DAS integrated digital off-air repeater
Embodiments may allow remote base transceiver stations (BTSs) physically located away from a local source of users to be able to provide local service as if the remote BTSs were at or near the local source of users. Some embodiments may include a plurality of BTSs, each having one or more sectors, and one or more digital access units (DAUs). Embodiments may also include a plurality of repeater digital units (RDUs), where each RDU may be configured to communicate to at least one of the plurality of BTSs and may be operable to route signals optically to the one or more DAUs. Embodiments may also include a plurality of digital remote units (DRUs) located at a location remote to the one or more DAUs, wherein the plurality of remote DRUs may be operable to transport signals to the one or more DAUs.
1. A distributed antenna system, comprising:
a repeater operable to exchange radiofrequency signals over the air with at least one remotely located Base Transceiver Station (BTS), wherein the repeater is configured to convert between analog signals and digital signals;
a Digital Access Unit (DAU) communicatively coupled with the repeater, wherein the DAU is operable to exchange digital signals with the repeater;
a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs), each located at different locations than the repeater, wherein each DRU from the plurality of DRUs is communicatively coupled with the DAU and is operable to exchange digital signals with the DAU;
wherein the DAU is operable to route communications between the repeater and at least one DRU from the plurality of DRUs.
2. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the DAU is configured to sum signals in different frequency bands to create a composite signal.
3. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the DAU is configured to sum signals in a same frequency band to create a composite signal.
4. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the DAU includes a plurality of ports each configured to connect to one of an operator, a frequency band, or a channel.
5. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , further comprising a server operable to configure the distributed antenna system to route communications between the plurality of DRUs.
6. A distributed antenna system, comprising:
a first repeater located at a first location, wherein the first repeater includes an antenna operable to exchange radiofrequency signals over the air with a remotely located Base Transceiver Station (BTS), and wherein the first repeater is configured to convert between analog signals and digital signals;
a first Digital Access Unit (DAU) communicatively coupled with the first repeater and operable to exchange digital signals with the first repeater;
a first plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs) located at a second location and communicatively coupled to the first DAU, wherein each DRU in the first plurality of DRUs is operable to exchange digital signals with the first DAU;
wherein the first DAU is operable to route communications between the first repeater and at least one DRU from the first plurality of DRUs.
7. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first repeater and the first DAU are coupled via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link.
8. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first DAU and the first plurality of DRUs are coupled via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link.
9. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , further comprising one or more additional repeaters, wherein the one or more additional repeaters are communicatively coupled to the first DAU.
10. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first DAU is configured to sum signals in different frequency bands to create a composite signal.
11. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first DAU is configured to sum signals in a same frequency band to create a composite signal.
12. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first DAU includes a plurality of ports each configured to connect to one of an operator, a frequency band, or a channel.
13. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a second repeater located at a third location;
a second DAU communicatively coupled with the second repeater and operable to exchange digital signals with the second repeater;
a second plurality of DRUs located at a fourth location and communicatively coupled to the second DAU, wherein each DRU in the second plurality of DRUs is operable to exchange digital signals with the second DAU;
wherein the second DAU is operable to route communications between the second repeater and at least one DRU from the second plurality of DRUs.
14. The distributed antenna system of claim 13 , wherein the first DAU and the second DAU are communicatively coupled in parallel.
15. The distributed antenna system of claim 13 , wherein the first DAU is further configured to route communications between the first repeater and at least one DRU from the second plurality of DRUs.
16. The distributed antenna system of claim 13 , wherein the first plurality of DRUs is configured to provide services to a first geographic area, and wherein the second plurality of DRUs is configured to provide services to a second geographic area.
17. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , further comprising a server operable to configure the distributed antenna system to route communications between DRUs of the first plurality of DRUs.
18. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first repeater is configured to uniquely identify communications exchanged with a DRU from the first plurality of DRUs.
19. A method, comprising:
exchanging, by a first repeater located at a first location, radiofrequency signals over the air with a remotely located Base Transceiver Station (BTS), wherein the repeater includes an antenna for exchanging the radiofrequency signals, and wherein the repeater is configured to convert between analog signals and digital signals;
exchanging digital signals between the first repeater and a first Digital Access Unit (DAU); and
exchanging digital signals between the first DAU and a first plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs), wherein the first plurality of DRUs are located at a second location;
wherein the first DAU is operable to route communications between at least one DRU from the first plurality of DRUs and the first repeater.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
exchanging digital signals between one or more additional repeaters and the first DAU.
21. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
exchanging digital signals between a second repeater and a second DAU; and
exchanging digital signals between the second DAU and a second plurality of DRUs, wherein the second plurality of DRUs are located at a fourth location;
wherein the second DAU is operable to route communications between the second repeater and at least one DRU from the second plurality of DRUs.
22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first DAU and the second DAU are communicatively coupled in parallel.
23. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first DAU is further configured to route communications between the first repeater and at least one DRU from the second plurality of DRUs.
24. The method of claim 21 , wherein the first plurality of DRUs is configured to provide services to a first geographic area, and wherein the second plurality of DRUs is configured to provide services to a second geographic area.
25. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the repeater and the DAU are coupled via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link.
26. The distributed antenna system of claim 1 , wherein the repeater and the DAU are configured to exchange signals between the one or more BTS and one or more DRUs of the plurality of DRUs.
27. The distributed antenna system of claim 6 , wherein the first repeater and the first DAU are configured to exchange signals between the BTS and one or more DRUs of the first plurality of DRUs.