate the signals of
`
`the sector distributed to the physical area.
`
`[0019]
`
`The i-POI system 14 can include circuitry for processing the signals
`
`communicated between the base stations 12a-n and the coverage zones 16a-f.
`
`Processing the signals can include transforming the signals received from the base
`
`stations 12a-n into a digital format. Processing the signals can also include filtering
`
`downlink signals from the base stations 12a-n.
`
`[0020]
`
`The i-POI system 14 can also include circuitry for routing signals from the
`
`base stations 12a-n to the remote antennas 16a-f. Routing the signals can include
`
`combining the signals of the sectors from one or more base stations 12a-n.
`
`In some
`
`embodiments,
`
`the
`
`i-POI system 14 can combine signals from multiple sectors
`
`associated with a common telecommunication system operator if the signals are
`
`associated with different frequency bands or different non-overlapping segments of the
`
`same RF band. Routing the signals can also include transforming the signals into a
`
`format used by the remote antennas (e.g., analog RF signals), and providing the
`
`combined signals to the remote antennas for specific coverage zones.
`
`6
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`[0021]
`
`In some embodiments, the i-POI system 14 can communicate with both
`
`the base stations 12a-n and the remote antennas 18a-p using analog RF signals. The i-
`
`POI system 14 can transform analog RF signals from the base stations 12a-n into digital
`
`signals for processing, such as by routing the digital signals and combining the digital
`
`signals together. The i-POI system can transform the digital signals into analog RF
`
`signals before providing the signals to the remote antennas 18a-p.
`
`[0022]
`
`In other embodiments, the i-POI system 14 can communicate digital
`
`signals with the base stations 12a-n and communicate analog RF signals with the
`
`remote antennas 18a-p. Processing signals from the base stations 12a-n can include
`
`converting signals in one digital format used by the base stations 12a-n into a different
`
`digital format used by the i-POI system 14. For example, the i-POI system 14 may
`
`convert digital signals in different standardized formats, such as Common Public Radio
`
`Interface ("CPRI") or Open Radio Equipment Interface ("ORI"), to a common digital
`
`format to process the signals.
`
`[0023]
`
`In other embodiments, the i-POI system 14 can communicate digital
`
`signals with remote antenna units associated with remote antennas 18a-p. Processing
`
`signals from the base stations 12a-n can include converting signals in one digital format
`
`used by the base stations 12a-n into a different digital format used by the remote
`
`antenna units.
`
`[0024]
`
`For example, an i-POI system 14 communicating with remote antenna
`
`units may receive downlink signals that are digital signals in different standardized
`
`formats from the base stations 12a-n. The i-POI system 14 can convert the downlink
`
`signals to digital data streams in a common format and combine the digital data streams
`
`7
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`into a combined digital data stream. The i-POI system 14 can provide the combined
`
`digital data stream to the remote antenna units. Sectors provided as MIMO data
`
`streams, for example, can be combined with other digital data streams and provided to
`
`a common remote antenna unit. The remote antenna units can de-multiplex the
`
`combined digital data stream into digital data streams representing individual downlink
`
`signals. The remote antenna units can convert the digital data streams signals to
`
`downlink analog RF signals and radiate the downlink analog RF signals to the wireless
`
`devices. For each downlink signal, the i-POI system 14 can receive a reference clock
`
`signal from the base station at which the downlink signal originated. The i-POI system
`
`can use the reference clock signal to synchronize the remote antenna units radiating a
`
`downlink signal with the base station providing the downlink signal.
`
`[0025]
`
`In other embodiments, the i-POI system 14 can receive downlink signals
`
`that are analog signals from base stations 12a-n. The analog signals can include MIMO
`
`signals as streams, or more than one sector of the same operator in the same band
`
`segment of the same RF band. At least one of the signals, which may be a second
`
`stream of a MIMO signal or a second sector, can be translated in frequency in the i-POI
`
`system 14, and transported over the same communication link as a first signal. A
`
`remote antenna may be associated with circuitry that can translate the second stream of
`
`the MIMO signal or the second sector back to an original frequency. If the signal is the
`
`second MIMO stream, the signal can be radiated with the other streams on the same
`
`antenna element.
`
`If the signal is the second sector, the signal can be radiated by a
`
`separate antenna element. A reference clock signal can be provided by the i-POI
`
`8
`
`

`

`PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION
`Attorney Docket 62508/809556 (2355)
`
`system 14 to the DAS to allow the circuitry associated with the remote antenna to be
`
`synchronized in frequency with the first conversion of the signal.
`
`[0026]
`
`The coverage zones 16a-f can include the areas to which the DAS 10
`
`extends signal coverage of the base stations 12a-n. For example, if the DAS 10 is
`
`positioned in a stadium, the coverage zones 16a-f may correspond to different sections
`
`of the stadium and the parking lot surrounding the stadium.
`
`In another example, if the
`
`DAS 10 is positioned in an office building, each of the coverage zones 16a-f may
`
`correspond to a different floor of the building.
`
`[0027]
`
`Each of the coverage zones 16a-f can each include one or more remote
`
`antennas 18a-p. The remote antennas 18a-p can service a number of different wireless
`
`devices, such as cellular phones, operating in the environment of the DAS 10. The
`
`remote antennas of a particular coverage zone can receive the same group of signals
`
`from the i-POI system 14. The remote antennas in the coverage zone can radiate the
`
`group of signals, such as a sector, received from the i-POI system 14 to the coverage
`
`zone. The remote antennas 18a-p can communicate with the i-POI system 14 via any
`
`communication medium capable of carrying signals between the i-POI system 14 and
`
`the remote antennas 18a-p. Examples of a suitable communication medium include
`
`copper wire (such as a coaxial cable), optical fiber, and microwave or optical

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