Remote Coverage Area for Wireless Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless cellular and broadcast networks face challenges in providing reliable indoor coverage due to high power output and interference from macro base stations, as well as signal attenuation from building structures, which limits the capacity and effectiveness of communication systems.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a first converter unit to generate data packets from a base station signal and communicate them over an ETHERNET network, with a second converter unit receiving these packets to produce an analog radio frequency signal that is radiated from an indoor antenna, providing remote coverage areas for mobile receivers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If macro base stations output high power to provide large coverage areas, then coverage area is improved, but interference among base stations increases and indoor penetration loss worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the macro base station into multiple remote coverage units distributed across different locations. Each remote coverage unit receives baseband signals via Ethernet network and independently generates RF signals for local coverage. This segmentation allows coverage to be distributed without requiring high power from a single macro base station, thereby reducing indoor penetration loss while maintaining overall coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an Ethernet network as an intermediary between the macro base station and remote coverage units. The baseband signals are transmitted through this intermediary medium, allowing the system to decouple the high-power transmission function from the coverage distribution function. This enables remote units to provide localized coverage with lower power, improving indoor penetration without increasing overall interference.
2Productivity
If additional macro base stations are added to expand network capacity, then network capacity is improved, but interference among base stations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network capacity function by distributing remote coverage units across multiple locations, each serving a specific area. This allows network capacity to be expanded by adding more remote units without requiring additional high-power macro base stations. Each remote unit operates with lower power, reducing mutual interference while collectively providing enhanced network capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension macro base station architecture to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. Remote coverage units are deployed across spatial dimensions and connected via Ethernet network infrastructure, creating a new dimensional framework for expanding network capacity. This dimensional change allows capacity expansion without the interference problems of traditional macro base station densification.
3Area of stationary object
If remote coverage units are distributed over Ethernet network, then indoor coverage is improved, but signal delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the transmission medium parameter from wireless radio frequency signals to wired Ethernet network for baseband signal transmission. Ethernet provides deterministic low-latency communication, and baseband signal transmission over Ethernet introduces minimal delay compared to wireless transmission. This parameter change enables the system to achieve extensive indoor coverage through distributed remote units while maintaining acceptable signal delay characteristics.
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 effectively extends coverage indoors by minimizing signal attenuation and interference, allowing for reliable communication within various structures and configurations, such as office buildings and airports, while maintaining low delay and compatibility with multiple network protocols.
Implementation Method 1
the second converter unit is configured to produce an analog radio frequency version of the base station signal from the digital message symbols, the analog radio frequency version having the radio frequency and the content of the base station signal, wherein the analog RF version is radiated from an antenna associated with the second converter unit to provide the remote coverage area
Data Source
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AI summary
The method which is for use with a base station signal having a frequency and content, is performed by: generating symbols associated with the base station signal by performing baseband processing at a first converter unit (118B, 210, 318B); communicating the symbols over an ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412) in a stream of data packets; receiving the stream of data packets from the ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412) at a second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B); producing an analog radio frequency version of the base station signal from the symbols, the analog radio frequency version having the frequency and the content; and radiating the analog RF version from an antenna associated with the second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B). The system for carrying out this method includes a first converter unit (118B, 210, 318B) to generate the stream of data packets and communicate the stream of data packets over the ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412); and a second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B) coupled to the first converter unit over the ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412) to receive the stream of data packets from the ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412). The first converter unit (118B, 210, 318B) is configured to generate the symbols associated with the base station signal by performing baseband processing. The first converter unit (118B, 210, 318B) is configured to communicate the symbols over the ETHERNET network (120, 212, 320, 412) to the second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B) in the stream of data packets. The second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B) is configured to produce the analog radio frequency version of the base station signal from the symbols, the analog radio frequency version having the frequency and the content of the base station signal. The analog RF version is radiated from an antenna associated with the second converter unit (122B, 214, 322B).