Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DISTRIBUTING RADIOHEADS
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of co-pending U.S. Provisional
Application
No. 62/413,944, filed October 27, 2016, entitled, "System and Methods For
Distributing
Radioheads".
[0002] This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S.
Application
Serial No. 15/682,076, filed August 21, 2017, entitled "Systems And Methods
For
Mitigating Interference Within Actively Used Spectrum", which claims the
benefit of and
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/380,1 26, filed August 26,
2016, entitled
"Systems and Methods for Mitigating Interference within Actively Used
Spectrum" and
co-pending U.S. Application Serial No. 15/682,076, filed August 21, 2017, is
also a
continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No. 14/672,014, filed March
27, 2015,
entitled "Systems and Methods for Concurrent Spectrum Usage Within Actively
Used
Spectrum" which claims the benefit of and priority to co-pending U.S.
Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/980,479, filed April 16, 2014, entitled, "Systems and
Methods for
Concurrent Spectrum Usage Within Actively Used Spectrum".
[0003] This application may be related to the following co-pending U.S.
Patent
Applications and U.S. Provisional Applications:
[0004] U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/380,126, entitled
"Systems and
Methods for Mitigating Interference within Actively Used Spectrum"
[0005] U.S. Application Serial No. 14/61 1,565, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Mapping Virtual Radio Instances into Physical Areas of Coherence in
Distributed
Antenna Wireless Systems"
[0006] U.S. Application Serial No. 14/086,700, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0007] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/844,355, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Radio Frequency Calibration Exploiting Channel Reciprocity in Distributed
Input
Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[0008] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,984, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
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[0009] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,971 , entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0010] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,950, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0011] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/233,006, entitled "System and Methods
for
planned evolution and obsolescence of multiuser spectrum"
[0012] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/232,996, entitled "Systems and
Methods to
Exploit Areas of Coherence in Wireless Systems"
[0013] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,989, entitled "System And Method
For
Managing Handoff Of A Client Between Different Distributed-Input-Distributed-
Output
(DIDO) Networks Based On Detected Velocity Of The Client"
[0014] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,988, entitled "Interference
Management,
Handoff, Power Control And Link Adaptation In Distributed-Input Distributed-
Output
(DIDO) Communication Systems"
[0015] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,975, entitled "System And Method
For
Link adaptation In DIDO Multicarrier Systems"
[0016] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,974, entitled "System And Method
For
Managing Inter-Cluster Handoff Of Clients Which Traverse Multiple DIDO
Clusters"
[0017] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,958, entitled "System And Method
For
Power Control And Antenna Grouping In A Distributed-Input-Distributed-Output
(DIDO)
Network"
[0018] U.S. Patent No. 9685,997, entitled "Systems and Methods to enhance
spatial
diversity in distributed-input distributed-output wireless systems"
[0019] U.S. Patent No. 9,386,465, issued July 5, 201 6 entitled "System and
Method
For Distributed Antenna Wireless Communications"
[0020] U.S. Patent No. 9,369,888, issued June 14, 2016 entitled "Systems
And
Methods To Coordinate Transmissions In Distributed Wireless Systems Via User
Clustering"
[0021] U.S. Patent No. 9,312,929, issued April 12, 2016, entitled "System
and
Methods to Compensate for Doppler Effects in Distributed-Input Distributed
Output
Systems"
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[0022] U.S. Patent No. 8,989,155, issued March 24, 2015, entitled "Systems
and
Methods for Wireless Backhaul in Distributed-Input Distributed-Output Wireless
Systems"
[0023] U.S. Patent No. 8,971 ,380, issued March 3, 201 5, entitled "System
and
Method for Adjusting DIDO Interference Cancellation Based On Signal Strength
Measurements
[0024] U.S. Patent No. 8,654,81 5, issued February 18, 2014, entitled
"System and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[0025] U.S. Patent No. 8,571 ,086, issued October 29, 2013, entitled
"System and
Method for DIDO Precoding Interpolation in Multicarrier Systems"
[0026] U.S. Patent No. 8,542,763, issued September 24, 201 3, entitled
"Systems
and Methods To Coordinate Transmissions In Distributed Wireless Systems Via
User
Clustering"
[0027] U.S. Patent No. 8,428,1 62, issued April 23, 2013, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[0028] U.S. Patent No. 8,170,081 , issued May 1, 2012, entitled "System And
Method For Adjusting DIDO Interference Cancellation Based On Signal Strength
Measurements"
[0029] U.S. Patent No. 8,160,121 , issued Apr. 17, 2012, entitled, "System
and
Method For Distributed Input-Distributed Output Wireless Communications";
[0030] U.S. Patent No. 7,885,354, issued Feb. 8, 201 1, entitled "System
and
Method For Enhancing Near Vertical Incidence Skywave ("NVIS") Communication
Using Space-Time Coding."
[0031] U.S. Patent No. 7,71 1,030, issued May 4, 2010, entitled "System and
Method For Spatial-Multiplexed Tropospheric Scatter Communications";
[0032] U.S. Patent No. 7,636,381 , issued Dec. 22, 2009, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[0033] U.S. Patent No. 7,633,994, issued Dec. 15, 2009, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[0034] U.S. Patent No. 7,599,420, issued Oct. 6, 2009, entitled "System and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[0035] U.S. Patent No. 7,418,053, issued Aug. 26, 2008, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication".
3
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BACKGROUND
[0036] As wireless communications systems steadily grow in density,
placement of
radios becomes increasingly difficult. There are challenges in finding
physical locations
to hold radios, challenges in bringing backhaul and/or fronthaul ("fronthaul",
as used
herein, refers to a communications infrastructure that carries the radio
signal in some
form to a radiohead, as opposed to "backhaul", as used herein, which carries
user data
to the base stations which generate the radio waveform to carry the user
data). With
conventional cellular systems (e.g. LTE, UMTS) or conventional interference
avoidance
systems (e.g. Wi-Fi), to optimize performance and frequency reuse, base
station or
antenna planning requires placing radios in certain locations for coverage,
and avoiding
other locations to mitigate interference. Then, even assuming the technical
issues can
be overcome, there are local and national government restrictions on radio and
antenna
placement, for example, out of concern for the visual appearance of the radios
and
antennas. Even if radios or antennas meet standards for government approval,
the
permitting process may be very slow, sometimes taking years to have antenna
deployments approved.
[0037] Throughout the history of radio communications, there have been a
vast
number of different approaches to deploying radios and antennas, depending on
the
type of radio technology (e.g. satellite, mobile, television, etc.), the
frequencies of the
transmissions (e.g. HF, VHF, UHF, microwave, millimeter wave, etc.), and the
directionality of the transmission (e.g. omnidirectional, high gain, or narrow
beam, etc.).
Also, aesthetic considerations have often come into play, from simple efforts
like
painting radios and antennas to match their surroundings, to elaborate efforts
like
fashioning cellular towers to look like palm trees.
[0038] Because achieving optimal performance in conventional cellular and
interference-avoiding networks requires radios and antennas to be placed
according to
a specific plan (e.g. not too far apart such that coverage is lost, and not
too close
together to avoid intercell interference), these requirements often clash with
other
constraints, such as the availability of mounting solutions at the sites and
backhaul
and/or fronthaul. And, in many situations (e.g. a historic building) no radio
or antenna
solution is acceptable because the government will not permit anything mounted
on or
near the building that changes the appearance of the building.
[0039] Radios and antennas have been placed on towers, rooftops, utility
poles, on
power lines and strung between utility poles. Radios and antennas have been
placed at
indoor locations in ceilings, on walls, on shelves, on tabletops, etc. Radios
have also
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been placed inside stadiums on their structural elements, under seats, etc.
Specialized
antennas such as "leaky feeders" (described below) have been placed in
tunnels. in
short, radios and antennas have been placed in any location imaginable.
[0040] Examples of prior art efforts to attach radios and antennas to power
lines,
include those disclosed in US 7,862,837, US 8,780,901 and US 2014/0286444, and
prior art efforts to attaching radios and antennas to utility poles include
those of the
Metricom Ricochet packet communication network, for example, as disclosed in
US
7,068,630.
[0041] A utility pole 400 or 401 such as illustrated prior art Fig. 4 is
often divided into
two zones, a typically higher zone, which may be called the "supply space"
where
electrical power lines are carried on cables, such as in the area of crossarm
403. A
typically lower zone, where it is safe for workers to attach communications
cables and
equipment may be called the "communications space", with communications cables
and
equipment illustrated in this zone in prior art Fig. 5, at the height of
crossarm 402.
[0042] Some prior art systems place the radios and/or antennas in the
supply zone
on the utility poles, as shown in Fig. 4 with radios and/or antennas 4 10 and
4 11, and/or
place radios and/or antennas on the power lines themselves as shown with
radios
and/or antennas 420 and 421 .
[0043] Some prior art systems place the radios and/or antennas in the
communications zone on the utility poles, as shown in Fig. 5 with radios
and/or
antennas 550 and 551 , and/or place radios and/or antennas on cables (often
communications cables) strung between utility poles as shown with radios
and/or
antennas 540 and 541 . Backhaul or fronthaul may be carried on communications
cables
531 , which typically are electrical (e.g. copper) or fiber, are often
protected by insulation
or an outer duct 530, and often derive structural support from a mechanically
strong
cable 532, often made of braided steel. Sometimes radios are attached to the
pole
and/or cabling and then they are coupled to antennas that are either on the
pole or the
cabling, or embedded in the radios, as shown in Fig. 5. In some prior art
systems,
radios derive power from the power lines, often through a step-down power
supply 561
and measured by a power meter 560 so that usage cost can be assessed by the
electric
utility providing power. Radios such as 550 and 551 can also be used for
backhaul or
fronthaul.
[0044] Fig. 6 shows a prior art configuration with antennas and/or radios
on lamp
posts. Lamp posts, as used herein are utility poles that do not have aerial
power or
communications cables between them. The antennas 601 and 602 might be coupled
to
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radios 611 and 612, or they may be in the same enclosure with the radio and
thus there
is no need for a separate radio 6 1 1 or 612. The backhaul or fronthaul
cabling (e.g.
copper or fiber) may be conveyed through an underground conduit 630
(illustrated with
dotted lines to indicate the conduit is underground and not visible) or the
backhaul or
fronthaul can be carried through a wireless link between the lamp posts. If
the backhaul
or fronthaul is underground, then it is typically conveyed from the
underground conduit
through the interior of the lamp post (e.g. if it is metal or hollow) or, as
illustrated with
621 and 622, through a conduit or duct from the ground up the side of the lamp
post,
either through a radio 611 and 612, or directly to the top of the lamp post.
The approach
of using underground conduit for backhaul or fronthaul as illustrated in Fig.
6 for lamp
posts can also be applied to the utility poles illustrated in Figures 4 and 5,
with cabling
from underground conduit either conveyed through the interior of the utility
pole (e.g. if it
is metal and hollow) or through a conduit or duct from the ground up the side
of the
utility pole.
[0046] Backhaul and/or fronthaul (whether to radios on utility poles or
radios placed
elsewhere) can be provided to radios over a wide range of media, including
coax, fiber,
line-of-sight wireless, non-line-of-sight wireless, etc. A wide range of
protocols can be
used over the media, including Ethernet, Common Public Radio Interface
("CPRI"),
Multimedia over Coax Alliance ("MoCA"), Data Over Cable Service Interface
Specification ("DOCSIS"), Broadband over Power Line ("BPL"), etc.
[0046] A wide
range of switches, splitters, hubs can be used for distributing wireline
(e.g. copper, fiber, etc.) communications. Analog splitters are often used to
distribute
coaxial connections (e.g. to distribute DOCSIS and/or MoCA data). Electric
outlet
couplings can be used to distribute BPL. Ethernet switches and hubs are often
used to
distribute copper and fiber Ethernet connections. Many radios
made for home and
commercial applications have built-in switches as a convenience to pass-
through
Ethernet, so that if the radio is plugged into an Ethernet cable, there is
another Ethernet
jack on the radio that can be used to plug in other devices.
[0047] Another
prior art technology that has been used for distributing wireless
connectivity down a cable is what is called a "leaky feeder" or a "leaky
cable". A leaky
feeder is a cable that carries wireless signals, but deliberately leaks and
absorbs
wireless radiation through the sides of the cable. An exemplary prior art
leaky cable 700
is illustrated in Fig. 7. It is very similar to a coaxial cable in that there
is an insulating and
protective jacket 701 , an outer conductor 702 (e.g. copper foil), a
dielectric 704 (e.g.
dielectric foam), and an inner conductor 705 (e.g. a copper wire). But, unlike
a coaxial
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cable, there are apertures 703 in the outer conductor 702 that allow the
wireless
radiation to propagate out of and into the leaky feeder 700.
[0048] Leaky feeders are often used in tunnels or shafts (e.g. mining
tunnels,
subway tunnels) where they are attached to the side of the tunnel or shaft to
run along
the length of the tunnel or shaft. This way, regardless of where a user is
located in the
tunnel or shaft, the user will have wireless connectivity to a nearby part of
the leaky
feeder. Because leaky feeders leak wireless energy, they often have radio
frequency
amplifiers inserted periodically to boost the signal power. If two or more
leaky feeders
are run together, then prior art MIMO techniques can be used to increase
capacity.
[0049] Leaky feeder deployment is convenient and fast in that it is like
deploying
cabling, with just amplifiers deployed periodically between lengths of leaky
feeder to
repeatedly restore the signal strength.
[0050] A fundamental limitation of leaky feeders is that the same channel
is shared
for the entire length of the leaky feeder cabling. Thus, a user at one end of
a leaky
feeder shares the channel with a user in the middle of the leaky feeder as
well as with a
user at the end of the leaky feeder. While this may be acceptable for
applications where
users are sparsely distributed along the length of the leaky feeder or there
is low data
capacity demand by users (e.g. for voice communications in a mining tunnel or
shaft), it
is not suited for applications where there is a high density of users and/or
high data
capacity demand by users since users throughout the entire length of the leaky
feeder
will be sharing the same channel, despite the fact they are very far from each
other.
Thus, while leaky feeders are convenient to deploy, since they are like
deploying
cabling with periodic amplifiers, to provide coverage their deployment works
against
densification.
[0051] Regardless of what prior techniques are used placing radios and/or
antennas
and how backhaul or fronthaul is provisioned, as noted, current wireless
systems are
faced with challenges of densification. There is not a good general-purpose
solution for
densification that provides highly efficient and reliable coverage and
service, is easily
and rapidly deployed, and avoids being unsightly and/or subject to government
restrictions. The below teachings address these issues.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0052] A better
understanding of the present invention can be obtained from the
following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
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[0053] FIG. 1 illustrates the general framework of a DIDO, now branded
pCellTM,
Radio Access Network (DRAN) and other multi-user multi-antenna system (MU-MAS)
networks,
[0054] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrates the protocol stack of a Virtual Radio
Instance
(VRI) consistent to the OSI model and LTE standard.
[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates adjacent DRANs to extend coverage in DIDO, now
branded
pCeIlTM, wireless networks and other MU-MAS networks.
[0056] Fig. 4 is a prior art illustration of utility poles with radios
and/or antennas in
the "supply space".
[0057] Fig. 5 is a prior art illustration of utility poles with radios
and/or antennas in
the "communications space".
[0058] Fig. 6 is a prior art illustration of lamp posts with radios and/or
antennas.
[0059] Fig. 7 is a prior art illustration of a leaky feeder.
[0060] Fig. 8a illustrates a coaxial cable embodiment of a radio daisy
chain.
[0061] Fig. 8b illustrates a twisted pair embodiment of a radio daisy
chain.
[0062] Fig. 8c illustrates a fiber embodiment of a radio daisy chain.
[0063] Fig. 8d illustrates a combined coaxial and twisted pair embodiment
of a radio
daisy chain.
[0064] Fig. 9a illustrates one embodiment of the architecture of a daisy
chain radio
illustrating the basic architecture.
[0065] Fig. 9b illustrates one embodiment of the architecture of a daisy
chain radio
illustrating timing distribution.
[0066] Fig. 9c illustrates one embodiment of the architecture of a daisy
chain radio
illustrating power distribution.
[0067] Fig. 9d
illustrates one embodiment of the architecture of a daisy chain radio
illustrating RE distribution.
[0068] Fig. 9e
illustrates one embodiment of the architecture of a daisy chain radio
illustrating a daisy chain network implemented through a splitter.
[0069] Fig. 10a
illustrates one embodiment of a daisy chain radio with a sleeve or
duct.
[0070] Fig. 10b
illustrates one embodiment of a daisy chain radio with a sleeve or
duct with one or more pass-through cables.
[0071] Fig. 10c
illustrates one embodiment of a daisy chain radio with a sleeve or
duct with one or more pass-through cables and a support strand.
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[0072] Fig. 10d illustrates one embodiment of daisy chain radios with
sleeves or
ducts with one or more pass-through cables and a support strand with data
and/or
power couplers.
[0073] Fig. 11 is an illustration of utility poles with daisy chain radios.
[0074] Fig. 12 is an illustration of lamp posts with daisy chain radios.
[0075] Fig. 13 is an illustration of a building with daisy chain radios.
[0076] Fig. 14 is an illusteation of daisy chain radios in non-straight
deployment
patterns.
[0077] Fig. 15 is an illustration of daisy chain radios in an array.
[0078] Fig. 16 is an illustration of daisy chain radios in deployed in a
Cloud-Radio
Access Network.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0079] One solution to overcome many of the above prior art limitations is
to daisy-
chain network and power cables and small distributed radioheads utilized in a
multi-user
multi-antenna system (MU-MAS). By making the radioheads extremely small, they
can
be physically no larger than the cabling, thus making the daisy-chained radio
installation
similar to a cable installation. Not only is a cable installation often much
simpler than
antenna or radio installations, but cable deployments often require no
government
permits, or in most cases they are much easier to gain permit approval than
deployments of large antennas or large radio enclosures. Also, in terms of
aesthetics,
cables can often be partially or completely hidden from sight, whereas it may
be more
difficult or impractical to hide a conventional radio and/or antenna.
[0080] Further, in the below detailed embodiments spectral efficiency can
be vastly
increased by implementing one or both networks using Distributed-Input
Distributed-
Output ("DIDO") technology and other MU-MAS technology as described in the
following patents, patent applications and provisional applications, all of
which are
assigned the assignee of the present patent and are incorporated by reference.
These
patents, applications and provisional applications are sometimes referred to
collectively
herein as the "Related Patents and Applications."
[0081] U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/380,126, entitled
"Systems and
Methods for Mitigating Interference within Actively Used Spectrum".
[0082] U.S. Application Provisional No. 62/380,126, entitled "Systems and
Methods
for Mitigating Interference within Actively Used Spectrum".
[0083] U.S. Application Serial No. 14/672,014, entitled "Systems And
Methods For
Concurrent Spectrum Usage Within Actively Used Spectrum".
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[0084] U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/980,479, filed April 16,
2014,
entitled, "Systems and Methods for Concurrent Spectrum Usage Within Actively
Used
Spectrum".
[0086] U.S. Application Serial No. 14/61 1,565, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Mapping Virtual Radio Instances into Physical Areas of Coherence in
Distributed
Antenna Wireless Systems"
[0086] U.S. Application Serial No. 14/086,700, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0087] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/844,355, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Radio Frequency Calibration Exploiting Channel Reciprocity in Distributed
Input
Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[0088] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,984, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0089] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,971 , entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0090] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/797,950, entitled "Systems and
Methods for
Exploiting Inter-cell Multiplexing Gain in Wireless Cellular Systems Via
Distributed Input
Distributed Output Technology"
[0091] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/233,006, entitled "System and Methods
for
planned evolution and obsolescence of multiuser spectrum"
[0092] U.S. Application Serial No. 13/232,996, entitled "Systems and
Methods to
Exploit Areas of Coherence in Wireless Systems"
[0093] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,989, entitled "System And Method
For
Managing Handoff Of A Client Between Different Distributed-Input-Distributed-
Output
(DIDO) Networks Based On Detected Velocity Of The Client"
[0094] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,988, entitled "Interference
Management,
Handoff, Power Control And Link Adaptation In Distributed-Input Distributed-
Output
(DIDO) Communication Systems"
[0095] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,975, entitled "System And Method
For
Link adaptation In DIDO Multicarrier Systems"
[0096] U.S.
Application Serial No. 12/802,974, entitled "System And Method For
Managing Inter-Cluster Handoff Of Clients Which Traverse Multiple DIDO
Clusters"
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[0097] U.S. Application Serial No. 12/802,958, entitled "System And Method
For
Power Control And Antenna Grouping In A Distributed-Input-Distributed-Output
(DIDO)
Network"
[0098] U.S. Patent No. 9,685,997, entitled "Systems and Methods to enhance
spatial diversity in distributed-input distributed-output wireless systems"
[0099] U.S. Patent No. 9,386,465, issued July 5, 201 6 entitled "System and
Method
For Distributed Antenna Wireless Communications"
[00100] U.S. Patent No. 9,369,888, issued June 14, 2016 entitled "Systems
And
Methods To Coordinate Transmissions In Distributed Wireless Systems Via User
Clustering"
[00101] U.S. Patent No. 9,312,929, issued April 12, 2016, entitled "System
and
Methods to Compensate for Doppler Effects in Distributed-Input Distributed
Output
Systems"
[00102] U.S. Patent No. 8,989,155, issued March 24, 2015, entitled "Systems
and
Methods for Wireless Backhaul in Distributed-Input Distributed-Output Wireless
Systems"
[00103] U.S. Patent No. 8,971 ,380, issued March 3, 201 5, entitled "System
and
Method for Adjusting DIDO Interference Cancellation Based On Signal Strength
Measurements
[00104] U.S. Patent No. 8,654,81 5, issued February 18, 2014, entitled
"System and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[00105] U.S. Patent No. 8,571 ,086, issued October 29, 2013, entitled
"System and
Method for DIDO Precoding Interpolation in Multicarrier Systems"
[00106] U.S. Patent No. 8,542,763, issued September 24, 201 3, entitled
"Systems
and Methods To Coordinate Transmissions In Distributed Wireless Systems Via
User
Clustering"
[00107] U.S. Patent No. 8,428,1 62, issued April 23, 2013, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communications"
[00108] U.S. Patent No. 8,170,081 , issued May 1, 2012, entitled "System
And
Method For Adjusting DIDO Interference Cancellation Based On Signal Strength
Measurements"
[00109] U.S. Patent No. 8,160,121 , issued Apr. 17, 2012, entitled, "System
and
Method For Distributed Input-Distributed Output Wireless Communications";
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[00110] U.S. Patent No. 7,885,354, issued Feb. 8, 201 1, entitled "System
and
Method for Enhancing Near Vertical Incidence Skywave ("NVIS") Communication
Using
Space-Time Coding."
[00111] U.S. Patent No. 7,71 1,030, issued May 4, 2010, entitled "System
and
Method For Spatial-Multiplexed Tropospheric Scatter Communications";
[00112] U.S. Patent No. 7,636,381 , issued Dec. 22, 2009, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[00113] U.S. Patent No. 7,633,994, issued Dec. 15, 2009, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[00114] U.S. Patent No. 7,599,420, issued Oct. 6, 2009, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication";
[00115] U.S. Patent No. 7,418,053, issued Aug. 26, 2008, entitled "System
and
Method for Distributed Input Distributed Output Wireless Communication".
1. Systems and Methods for Distributing Radio Heads
1.1 A MU-MAS System Improved by Embodiments of the Present Invention
[00116] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are improvements
to
multi-user multi-antenna systems described in co-pending U.S. Application
Serial No.
14/61 1,565, entitled "Systems and Methods for Mapping Virtual Radio Instances
into
Physical Areas of Coherence in Distributed Antenna Wireless Systems" (of which
this
application is a continuation-in-part) and other Related Patents and
Applications, as well
as in their counterparts filed in other countries. Figures 1, 2 and 3 and the
following six
paragraphs describing them, correspond to Figures 1, 2 and 3 and paragraphs
[0074-
0080] of U.S. Application Serial No. 14/61 1,565 as its counterparts filed in
other
countries.
[00117] The presently preferred embodiments are systems and methods to
improve systems and methods to deliver multiple simultaneous non-interfering
data
streams within the same frequency band between a network and a plurality of
areas of
coherence in a wireless link through Virtual Radio Instances (VRIs). In one
embodiment
the system is a multiuser multiple antenna system (MU-MAS) as depicted in
Figure 1.
The color-coded (using patterns instead of colors) units in Figure 1 show one-
to-one
mapping between the data sources 101 ,the VRIs 106 and the areas of coherence
103
as described hereafter.
[00118] In Figure 1, the data sources 101 are data files or streams
carrying web
content or files in a local or remote server, such as text, images, sounds,
videos or
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combinations of those. One or multiple data files or streams are sent or
received
between the network 102 and every area of coherence 103 in the wireless link
110. In
one embodiment the network is the Internet or any wireline or wireless local
area
network.
[00119] The area of coherence is a volume in space where the waveforms from
different antennas of the MU-MAS add up coherently in a way that only the data
output
112 of one VRI is received within that area of coherence, without any
interference from
other data output from other VRIs sent simultaneously over the same wireless
link. In
the present application we use the term "area of coherence" to describe
volumes of
coherence or personal cells (e.g., "pCe//sTM" 103) as described in previous
patent
application [U.S. Application Serial No. 13/232,996, entitled "Systems and
Methods to
Exploit Areas of Coherence in Wireless Systems"]. In one embodiment, the areas
of
coherence correspond to the locations of the user equipment (UE) 111 or
subscribers of
the wireless network, such that every subscriber is associated with one or
multiple data
sources 101. The areas of coherence may vary in size and shape depending on
propagation conditions as well as type of MU-MAS precoding techniques employed
to
generate them. in one embodiment of the invention, the MU-MAS precoder
dynamically
adjusts size and shape of the areas of coherence to adapt to the changing
propagation
conditions while delivering contents to the users with good link reliability.
[00120] The data sources 101 are first sent through the Network 102 to the
DIDO
Radio Access Network (DRAN) 104. Then, the DRAN translates the data files or
streams into a data format that can be received by the UEs and sends the data
files or
streams simultaneously to the plurality of areas of coherence, such that every
UE
receives its own data files or streams without interference from other data
files or
streams sent to other UEs. The DRAN consists of a gateway 105 as the interface
between the network and the VRIs 106. The VRIs translate packets being routed
by the
gateway into data streams 112, either as raw data, or in a packet or frame
structure,
that are fed to a MU-MAS baseband unit. In one embodiment, the VRI comprises
the
open systems interconnection (OSI) protocol stack consisting of several
layers:
application, presentation, session, transport, network, data link and
physical, as
depicted in Figure 2a. In another embodiment, the VRI only comprises a subset
of the
OSI layers.
[00121] In another embodiment, the VRIs are defined from different wireless
standards. By way of example, but not limitation, a first VRI consists of the
protocol
stack from the GSM standard, a second VRI from the 3G standard, a third VRI
from
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HSPA+ standard, a fourth VRI from LTE standard, as fifth VRI from LTE-A
standard and
a sixth VRI from the Wi-Fi standard. In an exemplary embodiment, the VRIs
comprise
the control-plane or user-plane protocol stack defined by the LTE standards.
The user-
plane protocol stack is shown in Figure 2b. Every UE 202 communicates with its
own
VRI 204 through the PHY, MAC, RLC and PDCP layers, with the gateway 203
through
the IP layer and with the network 205 through the application layer. For the
control-
plane protocol stack, the UE also communicates directly with the mobility
management
entity (MME) through the NAS (as defined in the LTE standard stack) layer.
[00122] The Virtual Connection Manager (VCM) 107 is responsible for
assigning the
PHY layer identity of the UEs (e.g., cell-specific radio network temporary
identifier,
RNTI), authentication and mobility of the VRI and UE. The data streams 112 at
the
output of the VRIs are fed to the Virtual Radio Manager (VRM) 108. The VRM
comprises a scheduler unit (that schedules DL (downlink) and UL (uplink)
packets for
different UEs), a baseband unit (e.g., comprising of FEC encoder/decoder,
modulator/demodulator, resource grid builder) and a MU-MAS baseband processor
(comprising of precoding methods). In one embodiment, the data streams 112 are
I/Q
samples at the output of the PHY layer in Figure 2b that are processed by the
MU-MAS
baseband processor. In a different embodiment, the data streams 112 are MAC,
RLC or
PDCP packets sent to a scheduler unit that forwards them to a baseband unit.
The
baseband unit converts packets into I/Q fed to the MU-MAS baseband processor.
[00123] The MU-MAS baseband processor is the core of the VRM that converts
the
M I/Q samples from the M VRIs into N data streams 113 sent to N access points
(APs)
109. In one embodiment, the data streams 113 are I/Q samples of the N
waveforms
transmitted over the wireless link 110 from the APs 109. In this embodiment
the AP
consists of analog-to-digital/digital-to-analog ("ADC/DAC"), radio frequency
("RF") chain
and antenna. In a different embodiment, the data streams 113 are bits of
information
and MU-MAS precoding information that are combined at the APs to generate the
N
waveforms sent over the wireless link 110. In this embodiment every AP is
equipped
with a central processing unit ("CPU"), digital signal processor ("DSP")
and/or system-
on-a-chip ("SoC") to carry out additional baseband processing before the
ADC/DAC
units.
1.2 Radios daisy-chained over coaxial cable
[00124] Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d show several preferred embodiments of the
present invention. Figure 8a illustrates one embodiment in which radio 801 is
a wireless
transceiver. Each end of radio 801 has a connector (e.g. without limitation, F
type, BNC,
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SMA, etc.) to which can be coupled to coaxial cable (e.g. without limitation,
RG-6, RG-
59, triaxial, twinaxial, semi-rigid, rigid, 50 ohm, 75 ohm, etc.) 841 through
connector
845 on the left and can be coupled to coaxial cable 842 through connector 846
on the
right. A smaller illustration of radio 801 is shown below the larger
illustration. As can be
seen in this smaller illustration (with most details removed), radio 801 can
be daisy-
chained through coaxial cable 841 with radio 800 on the left and daisy-chained
through
coaxial cable 842 on the right with radio 802. Radio 802 is, in turn, daisy-
chained with
radio 803 on the right. in this illustration, radio 803 is shown at the end of
the daisy
chain. Radio 800 is shown at the start of the daisy chain with coaxial cable
840
available for connections to, without limitation, more radios, power, data
connections,
networks, computing resources and/or RF signals, and/or other digital or
analog signals.
The radios 800, 801 , 802, 803 and/or additional radios coupled to this daisy-
chain may
be radios of largely same or similar structure and/or configuration, or they
may be quite
different in structure and/or configuration.
[00125] The coaxial
cable daisy chain can use any standard or proprietary network
protocol including but not limited to, MoCA, Ethernet and/or DOCSIS, etc.
[00126] Turning
again to the larger illustration (with details) of radio 801 above the
daisy chain, in one embodiment radio 801 has one or more antennas 890 that may
be
internal to radio 801 enclosure or external to it. The antenna(s) can be any
type of
antenna, including without limitation patch antenna, dipole, monopole, printed
circuit
board ("PCB") antenna, yagi, etc. In one embodiment there is a single antenna
890. In
another embodiment there is more than one antenna 890, and another embodiment
at
least two antennas 890 are cross-polarized relative to each other. In another
embodiment, antenna or antennas 890 are external to radio 801 and are coupled
to one
or more connectors 891 , which may be a coaxial connector or other conductive
connector, or may be through a non-conductive connector, including without
limitation,
an RF or inductive connection. An external antenna may also be coupled to
radio 801
without coupling through a connector, including without limitation, via a
fixed wired
connection.
[00127] In one
embodiment, radio 801 receives power from an external power source
coupled through one or both coaxial cables 841 or 842, in either DC or AC
power form.
In another embodiment, radio 801 receives power from an external power source
coupled to connector 892, which may be a connector of any type, including
without
limitation a DC or AC power connector (e.g. EIAJ-01 , EIAJ-02, EIAJ-03, EIAJ-
04, EIAJ-
05, Molex connector, etc.). In another embodiment, radio 801 receives power
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conductively without a connector, including without limitation through a wired
connection. In another embodiment, radio 801 receives power wirelessly,
including
without limitation receiving power wirelessly through a rectifying antenna,
through an
inductive coupling, through antenna 890, through an external antenna, through
a
photovoltaic cell, or through other wireless transmission means.
[00128] In one
embodiment, radio 801 receives and/or transmits timing, calibration
and/or analog or digital signals (collectively "Additional Signals" coupled
through one or
more connectors 893. The timing signals may include, without limitation,
clock, pulse
per second TPS", synchronization, and/or Global Positioning Satellite ("GPS")
signals.
The calibration signals may include, without limitation, one or more of power
level
information, channel state information, power information, RF channel
information,
and/or pre-distortion information in analog and/or digital form. In one
embodiment, these
Additional Signals are received and/or transmitted wirelessly. In one
embodiment, these
Additional Signals are received and/or transmitted over coaxial cables 841
and/or 842.
In one embodiment, these Additional Signals are transmitted and/or are
received from
radio 801 . In one embodiment, the Addition Signals are transmitted and/or
received
from one or more external devices. In one embodiment, the one or more external
devices are one or more additional radios in the MU-MAS. In one embodiment,
the one
or more external devices are one or more user devices in the MU-MAS. In one
embodiment, the one or more external devices are one or more devices that are
not are
not radios in the MU-MAS.
1.3 Radios daisy-chained over twisted pair cable
[00129] Figure 8b
illustrates one embodiment in which radio 8 ii is a wireless
transceiver similar to radio 801 disclosed above, except each end of radio 8
11 has
network connectors 855 and 856 (e.g. without limitation, RJ-45, RJ-1 1
connectors)
which can be coupled to twisted pair cables (e.g. without limitation, Category
3,
Category 4, Category 5, Category 5e, Category 6, Category 6a, telephone wires,
etc.)
which would then connect to twisted pair cable 851 through connector 855 on
the left
and can be coupled to twisted pair cable 852 through connector 856 on the
right.
[00130] The twisted
pair cable daisy chain can use any standard or proprietary
network protocol including but not limited to, Ethernet.
[00131] A smaller
illustration of radio 811 is shown below the larger illustration. As
can be seen in this smaller illustration (with most details removed), radio 8
11 can be
daisy-chained through twisted pair cable 851 with radio 8 10 on the left and
daisy-
chained through twisted pair cable 852 on the right with radio 812. Radio 812
is, in turn,
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daisy-chained with radio 813 on the right. In this illustration, radio 813 is
shown at the
end of the daisy chain. Radio 810 is shown at the start of the daisy chain
with twisted
pair cable 850 available for connections to, without limitation, more radios,
power, data
connections, networks, computing resources and/or RF signals, and/or other
digital or
analog signals. The radios 810, 811, 812, 813 and/or additional radios coupled
to this
daisy-chain may be radios of largely same or similar structure and/or
configuration, or
they may be quite different in structure and/or configuration.
[00132] Turning again to the larger illustration (with details) of radio
811 above the
daisy chain, it has connectors and features similar to those described for
radio 801 ,
above. In other embodiments radio 8 ii has one or more antennas 890 that may
internal
to the radio 8 ii enclosure or external to it, and one or more antenna
connectors 891 as
detailed relative to radio 801 , above.
[00133] In one embodiment radio 811 receives power from an external power
source
coupled through one or both twisted pair cables 851 or 852, in ether DC or AC
power
form. In other embodiments radio 811 receives power from an external power
source
coupled to connector 892 and/or wirelessly as detailed relative to radio 801 ,
above.
[00134] In one embodiment radio 8 ii receives and/or transmits Additional
Signals
coupled through one of more connectors 812. In one embodiment these Additional
Signals are received and/or transmitted wirelessly. In one embodiment these
Additional
Signals are received and/or transmitted over twisted pair 851 and/or 852. In
one
embodiment these Additional Signals are transmitted and/or are received from
radio
8 11. In other embodiments the Additional Signals are transmitted and/or
received from
one or more external devices as detailed relative to radio 801 above.
1.4 Radios daisy-chained over fiber cable
[00135] Figure 8c illustrates one embodiment in which radio 821 is a
wireless
transceiver similar to radios 801 and 8 11 disclosed above, except each end of
radio 821
has network connectors 865 and 866 (e.g. without limitation, ST, DC, SC, LC,
MU, MT-
RJ, MPO connectors) which can be coupled to fiber cables (e.g. without
limitation,
multimode, single mode, etc.), which would then connect to either fiber cable
861
through connector 865 on the left and can be coupled to fiber cable 862
through
connector 866 on the right.
[00136] The fiber cable daisy chain can use any standard or proprietary
network
protocol including but not limited to Ethernet and/or Common Public Radio
Interface
("CPRI"), etc.
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[00137] A smaller illustration of radio 821 is shown below the larger
illustration. As
can be seen in this smaller illustration (with most details removed), radio
821 can be
daisy-chained through fiber cable 861 with radio 820 on the left and daisy-
chained
through fiber cable 863 on the right with radio 822. And, radio 822 is, in
turn, daisy-
chained with radio 823 on the right. In this illustration, radio 823 is shown
at the end of
the daisy chain. Radio 820 is shown at the start of the daisy chain with fiber
cable 860
available for connections to, without limitation, more radios, power, data
connections,
networks, computing resources and/or RF signals, and/or other digital or
analog signals.
The radios 820, 821 , 822, 823 and/or additional radios coupled to this daisy-
chain may
be radios of largely same or similar structure and/or configuration, or they
may be quite
different in structure and/or configuration.
[00138] Turning again to the larger illustration (with details) of radio
821 above the
daisy chain, it has connectors and features similar to those described for
radio 801 and
811, above. In other embodiments radio 811 has one or more antennas 890 that
may
be internal to the radio 8 ii enclosure or external to it, and one or more
antenna
connectors 891 as detailed relative to radio 801 , above.
[00139] In one embodiment radio 821 receives power from an external power
source
coupled as transmitted light through one or both fiber cables 861 or 862 and
converted
to electric power (e.g. without limitation, via a photovoltaic cell or a
rectifying antenna
responsive to light wavelengths). In other embodiments radio 821 receives
power from
an external power source coupled to connector 892 and/or wirelessly as
detailed
relative to radio 801 , above.
[00140] in one embodiment radio 821 receives and/or transmits Additional
Signals
coupled through one of more connectors 893. In one embodiment these Additional
Signals are received and/or transmitted wirelessly. In one embodiment these
Additional
Signals are received and/or transmitted over fiber cable 861 and/or 862. In
one
embodiment these Additional Signals are transmitted and/or are received from
radio
821 . in other embodiments the Additional Signals are transmitted and/or
received from
one or more external devices as detailed relative to radio 801 above.
1.5 Radios daisy-chained using more than one type of cable
[00141] In comparing radios 801 , 811 and 821 we can see that they are
structurally
quite similar, with a distinction being that the daisy-chain cables are
coaxial cables in
the case of radio 801 , twisted pair in case of radio 811 and fiber in the
case of 821 .
Comparing coaxial cable and twisted pair cable, they have many similarities in
terms of
electrical characteristics including, without limitation, the ability to carry
DC or AC power
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and the ability to carry RE signals. Depending on the particular type of
coaxial or twisted
pair cable, they can differ in terms of electrical or RE characteristics,
without limitation,
in their efficiency in carrying different DC or AC voltage or current, their
efficiency in
carrying different RE radiation wavelengths, their cable leakage in different
RE radiation
wavelengths, their impedance at different frequencies, their resistance to DC,
the
number of conductors in a cable, and the signal power they can carry.
[00142] in comparing fiber with twisted pair or coaxial cable, the primary
difference is
that fiber cable carries light radiation wavelengths and is not conductive for
carrying
electrical power or RE radiation wavelengths (e.g. at wavelengths below the
light
radiation wavelengths the fiber is designed to carry). Different types of
fiber carry
different light radiation wavelengths with different characteristics, but as a
data transport
medium, fiber cable typically suffers less loss in signal quality (e.g.
without limitation,
signal-to-noise ratio ("SNR")) for a given distance than coaxial or twisted
pair cable,
making it feasible to maintain high signal quality for long distances that
would be
impractical for coaxial or twisted pair cable. Additionally, fiber generally
can carry larger
bandwidth and higher data rate signals in practice than coaxial or twisted
paid cables.
Fiber cables can be fabricated in the same cable sleeve with a conductive
cable (e.g.
without limitation, coaxial, twisted pair, or other conductive cable), so that
conductively-
coupled power and/or RF radiation wavelengths can be carried simultaneously
with the
light radiation on the fiber. Or, fiber cables can be tied or wrapped together
with a
conductive cable at the time of deployment to achieve a similar result.
[00143] Also,
different specific cables have different physical characteristics that may
be relevant in different deployment scenarios. They vary in thickness, weight,
pliability,
durability, ability to retard fire, cost, etc. The choice of which type of
cabling (coaxial,
twisted pair or fiber cable) used, and within each kind of cabling, the
specific choice of
each type of cabling (e.g. without limitation, RG-6, RG-89, Category 5e,
Category 6,
multimode single mode, etc.) and connector (without limitation, F-type, BNC,
RJ-45, RJ-
11, ST, DC) used to daisy-chain radios 801 , 8 11 and/or 821 may be determined
by a
large number of factors including, without limitation, what cabling is already
in place at
the site of installation; the cost of cabling; the length of the cabling; the
size, cost, power
consumption, heat dissipation, performance characteristics of the radio 801 ,
811, 821 or
831 ; aesthetic considerations; environmental considerations; regulatory
requirements;
etc.
[00144] In some
situations, characteristics of more than one type of cable for daisy-
chaining may be desirable for a given radio. In one embodiment, illustrated in
Figure
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8d, radio 831 uses two or more types of cables for daisy-chaining. Radio 831
has two
different types of connectors on each side to accommodate two different types
of cable,
connectors 875 and 876 are coaxial cable connectors and connectors 885 and 886
are
twisted pair connectors. Coaxial cable 871 and twisted pair cable 881 are
connected to
the left side and coaxial cable 872 and twisted pair cable 882 are connected
to the right
side. In another embodiment, one or the other connectors is a fiber connector
to which a
fiber cable is attached. in another embodiment, one, some or all of the daisy
chain
connectors on radios 801 , 8 ii, 821 , or 831 are for different types of
cable. in another
embodiment one, some or all of the daisy chain connectors on radios 801 , 8
11, 821 , or
831 is a connector for a module with its own physical layer transceiver and
connector,
such as, without limitation, a small form-factor pluggable ("SFP") module, to
which can
be connected a twisted pair, fiber, coaxial or some other form of cable.
[00145] A smaller illustration of radio 831 is shown below the larger
illustration. As
can be seen in this smaller illustration (with most details removed), radio
831 can be
daisy-chained through cables 871 and 881 with radio 830 on the left and daisy-
chained
through cables 872 and 882 on the right with radio 832. And, radio 832 is, in
turn, daisy-
chained with radio 833 on the right. In this illustration, radio 833 is shown
at the end of
the daisy chain. Radio 830 is shown at the start of the daisy chain with
cables 870 and
880 available for connections to, without limitation, more radios, power, data
connections, networks, computing resources and/or RE signals, and/or other
digital or
analog signals. The radios 830, 831 , 832, 833 and/or additional radios
coupled to this
daisy-chain may be radios of largely same or similar structure and/or
configuration, or
they may be quite different in structure and/or configuration. Similarly,
radios 801 , 811,
821 or 831 with daisy chain connector embodiments such as those described in
the
preceding paragraph can be daisy chained together. Antenna couplings (such as
those
described above with antenna 890, connector 891 or as described through other
means), power couplings (such as those described above with connector 892 or
as
described through other means), and/or Additional Signal couplings (such as
those
described above with connector 893 or as described through other means) are
applicable to radios 801 , 811, 821 or 831 with daisy chain connector
embodiments such
as those described in the preceding paragraph.
2. Daisy-chain radio architectural embodiments
[00146] Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e illustrate several embodiments of
radios 801 ,
811, 821 , and 831 of Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d. Each of the embodiments
illustrated in
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each of Figure 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e is applicable to any of the radios 801 ,
811, 821
and 831 that has the elements illustrated in a given figure.
[00147] Figure 9a illustrates a radio that can be inserted into a network
daisy chain
that is coupled through network links to a data center or other computing
and/or data
resource (detailed further below in connection with Figure 16). Two network
physical
interfaces (PHYs) are illustrated in Figure 9a, with PHY 901 coupled to
upstream
network 900 (by "upstream" meaning closer in the daisy chain to the data
center) and
PHY 901 connected to downstream network 906 (by "downstream" meaning further
in
the daisy chain to the data center). PHY 901 is coupled to network switch 903
though
physical interconnect 902 (e.g. without limitation, bus, serial interconnect,
etc.) and PHY
906 is coupled to network switch 903 through physical interconnect 904.
Network switch
903 can be configured to either route data upstream or downstream between the
PHYs
905 and 901 (thus enabling a network "pass through") and/or can be configured
to route
some or all data through physical interconnect to baseband processing and
control unit
910. In one embodiment the switch is configured for a particular routing of
some or all
data. In another embodiment the switch is configured to route data based on
source or
destination address associated with the data (e.g. without limitation, IP
address) of the
data.
[00148] Network switch 903 is coupled to baseband processing and control
unit 910,
which processes data packets to/from network switch 903 either as data (e.g.
without
limitation, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit, 32-bit or any length data samples; fixed-
length numeric
values, floating-point numeric values, compressed numeric values, bit-coded
numeric
values) to be streamed (e.g. without limitation, transferred as successive
samples)
to/from the A-to-D/D-to-A unit 9 ii, or uses them as control data.
[00149] Data to be streamed to/from unit 910 are either streamed directly
without
further processing to/from unit 910 or additional processing is applied to the
data
stream. Additional processing may include, without limitation, buffering the
data; holding
the data to be released with a specific trigger or timing event; compressing
and/or
decompressing the data; filtering the data through, without limitation, finite
impulse
response (FIR) or other filters; resampling the data to a different clock rate
either higher
or lower than the received clock rate, or with a different time reference;
scaling the
amplitude of the data; limiting that data to maximum values; deleting data
samples from
the stream; inserting data sample sequences in the stream; scrambling or
descrambling
the data; or encrypting or decrypting the data; etc. Unit 910 may also include
either
dedicated hardware or a computing means to implement, without limitation, part
or all of
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the operations referenced in this paragraph and/or part or all of the function
of a
wireless protocol, which it may implement while awaiting, sending or receiving
data
(either to/from network switch 903 or to/from unit 9 12 and after A-to-D/D-to-
A
conversion in unit 9 1 1).
[00150] Data to/from unit 903 may be used as control data, without
limitation, to send
and receive messages to/from any subsystem in the radio, both within unit 910
and also
to/from other units, for example, without limitation, as shown with
interconnect 913
connecting to/from unit 910 and RF processing unit 912. The messages may be
used
for any purpose whatsoever including, without limitation, configuring any of
the
subsystems in the radio; reading the status of any subsystems in the radio;
sending or
receiving timing information; rerouting data streams; controlling power
levels; changing
sample rates; changing transmit/receive frequencies; changing bandwidth;
changing
duplexing; switching between transmit and receive mode; controlling filtering;
configuring the network mode; loading an image to or reading an image from a
memory
subsystem; or loading an image to or reading an image from a field-
programmable gate
array (FPGA), etc.
[00151] The A-to-D/D-to-A unit 911 converts digital data samples received
from unit
910 to one or more analog voltages and/or currents coupled to RF processing
unit 912
and converts one or more analog voltages and/or currents from unit 912 to
digital data
samples send to unit 910. Unit 911 can be implemented as receiving data in
parallel or
serial form, with any data sample size and any data rate, either fixed or
configurable.
[00152] In the transmit path, the one or more analog voltages and/or
currents
received by the RF processing unit 912 may be coupled as RF signals directly
to the
one or more antenna outputs 914, or the signals may be used as one or more
baseband
signals that are modulated onto one or more carrier frequencies that are
synthesized by
the RF processing unit into an RF waveform, and then the modulated signals on
the
carrier frequencies are coupled to one or more antennas 914. The signals from
unit 9 10
may be in the form of, without limitation, baseband waveforms or baseband I/Q
waveforms.
[00153] In the receive path, received RF signals from the one or more
antennas 914
are either directly coupled as voltages and/or currents to unit 911, or the
signals are
demodulated from one or more carrier frequencies to either baseband waveforms
or
baseband I/Q waveforms that are coupled as voltages and/or currents to unit
911 to be
converted to a data stream.
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[00154] RF unit 912 may include, without limitation, other RF processing
functions
including power amplifiers, low noise amplifiers, filters, attenuators,
circulators,
switches, and baluns, etc.
[00155] Antennas 914 may be any type of antenna including, without
limitation, patch
antennas, dipoles, monopoles, or a PCB antenna, yagis, etc. In one embodiment
there
is a single antenna 890. In another embodiment there is more than one antenna
890,
and another embodiment at least two antennas 890 are cross-polarized relative
to each
other.
[00156] Figure 9b illustrates additional embodiments of the radios
illustrated in
Figure 9a showing different embodiments of clocking subsystems. Unit 920 is a
clock
and/or sync distribution and synthesis unit, which may be implemented, without
limitation, in a single device or in a plurality of devices. It distributes
timing signals,
including, without limitation, clock and sync signals to other subsystems
within the radio.
As illustrated in Figure 9b these subsystems may include, without limitation,
baseband
and control unit 910, A-to-D/D-to-A unit 911, RF processing unit 912, network
PHY 901 ,
network switch 903 and/or network PHY 902. The timing signals distributed to
different
subsystems may be, without limitation, the same timing signals, different
timing signals
that are synchronous to each other, different timing signals that are
asynchronous to
each other, timing signals that are synchronous to external reference and/or
timing
signals that have synchronous or non-synchronous changes based on, without
limitation, configuration or other factors.
[00157] The timing signals may be at any frequency, including without
limitation, 10
MHz, and the timing signals may be, without limitation, the same frequency,
different
frequencies, varying frequencies and/or variable frequencies. The timing
signals may
use any timing reference, including without limitation, external references,
internal
references, or a combination of external and internal references.
[00158] External timing references include, without limitation, timing
references 922
derived from timing references carried through the daisy chain, whether
upstream 921
to downstream 923 or downstream 923 to upstream 921 ; a Global Positioning
Satellite
Disciplined Oscillator ("GPSDO") 924, which derives timing references (e.g. 10
MHz
clock and PPS) from radio signals received from Global Positioning Satellites;
an
external clock reference; an external PPS 940; and/or network timing signals
derived
from either the upstream network 900 or downstream network 906 by network PHY
901 ,
network switch 903, and/or network PHY 905. Network timing references include,
without limitation, timing references derived from Ethernet SyncE (e.g. ITU
G.8261 , ITU
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G.8262, ITU G.8264, etc.); IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol; and/or clocks
and sync
signals derived from the network signals, protocols or traffic.
[00159] Internal timing references include, without limitation, oscillator
928 and/or
controlled oscillator 929. Oscillators 928 and 929 can be of any type of
oscillator,
without limitation, quartz crystal oscillator, rubidium clock, cesium clock,
and/or resistor-
capacitor network oscillator, inductor-capacitor resonant circuit. Oscillators
928 and 929
may be of any level of stabilization including, without limitation, non-
stabilized;
temperature-compensated oscillators, and/or oven-controlled oscillators.
Oscillators 928
and 929 may be of any level of precision including, without limitation, low-
precision, 1
part per million ("ppm"); 1 part per billion ("ppb"); have any precision in
each frequency
ranges, have any Allan Deviation, have any short-term or long-term stability.
Oscillator
929 may have an external input that controls its frequency by controlling
with, without
limitation, an analog value of voltage, current, resistance, etc.; a digital
value, coupled
serially, in parallel, etc.; and/or a frequency, etc. If oscillator 929 is
controlled by an
analog value, it can be controlled by, without limitation, a potentiometer in
a voltage
divider network, a digital-to-analog converter 930, which receives a digital
value 931
from unit 910 or another source, etc. If oscillator 929 is controlled by a
digital value, it
can be controlled by, without limitation, a digital value 931 from unit 9 10
or another
source, etc. Controlled oscillator 929's frequency can be free-running, or
synchronized
to any type of internal or external timing source including, without
limitation, timing from
the network, timing from the daisy chain separate from the network, timing
from the data
center, timing from a wireless protocol, etc.
[00160] The timing on the daisy chain network can be free-running or it can
be
synchronous, using any number of network synchronization methods, including
without
limitation, SyncE and/or IEEE 1588, etc. A synchronous protocol may have its
own self-
synchronization mechanisms, or timing signals 927 can be passed from one
network
PHY 901 or 905 to the other and/or to/from network switch 903.
[00161] Figure 9c illustrates additional embodiments of the radios
illustrated in
Figure 9a and Figure 9b showing power conversion and distribution systems.
Unit 950
Power conversion/distribution unit and it may be implemented, without
limitation, in a
single device or a plurality of devices to implement conversion and
distribution of power
through couplings, (e.g. without limitation, wires, printed circuit board
traces, and/or
through components, wireless transmission, etc.) to the various subsystems.
Until 950
distributes power, including, without limitation, different voltages;
different independent
power buses (whether the same or different voltage); different current levels;
AC or DC
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power; wireless power; etc. within the radio. As illustrated in Figure 9c
subsystems
receiving power from unit 950 may include, without limitation, baseband and
control unit
910, A-to-D/D-to-A unit 911, RE processing unit 912, network PHY 901 , network
switch
903 and/or network PHY 902. The power couplings distributed to different
subsystems
may be, without limitation, the same power couplings; different power
couplings that are
the same or different voltages and/or currents; and/or variable voltages, etc.
[00162] The power may be at any voltage or current, including without
limitation, AC,
DC, 1 Volt ("V'), 2.2V, 3.3V, 5V, -5V, 6V, 12V, variable voltages. The power
may be
from any source, including without limitation, external sources, internal
sources, or a
combination of external and internal sources.
[00163] External power sources include, without limitation, pass-through
power
source 952 derived from a power source carried through the daisy chain,
whether
upstream power coupling 951 to downstream power coupling 953 or downstream
power
coupling 953 to upstream power coupling 951 ; wireless power 954, which can
come
from, without limitation, radio wave transmissions (e.g., without limitation
received by a
rectifying antenna), inductive power (e.g., without limitation coupled through
a
transformer), light energy (e.g. without limitation coupled through a
photovoltaic cell, a
rectifying antenna, etc.); network power carried through the daisy chain
network, either
through a direct coupling 957 from upstream network 900 to the downstream
network
906, or through a switching and/or power insertion in one or both network PHYs
900 or
905 or network switch 903; through network power coupling 956 from network PHY
901 ,
903 or 905; and/or an external power connection 955, via, without limitation,
a cable, a
jack, conductive contacts; etc..
[00164] Power transmission through the daisy chain via upstream power
coupling
951 to/from downstream power coupling 953, or via upstream network 900 to/from
downstream network 906 may be either always passed through, or it may be only
be
allowed to pass through if the radio is configured to do so or external
conditions (e.g.
detection of a suitable device connected to either end of the daisy chain)
trigger power
being allowed to pass through. Any type of device can be used to control
whether power
passes through including, without limitation, a mechanical relay and/or a
transistor,
including, but not limited to, a metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect
transistor
(MOSFET), etc.
[00165] Internal power sources include any type of battery 958, including
without
limitation lithium ion, lithium polymer, fuel cells and electrical generators.
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[00166] Figure 9d illustrates additional embodiments of the radios
illustrated in
Figure 9a, Figure 9b and Figure 9c showing upstream 961 and downstream 963 RF
links coupled to RF processing unit 912. RF links 961 and 963 may be coupled
in the
daisy chain over a conductive coupling, for example without limitation,
coaxial cable,
twisted pair cable, etc., or through fiber if the RF frequencies modulate
carrier
wavelengths that propagate through fiber (e.g. without limitation, infrared
radiation,
visible light radiation, and/or ultraviolet radiation, etc.), or over a
wireless coupling
including, without limitation, over any kind of antenna, and/or through an
inductive
coupling.
[00167] RF links 961 and 963 may be coupled together over RF link 962 and
then
coupled to unit 912 as illustrated in Figure 9d or they each may be coupled
individually
to unit 912, or they be coupled to each other, but not to unit 912. Each of
these
couplings, whether between each other or to unit 912 may be through any of the
RF
(including light wavelength) couplings as detailed in the preceding paragraph.
The
couplings may be via, without limitation, one or more (or any type): direct
connections;
RF splitters; RF attenuators; RF baluns; RF filters; power amplifiers; and/or
low noise
amplifiers, etc. The RF couplings may not be connected to anything, or
connected to
one or more of the antennas 914. The RF couplings may carry signals at one or
more
RF center frequencies and of one or more bandwidths. The RF signals may be
transmitted, received, or both at once to/from any of unit 912, link 961
and/or link 963.
The RF signals may carry any kind of information and/or signal reference
information
including without limitation, data, control signals, RF protocols, beacons, RF
timing
signals, RF channels, RF power references, RF pre-distortion information, RF
interference information, RF calibration information, clocks, and/or PPS.
[00168] Figure 9e illustrates additional embodiments of the radios
illustrated in
Figure 9a, Figure 9b, Figure 9c and Figure 9d showing upstream 900 and
downstream 906 networks links where the network is a common RF channel, rather
than switched links. For example, this is a common configuration used with
coaxial
=
networks using network protocols such as, without limitation, MoCA and DOCSIS.
Upstream 900 and downstream 906 network links are coupled to RF splitter 972,
which
is coupled to network PHY 971 , which is coupled to baseband processing and
control
910. RF splitter 972 may include more than 3 branches, and further, it may
include a
power amplifier to amplify some or all of the RF signals in one or more
directions. It may
also include attenuators and/or filters to limit which RF bands pass through
it in different
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paths. RF splitter 972 may also pass through power onto one or more or a
plurality of
branches, and it may also insert power onto one or more of its branches.
[00169] Embodiments of the radios 801 , 811, 821 and 831 illustrated in
Figures 8a,
8b, 8c and 8d may have internal elements that correspond to one or more of the
embodiments described in Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e above, sometimes as
independent elements, and sometimes as combined elements. For example, without
limitation, each of radios 801 , 811, 821 and 831 has an upstream and
downstream
daisy chain cable connection, that is either coaxial (e.g. 841/842 and
871/872), twisted
pair (e.g. 851/852 and 881/882) or fiber (e.g. 861/ 862). These daisy chain
connections
can correspond to embodiments in Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e that are
upstream
and downstream daisy chain connections, such as 900/906, 9 1/923, 951/953 and
961/963. lithe daisy chain cable in radio 801 , 8 ii, 821 or 831 is physically
capable of
an embodiment described connection with Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e, then
that
daisy chain cable can be used for that embodiment. For example, coaxial and
twisted
pair cable daisy chains can be used to carry upstream 951 and downstream 953
power
conductively (e.g. without limitation using any of many well-known power over
coax or
power over Ethernet technologies), but fiber cable cannot, however, fiber
cable can
carry power transmitted in the form of light and converted to electricity,
e.g. without
limitation, using a photovoltaic cell. Each of the daisy chain cables can also
carry
upstream 900 and downstream 906 standard and proprietary network protocols,
including without limitation, Ethernet, as noted above. All of the daisy chain
cables can
also carry timing information 921 and 923 and with network protocols and
signals
carrying timing information, they can provide network timing 926. The daisy
chain
cables can carry upstream 961 and downstream 963 RF at certain
frequencies/wavelengths (e.g. without limitation, many coaxial cables can
propagate 1
GHz frequencies efficiently, many twisted pair cables propagate 100 MHz
frequencies
efficiently and many fiber cables propagate 1300nm wavelengths efficiently).
[00170] In the case
of radio 831 , the multiple daisy chain cable pairs can each
correspond to one of the daisy chain connections illustrated Figures 9a, 9b,
9c, 9d and
9e, or each to multiple daisy chain connections.
[00171] Antennas
890 and/or antenna connectors 891 of radios 801 , 8 11, 821 or 831
can correspond to antennas 914 and/or antennas on units 924 and/or 954 of
Figures
9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e.
[00172] Power
connector 892 of radios 801 , 811, 821 or 831 can correspond to
external power 955 of Figures 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d and 9e. Antennas 890 and/or
antenna
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connectors 891 of radios 801 , 8 ii, 821 or 831 can also correspond to the
antennas of
wireless power receiver 954.
[00173] Connector 893 of radios 801 , 811, 821 or 831 can carry Additional
Signals
that correspond to External Clock 925, PPS 940, or RF link 962 coupled to unit
912.
3. Radio daisy chains within sleeves or ducts
[00174] Figures 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d illustrate several embodiments in
which the
radio daisy chain radio embodiments illustrated in Figures 8a, 8b, 8c and 8d
and
described above with daisy chain radio architecture embodiments illustrated in
Figures
9a, 9b, 9c, 9c1 and 9e and described above are housed within sleeves or ducts.
For the
sake of illustration the daisy chain radios shown in Figures 10a, 10b, 10c and
10d lack
many of the details of daisy chain radios described above, but any of the
above daisy
chain embodiments that is applicable to a sleeve or duct embodiment
illustrated in any
of Figures 10a, 10b, 10c and 10d can be used in that embodiment. Note that
sleeves
or ducts can come in many forms, including without limitation, flexible
plastic tubes that
entirely envelope radio daisy chains, or rigid plastic ducts that partially
envelope the
radio chains.
[00175] Figure 10a illustrates a sleeve or duct 1010 encapsulating a daisy
chain of
radios 1000, 1001 , 1002, 1003. The daisy chain shows the network cables 1020
and
1021 extending from both sides and they can be connected to, without
limitation,
additional daisy chains or radios, upstream or downstream network connections,
to
power sources, to RF sources to timing sources, etc. Indeed, the daisy chain
connection
can be connected as described in any of the large number of embodiments
described
above.
[00176] Figure 10b illustrates a sleeve or duct encapsulating a daisy chain
of radios.
The daisy chain shows the radio daisy chain described in the preceding
paragraph, but
in this embodiment sleeve or duct 101 1 also encapsulates pass-through cable
1030.
Pass-through cable 1030 could be a cable used for any purpose, including
without
limitation, coaxial, twisted pair or coaxial cable carrying high data rate
data and/or a
power cable. There may be one or multiple pass-through cables 1030.
[00177] Figure 10c illustrates a sleeve or duct 1012 encapsulating a daisy
chain of
radios and a pass-through cable as described in the preceding paragraph, but
in this
embodiment the sleeve or duct is physically strengthened by a support strand
1040 and
may be made of any of wide range of materials, including galvanized steel. An
example
of such a sleeve or duct 1012 with galvanized steel support strand is "Figure
8"-branded
duct from dura-line, with a specification
currently available at
28
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ht p://www.duraline.com/conduitlfigure-8. The support strand 1040 can help
support the
duct in an aerial deployment of the duct, e.g., between utility poles.
[00178] Figure 10d illustrates the sleeve or duct 1012 (in a reduced-size
illustration)
encapsulating a daisy chain of radios and a pass-through cable with a support
strand
1040 as described in the preceding paragraph, but in this embodiment the
sleeve or
duct daisy chain 1012 is connected in a continuing daisy chain with other
sleeves or
ducts. In this embodiment, between each sleeve or duct daisy chain 1012, there
is a
data and/or power coupler 1050 that may be used, without limitation, to couple
power
into the daisy chain end 1020 or 1021 and/or may be used to couple data
to/from the
daisy chain end 1020. Data and/or power coupler 1050 can be suspended from
support
strand 1040 or physically supported through another means. The power may come
from
any power source, including without limitation, a pass-through power cable
1030 and/or
photovoltaic cell, etc. The data connection may come from any source including
a pass-
through high-bandwidth fiber twisted pair or coaxial cable 1030. Data and/or
power
coupler 1050 can be useful because the daisy chain cabling will typically be
limited in
power and/or data throughput, and each radio 1000, 1001 , 1002 and 1003 on the
daisy
chain will draw a certain amount of power and consume a certain amount of data
throughput. Once the power and/or data capacity of the daisy chain cable is
exhausted,
then there can be no more radios attached to the daisy chain. The pass-through
cable
1030 can be specified to carry enough power for several daisy chains and the
pass-
through cable 1030 can be specified to support high enough data throughput to
support
several daisy chains. For example, without limitation, if the daisy chain
cable supports 1
gigabit Ethernet with Power over Ethernet.. ("PoE+") power limitations
(limited to
roughly 25 watts ("W')), and each radio consumes 225 Mbps in data rate and 6W
in
power, then if there are 4 radios in a daisy chain there will be 900 Mbps of
data rate and
24W in power and there will not be enough data rate or power for another
radio. If there
are one or more pass-through cables 1030 that can (a) carry 250W of power and
(b) 10
Gbps of data rate, then that will be enough to support 10 daisy chains of 4
radios (24W
* 10 = 240W, 900 Mbps 10 = 9
Gbps). The data and/or power coupler 1050 can
couple power to the daisy chain cable in any of many ways, including using a
commercially-available POE+ switch with a 10 Gbps fiber port and one or more 1
Gbps
PoE+ ports. Note that while the PoE+ standard (e.g. IEEE 802.3at-2009) may not
support daisy chaining of power, POE+ can still be used to bring power to the
first daisy
chain radio attached to the POE+ switch, and proprietary power insertion onto
the daisy
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chain can be used thereafter. Proprietary power insertion techniques include,
without
limitation, coupling the power to network signal wires in the daisy chain
network cable.
3. Practical deployments of radio daisy chains
[00179] Figure 11 illustrates utility poles with daisy chained radios in
sleeves and
ducts, such as those described in Figures 10a and 10d. The sleeve or duct 101
2
suspended between the two utility poles is the same as illustrated in Figure
10d with 4
daisy chained radios 1000, 1001 , 1002, and 1003, with a daisy chain end
coupled to
data and//or power coupler 1050, which couples to high-speed data from pass-
through
cable 1030, and receives power from power converter 1100, that is coupled to
the high
power electrical lines in the supply zone of the utility pole and reduces the
voltage for
unit 1050. Power meter 110 1 monitors power use for billing or other purposes.
Because
it can be expensive to connect to the high voltage electrical lines, power
converter 1100
may be used to provide enough power to many unit 1050s, with power carried
between
unit 1050s in a pass-through strand 1030.
[00180] Also illustrated in Figure 11 is an embodiment of a vertical
deployment of
daisy chained radios in a sleeve or duct 1010 attached to the side of the
utility pole. This
corresponds to sleeve or duct 1010 illustrated in Figure 10a. On one end, the
daisy
chain network connection 1020 attaches to unit 1050 for data and power. Since
this
daisy chain ends when it reaches the ground, there is no need for a continuing
daisy
chain network connection at the bottom end, nor is there a need for a pass-
through
cable. Also, because the utility pole provides structural stability, there is
no need for a
support strand. Note also that the unit 1050 is coupled to 3 daisy chains, the
two largely
horizontal aerial daisy chains between utility poles and the one vertical
daisy chain on
the side of the pole. There is no restriction that all daisy chains must be
sequential line
network topology; they can be in any of many topologies. For example, without
limitation, this unit 1050 could support 3 daisy chains by using a PoE+
network switch
with 3 ports for the 3 daisy chains and 1 port for the high bandwidth pass-
through cable.
(e.g. 3 1 Gbps PoE+ connections to the 3 daisy chains and 1 10 Gbps fiber
connection
for the pass-through cable).
[00181] The embodiments of daisy chain cables shown in Figure 11 are just
exemplary. Depending on, without limitation, the deployment requirements,
municipal
regulations, cost constraints, distance of spans, etc., any number of daisy
chain radio
configurations in any topology may be used. Significantly, the radio daisy
chains look no
different than cabling. In many municipalities, cabling does not require
permits, or the
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permits are easier to obtain than antenna permits. Also, from an aesthetic
standpoint,
cables are less visible than large antennas.
[00182] Figure 12 illustrates two lamp posts with radio daisy chains 1010
attached to
them. The embodiment illustrated conforms to the radios daisy chains 1010 from
Figure
10a. In this embodiment data and power connections are coupled through
underground
conduit 1251 , with a data and/or power coupler 1250 underneath the pole,
operating in
the same manner as data and power coupler 1050 illustrated in Figure 10d and
Figure
1. As in Figure 11, significantly, the radio daisy chains look no different
than cabling.
In many municipalities, cabling does not require permits, or the permits are
easier to
obtain than antenna permits. Also, from an aesthetic standpoint, cables are
less visible
than large antennas.
[00183] Figure 13 illustrates a building with many radio daisy chains
attached to both
the outside and inside of the building. All of these radio data chains would
connect to
data and power connections, but they have been omitted for the sake of
illustration.
Radio daisy chains 1300 are on the edge of the rooftop. A rooftop edge is a
highly
advantageous location for antennas because there is high angle visibility to
the street
without obstruction. Typically, a large number of antennas on the edge of a
rooftop
would be unsightly aesthetically, but a sleeve or duct can be made to be
hardly visible,
because, without limitation, its small size, its ability to be painted in a
color matching the
background, the fact it can be placed in a niche on the building, the fact it
is flexible and
can conform to the shape of the architecture features (e.g. without
limitation, a cornice)
on the building, and because there are already cables on many buildings and it
will look
no different.
[00184] Figure 13 shows other placements of radio daisy chains, including
radio
daisy chain 1301 above an architectural feature over windows to make it less
visible,
and radio daisy chain 1302, that is placed along the wall near street level
(perhaps
pressed into a niche on the wall to be more hidden) and radio daisy chain 1303
vertically along the corner of a wall, perhaps placed along a downspout to be
less
visible. Also radio daisy chain 1304 is shown indoors, perhaps above ceiling
tiles or in
walls. Note that in this embodiment, the radio daisy chain is not in a sleeve
or duct
because there will be situations where none is needed and the daisy chain can
be
placed with the radios and cables exposed. Clearly radio daisy chains can be
placed in
a wide range of locations, indoors and outdoors. In all of these embodiments,
the radio
daisy chains are deployed where it is convenient to deploy them and where they
are
aesthetically acceptable.
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[00185] Figure 14 illustrates how the radio daisy chains do not need to be
deployed
in a straight line, but can be deployed in whatever shape conforms to the
physical
and/or aesthetical requirements of the location. Note they need not be
deployed in only
2 dimensions; radio daisy chains can be deployed in x, y and z dimensions. In
fact, the
more angular diversity is used, generally the better the performance in the
presently
preferred MU-MAS embodiment.
[00186] Figure 15 illustrates how the radio daisy chain can also be
deployed in an
array topology. An 8x8 array with 64 radios is shown in this embodiment, with
16 daisy
chains connected to a network switch (e.g. without limitation a PoE+ switch).
Such an
array can be used for many applications, including beamforming and MIMO.
[00187] Figure 16 illustrates how Cloud-Radio Access Network ("C-RAN")
architecture can be used with radio daisy chains. In one embodiment, the
baseband
waveforms are computed in the Data Center Servers. They can serve a local
network
1601 to the data center (e.g., without limitation, if the data center is in a
stadium, and
the local network is distributed throughout the stadium), connecting to a
switch, which
connects to multiple radio daisy chains.
[00188] Line of sight microwave 1602 can be used as a data link to go a
farther
distance than a local network, and it too can connect to a switch, which
connects to
multiple radio daisy chains.
[00189] Fiber 1603 can go a very long distance without a line of sight
requirement
and can connect to a switch, which connects to multiple radio daisy chains.
Also, the
switch can couple repeated fiber 1604 to another switch which then can connect
another group of multiple radio daisy chains.
[00190] Although the illustration in Figure 16 shows straight daisy chains,
as noted
previously, they can be bent into whichever shape is convenient and
aesthetically
pleasing.
[00191] The C-RAN topology illustrated in Figure 16 supports the pCellTM MU-
MAS
system illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and in Related Patents and
Applications. Unlike
other wireless technologies, pCell supports extremely high density radio
deployments,
and is not dependent on a particular arrangement of radios or antennas (e.g.
in
contrast, cellular technology requires specific radio spacing in accordance
with a cell
plan). As such, pCell technology is highly suited for the daisy chain radio
embodiments
described herein, and is able to exploit radios that are placed where
convenient and
aesthetically pleasing.
32
CA 03040521 2019-04-12
W02018/081271
PCT/US2017/058291
[00192] Embodiments of the invention may include various steps, which have
been
described above. The steps may be embodied in machine-executable instructions
which may be used to cause a general-purpose or special-purpose processor to
perform the steps. Alternatively, these steps may be performed by specific
hardware
components that contain hardwired logic for performing the steps, or by any
combination of programmed computer components and custom hardware components.
[00193] As described herein, instructions may refer to specific
configurations of
hardware such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) configured
to perform
certain operations or having a predetermined functionality or software
instructions
stored in memory embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium. Thus,
the
techniques shown in the figures can be implemented using code and data stored
and
executed on one or more electronic devices. Such electronic devices store and
communicate (internally and/or with other electronic devices over a network)
code and
data using computer machine-readable media, such as non-transitory computer
machine-readable storage media (e.g., magnetic disks; optical disks; random
access
memory; read only memory; flash memory devices; phase-change memory) and
transitory computer machine-readable communication media (e.g., electrical,
optical,
acoustical or other form of propagated signals - such as carrier waves,
infrared signals,
digital signals, etc.).
[00194] Throughout this detailed description, for the purposes of
explanation,
numerous specific details were set forth in order to provide a thorough
understanding of
the present invention. it will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art
that the
invention may be practiced without some of these specific details. In certain
instances,
well known structures and functions were not described in elaborate detail in
order to
avoid obscuring the subject matter of the present invention. Accordingly, the
scope and
spirit of the invention should be judged in terms of the claims which follow.
33
