Channel Selective Uplink Muting Circuit for Distributed Antenna Systems
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed antenna systems face high levels of uplink noise due to multiple remote antenna units contributing noise to the base station, leading to desensitization of receivers and requiring costly hardware investments at each unit, which is not effectively addressed by existing noise attenuation methods, especially those focusing on RF paths and not covering noise from optical communication links.
Innovation Solution
A channel selective uplink muting circuit in the master unit of the distributed antenna system identifies and selectively mutes channels within the uplink transport signals that are not carrying communications traffic, thereby suppressing noise and improving signal-to-noise ratio without the need for costly hardware upgrades at each remote antenna unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple remote antenna units are deployed to expand coverage area, then the coverage area increases, but uplink noise increases causing receiver desensitization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes harmful uplink noise components from the uplink transport signal while preserving useful communication signals. The noise suppression circuit identifies and removes noise contributed by remote antenna units, separating the harmful noise components from the useful signal components in the uplink path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a noise suppression circuit as an intermediary component between the remote antenna units and the base station receiver. This intermediary circuit processes the uplink transport signal to eliminate noise while allowing useful signals to pass through, mediating between the multiple remote units and the sensitive receiver.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If noise attenuation is implemented at each remote antenna unit, then uplink noise is reduced, but hardware cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the noise suppression functionality into the centralized master unit, combining multiple functions (signal reception from multiple remote units, noise identification, noise filtering, and signal reconstruction) into a single location. This eliminates the need for separate noise attenuation hardware at each remote antenna unit, reducing overall system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The master unit in the patent performs multiple functions: it receives uplink transport signals from multiple remote antenna units, identifies noise components, suppresses noise, and outputs cleaned signals to the base station. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated noise attenuation hardware at each remote unit.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If existing RF path attenuation methods are used, then some noise is reduced, but noise from optical communication links is not suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the master unit monitors the uplink transport signals from remote antenna units, identifies noise components including those from optical communication links, and applies appropriate suppression. The system continuously adapts to suppress different noise sources based on their identification, ensuring comprehensive noise reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from simple RF path attenuation to a more sophisticated noise identification and suppression method that operates on the transport signal level. By monitoring signal parameters and identifying noise sources including optical link noise, the system dynamically adjusts suppression parameters to achieve complete noise reduction across different signal paths.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment a system comprises a master unit configured to receive a base station downlink radio frequency signal and transmit a base station uplink radio frequency signal; and a plurality of remote antenna units each communicatively coupled to the master unit using at least one cable, the remote antenna units each configured to radiate a remote downlink radio frequency signal from at least one antenna and to receive a remote uplink radio frequency signal from the at least one antenna. The master unit comprises a channel selective uplink muting circuit. The master unit receives and monitors uplink transport signals from the remote uplink radio frequency signal to identify one or more channels within the uplink transport signals that are not carrying uplink communications traffic; wherein the channel selective uplink muting circuit selectively mutes channels of the uplink transport signals that are not carrying uplink communications traffic.