# US 10,312,972 B2 · Multi-source same-cell wireless distribution system (WDS) with dynamic source adaptation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,312,972 B2 - Document ID: US10312972B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/692,815 - Filed: 2017-08-31 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-28 - Assignees: Corning Incorporated - Applicants: Corning Incorporated - Inventors: Solomon Tesfay Abraha; Chao He; Anthony Ng'Oma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10312972B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/024: Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems - H04B 7/022: Site diversity; Macro-diversity (using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04) - H04B 10/25753: {Distribution optical network, e.g. between a base station and a plurality of remote units} - H04B 10/25754: {Star network topology} - H04L 1/1812: Hybrid protocols; Hybrid automatic repeat request [HARQ] - H04L 5/0035: {Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment} - H04L 47/125: by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering - H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings - H04W 28/0867: {among entities in the downlink} - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 48/20: Selecting an access point - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W 88/085: {Access point devices with remote components} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a multi-source same-cell wireless distribution system (WDS) with dynamic source adaptation. In this regard, the WDS includes multiple remote units each configured to distribute a downlink communications signal having identical cell identification in a respective coverage area. The WDS includes a signal distribution circuit communicatively coupled to multiple signal sources. The signal distribution circuit can dynamically determine a selected coverage cell among multiple coverage cells having a client device load higher than a predefined load threshold. Accordingly, the signal distribution circuit can redistribute the defined source capacity of a selected signal source among the multiple signal sources exclusively to the selected coverage cell. By dynamically distributing more capacity to the selected coverage cell with higher client device load, it is possible to increase data throughput, thus helping to provide improved user experience in the selected coverage cell. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wireless distribution system (WDS), comprising: a plurality of signal sources associated with an identical cell identification, wherein each of the plurality of signal sources has a defined source capacity and configured to distribute a downlink communications signal comprising the identical cell identification, wherein the WDS does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification; a plurality of remote units each configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to one or more client devices in a respective coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells associated with the identical cell identification in the WDS; and a signal distribution circuit communicatively coupled to the plurality of signal sources, the signal distribution circuit configured to: receive the downlink communications signal from each of the plurality of signal sources; determine a selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having a client device load higher than a predefined load threshold; determine a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and distribute the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The WDS of claim 1, wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to: determine one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the predefined load threshold; determine a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and distribute the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the one or more second selected coverage cells overlap at least partially with the selected coverage cell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the defined source capacity of the selected signal source equals the defined source capacity of the second selected signal source. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the defined source capacity of the selected signal source is greater than the defined source capacity of the second selected signal source. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the defined source capacity of the selected signal source is less than the defined source capacity of the second selected signal source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to: receive a plurality of client device load reports from the plurality of remote units; and determine the client device load in each of the plurality of coverage cells based on the plurality of client device load reports. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The WDS of claim 2, wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to: receive an uplink communications signal from the selected coverage cell; provide the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources; receive the uplink communications signal from the one or more second selected coverage cells; and provide the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The WDS of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of remote units is further configured to: distribute the downlink communications signal in an identical downlink radio frequency (RF) spectrum; and receive the uplink communications signal in an identical uplink RF spectrum. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The WDS of claim 8, wherein the signal distribution circuit comprises: a control circuit configured to: receive the downlink communications signal from each of the plurality of signal sources; determine the selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load higher than the predefined load threshold; determine the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; determine the one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the predefined load threshold; and determine the second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and a signal distributor/combiner circuit configured to: distribute the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell; and distribute the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The WDS of claim 10, wherein the signal distributor/combiner circuit is further configured to: provide the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources; and provide the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The WDS of claim 8, further comprising a central unit coupled to the plurality of remote units via a plurality of communications mediums, wherein the central unit comprises the signal distribution circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The WDS of claim 12, wherein: the plurality of communications mediums comprises a plurality of optical fiber-based communications mediums; the central unit comprises electrical-to-optical (E/O) converters configured to generate a plurality of downlink optical fiber-based communications signals based on the downlink communications signal for distribution to the plurality of remote units; the plurality of remote units comprises: remote unit optical-to-electrical (O/E) converters configured to convert the plurality of downlink optical fiber-based communications signals into the downlink communications signal; and remote unit E/O converters configured to generate a plurality of uplink optical fiber-based communications signals based on the uplink communications signal for distribution to the central unit; and the central unit further comprises O/E converters configured to convert the plurality of uplink optical fiber-based communications signals into the uplink communications signal. ### Claim 14 A method for supporting multi-source same-cell operation with dynamic source adaptation in a wireless distribution system (WDS), comprising: providing a plurality of remote units each configured to distribute a downlink communications signal comprising an identical cell identification to one or more client devices in a respective coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells in the WDS, wherein the WDS does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification; communicatively coupling a signal distribution circuit to a plurality of signal sources each having a defined source capacity and associated with the identical cell identification, the plurality of signal sources configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to the WDS; receiving the downlink communications signal from each of the plurality of signal sources; determining a selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having a client device load higher than a predefined load threshold; determining a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and distributing the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the predefined load threshold; determining a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and distributing the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving a plurality of client device load reports from the plurality of remote units; and determining the client device load in each of the plurality of coverage cells based on the plurality of client device load reports. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: receiving an uplink communications signal from the selected coverage cell; providing the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources; receiving the uplink communications signal from the one or more second selected coverage cells; and providing the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: distributing the downlink communications signal in an identical downlink radio frequency (RF) spectrum; and receiving the uplink communications signal in an identical uplink RF spectrum. ### Claim 19 A signal distribution circuit, comprising: a control circuit configured to: receive a downlink communications signal from each of a plurality of signal sources communicatively coupled to the signal distribution circuit, wherein each of the plurality of signal sources has a defined source capacity and associated with an identical cell identification, the plurality of signal sources configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to a wireless distribution system (WDS), wherein the WDS does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification; determine a selected coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells respectively defined by a plurality of remote units, wherein the selected coverage cell has a client device load higher than a predefined load threshold; and determine a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and a signal distributor/combiner circuit configured to distribute the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The signal distribution circuit of claim 19, wherein: the control circuit is further configured to: determine one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the predefined load threshold; and determine a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and the signal distributor/combiner circuit is further configured to distribute the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The signal distribution circuit of claim 20, further configured to: receive a plurality of client device load reports from the plurality of remote units; and determine the client device load in each of the plurality of coverage cells based on the plurality of client device load reports. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The signal distribution circuit of claim 20, further configured to: receive an uplink communications signal from the selected coverage cell; provide the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources; receive the uplink communications signal from the one or more second selected coverage cells; and provide the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The signal distribution circuit of claim 22, wherein the signal distributor/combiner circuit is further configured to: provide the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources; and provide the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source.