Distributed Radio Baseband Offsets for Legacy and Packetized Signals

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

RAN systems face challenges in accommodating multiple network operators and private networks with different cellular technologies, including 3G to O-RAN implementations, while meeting stringent 5G latency requirements and managing interference among diverse frequency signals.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the conversion of analog RF signals and packetized data streams into digital baseband signals with frequency offset shifts, followed by digital summation and broadcasting to remote units, and the processing of uplink signals through upconversion and downconversion with baseband offset frequency shifts to accommodate multiple operators and private networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple legacy analog base station signals and packetized mid-haul signals from multiple operators are combined in a single RAN system, then the system can serve multiple network operators and private networks with different cellular technologies, but signal interference and frequency management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to serve multiple operators and technologiesVSAvoidsignal interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments different operator signals and cellular technologies into separate processing channels within the RAN system. Each legacy analog base station and packetized mid-haul signal from different operators is processed independently through dedicated conversion and frequency shift paths, then combined without interference. This segmentation allows multiple operators and technologies (3G to O-RAN) to coexist in the same physical infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces digital baseband signal processing as an intermediary layer between legacy analog RF signals and packetized mid-haul signals. Analog RF signals are converted to digital baseband, packetized signals are unpackaged and converted to baseband, then all signals are frequency-shifted and digitally summed. This intermediary digital processing layer enables seamless integration of diverse signal types while preventing interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If analog RF signals from legacy base stations are integrated with packetized digital signals, then legacy and modern cellular technologies can coexist, but signal conversion and processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility of legacy and modern technologiesVSAvoidsignal conversion processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex analog signal mixing and frequency management hardware with digital signal processing. Instead of using analog components to combine legacy RF signals and modern packetized signals, the system converts all signals to digital baseband representations, then uses digital processing for frequency shifting and summation. This substitution of digital for analog processing simplifies the overall system architecture despite the multiple conversion steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Manufacturing precision

If frequency offset shifts are applied to packetized data streams, then carrier center frequencies are properly aligned within the frequency band, but processing time and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefrequency alignment accuracyVSAvoidsignal processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies frequency offset shifts to packetized data streams during the baseband processing stage, before the signals are combined and transmitted. By pre-shifting the frequencies of individual operator signals to their correct carrier center frequencies within the available frequency band, the system ensures proper frequency alignment is established upfront, preventing interference before it occurs and eliminating the need for complex post-processing frequency adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12382339B2Distributed radio system for combining legacy analog base station signals with packetized mid-haul signals of multiple operators and private networks

Publication Date: 2025.08.05 JOHN MEZZALINGUA ASSOC LLC

AI summary

A distributed radio system has one or more distributed radio processors that processes analog RF signals from a plurality of legacy base station transceivers (BTSs) as well as packetized digital mid-haul data (such as 7.2x data packets) from one or more baseband units. The system digitizes the RF signals and provides baseband frequency offsets to the I/Q time domain data processed from the digital mid-haul data such that each incoming signal is assigned a unique carrier baseband frequency offset so that none of the signals interferes with another. The digital signals are summed and transmitted to one or more remote units. For the uplink, the process is reversed. A supervisor module provides the offset frequencies to the relevant digital baseband signals.