Power management for remote antenna units in distributed antenna systems

A wireless communication system having a coverage area, comprising:

• a plurality of remote units distributed over a plurality of floors of an infrastructure, each of the plurality of remote units comprising:
• at least one electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert electrical uplink communications to optical uplink communications;
• at least one optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert optical downlink communications to electrical downlink communications;
• at least one antenna configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) communications services to the coverage area;
• a first communications port configured to connect to and to provide power to a first external power-consuming device;
• and
• a second communications port configured to connect to a second external power-consuming device;
• a remote controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units;
• at least one riser cable comprising a plurality of optical fibers in optical communication with a head end;
• and
• a plurality of interconnect units distributed in the infrastructure and in optical communication with the at least one riser cable, wherein a plurality of cables connects to at least two of the plurality of the remote units,
• wherein the remote controller is configured to:
• receive a type of at least one of the first external power-consuming device and the second external power-consuming device;
• and
• determine an allocation of power for at least one of the first communications port and the second communications port.

A wireless communication system having a coverage area, comprising:

• a plurality of remote units distributed over a plurality of floors of an infrastructure, each of the plurality of remote units comprising:
• at least one electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert electrical uplink communications to optical uplink communications;
• at least one optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert optical downlink communications to electrical downlink communications;
• at least one antenna configured to provide radio frequency (RF) communications services;
• a first external power-consuming device;
• a first communications port connected to and configured to provide power to the first external power-consuming device;
• a second external power-consuming device;
• and
• a second communications port connected to and configured to provide power to the second external power-consuming device;
• a head end coupled to the plurality of remote units;
• at least one riser cable in optical communication with the head end;
• and
• a plurality of interconnect units distributed in the infrastructure and in optical communication with the at least one riser cable,
• wherein the first external power-consuming device is configured to provide digital data services in the coverage area.

A wireless communication system having a coverage area, comprising:

• a plurality of remote units distributed over a plurality of floors of an infrastructure, each of the plurality of remote units comprising:
• at least one electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter;
• at least one optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter;
• and
• at least one antenna configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) communications services to the coverage area;
• wherein at least a first of the plurality of remote units comprises:
• a first plurality power ports, each being configured to connect to and to provide power to an external power-consuming device;
• and
• at least one power-consuming device configured to provide WiFi service in the coverage area;
• wherein at least a second of the plurality of remote units comprises a second plurality of power ports;
• a head end comprising a remote controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units, wherein the head end is configured to:
• convert electrical downlink communications to optical downlink communications;
• convert optical uplink communications to electrical uplink communications;
• determine a prioritization of services of the plurality of remote units;
• and
• communicate an allocation of power to the plurality of remote units;
• and
• at least one riser cable extending through at least two of the floors and comprising a plurality of optical fibers in optical communication with the head end.