Distributed Antenna System Interface for Standardized Digital Signal Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current distributed antenna systems (DAS) are unable to communicate with base stations that output digital signals in standardized formats, such as CPRI, ORI, and OBSAI protocols, as they lack the capability to process these signals for use by RF transceivers and provide suitable responses to base stations.
Innovation Solution
A DAS unit with an interface section and output section configured to transform digital signals in standardized formats into complex digital signals for wireless transmission and vice versa, using digital interface cards with physical layer devices and de-framers to extract carrier data, and a base station emulator module to emulate digital signal sources in standardized formats.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a DAS uses traditional interface cards to receive analog RF signals, then it can process signals from analog base stations, but it cannot communicate with base stations that output digital signals in standardized formats
Solution Approach 1:
The interface card is designed to perform multiple functions: it can process both traditional analog RF signals and standardized digital signals (such as CPRI, OBSAI, ORI) through the same hardware platform. The card includes a standardized digital signal interface section that can be activated to handle digital base station communications, making the DAS universally compatible with different base station types without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each signal type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the DAS processes digital signals in standardized format, then it can communicate with remote radio heads and digital base stations, but it requires additional interface sections and processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The interface card merges the processing capabilities for analog and digital signals into a single integrated hardware unit. The standardized digital signal interface section is combined with the existing analog processing components on the same card, allowing both signal types to be processed simultaneously through unified control logic and shared resources, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite adding digital processing capability.
3Reliability
If remote radio heads are configured to process digital signals in standardized format, then they can provide conforming response communications, but they may be unusable as RF transceivers in traditional DAS
Solution Approach 1:
The remote radio head is designed with dynamic configurability, allowing it to switch between different operational modes. It can be configured to process standardized digital signals when connected to digital base stations, and simultaneously maintain the capability to function as a traditional RF transceiver for analog DAS operations. The hardware includes reconfigurable interface sections that can be activated or deactivated based on the operational requirements, ensuring both protocol compliance and traditional functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface is provided for processing digital signals in a standardized format in a distributed antenna system. One example includes a unit disposed in a distributed antenna system. The unit includes an interface section and an output section. The interface section is configured for outputting a first complex digital signal and a second complex digital signal. The first complex digital signal is generated from a digital signal in a standardized format received from a digital base station. The output section is configured for combining the first complex digital signal and the second complex digital signal into a combined digital signal. The output section is also configured for outputting the combined digital signal. The combined digital signal comprises information to be wirelessly transmitted to a wireless user device.