Cloud communication center system and method for processing data in a cloud communication system

An apparatus for supporting a cloud communication system, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one remote unit configured to process at least one of a radio signal received from a user equipment and a radio signal to be transmitted to the user equipment using a radio signal interface;
• and
• a centralized unit configured to receive a processed signal from the at least one remote unit and to process the received processed signal using a data signal interface,
• wherein the at least one remote unit comprises:
• a radio unit configured to control a transmission and reception of radio signals to and from the user equipment;
• and
• a physical layer unit configured to process at least one of the radio signal to be transmitted to the user equipment and the radio signal to be received from the user equipment using a physical layer.

A cloud communication system comprising:

• at least one base station configured to process at least one of a radio signal received from a user equipment and a radio signal to be transmitted to the user equipment using a radio signal interface;
• and
• a central office configured to receive a processed signal from the at least one base station and to process the received processed signal using a data signal interface,
• wherein the at least one base station comprises a remote unit configured to transmit and receive radio signals to and from the user equipment;
• and a physical layer unit configured to process at least one of the radio signal to be transmitted to the user equipment and the radio signal to be received from the user equipment using a physical layer of an radio interface protocol,
• wherein the central office comprises a centralized unit configured to process the processed signal received from the at least one base station according to at least one of a media access control layer, a radio link control layer, a packet data convergence protocol layer, and a radio resource control layer.

A method of processing a radio signal at a cloud communication center system having a remote unit at a base station and a centralized unit at a central office, the method comprising:

• receiving, at the remote unit, a radio signal from a user equipment;
• processing, at the remote unit, the received radio signal using a radio signal interface;
• transmitting, by the remote unit, the processed radio signal to the centralized unit through an inter-protocol interface;
• and
• processing, at the centralized unit, the processed radio signal received from the remote unit using a data signal interface,
• wherein the remote unit comprises:
• a radio unit configured to control a transmission and reception of radio signals to and from the user equipment;
• and
• a physical layer unit configured to process at least one of the radio signal to be transmitted to the user equipment and the radio signal to be received from the user equipment using a physical layer.