Analog RAU Digital Adaptor for DAS Compatibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Digital Distributed Antenna Systems (DASs) face challenges in supporting analog Remote Antenna Units (RAUs) due to their inability to process digital communications signals, which can lead to increased costs and compatibility issues with client devices that cannot communicate directly with digital RAUs.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of analog RAU digital adaptors, which provide conversions between digital communications signals and analog RF signals, enabling communication between digital DASs and analog RAUs through optical fibers, thus allowing digital DASs to support both analog and digital RAUs, reducing costs and improving backward compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If digital RAUs are used in digital DASs, then system compatibility with digital signals is improved, but device cost increases due to additional digital signal processing components
Solution Approach 1:
An optical converter is introduced as an intermediary device between the digital DAS infrastructure and analog RAUs. The optical converter receives digital signals from the digital DAS, converts them to analog RF signals, and transmits them to analog RAUs via optical fiber. This mediator enables compatibility between digital and analog components without requiring expensive digital signal processing in the analog RAUs themselves.
2Ease of manufacture
If analog RAUs are deployed in digital DASs, then device cost is reduced, but the ability to communicate with digital client devices deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical converter serves as a translation intermediary that bridges the analog RAU and digital DAS. It converts digital communication protocols and signals into analog RF signals that the analog RAU can process, while maintaining connection to the digital network through optical fiber. This enables analog RAUs to participate in digital DAS environments and serve both analog and digital client devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical converter provides multi-functionality by handling multiple signal conversions and protocols. It can convert various digital signal formats to analog RF, support multiple client device types (both analog and digital), and interface with different DAS architectures, making the analog RAU universally compatible within the digital DAS ecosystem.
3Adaptability or versatility
If digital DASs are configured to support both analog and digital RAUs, then system versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the digital DAS infrastructure, the optical converter (separate standalone device), and the analog RAUs. By separating the signal conversion function into its own dedicated device rather than integrating it into the RAU or DAS core, the complexity is distributed and managed more efficiently. Each component remains relatively simple while the system as a whole achieves high versatility.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables cost-effective compatibility with both analog and digital RAUs, enhancing the ability of digital DASs to serve a wider range of client devices by converting digital signals to analog signals and vice versa, thereby improving system compatibility and reducing expenses.
Implementation Method 1
The analog RAU digital adaptor is communicatively coupled to the analog RAU over a pair of uplink and downlink optical fibers
Data Source
AI summary
Supporting analog remote antenna units (RAUs) in digital distributed antenna systems (DASs) using analog RAU digital adaptors. In the digital DAS disclosed herein, a head-end equipment (HEE) is configured to exchange digital communications signals with a plurality of digital RAUs. The digital DAS is also configured to distribute digital communications signals to an analog RAU(s), which is not inherently capable of processing the digital communications signals. In this regard, an analog RAU digital adaptor(s) is provided in an analog remote unit to serve as a digital interface for the analog RAU(s). The analog RAU digital adaptor(s) is configured to provide conversions between the digital communications signals and analog RF communications signals. By providing the analog RAU digital adaptor as the digital interface for the analog RAU(s), the digital DAS can be configured to compatibly communicate with the analog RAU(s) and the digital RAU(s).