IP Library › Granted Patent US 8,532,242

Granted Patent B2

US 8,532,242 · App. 12/913,179 · Granted Sep 10, 2013

Distributed antenna system with combination of both all digital transport and hybrid digital/analog transport

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 8,532,242
App. No.: 12/913,179
Granted: Sep 10, 2013
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A communication system includes master host unit, hybrid expansion unit, analog remote antenna unit, and digital remote antenna unit. Master host unit communicates analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using first bands of analog spectrum. Master host unit and hybrid expansion unit communicate first N-bit words of digitized spectrum over first digital link. Hybrid expansion unit converts between first N-bit words and second bands of analog spectrum. Hybrid expansion unit and analog remote antenna unit communicate second bands over analog medium. Analog remote antenna unit transmits and receives first plurality of wireless signals over air interfaces. Master host unit and digital remote antenna unit communicate second N-bit words of digitized spectrum over second digital link. Digital remote antenna unit converts between second N-bit words and third bands of analog spectrum. Digital remote antenna unit transmits and receives second wireless signals over air interfaces.

Claims (216)

1. A communication system, comprising:

a first master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum;

a plurality of digital communication links coupled to the first master host unit, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in first N-bit words over at least a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and second N-bit words over at least a second digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links;

the first master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum, the first master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by the first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum;

a first analog communication link coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit, wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the first analog communication link;

a first analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit by the first analog communication link and adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the first analog communication link, the first analog remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive first wireless signals over a first plurality of air interfaces;

a first digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by the second digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the second digital communication link, the first digital remote antenna unit further adapted to convert between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum, the first digital remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive second wireless signals over a second plurality of air interfaces; and

wherein the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, the first analog remote antenna unit, and the first digital remote antenna unit are synchronized in time and frequency.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first analog remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the second set of bands of analog spectrum to a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the first analog remote antenna unit over the first plurality of air interfaces.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the third set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first digital remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the third set of bands of analog spectrum to a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the first digital remote antenna unit over the second plurality of air interfaces.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first analog remote antenna unit is part of a first analog remote antenna cluster that includes:

a master analog remote antenna unit adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the first analog communication link;

a second analog remote antenna unit adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces; and

wherein the master analog remote antenna unit distributes a first subset of the second set of bands of analog spectrum to the first analog remote antenna unit and a second subset of the second set of bands of analog spectrum to the second analog remote antenna unit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first digital remote antenna unit includes:

at least one module adapted to convert between at least a portion of the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first digital expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a third digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the third digital communication link;

a first digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum across the first digital expansion communication link; and

a second digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the first digital expansion communication link and adapted to communicate the at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital expansion unit across the first digital expansion communication link, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to convert between the at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

10. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the first digital expansion communication link and adapted to communicate the at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital expansion unit across the first digital expansion communication link, the second hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

a second analog communication link coupled to the second hybrid expansion unit, wherein the second hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum across the second analog communication link; and

a second analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the second hybrid expansion unit by the second analog communication link and adapted to communicate the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum with the second hybrid expansion unit across the second analog communication link, the second analog remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a second service provider interface using a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

a second plurality of digital communication links coupled to the second master host unit, wherein the second master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in third N-bit words of digitized spectrum over the second plurality of digital communication links;

the second master host unit further adapted to convert between the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is communicatively coupled to the second master host unit by one of the second plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second master host unit across the one of the second plurality of digital communication links; and

wherein the first hybrid expansion unit multiplexes the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum into the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum before converting between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second set of bands of analog spectrum.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a second service provider interface using a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

a second plurality of digital communication links coupled to the second master host unit, wherein the second master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum over the second plurality of digital communication links;

the second master host unit further adapted to convert between the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and the fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

wherein the first digital expansion unit is communicatively coupled to the second master host unit by one of the second plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second master host unit across the one of the second plurality of digital communication links;

wherein the first digital expansion unit multiplexes the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum into fifth N-bit words of digitized spectrum; and

a first digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the fifth N-bit words of digitized spectrum across the first digital expansion communication link.

13. The system of claim 12 , further comprising:

a second digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the first digital expansion communication link and adapted to communicate the fifth N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital expansion unit across the first digital expansion communication link, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to convert between the fifth N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fifth set of bands of analog spectrum, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

14. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to convert between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

a second analog communication link coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit, wherein the first hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum across the second analog communication link; and

a second analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first hybrid expansion unit by the second analog communication link and adapted to communicate the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the second analog communication link, the second analog remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least a portion of the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum is the same as at least a portion of the second set of bands of analog spectrum.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the second analog remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the second set of bands of analog spectrum to a fifth set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the fifth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fifth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the second analog remote antenna unit over the third plurality of air interfaces.

17. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a first digital remote antenna unit connection link coupled to the first digital remote antenna unit;

a second digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first digital remote antenna unit by the first digital remote antenna unit connection link and adapted to communicate third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital remote antenna unit across the first digital remote antenna unit connection link, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to convert between the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum, the second digital remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum is the same as at least a portion of the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum.

19. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a third digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the third digital communication link, the second hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

a second analog remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the second hybrid expansion unit by the second analog communication link and adapted to communicate the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum with the second hybrid expansion unit across the second analog communication link, the second analog remote antenna unit adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces.

20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the second analog remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum to a fifth set of bands of analog spectrum.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the fifth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fifth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the second analog remote antenna unit over the third plurality of air interfaces.

22. A method comprising:

converting first wireless spectrum for a first wireless service between a first band of analog spectrum and a first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum at a first master host unit;

converting second wireless spectrum for a second wireless service between a second band of analog spectrum and a second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum at the first master host unit;

in the downstream direction,

multiplexing at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum into a first multiplexed stream at the first master host unit; and

multiplexing at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum into a second multiplexed stream at the first master host unit;

transporting the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a first digital communication link between the first master host unit and a hybrid expansion unit;

converting the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion unit;

transporting the third set of bands of analog spectrum on a first analog communication link between the hybrid expansion unit and a first analog remote antenna unit;

communicating at least a portion of one of the first wireless spectrum and the second wireless spectrum across at least a first air interface at the first analog remote antenna unit;

transporting the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a second digital communication link between the first master host unit and a first digital remote antenna unit;

converting the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum at the first digital remote antenna unit;

communicating at least a portion of one of the first wireless spectrum and the second wireless spectrum across at least a second air interface at the first digital remote antenna unit; and

synchronizing the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, the first analog remote antenna unit, and the first digital remote antenna unit in time and frequency.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

in the upstream direction,

demultiplexing the first multiplexed stream into at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum at the first master host unit; and

demultiplexing the second multiplexed stream into at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum at the first master host unit.

24. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:

in the downstream direction,

multiplexing at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum into a third multiplexed stream at the first master host unit;

transporting the third multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a third digital communication link between the first master host unit and a first digital expansion unit;

transporting the third multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a first digital expansion communication link between the first digital expansion unit and a second digital remote antenna unit;

converting the third multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fifth set of bands of analog spectrum at the second digital remote antenna unit; and

communicating at least a portion of one of the first wireless spectrum and the second wireless spectrum across at least a third air interface at the second digital remote antenna unit.

25. The method of claim 24 , further comprising:

in the upstream direction,

demultiplexing the third multiplexed stream into at least the first stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the second stream of N-bit words of digitized spectrum at the first master host unit.

26. The method of claim 22 , wherein converting the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum at the hybrid expansion unit includes at least one of:

in the downstream,

demultiplexing the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum into first component parts;

converting the demultiplexed first component parts from N-bit words of digitized spectrum to analog spectrum; and

multiplexing the first component parts together into the third set of bands of analog spectrum; and

in the upstream,

demultiplexing the third set of bands of analog spectrum into second component parts;

converting the demultiplexed second component parts from analog spectrum to N-bit words of digitized spectrum and

multiplexing the second component parts together into the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum.

27. The method of claim 22 , wherein converting the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between N-bit words of digitized spectrum and fourth set of bands of analog spectrum at the first digital remote antenna unit includes at least one of:

in the downstream,

demultiplexing the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum into first component parts;

converting the demultiplexed first component parts from N-bit words of digitized spectrum to analog spectrum and

multiplexing the first component parts together into the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and

in the upstream,

demultiplexing the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum into second component parts;

converting the demultiplexed second component parts from analog spectrum to N-bit words of digitized spectrum; and

multiplexing the second component parts together into the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum.

28. The method of claim 22 , wherein transporting the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a first digital communication link between the first master host unit and a hybrid expansion unit includes:

converting the first multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between an electrical signal and an optical signal; and

wherein the first digital communication link includes at least one optical communication medium.

29. The method of claim 22 , wherein transporting the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum on a second digital communication link between the first master host unit and the first digital remote antenna unit includes:

converting the second multiplexed stream of wireless spectrum between an electrical signal and an optical signal; and

wherein the second digital communication link includes at least one optical communication medium.

30. A communication system, comprising:

a first master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum;

the first master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a first digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum;

a first digital expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by a second digital communication link of the plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate second N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the second digital communication link;

a first digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum across the first digital expansion communication link;

a first digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the first digital expansion communication link and adapted to convert between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum, the first digital remote antenna unit adapted to transmit and receive second wireless signals over a second plurality of air interfaces; and

wherein the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, the first analog remote antenna unit, the first digital expansion unit, and the first digital remote antenna unit are synchronized in time and frequency.

31. The system of claim 30 , wherein the second set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum.

32. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first analog remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the second set of bands of analog spectrum to a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum.

33. The system of claim 32 , wherein the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the first analog remote antenna unit over the first plurality of air interfaces.

34. The system of claim 30 , wherein the third set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum.

35. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first digital remote antenna unit is further adapted to frequency convert the third set of bands of analog spectrum to a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are at the same frequencies as the first set of bands of analog spectrum, and wherein at least a subset of the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum are transmitted and received by the first digital remote antenna unit over the second plurality of air interfaces.

36. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first analog remote antenna unit is part of a first analog remote antenna cluster that includes:

a master analog remote antenna unit adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the first hybrid expansion unit across the first analog communication link;

a second analog remote antenna unit adapted to transmit and receive third wireless signals over a third plurality of air interfaces; and

37. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first digital remote antenna unit further includes:

at least one module adapted to convert between at least a portion of the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum.

38. The system of claim 30 , further comprising:

a second master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a second service provider interface using a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

the second master host unit further adapted to convert between the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum; and

wherein the first digital expansion unit is communicatively coupled to the second master host unit by one of the second plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the one of the second plurality of digital communication links; and

wherein the first digital expansion unit multiplexes the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum into fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum; and

a first digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the fourth N-bit words of digitized spectrum across the first digital expansion communication link.

39. The communication system of claim 30 , further comprising:

a second digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate third N-bit words of digitized spectrum across the second digital expansion communication link;

a second hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the second digital expansion communication link and adapted to communicate the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital expansion unit across the second digital expansion communication link, the second hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum; and

40. The communication system of claim 39 , further comprising:

41. A communication system, comprising:

a first master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum;

a first digital communication link coupled to the first master host unit, wherein the first master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in first N-bit words over the first digital communication link;

the first master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum and the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

a first digital expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first master host unit by the first digital communication link and adapted to communicate the first N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first master host unit across the first digital communication link;

a first digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in second N-bit words across the first digital expansion communication link;

a first hybrid expansion unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the first digital expansion communication link of the plurality of digital expansion communication links and adapted to communicate the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the first digital expansion unit across the first digital expansion communication link, the first hybrid expansion unit adapted to convert between the second N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum;

wherein the first master host unit, the first digital expansion unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, the first analog remote antenna unit, and the first digital remote antenna unit are synchronized in time and frequency.

42. The system of claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the first N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the second N-bit words.

43. The system of claim 41 , further comprising:

a second digital expansion communication link coupled to the first digital expansion unit, wherein the first digital expansion unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in third N-bit words across the second digital expansion communication link; and

a first digital remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the first digital expansion unit by the second digital expansion communication link of the plurality of digital expansion communication links and adapted to convert between the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a third set of bands of analog spectrum, the first digital remote antenna unit adapted to transmit and receive second wireless signals over a second plurality of air interfaces.

44. The system of claim 43 , wherein at least a portion of the first N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the third N-bit words.

45. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the first N-bit words.

46. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first analog communication link includes a wired analog communication medium.

47. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first digital communication link includes a wired digital communication medium.

48. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second digital communication link includes a wired digital communication medium.

49. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a second service provider interface using a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

the second master host unit further adapted to convert between the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum;

50. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a second service provider interface using a fourth set of bands of analog spectrum;

the second master host unit further adapted to convert between the fourth set of bands of analog spectrum and the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum; and

wherein the first digital remote antenna unit is communicatively coupled to the second master host unit by one of the second plurality of digital communication links and adapted to communicate the third N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the second master host unit across the one of the second plurality of digital communication links.

51. The method of claim 22 , wherein at least a portion of the second stream of N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the first stream of N-bit words.

52. The method of claim 22 , wherein the first analog communication link includes a wired analog communication medium.

53. The system of claim 30 , wherein at least a portion of the second N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the first N-bit words.

54. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first analog communication link includes a wired analog communication medium.

55. The system of claim 30 , wherein the first digital communication link includes a first wired digital communication medium;

wherein the second digital communication link includes a second wired digital communication medium; and

wherein the first digital expansion communication link includes a wired digital communication medium.

56. The system of claim 41 , wherein at least a portion of the second N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the first N-bit words.

57. The system of claim 41 , wherein the first analog communication link includes a wired analog communication medium.

58. The system of claim 41 , wherein the first digital communication link includes a first wired digital communication medium;

wherein the second digital communication link includes a second wired digital communication medium; and

wherein the first digital expansion communication link includes a wired digital communication medium.

59. A communication system, comprising:

a first master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with at least a first service provider interface using a first set of bands of analog spectrum;

wherein a common reference clock is distributed to wherein the first master host unit, the first hybrid expansion unit, the first analog remote antenna unit, and the first digital remote antenna unit.

60. The system of claim 59 , wherein at least a portion of the second N-bit words is the same as at least a portion of the first N-bit words.

61. A method comprising: