Method and apparatus for a single unit small, low-power base station supporting both metro cell outdoor (MCO) and metro radio outdoor (MRO) operations

A method of configuring a single base station unit having a backhaul interface capable of exchanging data communications with a radio card, the data communications including IP data and first radio signals, the method comprising:

• configuring a first controller in the single base station unit to convert the IP data into second radio signals, the first controller being a base band controller, the first and second radio signals being radio wave signals capable of being transmitted using common public radio interface (CPRI) standards;
• configuring a first switch in the single base station unit to route the IP data and the first radio signals, the first switch being further configured to route the IP data between the backhaul interface and the first controller to be sent to the radio card as the second radio signals, and route the first radio signals directly between the backhaul interface and the radio card;
• operating the single base station unit in a metro cell outdoor (MCO) mode if the first switch is routing the IP data;
• operating the single base station unit in a metro radio outdoor (MRO) mode if the first switch is routing the first radio signals;
• commanding the first switch to operate the single base station unit in one of the MCO mode and the MRO mode using a second controller;
• and
• powering down the first controller and the second switch if the single base station unit is operating in the MRO mode using the first controller.

A method of using a single base station unit having a backhaul interface capable of exchanging data communication with a radio card, comprising:

• selecting, by a first switch controlled by a first controller, one of a metro cell outdoor (MCO) mode and a metro radio outdoor (MRO) mode,
• the first switch routing data communications, the data communications being both internet protocol (IP) data and first radio signals,
• the first switch routing the IP data between the backhaul interface and the radio card through a second controller in the MCO mode, the second controller being a base band controller configured to convert the IP data into second radio signals, the first and second radio signals being radio wave signals capable of being transmitted using common public radio interface (CPRI) standards,
• the first switch routing the first radio signals directly between the backhaul interface and the radio card in the MRO mode;
• directing the IP data between the first switch and the second controller using a second switch if the single base station unit is operating in the MCO mode, the second switch being an Ethernet switch;
• and
• powering down, by the first controller, the second controller and the second switch if the single base station unit is operating in the MRO mode.