Method and system for soft frequency reuse in a distributed antenna system
A method for routing and switching operator RF signals includes providing one or more Digital Remote Units (DRUs) and providing at least one Digital Access Unit (DAU) configured to communicate with at least one of the one or more DRUs. A first DRU is operable to communicate using a first set of frequencies characterized by a first frequency band over a first geographic footprint and a second set of frequencies characterized by a second frequency band different from the first frequency band over a second geographic footprint including and surrounding the first geographic footprint. A second DRU is operable to communicate using the first set of frequencies over a third geographical footprint and a third set of frequencies characterized by a third frequency band different from the first frequency band and the second frequency band over a fourth geographic footprint including and surrounding the third geographic footprint.
1. A communication system comprising:
a host unit;
at least one first remote unit coupled to the host unit and operable to transmit and receive radio frequency (RF) communications in a first cell, wherein the at least one first remote unit is configured to communicate using a first frequency band over a first geographic region corresponding to a portion of the first cell, wherein the at least one first remote unit is configured to communicate using a second frequency band over a second geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the first cell, and wherein the first frequency band is distinct from the second frequency band; and
at least one second remote unit coupled to the host unit and operable to transmit and receive RF communications in a second cell, wherein the at least one second remote unit is configured to communicate using a third frequency band over a third geographic region corresponding to a portion of the second cell, wherein the at least one second remote unit is configured to communicate using a fourth frequency band over a fourth geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the second cell, and wherein the third frequency band is distinct from the fourth frequency band.
2. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the third frequency band.
3. The communication system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one third remote unit coupled to the host unit and operable to transmit and receive RF communications in a third cell, wherein the at least one third remote unit is configured to communicate using a fifth frequency band over a fifth geographic region corresponding to a portion of the third cell, wherein the at least one third remote unit is configured to communicate using a sixth frequency band over a sixth geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the third cell, and wherein the fifth frequency band is distinct from the sixth frequency band.
4. The communication system of claim 3 , wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the third frequency band, wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the fifth frequency band, and wherein the third frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the fifth frequency band.
5. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first remote unit includes a single first remote unit configured to communicate using the first frequency band and a plurality of first remote units configured to communicate using the second frequency band.
6. The communication system of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of first remote units surround the single first remote unit.
7. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein a first power level used to communicate in the first frequency band is lower than a second power level used to communicate in the second frequency band.
8. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first remote unit is configured to communicate using a fifth frequency band over a fifth geographic region smaller than the entirety of the first cell, and wherein the fifth frequency band is distinct from the second frequency band.
9. The communication system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one second remote unit is configured to communicate using a sixth frequency band over a sixth geographic region smaller than the entirety of the second cell, and wherein the sixth frequency band is distinct from the fourth frequency band.
10. The communication system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one first remote unit comprises a single first remote unit.
11. A method comprising:
communicating at least one signal from a host unit to at least one first remote unit and at least one second remote unit;
broadcasting, from the at least one first remote unit, radio frequency communications using a first frequency band over a first geographic region corresponding to a portion of a first cell;
broadcasting, from the at least one first remote unit, radio frequency communications using a second frequency band over a second geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the first cell, wherein the first frequency band is distinct from the second frequency band;
broadcasting, from the at least one second remote unit, radio frequency communications using a third frequency band over a third geographic region corresponding to a portion of a second cell; and
broadcasting, from the at least one second remote unit, radio frequency communications using a fourth frequency band over a fourth geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the second cell, wherein the third frequency band is distinct from the fourth frequency band.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the third frequency band.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
broadcasting, from at least one third remote unit, radio frequency communications using a fifth frequency band over a fifth geographic region corresponding to a portion of a third cell; and
broadcasting, from the at least one third remote unit, radio frequency communications using a sixth frequency band over a sixth geographic region corresponding to an entirety of the third cell, wherein the fifth frequency band is distinct from the sixth frequency band.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the third frequency band, wherein the first frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the fifth frequency band, and wherein the third frequency band contains at least some of the same frequencies as the fifth frequency band.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein a first power level used to communicate in the first frequency band is lower than a second power level used to communicate in the second frequency band.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first remote unit is configured to communicate using a fifth frequency band over a fifth geographic region smaller than the entirety of the first cell, and wherein the fifth frequency band is distinct from the second frequency band.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the second remote unit is configured to communicate using a sixth frequency band over a sixth geographic region smaller than the entirety of the second cell, and wherein the sixth frequency band is distinct from the fourth frequency band.