Distributed antenna system architectures

A wireless communication system deployed in a multiple dwelling unit (MDU), comprising:

• a head end unit configured to electronically receive and convert input downlink radio frequency (RF) signals received from at least one source to optical downlink RF signals to be distributed on an optical communication path comprising a plurality of optical fiber cables and at least one splitter component;
• an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to receive and distribute optical multiplexed data signals on the optical communication path;
• at least one optical network terminal (ONT) component located proximate to at least one remote unit and configured to demultiplex the optical multiplexed data signals into component parts;
• a plurality of remote units distributed over at least three floors of the MDU, each remote unit being coupled to the head end unit and the OLT by the optical communication path to receive the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed data signals from the head end unit and the OLT, each remote unit of the plurality of remote units configured to receive power delivered from an electrical power source located in a respective coverage area of one or more of the plurality of the remote units, wherein each remote unit comprises an optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the received optical downlink RF signals to output electrical downlink RF signals;
• a plurality of antennas, at least one antenna being associated with each remote unit and being configured to distribute the output electrical downlink RF signals into a respective coverage area of its associated remote unit;
• an electrically conductive cable connecting the at least one ONT component to at least one of the plurality of remote units, the electrically conductive cable configured to provide power from the at least one ONT component to the at least one remote unit;
• and
• a plurality of electrical power sources not located in any of the plurality of remote units, wherein the optical communication path comprises a riser cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers.

A wireless communication system deployed in an MDU configured to electronically receive and convert input electrical downlink radio frequency (RF) signals received from at least one source to optical downlink RF signals to be distributed on an optical communication path and comprising:

• an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to receive and distribute optical multiplexed data signals on the optical communication path, the optical communication path including at least one splitter component with at least one input fiber and a plurality of output fibers, the at least one splitter component being capable of routing the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed data signals based on at least one of wavelength and polarization;
• at least one optical network terminal (ONT) component located proximate to at least one remote unit and configured to demultiplex the optical multiplexed data signals into component parts;
• a plurality of remote units distributed over multiple floors of the MDU, each remote unit being coupled to the OLT by the optical communication path to receive the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed data signals, each remote unit of the plurality of remote units configured to receive power delivered from an electrical power source located in a respective coverage area of one or more of the plurality of the remote units, wherein each remote unit comprises an optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the received optical downlink RF signals to output electrical downlink RF signals;
• a plurality of antennas, at least one antenna being associated with each remote unit and being configured to distribute the output electrical downlink RF signals into a respective coverage area of its associated remote unit;
• and
• an electrically conductive cable connecting the at least one ONT component to at least one remote unit of at least one of the plurality of remote units, the electrically conductive cable configured to provide power from the at least one ONT component to the at least one remote unit.

A wireless communication system deployed in an MDU configured to receive and convert input downlink radio frequency (RF) signals received from at least one source to optical downlink RF signals to be distributed on an optical communication path and comprising:

• an optical line terminal (OLT) configured to receive and distribute optical multiplexed data signals on the optical communication path;
• at least one optical network terminal (ONT) component located proximate to at least one remote unit and configured to demultiplex the optical multiplexed data signals into component parts;
• a plurality of remote units distributed over at least three floors of the MDU, each remote unit being coupled to the OLT by the optical communication path to receive the optical downlink RF signals and the optical multiplexed data signals, each remote unit of the plurality of remote units configured to receive power delivered from an electrical power source located in a respective coverage area of one or more of the plurality of the remote units, wherein each remote unit comprises an optical-to-electrical converter configured to convert the received optical downlink RF signals to output electrical downlink RF signals;
• an electrical power source associated with each remote unit;
• at least one antenna associated with at least one of the remote units and configured to distribute the output electrical downlink RF signals into a respective coverage area of the remote unit;
• and
• at least one electrically conductive cable connecting the at least one ONT component to at least one remote unit of at least one of the plurality of remote units, the electrically conductive cable configured to provide power from the at least one ONT component to the at least one remote unit, wherein the optical communication path comprises a riser cable deployed between the head end unit and at least one splitter component.