Monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within coverage areas of distributed antenna systems (DASs)
Monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of a distributed antenna system (DAS) in which a listening module connected to a remote unit of the DAS monitors non-supported wireless frequencies (i.e., frequencies that are outside the frequency ranges supported by the downlink and uplink signals of the DAS), via one or more antennas. The listening module also transmits the wireless frequencies to a monitoring module connected to head-end equipment (HEE) of the DAS. In that manner, a monitoring module can use an existing DAS infrastructure to monitor non-supported portions of the wireless spectrum at remote locations. In addition to avoiding the need to run a parallel DAS infrastructure, the disclosed arrangements are also useful in shared spectrum environments and other environments where efficient spectrum utilization is desired.
1. A wireless communication system, comprising:
a plurality of remote units optically coupled to a source of optical downlink communications signals and configured to provide optical uplink communications signals, each remote unit comprising at least one antenna configured to receive electromagnetic signals from a respective coverage area;
at least one listening module connected to at least one of the plurality of remote units, the at least one listening module comprising:
at least one input configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from at least one of the antennas;
at least one output configured to transmit the electromagnetic signals over at least one uplink path of the wireless system; and
at least one listening path disposed between the at least one input and the at least one output and configured to pass a non-supported radio band different than a supported radio band of the wireless system to the at least one output, and to pass at least one supported radio band to the at least one output; and
a monitoring module configured to receive the non-supported radio band passed by the at least one listening path of the listening module.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of remote units are distributed throughout a building infrastructure having a plurality of floors such that a plurality of the floors has at least one remote unit.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the antennas include broadband antennas connected to the remote units configured for at least one of transmitting and receiving electromagnetic signals in the supported radio band of the wireless system.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the at least one listening path comprises at least one filter and at least one mixer disposed between the at least one input and the at least one output.
5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one listening path further comprises a signal gain amplifier and an analog/digital converter.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the at least one listening path is further configured to prevent a radio band that includes the supported radio band of the wireless system from being passed to the at least one output.
7. The system of claim 2 , wherein the listening module provides monitoring over a range of 10 MHz-6 GHz.
8. The system of claim 2 , wherein each remote unit includes a listening module.
9. The system of claim 2 , wherein the listening module of a remote unit is a part of a remote expansion unit separate from but coupled to the remote unit.
10. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a wireless local access network (WLAN) system for providing digital data services, the WLAN system comprising a digital data switch configured to provide WLAN services to the remote units.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system supports wireless services including RFID tracking, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi), and local area network (LAN).
12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a base transceiver station communicatively coupled to the remote units.
13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising head end equipment coupled to the remote units and configured to provide downlink communications signals to the remote units.
14. A wireless communication system, comprising:
a plurality of remote units coupled to a source of downlink communications signals and configured to provide uplink communications signals, each remote unit comprising at least one antenna configured to receive electromagnetic signals from a respective coverage area;
a listening module connected to at least one of the plurality of remote units, the listening module comprising:
at least one input configured to receive the electromagnetic signals from at least one of the antennas;
at least one output configured to transmit the electromagnetic signals over at least one uplink path of the wireless system; and
at least one listening path disposed between the at least one input and the at least one output and configured to pass a non-supported radio band different than a supported radio band of the wireless system to the at least one output, and to pass at least one supported radio band to the at least one output; and
a monitoring module configured to receive the non-supported radio band passed by the at least one listening path of the listening module; and
a wireless local access network (WLAN) system for providing digital data services, the WLAN system comprising a digital data switch configured to provide WLAN services to the remote units.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the system supports wireless services including Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) and local area network (LAN).
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of remote units are distributed throughout a building infrastructure having a plurality of floors such that a plurality of the floors has at least one remote unit.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one listening path comprises at least one filter and at least one mixer disposed between the at least one input and the at least one output, and an analog/digital converter.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the at least one listening path is further configured to prevent a radio band that includes the supported radio band of the wireless system from being passed to the at least one output.
19. The system of claim 15 , wherein each remote unit includes a listening module.
20. The system of claim 15 , further comprising a base transceiver station communicatively coupled to the remote units.