Method and apparatus for transporting CDMA traffic over a UMTS-compatible CPRI interface

1. A method, comprising:

generating a Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) data frame, the CDMA data frame comprising a plurality of Basic Frames, at least one of the plurality of Basic Frames comprising a vendor-specific field and a baseband data field, wherein the baseband data field comprising Receive Signal Strength Indication (“RSSI”)data wherein the RSSI data is mapped into the CDMA data frame in place of NULL data; and

transporting the CDMA data frame as an uplink data frame over a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”)-compatible link between a base station having a modem and a remote head having a transceiver.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the UMTS-compatible link comprises a Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) link.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data frame has a length of about 2 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the vendor-specific field comprises an item selected from a group consisting of: a port identifier (“ID”), a link selection, a Vendor Version Number, and a Base Station/Radio Equipment Type.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of Basic Frames comprise control data and baseband data.

6. A base station, comprising:

a processor to generate a Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) data frame, the CDMA data frame comprising a plurality of Basic Frames, at least one of the plurality of Basic Frames comprising a vendor-specific field and a baseband data field, wherein the baseband data filed comprising Receive Signal Strength Indication (“RSSI”) data and maps the RSSI data into the CDMA data frame in place of NULL data; and

a modem to transport the CDMA data frame as an uplink data frame over a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”)-compatible link between the base station and a remote head having a transceiver.

7. The base station of claim 6 , wherein the UMTS-compatible link comprises a Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) link.

8. The base station of claim 6 , wherein the data frame has a length of about 2 seconds.

9. The base station of claim 6 , wherein the vendor-specific field comprises an item selected from a group consisting of: a port identifier (“ID”), a link selection, a Vendor Version Number, and a Base Station/Radio Equipment Type.

10. A system, comprising:

a base station in communication with a remote head to provide wireless service to at least one user terminal, wherein the base station has a modem and the remote head has a transceiver; and

a baseband Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (“UMTS”)-compatible data link to transport a Code Division Multiple Access (“CDMA”) data frame as an uplink data frame between the base station and the remote head, the CDMA data frame comprising a plurality of Basic Frames and a base band data field, wherein the baseband data field comprising Receiving Signal Strength indication (“RSSI”) data mapped into the CDMA data frame in place of NULL data, at least one of the plurality of Basic Frames comprising a vendor-specific field.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the baseband UMTS-compatible link comprises a Common Public Radio Interface (“CPRI”) link.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the data frame has a length of about 2 seconds.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vendor-specific field comprises an item selected from a group consisting of: a port identifier (“ID”) and a link selection.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the vendor-specific field comprises an item selected from a group consisting of: a Vendor Version Number and a Base Station/Radio Equipment Type.