IN THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
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`DW-1023P
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`PROVISIONAL APPLICATION
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`FOR
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`UNITED STATES PATENT
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`FOR
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`5
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`REMOTELY RECONFIGURABLE DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA SYSTEM AND
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`METHODS
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`INVENTORS
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`Paul LEMSON, Woodinville, Washington, Citizen of the United States
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`ShawnPatrick STAPLETON, Burnaby, British Columbia, Citizen of Canada
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`Sasa TRAJKOVIC, Burnaby, British Columbia, Citizen of Canada
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`Albert S. LEE, San Mateo, California, Citizen of the United States
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`20
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`25
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`SPECIFICATION
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`RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`[001]
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`This is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of U.S. patent
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`application S.N. 12/767,669, entitled “Remotely Reconfigurable Power Amplifier
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`System and Method,” filed April 26, 2010, and through its U.S. Pat. Appn. S.N.
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`US61/172,642, filed on April 24, 2009, and further claims the benefit of U.S.
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`Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled “Neutral Host Architecture for a
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`Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17, 2010, all of which are hereby
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`incorporated by referencein their entirety for all purposes, and attached hereto
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`as Appendices.
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`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
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`[002]
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`The present invention generally relates to wireless communication
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`systems employing Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) as part of a distributed
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`wireless network. More specifically, the present invention relates to a DAS
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`utilizing software defined radio (SDR).
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`[003] Wireless and mobile network operators face the continuing challenge
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`of building networks that effectively manage high data-traffic growth rates.
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`Mobility and an increased level of multimedia content for end users requires
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`end-to-end network adaptations that support both new services and the
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`increased demand for broadband andflat-rate Internet access. One of the most
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`difficult challenges faced by network operators is caused by the physical
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`movementof subscribers from one location to another, and particularly when
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`wireless subscribers congregate in large numbers at one location. A notable
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`example is a business enterprise facility during lunchtime, when a large number
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`of wireless subscribers visit a cafeteria location in the building. At that time, a
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`large number of subscribers have moved away from their offices and usual work
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`areas.
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`It’s likely that during lunchtime there are manylocations throughout the
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`facility where there are very few subscribers.
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`If the indoor wireless network
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`resources were properly sized during the design process for subscriber loading
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`as it is during normal working hours when subscribers are in their normal work
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`areas, it is very likely that the lunchtime scenario will present some unexpected
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`challenges with regard to available wireless capacity and data throughput.
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`[004]
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`To accommodatethis variation in subscriber loading, there are several
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`candidate prior art approaches.
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`[005]
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`One approachis to deploy many low-power high-capacity base
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`stations throughout the facility. The quantity of base stations is determined
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`based on the coverage of each base station and the total space to be covered.
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`Eachof these base stations is provisioned with enough radio resources, i.e.,
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`capacity and broadband data throughput to accommodate the maximum
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`subscriber loading which occurs during the course of the workday and work
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`week. Although this approachtypically yields a high quality of service, the
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`notable disadvantage of this approachis that during a major part of the time
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`manyof the base stations’ capacity is being wasted. Since a typical indoor
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`wireless network deployment
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`involves capital and operational costs which are
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`assessed on a per-subscriber basis for each base station, the typically high total
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`life cycle cost for a given enterprise facility is far from optimal.
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`[006]
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`A second candidate approach involves deployment of a DAS along
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`with a centralized group of base stations dedicated to the DAS. A conventional
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`DAS deploymentfalls into one of two categories. The first type of DASis “fixed”,
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`where the system configuration doesn’t change based on time of day or other
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`information about usage. The remote units associated with the DAS are set up
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`during the design processso that a particular block of base station radio
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`resources is thought to be enough to serve each small group of DAS remote
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`units. A notable disadvantage of this approachis that most enterprises seem to
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`undergo frequent re-arrangements and re-organizations of various groups within
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`the enterprise. Therefore, it’s highly likely that the initial setup will need to be
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`changedfrom time to time, requiring deployment of additional staff and contract
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`resources with appropriate levels of expertise regarding wireless networks.
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`[007]
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`Thesecond type of DAS is equipped with a type of network switch
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`which allows the location and quantity of DAS remote units associated with any
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`particular centralized base station to be changed manually. Although this
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`approach would seem to allow dynamic reconfiguration based on the needs of
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`the enterprise or based on time of day, it frequently requires deployment of
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`additional staff resources for real-time managementof the network. Another
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`issue is that it’s not always correct or best to make the same DAS remoteunit
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`configuration changes back and forth on each day of the week at the same times
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`of day. Frequentlyit is difficult or impractical for an enterprise IT managerto
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`monitor the subscriber loading on each base station. Andit is almost certain
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`that the enterprise IT manager has nopractical way to determine the loading at
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`a given time of day for each DAS remote unit; they can only guess.
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`[008]
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`Another majorlimitation of prior art DAS deploymentsis related to
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`their installation, commissioning and optimization process. Some challenging
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`issues which must be overcome include selecting remote unit antenna locations
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`to ensure proper coverage while minimizing downlink interference from outdoor
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`macro cell sites, minimizing uplink interference to outdoor macro cell sites, and
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`ensuring proper intra-system handovers while indoors and while moving from
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`outdoors to indoors (and vice-versa). The process of performing such
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`deployment optimization is frequently characterized as trial-and-error and as
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`such, the results may not be consistent with a high quality of service.
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`[009]
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`A majorlimitation of prior art DAS equipment employing digital
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`transmission links such asoptical fiber or wired Ethernet is the fact that the prior-
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`art RF-to-digital conversion techniquesutilize an approach whereby the system
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`converts a single broad RF bandwidth of e.g., 10 to 25 MHz to digital. Therefore
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`all the signals, whether weakor strong, desired or undesired, contained within
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`that broad bandwidth are converted to digital, whether those signals are desired
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`or not. This approach frequently leads to inefficiencies within the DAS which
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`limit the DAS network capacity.
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`It would be preferable to employ an alternative
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`approach yielding greater efficiencies and improved flexibility, particularly for
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`neutral host applications.
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`[0010]
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`In 2008 the FCC furtherclarified its E-911 requirements with regard to
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`Phase 2 accuracy for mobile wireless networks. The information required in
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`Phase 2 is the mobile phone number and the physical location, within a few
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`dozen yards, from which the call was made. The Canadian governmentis
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`reportedly considering enacting similar requirements. Also the FCC is eager to
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`see US mobile network operators provide positioning services with enhanced
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`accuracy for E-911 for indoor subscribers. There is a reported effort within the
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`FCC to try to mandate Phase 2 accuracy indoors, within the next 2 years.
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`[0011] Many wireless networks employ mobile and fixed broadband wireless
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`terminals which employ GPS-based E-911 location services.
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`It has been
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`demonstrated that GPS signals from satellites outdoors don’t propagate well into
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`the indoor space. Therefore an alternative, more robust E-911 location
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`determination approachis required for indoors, particularly if the FCC
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`requirements are changed to be more stringent.
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`[0012] Several US operators have expressed concern about how they can
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`practically and cost-effectively obtain these enhanced location accuracy
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`capabilities. Operators are very eager to identify a cost-effective approach
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`which can be deployed indoors for enhanced location accuracy.
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`[0013] One proposed approach toward indoorlocation accuracy
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`enhancement for CDMA networks would employ a separate unit known as a
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`CDMAPilot Beacon. A notable disadvantage of this approach for an indoor
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`DASapplication is that since the CDMAPilot Beacon unit is a separate and
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`dedicated device and not integrated within the DAS, it would likely be costly to
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`deploy. The Pilot Beacon approach for CDMA networks employs a Pilot Beacon
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`with a unique PN code (in that area) whicheffectively divides a particular CDMA
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`network coverage area (e.g., indoors) into multiple small zones (which each
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`correspond to the coverage area of a low-power Pilot Beacon). Each Pilot
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`Beacon’s location, PN code and RF Power level are known by the network.
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`Each Pilot Beacon must be synchronized to the CDMA network, via GPSor local
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`basestation connection. A variable delay setting permits each Pilot Beacon to
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`have the appropriate system timing to permit triangulation and/or Cell ID position
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`determination. One optional but potentially costly enhancementto this approach
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`would employ a Wireless Modem for each Pilot Beacon to provide remote
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`Alarms, Control and Monitoring of each CDMAPilot Beacon. No knownsolution
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`for indoor location accuracy enhancement has been publicly proposed for
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`WCDMAnetworks.
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`[0014] One candidate technically-proven approach toward indoor location
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`accuracy enhancement for GSM networks would employ a separate unit known
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`as a Location Measurement Unit or LMU. A notable disadvantage ofthis
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`approachfor an indoor DAS application is that, since the LMU is a separate and
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`dedicated device and not integrated within the DAS, it is costly to deploy. Each
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`LMU requires a backhaul facility to a central server which analyzes the LMU
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`measurements. The LMU backhaul cost adds to the total cost of deploying the
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`enhanced accuracy E-911 solution for GSM networks. Despite the availability of
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`the already technically-proven LMU approach, it has not been widely deployed in
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`conjunction with indoor DAS.
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`[0015] Based on the prior art approaches described herein, it is apparent that
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`a highly efficient, easily deployed and dynamically reconfigurable wireless
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`network is not achievable with prior art systems and capabilities.
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
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`[0016] The present invention substantially overcomesthe limitations of the
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`prior art discussed above. The advanced system architecture of the present
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`invention provides a high degreeofflexibility to manage, control, enhance and
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`facilitate radio resource efficiency, usage and overall performanceof the
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`distributed wireless network. This advanced system architecture enables
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`specialized applications and enhancementsincluding flexible simulcast,
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`automatic traffic load-balancing, network and radio resource optimization,
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`network calibration, autonomous/assisted commissioning, carrier pooling,
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`automatic frequency selection, radio frequency carrier placement, traffic
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`monitoring, traffic tagging, and indoor location determination using pilot beacons.
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`The present invention can also serve multiple operators, multi-mode radios
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`(modulation-independent) and multi-frequency bands per operator to increase
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`the efficiency and traffic capacity of the operators’ wireless networks.
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`[0017] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
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`capability for Flexible Simulcast. With Flexible Simulcast, the amountof radio
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`resources (such as RF carriers, CDMA codes or TDMAtime slots) assigned toa
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`particular RRU or group of RRUs by each RRU Access Module can be set via
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`software control as described hereinafter to meet desired capacity and
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`throughput objectives or wireless subscriber needs. To achieve these and other
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`objects, an aspect of the present invention employs software-programmable
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`frequency selective Digital Up-Converters (DUCs) and Digital Down-Converters
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`(DDCs). A software-defined Remote Radio Head architecture is used for cost-
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`effective optimization of the radio performance. Frequency selective DDCs and
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`DUCsat the Remote Radio Head enable a high signal to noise ratio (SNR)
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`which maximize the throughput data rate. An embodiment shownin Figure 1
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`depicts abasic structure and provides an example of a Flexible Simulcast
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`downlink transport scenario. Figure 2 depicts an embodiment of a basic
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`structure of a Flexible Simulcast uplink transport scenario.
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`[0018]
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`It is a further object of the present inventionto facilitate conversion
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`and transport of several discrete relatively narrow RF bandwidths.
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`In another
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`aspectof the invention, an embodiment converts only that plurality of specific,
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`relatively narrow bandwidths that carry useful information. Thus, this aspect of
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`the present invention allows moreefficient use of the available optical fiber
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`transport bandwidth for neutral host applications, and facilitates transport of
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`more operators’ band segments overthe optical fiber. To achieve the above
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`result, the present invention utilizes frequency-selectivefiltering at the Remote
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`Radio Head which enhancesthe system performance.
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`In some embodiments of
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`this aspect of the invention, noise reduction via frequency- selective filtering at
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`the Remote Radio Headis utilized for maximizing the SNR and consequently
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`maximizing the data throughput.
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`It is a further object of the present invention to
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`provide CDMA and WCDMAindoor location accuracy enhancement.
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`In an
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`aspect of the present invention, an embodiment provides enhancedlocation
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`accuracy performance by employing pilot beacons. Figure 3 depicts a typical
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`indoor system employing multiple Remote Radio Head Units (RRUs) and a
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`central Digital Access Unit (DAU). The Remote Radio Heads have a unique
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`beacon thatis distinct and identifies that particular indoor cell. The mobile user
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`will use the beacon information to assist in the localization to a particular cell. .
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`[0019]
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`It is a further object of the present invention to enhance GSM and LTE
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`indoor location accuracy..
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`In another aspect, an embodimentof the present
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`invention provideslocalization of a user based on the radio signature of the
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`mobile device. Figure 4 depicts a typical indoor system employing multiple
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`Remote Radio Head Units (RRUs) and a central Digital Access Unit (DAU).
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`In
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`accordancewith the invention, each Remote Radio Head provides unique
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`header information on data received by that Remote Radio Head. The system
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`of the invention uses this header information in conjunction with the mobile
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`user’s radio signature to localize the user to a particularcell.
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`It is a further object of the present invention to re-route local traffic to Internet
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`VOIP, Wi-Fi or WiMAX.
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`In this aspect of the invention, an embodiment
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`determinesthe radio signatures of the individual users within a DAU or Island of
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`DAUsand usesthis information to identify if the users are located within the
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`coverage area associated with a specific DAU or Island of DAUs. The DAUs
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`track the radio signatures of all the active users within its network and record a
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`running data base containing information pertaining to them. One embodiment of
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`the present invention is for the Network Operations Center (NOC) to inform the
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`DAUthat, e.g., two specific users are collocated within the same DAUor Island
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`of DAUs, as depicted in Figure 6. The DAUs then reroute the users to Internet
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`VOIP, Wi-Fi or WiMAX as appropriate. Another embodiment of the present
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`invention is to determine the Internet Protocol (IP) addressesof the individual
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`users’ Wi-Fi connections.
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`If the individual users’ IP addresses are within the
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`same DAUor Island of DAUs, the data call for these users is rerouted over the
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`internal network.
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`[0020] Applications of the present invention are suitable to be employed with
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`distributed base stations, distributed antenna systems, distributed repeaters,
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`mobile equipment and wireless terminals, portable wireless devices, and other
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`wireless communication systems such as microwave and satellite
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`communications. The present invention is also field upgradable through a link
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`such as an Ethernet connection to a remote computing center.
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`[0021] Appendix | is a glossary of terms used herein, including acronyms.
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`THE FIGURES
`Dc cn cece cence ne ecnec tee ee ee
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`«__~
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`[0022] Further objects and advantages of the present invention can be more
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`fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with
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`the accompanying drawings in which:
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`[0023] Figure 1 is a block diagram according to one embodimentof the
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`invention showing the basic structure and an example of a Flexible Simulcast
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`downlink transport scenario based on having 2 DAU and 4 DRU.
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`[0024] Figure 2 is a block diagram in accordance with an embodiment of the
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`invention showing the basic structure and an example of a Flexible Simulcast
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`uplink transport scenario based on having 2 DAU and 4 DRU.
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`[0025] Figure 3 shows an embodimentof an indoor system employing
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`multiple Remote Radio Head Units (RRUs) and a central Digital Access Unit
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`(DAU).
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`[0026] Figure 4 shows an embodiment of an indoor system in accordance
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`with the invention which employs multiple Remote Radio Head Units (RRUs)
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`and a central Digital Access Unit (DAU).
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`[0027] Figure5illustrates an embodiment of a cellular network system
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`employing multiple Remote Radio Heads according to the presentinvention.
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`[0028] Figure 6 is a depiction of local connectivity according to one
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`embodimentof the present invention.
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`[0029]
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`Figure7 illustrates an embodiment of the basic structure of the
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`embedded software control modules which manage keyfunctions of the DAU
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`and RRU, in accordancewith the present invention.
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`a,mo ‘
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`_- | Deleted:
`{
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION si iene
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`[0030] The present invention is a novel Reconfigurable Distributed Antenna
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`System that provides a high degreeof flexibility to manage, control, re-configure,
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`enhance and facilitate the radio resource efficiency, usage and overall
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`performanceofthe distributed wireless network. An embodimentof the
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`Reconfigurable Distributed Antenna System in accordance with the present
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`invention is shown in Figure 1. The Flexible Simulcast System 100 can be used
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`to explain the operation of Flexible Simulcast with regard to downlink signals.
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`The system employs a Digital Access Unit functionality (hereinafter “DAU”).
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`The DAUservesasan interface to the base station (BTS). The DAUis (at one
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`end) connected to the BTS, and on the other side connected to multiple RRUs.
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`For the downlink (DL) path, RF signals received from the BTS are separately
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`down-converted, digitized, and converted to baseband (using a Digital Down-
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`Converter). Data streams are then I/Q mapped and framed. Specific parallel
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`data streamsare then independently serialized and translated to optical signals
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`using pluggable SFP modules, and delivered to different RRUs overoptical fiber
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`cable. For the uplink (UL) path optical signals received from RRUs are de-
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`serialized, deframed, and up-converted digitally using a Digital Up-Converter.
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`Data streams are then independently converted to the analog domain and up-
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`converted to the appropriate RF frequency band. The RF signalis then delivered
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`to the BTS. An embodiment of the system is mainly comprised of DAU1
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`indicated at 101, RRU1 indicated at 103, RRU2 indicated at 104, DAU2
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`indicated at 102, RRU3 indicated at 105, and RRU4indicated at 106. A
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`composite downlink input signal 107 from, e.g., a base station belonging to one
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`wireless operator enters DAU1 at the DAU1 RF input port. Composite signal
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`107 is comprised of Carriers 1-4. A second composite downlink input signal
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`from e.g., a second base station belonging to the same wireless operator enters
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`DAU2 at the DAU2 RFinput port. Composite signal 108 is comprised of
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`Carriers 5-8. The functionality of DAU1, DAU2, RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4
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`are explained in detail by U.S. Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled
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`“Neutral Host Architecture for a Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17,
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`2010 and attached hereto as an appendix. One optical output of DAU1 is fed to
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`RRU1. A second optical output of DAU1is fed via bidirectional optical cable 113
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`to DAU2. This connection facilitates networking of DAU1 and DAU2, which
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`means thatall of Carriers 1-8 are available within DAU1 and DAU2 to transport
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`to RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4 depending on software settings within the
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`networked DAU system comprised of DAU1 and DAU2. The software settings
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`within RRU1 are configured either manually or automatically such that Carriers
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`1-8 are present in the downlink output signal 109 at the antenna port of RRU1.
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`The presenceofall 8 carriers means that RRU1 is potentially able to access the
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`full capacity of both base stations feeding DAU1 and DAU2. A possible
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`application for RRU1 is in a wireless distribution system is e.g., a cafeteria in an
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`enterprise building during the lunch hour where a large numberof wireless
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`subscribers are gathered. RRU2 is fed by a second optical port of RRU1 via
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`bidirectional optical cable 114 to RRU2. Optical cable 114 performs the function
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`of daisy chaining RRU2 with RRU1. The software settings within RRU2 are
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`configured either manually or automatically such that Carriers 1, 3, 4 and 6 are
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`present in downlink output signal 110 at the antenna port of RRU2. The
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`capacity of RRU2 is set to a much lower value than RRU1 byvirtue of its specific
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`Digital Up Converter settings. The individual Remote Radio Units have
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`integrated frequency selective DUCs and DDCswith gain control for each
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`carrier. The DAUs can remotely turn on and off the individual carriers via the
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`gain control parameters.
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`[0031]
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`Ina similar manner as described previously for RRU1, the software
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`settings within RRU3 are configured either manually or automatically such that
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`Carriers 2 and 6 are present in downlink output signal 111 at the antennaport of
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`RRU3. Compared to the downlink signal 110 at the antenna port of RRU2, the
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`capacity of RRU3 which is configured via the software settings of RRU3 is much
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`less than the capacity of RRU2. RRU4 is fed by a second optical port of RRU3
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`via bidirectional optical cable 115 to RRU4. Optical cable 115 performs the
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`function of daisy chaining RRU4 with RRU3. The software settings within RRU4
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`are configured either manually or automatically such that Carriers 1, 4, 5 and &
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`are present in downlink output signal 112 at the antenna port of RRU4. The
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`capacity of RRU4 is set to a much lower value than RRU1. Therelative capacity
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`settings of RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4 and can be adjusted dynamically as
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`discussed in connection with Figure 7 to meet the capacity needs within the
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`coverage zones determined by the physical positions of antennas connected to
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`RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4respectively.
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`[0032] The present invention facilitates conversion and transport of several
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`discrete relatively narrow RF bandwidths. This approach allows conversion of
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`only those multiple specific relatively narrow bandwidths which carry useful or
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`specific information. This approach also allows moreefficient use of the
`
`available optical fiber transport bandwidth for neutral host applications, and
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`allows transport of more individual operators’ band segments overthe optical
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`fiber. As disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled
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`“Neutral Host Architecture for a Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17,
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`2010 and also referring to Figure 1 of the instant patent application, Digital Up
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`Converters located within the RRU which are dynamically software-
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`programmable as discussed hereinafter can be re-configured to transport from
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`the DAU input to any specific RRU output any specific narrow frequency band or
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`bands, RF carriers or RF channels which are available at the respective RF
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`input port of either DAU. This capability is illustrated in Figure 1 where only
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`specific frequency bands or RF carriers appear at the output of a given RRU.
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`[0033] A related capability of the present invention is that not only can the
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`Digital Up Converters located within each RRU be configured to transport any
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`specific narrow frequency band from the DAUinput to any specific RRU output,
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`but also the Digital Up Converters within each RRU can be configured to
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`transport any specific time slot or time slots of each carrier from the DAU input to
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`any specific RRU output. The DAU detects which carriers and corresponding
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`time slots are active. This information is relayed to the individual RRUs via the
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`management control and monitoring protocol software discussed hereinafter.
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`This information is then used, as appropriate, by the RRUs for turning off and on
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`individual carriers and their corresponding time slots.
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`[0034] Referring to Figure 1 of the instant patent application, an alternative
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`embodiment of the present invention may be described as follows.
`
`In a previous
`
`description of Figure 1, a previous embodiment involved having downlink signals
`
`from two separate base stations belonging to the same wireless operator enter
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`DAU1 and DAU2 input ports respectively.
`
`In an alternative embodiment, a
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`second composite downlink input signal from e.g., a second basestation
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`belonging to a different wireless operator enters DAU2 at the DAU2 RF input
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`port.
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`In this embodiment, signals belonging to both the first operator and the
`
`second operator are converted and transported to RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and
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`RRU4 respectively. This embodiment provides an example of a neutral host
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`wireless system, where multiple wireless operators share a common
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`infrastructure comprised of DAU1, DAU2, RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4. All
`
`the previously mentioned features and advantages accrue to each of the two
`
`wireless operators.
`
`[0035]
`
`Asdisclosed in U.S. Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled
`
`“Neutral Host Architecture for a Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17,
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`2010 and also referring to Figure 1 of the instant patent application, the Digital
`
`Up Converters present in the RRU can be programmed to process various
`
`signal formats and modulation types including FDMA, CDMA, TDMA, OFDMA
`
`and others. Also, the Digital Up Converters present in the respective RRUs can
`
`be programmedto operate with signals to be transmitted within various
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`frequency bands subject to the capabilities and limitations of the system
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`architecture disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled
`
`“Neutral Host Architecture for a Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17,
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`2010.
`
`In one embodiment of the present invention where a wideband CDMA
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`signal is present within e.g., the bandwidth corresponding to carrier 1 at the input
`
`port to DAU1, the transmitted signal at the antenna ports of RRU1, RRU2 and
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`RRU4will be a wideband CDMAsignal whichis virtually identical to the signal
`
`present within the bandwidth corresponding to carrier 1 at the input port to
`
`DAU1.
`
`[0036]
`
`Asdisclosed in U.S. Provisional Application $.N. 61/374593, entitled
`
`“Neutral Host Architecture for a Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17,
`
`2010 and also referring to Figure 1 of the instant patent application, it is
`
`understoodthat the Digital Up Converters present in the respective RRUs can
`
`be programmedto transmit any desired composite signal format to each of the
`
`respective RRU antenna ports. As an example, the Digital Up Converters
`
`present in RRU1 and RRU2 can be dynamically software-reconfigured as
`
`described previously so that the signal present at the antenna port of RRU1
`
`would correspondto the spectral profile shown in Figure 1 as 110, and also that
`
`the signal present at the antenna port of RRU2 would correspond to the spectral
`
`profile shown in Figure 1 as 109. The application for such a dynamic re-
`
`arrangement of RRU capacity would be e.g., if a company meeting were
`
`suddenly convened in the area of the enterprise corresponding to the coverage
`
`area of RRU2. []
`
`[0037] Another embodimentof the Distributed Antenna System in
`
`accordancewith the present invention is shown in Figure 2. As disclosed in U.S.
`
`Provisional Application S.N. 61/374593, entitled “Neutral Host Architecture for a
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`Distributed Antenna System,”filed August 17, 2010 and also as shownin Figure
`
`2 the Flexible Simulcast System 200 can be used to explain the operation of
`
`Flexible Simulcast with regard to uplink signals. As discussed previously with
`
`regard to downlink signals and by referring to Figure 1, the uplink system shown
`
`in Figure 2 is mainly comprised of DAU1 indicated at 201, RRU1 indicated at
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`203, RRU2 indicated at 204, DAU2 indicated at 202, RRU3 indicated at 205, and
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`RRU4indicated at 206.
`
`In a manner similar to the downlink operation explained
`
`by referring to Figure 1, the operation of the uplink system shownin Figure 2 can
`
`be understood as follows.
`
`[0038] The Digital Down Converters present in each of RRU1, RRU2, RRU3
`
`and RRU4 are dynamically software-configured as described previously so that
`
`uplink signals of the appropriate desired signal format(s) present at the receive
`
`antenna ports of the respective RRU1, RRU2, RRU3 and RRU4 are selected
`
`based on the desired uplink band(s) to be processed andfiltered, converted and
`
`transported to the appropriate uplink output port of either DAU1 or DAU2. The
`
`DAUs and RRUs frame the individual data packets corresponding to their
`
`respective radio signature using the Common Public Interface Standard (CPRI).
`
`Other Interface standards are applicable provided they uniquely identify data
`
`packets with respective RRUs. Headerinformation is transmitted along with the
`
`data packet whichindentifies the RRU and DAUthat corresponds to the
`
`individual data packet.
`
`[0039]
`
`In one example for the embodiment shownin Figure 2, RRU1 and
`
`RRU3 are configured to receive uplink signals within the Carrier 2 bandwidth,
`
`whereas RRU2 and RRU4 are both configured to reject uplink signals within the
`
`Carrier 2 bandwidth. When RRU3 receives a strong enough signal at its receive
`
`antenna port within the Carrier 2 bandwidth to be properlyfiltered and
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`processed, the Digital Down Converters within RRU3 facilitate processing and
`
`conversion. Similarly, when RRU1 receives a strong enough signal at its receive
`
`antenna port within the Carrier 2 bandwidth to be properlyfiltered and
`
`processed, the Digital Down Converters within RRU1 facilitate processing and
`
`conversion. The signals from RRU1 and RRU3 are combined based on the
`
`active signal combining algorithm, and are fed to the base station connected to
`
`the uplink output port of DAU1. The term simulcast is frequently used to
`
`describe the operation of RRU1 and RRU3 with regard to uplink and downlink
`
`signals within Carrier 2 bandwidth. The term Flexible Simulcastrefers to the fact
`
`that the present invention supports dynamic and/or manual rearrangement of
`
`which specific RRU are involved in the signal combining process for each
`
`Carrier bandwidth.
`
`[0040] Referring to Figure 2, the Digital Down Converters present in RRU1
`
`are configured to receive and processsignals within Carrier 1-8 bandwidths.
`
`The Digital Down Converters present in RRU2 are configured to receive and
`
`processsignals within Carrier 1, 3, 4 and 6 bandwidths. The Digital D