Device for fronthaul communication between a baseband unit and a remote unit of a radio access network

A radio access network (RAN) comprising:

• a baseband unit (BBU);
• a remote unit (RU);
• and
• an intermediate device communicatively coupled to the BBU and the RU;
• wherein the intermediate device is configured to:
• receive, at the intermediate device, fronthaul data originating from a first one of the BBU and the RU, wherein the fronthaul data is formatted according to a first fronthaul protocol when received at the intermediate device;
• format at least some of the fronthaul data received at the intermediate device so as to be formatted according to a second fronthaul protocol thereby producing reformatted fronthaul data;
• and
• forward the reformatted fronthaul data towards a second one of the BBU and the RU.

A method of fronthaul communication between a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote unit (RU), the method comprising:

• receiving, at an intermediate device communicatively coupled to the BBU and the RU, fronthaul data originating from a first one of the BBU and the RU, the fronthaul data formatted according to a first fronthaul protocol when received at the intermediate device;
• formatting at least some of the fronthaul data received by the intermediate device so as to be formatted according to a second fronthaul protocol thereby producing reformatted fronthaul data;
• and
• forwarding the reformatted fronthaul data towards a second one of the BBU and the RU.

A device for fronthaul communication between a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote unit (RU), the device comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a first fronthaul interface coupled to the processor to communicatively couple the device to a first one of the BBU and the RU;
• a second fronthaul interface coupled to the processor to communicatively couple the device to a second one of the BBU and the RU;
• wherein the processor is configured to:
• receive, using the first fronthaul interface, fronthaul data originating from said first one of the BBU and the RU, the fronthaul data generated according to a first fronthaul protocol;
• convert at least some of the fronthaul data generated according to the first fronthaul protocol so as to be generated according to a second fronthaul protocol thereby producing converted fronthaul data;
• and
• forward, using the second fronthaul interface, the converted fronthaul data towards said second one of the BBU and the RU.

A radio access network (RAN) comprising:

• a baseband unit (BBU);
• a remote unit (RU);
• and
• an intermediate device communicatively coupled to the BBU and the RU;
• wherein the intermediate device is configured to:
• receive, at the intermediate device, fronthaul data originating from a first one of the BBU and the RU, the fronthaul data generated according to a first fronthaul protocol;
• convert at least some of the fronthaul data generated according to the first fronthaul protocol so as to be generated according to a second fronthaul protocol thereby producing converted fronthaul data;
• and
• forward the converted fronthaul data towards a second one of the BBU and the RU.

A method of fronthaul communication between a baseband unit (BBU) and a remote unit (RU), the method comprising:

• receiving, at an intermediate device communicatively coupled to the BBU and the RU, fronthaul data originating from a first one of the BBU and the RU, the fronthaul data generated according to a first fronthaul protocol;
• converting at least some of the fronthaul data generated according to the first fronthaul protocol so as to be generated according to a second fronthaul protocol thereby producing converted fronthaul data;
• and
• forwarding the converted fronthaul data towards a second one of the BBU and the RU.