Timeslot mapping and/or aggregation element for digital radio frequency transport architecture

A method for communication within a telecommunications system, the method comprising:

• receiving a digital data stream at a summing unit from another device, the digital data stream including first digital data derived from a first base station and second digital data derived from a second base station, wherein the first digital data comprises a first series of first digital values, wherein each respective first digital value of the first series of first digital values is associated with a respective time period, wherein the second digital data comprises a second series of second digital values, wherein each respective second digital value of the second series of second digital values is associated with the respective time period;
• extracting the first digital data from the digital data stream at the summing unit;
• digitally summing the first digital data with third digital data derived from a third base station at the summing unit to generate summed digital data for conversion to radio frequency signals and transmission at an antenna, wherein the third digital data comprises a third series of third digital values, wherein each respective third digital value of the third series of third digital values is associated with the respective time period;
• and
• wherein digitally summing the first digital data with the third digital data at the summing unit includes, for each respective time period, digitally summing (i) the respective first digital value associated with the respective time period and (ii) the respective third digital value associated with the respective time period, thereby producing a respective summed value for the respective time period comprising a respective single value that is a function of a respective mathematical summing operation performed using, as inputs thereto, the respective first digital value associated with the respective time period and the respective third digital value associated with the respective time period.

A telecommunications system comprising:

• a first network interface configured to receive first digital data derived from a first base station external to the telecommunications system, wherein the first digital data comprises a first series of first digital values, wherein each respective first digital value of the first series of first digital values is associated with a respective time period, the first network interface configured to convert the first digital data into first digital data;
• a second network interface configured to receive second digital data derived from a second base station external to the telecommunications system, wherein the second digital data comprises a second series of second digital values, wherein each respective second digital value of the second series of second digital values is associated with the respective time period, the second network interface configured to convert the second digital data into second digital data;
• a first unit communicatively coupled to the first network interface by a first digital communication link and to the second network interface by a second digital communication link, the first unit configured to receive the first digital data from the first network interface and the second digital data from the second network interface, the first unit further configured to generate a digital data stream from the first digital data and the second digital data;
• and
• a second unit communicatively coupled to the first unit by at least a third digital communication link, the second unit configured to:
• receive the digital data stream from the first unit, the digital data stream including the first digital data derived from the first base station and the second digital data derived from the second base station;
• extract the first digital data from the digital data stream;
• digitally sum at least a portion of the first digital data from the digital data stream with third digital data derived from a third base station external to the telecommunications system to create summed data, wherein the third digital data comprises a third series of third digital values, each third digital value of the third series of third digital values associated with the respective time period;
• and
• digitally sum the first digital data with the third digital data by, for each respective time period, digitally summing (i) the respective first digital value associated with the respective time period and (ii) the respective third digital value associated with the respective time period, thereby producing a respective summed value for the respective time period comprising a respective single value that is a function of a respective mathematical summing operation performed using, as inputs thereto, the respective first digital value associated with the respective time period and the respective third digital value associated with the respective time period.