Failsafe Series-Connected Radio System

A first antenna processing node for use in a distributed wireless system that comprises at least one controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes, including the first antenna processing node, communicatively coupled to the controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the controlling node, wherein the first antenna processing node comprises:

• radio circuitry configured for radio communication with one or more wireless devices;
• serial interface circuitry, wherein the serial interface circuitry is (a) configured to communicate with a first controlling node in a first direction along a series of links serially connecting the first controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes including the first antenna processing node, and (b) configured to relay communications between the first controlling node and at least a second antenna processing node, in a second direction along the series of links;
• and
• a processing circuit operatively coupled to the radio circuitry and to the serial interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuit is configured to, in response to determining that communications with the first controlling node in the first direction have failed, control the serial interface circuitry to communicate with a controlling node in the second direction along the series of links.

A distributed wireless system, comprising:

• a first controlling node;
• and
• two or more antenna processing nodes communicatively coupled to the first controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the first controlling node, each of the two or more antenna processing nodes comprising radio circuitry configured for radio communication with one or more wireless devices;
• wherein at least a first one of the antenna processing nodes further comprises:
• serial interface circuitry configured to (a) communicate with the first controlling node in a first direction along a series of links serially connecting the first controlling node and the two or more antenna processing nodes, including the first antenna processing node, and (b) relay communications between the first controlling node and at least a second antenna processing node, in a second direction along the series of links;
• and
• processing circuit operatively coupled to the radio circuitry and to the serial interface circuitry, wherein the processing circuit is configured to, in response to determining that communications with the first controlling node in the first direction have failed, control the serial interface circuitry to communicate with a controlling node in the second direction along the series of links.

A method, in a first antenna processing node configured for use in a distributed wireless system that comprises at least one controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes, including the first antenna processing node, communicatively coupled to the at least one controlling node but spatially separated from each other and from the at least one controlling node, the method comprising:

• communicating with a first controlling node in a first direction along a series of links serially connecting the first controlling node and two or more antenna processing nodes including the first antenna processing node;
• relaying communications between the first controlling node and at least a second antenna processing node, in a second direction along the series of links;
• determining that communications with the first controlling node in the first direction have failed;
• and
• communicating with a controlling node in the second direction along the series of links, in response to said determining.