Bitrate efficient transport through distributed antenna systems

An antenna unit comprising:

• a radio frequency conversion module configured to convert radio frequency signals received using an antenna into a first lower layer signal;
• a first lower layer processor configured to generate first higher layer data units from the first lower layer signal;
• a higher layer processor configured to convert the first higher layer data units into second higher layer data units;
• and
• a second lower layer processor configured to convert second higher layer data units into an transport data stream and to communicate the transport data stream to a device;
• wherein communication between the antenna unit and the device using the transport data stream having the second higher layer data units has a lower data rate than would communication between the antenna unit and the device using the first lower layer signal having the first higher layer data units.

A system comprising:

• a radio access network interface;
• at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the radio access network interface across a first communication link;
• wherein the radio access network interface is configured to communicate a first lower layer signal to the at least one remote antenna unit across the first communication link;
• wherein the at least one remote antenna unit is configured to:
• receive the first lower layer signal from the radio access network interface;
• convert the first lower layer signal into first higher layer data units;
• convert the first higher layer data units into second higher layer data units;
• generate a second lower layer signal from the second higher layer data units;
• and
• convert the second lower layer signal into radio frequency signals for communication using an antenna;
• wherein communication between the radio access network interface and the at least one remote antenna unit using the first lower layer signal having the first higher layer data units has a lower data rate than would communication between the radio access network interface and the antenna unit using the second lower layer signal having the second higher layer data units.

A system comprising:

• a radio access network interface;
• at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to the radio access network interface across a first communication link;
• wherein the radio access network interface is configured to receive an transport data stream from the at least one remote antenna unit across the first communication link;
• wherein the at least one remote antenna unit is configured to:
• convert radio frequency signals received using an antenna into a first lower layer signal;
• generate first higher layer data units from the first lower layer signal;
• convert the first higher layer data units into second higher layer data units;
• convert the second higher layer data units into an transport data stream;
• communicate the transport data stream to the radio access network interface;
• wherein communication between the at least one remote antenna unit and the radio access network interface using the transport data stream having the second higher layer data units has a lower data rate than would communication between the at least one remote antenna unit and the radio access network interface using the first lower layer signal having the first higher layer data units.