US 7,263,293 B2 · Indoor wireless voice and data distribution system

Abstract

A wireless voice and data system for improving coverage in an enclosed area includes a hub device for transceiving RF signals with a signal source positioned generally removed from an enclosed area. The hub device includes voice hardware for processing voice signals, data hardware for processing data signals, and combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the hub device. A remote access point device for transceiving signals with customer equipment includes voice hardware for processing voice signals, data hardware for processing data signals, and combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the remote access point. An optical fiber system is coupled between the hub device and the remote access point device and is operable for modulating and demodulating the combined voice and data signals for communicating between the hub device and remote access point device.

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Drawings

Claims52

Dependent claims

A hub device for use in a wireless voice and data system for improving coverage in an enclosed area, the hub device comprising:

circuitry for transceiving RF signals with a signal source positioned generally removed from an enclosed area;
voice hardware for processing voice signals in an RF wireless voice format that is used for RF wireless voice communications;
data hardware for processing data signals in a data network format that is different from the RF wireless voice format;
and
an RF-to-DATA converter circuit operable for converting data signals between the data network format and an appropriate RF format compatible with the RF wireless voice format in order to combine and separate the voice signals and data signals in the hub device for common transmission;
circuitry, in the RF-to-DATA converter circuit, for providing a continuous digital stream in the absence of data signals for providing generally continuous signals to be combined with the voice signals when data is not present;
combining hardware operable for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the hub device;
optical fiber transceiving circuitry operable for modulating and demodulating the combined voice and data signals for communicating with at least one remote access point device coupled in the system.

5 more elements

A wireless voice and data system for improving coverage in an enclosed area, the system comprising:

a hub device for transceiving RF signals with a signal source positioned generally removed from an enclosed area, the hub device including voice hardware for processing voice signals in an RF wireless voice format that is used for RF wireless voice communications;
the hub device further including data hardware for processing data signals in a data network format that is different from the RF wireless voice format and an RF-to-DATA converter circuit operable for converting data signals between the data network format and an appropriate RF format compatible with the RF wireless voice format in order to combine and separate the voice signals and data signals in the hub device;
circuitry, in the hub device RF-to-DATA converter circuit, for providing a continuous digital stream in the absence of data signals for providing generally continuous signals to be combined with the voice signals when data is not present;
and
combining hardware operable for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the hub device;
a remote access point device for transceiving signals with customer equipment, the remote access point device including voice hardware for processing voice signals in an RF wireless voice format that is used for RF wireless voice communications, data hardware for processing data signals in a data network format that is different from the RF wireless voice format, an RF-to-DATA converter circuit operable for converting data signals between the data network format and an appropriate RF format compatible with the RF wireless voice format in order to combine and separate the voice signals and data signals in the access point;
circuitry, in the access point device RF-to-DATA converter circuit, for providing a continuous digital stream in the absence of data signals for providing generally continuous signals to be combined with the voice signals when data is not present;
and
combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the remote access point;
an optical fiber system coupled between the hub device and the remote access point device and operable for modulating and demodulating the combined voice and data signals for communicating between the hub device and remote access point device.

7 more elements

A wireless voice and data system for improving coverage in an enclosed area, the system comprising:

a main hub device for transceiving RF signals with a signal source positioned generally removed from an enclosed area, the main hub device including voice hardware for processing voice signals;
the main hub device further including data hardware for processing data signals, and combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the main hub device;
at least one hub device coupled to the main hub device and including voice hardware for processing voice signals in an RF wireless voice format that is used for RF wireless voice communications and data hardware for processing data signals in a data network format that is different from the RF wireless voice format, an RF-to-DATA converter circuit operable for converting the data signals between the data network format and an appropriate RF format compatible with the RF wireless voice format in order to combine and separate the voice signals and data signals in the hub device, the RF-to-DATA converter circuit including circuitry for providing a continuous digital stream in the absence of data signals for providing generally continuous signals to be combined with the voice signals when data is not present;
and combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the hub device;
at least one remote access point device for transceiving signals with customer equipment, the remote access point device including voice hardware for processing voice signals in the RF wireless voice format, data hardware for processing data signals in the data network format, and combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the remote access point;
an optical fiber system coupled between the hub device and the remote access point device and operable for modulating and demodulating the combined voice and data signals for communicating between the hub device and remote access point device.

3 more elements

A wireless system for improving coverage in an enclosed area, the system comprising:

a hub device for transceiving RF signals with a signal source and including voice hardware for processing voice signals in an RF wireless voice format that is used for wireless voice communications, a remote access point device for transceiving signals with customer equipment and including voice hardware for processing voice signals in the wireless voice format, and an optical fiber system operable for modulating and demodulating the voice signals for communicating between the hub device and remote access point device;
the hub device further including:
data hardware for processing data signals in a data network format that is different from the RF wireless voice format;
an RF-to-DATA converter circuit operable for converting the data signals between the data network format and an appropriate RF format compatible with the RF wireless voice format in order to combine and separate the voice signals and data signals in the hub device,
circuitry, in the RF-to-DATA converter circuit, for providing a continuous digital stream in the absence of data signals for providing generally continuous signals to be combined with the voice signals when data is not present;
combining hardware for combining and separating voice signals and data signals in the hub device;
the optical fiber system operable for modulating and demodulating the combined voice and data signals for optically communicating both voice and data between the hub device and remote access device.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description4,494 words

Summary567 words

#This invention is directed generally to wireless communication systems, and particularly to a wireless system for providing voice and data to customers.

#Wireless communication systems are becoming increasingly utilized by a wide variety of consumers. Traditionally, wireless voice systems have driven the use of such technology. In fact, wireless voice traffic has exploded in the last few years.

#Wireless communication systems also include wireless data services. Consequently, a rapidly growing demand for wireless data services has coincided with the increased wireless voice traffic. Therefore, there is a need for systems which can provide both wireless voice access and wireless data access.

Brief description of the drawings5 figures

#The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description of the embodiments given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

#FIGS. 1A and 1B are schematic views of embodiments of in-building systems in accordance with aspects of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a remote access point of the system of FIG. 1.

Detailed description3,800 words

#FIG. 1A illustrates system 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention. System 10 is a system which would be utilized generally indoors, such as inside of a building, tunnel, subway, or other difficult-to-penetrate area, for providing wireless communications, both in the form of voice and data communications in the indoor area. System 10 comprises a signal source 12. The signal source 12 may be one or more different configurations for handling wireless traffic. For example, it may include a base station 14 and associated hardware, which is coupled, for example, through a wired or wireless backhaul system 20 to a switching center. Alternatively, an antenna 16 for transceiving the wireless communication signal may be coupled to the hub 24 through appropriate amplifiers and filters 15. Base station 14 and antenna 16 might be located outside of the building as an outdoor base station, or alternatively, might be located inside of the building, as an in-building base station (e.g. microcell, picocell). Other configurations might also be utilized. The base station hardware and other electronics of the system 10 might be located inside of the building, or outside. For example, system 10 may utilize a roof-mounted off-air donor antenna and repeater amplifier. In any case, wireless communication signals are transceived by the system 10 associated with a building or other confined area.

#For providing wireless voice communications, systems exist for indoor wireless voice distribution. For example, as noted above, Andrew Corporation, headquartered in Orland Park, Chicago, offers the InCell™ system which extends wireless voice coverage into buildings and other areas. The current InCell™ system provides wireless voice coverage. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the InCell™ system might be retrofitted, as discussed herein, for providing wireless voice extension as well as wireless data delivery services within a single installation.

#To that end, wireless communication signals, such as voice signals from base station 14, are routed on line 22 to a hub or hub device 24. The hub 24 might be an Andrew InCell™ hub or Central Distribution Unit (CDU) which has been modified in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The hub 24 is operably coupled to a plurality of remote access points 25 for distributing the wireless signals. The remote access points or remote access point devices, in one embodiment of the invention, might be Remote Antenna Units (RAUs) of the InCell™ System.

Facts

Application

10/166,277Filed 10 Jun 2002

Published

US 2004/0203704 A114 Oct 2004

Granted

28 Aug 2007

Term ended

18 Jul 2024

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 769 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification3 codes

H04W 16/26
Cell structures: cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
H04W 88/085
Access point devices: access point devices with remote components
H04W
Wireless communication networks

Timeline

10 Jun 2002Application filedUS 10/166,277
10 Jun 2002Assigned to Andrew Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
14 Oct 2004PublishedUS 2004/0203704 A1
28 Aug 2007GrantedUS 7,263,293 B2
9 Jan 2008Assigned to Bank of America, N.A., AS Administrative Agentsecurity agreement
7 Nov 2008Assigned to Andrew LLCchange of name
3 Feb 2011Assigned to Commscope, Inc. of North Carolina, Allen Telecom LLC, Andrew LLC (F/K/A Andrew Corporation)patent release
3 May 2011Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A., AS Collateral Agentsecurity agreement
4 May 2011Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A., AS Collateral Agentsecurity agreement
25 Mar 2015Assigned to Commscope Technologies LLCchange of name
28 Jul 2015Assigned to Wilmington Trust, National Association, AS Collateral Agentsecurity interest
31 Mar 2017Assigned to Allen Telecom LLC, Commscope Technologies LLC, Commscope, Inc. of North Carolina, Redwood Systems, Inc.release of security interest patents (releases rf 036201/0283)
9 Apr 2019Assigned to Redwood Systems, Inc., Allen Telecom LLC, Andrew LLC, Commscope, Inc. of North Carolina, Commscope Technologies LLCrelease of security interest
9 Apr 2019Assigned to Redwood Systems, Inc., Allen Telecom LLC, Andrew LLC, Commscope, Inc. of North Carolina, Commscope Technologies LLCrelease of security interest
3 Jul 2019Assigned to Wilmington Trust, National Association, AS Collateral Agentpatent security agreement
3 Jul 2019Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.abl security agreement
3 Jul 2019Assigned to Jpmorgan Chase Bank, N.A.term loan security agreement
18 Jul 2024Term endedEstimated, includes 769 days of adjustment
19 Dec 2024Assigned to Arris Enterprises LLC (F/K/A Arris Enterprises, Inc.), Arris Technology, Inc., Arris Solutions, Inc., Commscope, Inc. of North Carolina, Commscope Technologies LLC, Ruckus Wireless, LLC (F/K/A Ruckus Wireless, Inc.)release of security interest at reel/frame 049905/0504

Indoor wireless voice and data distribution system

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Indoor wireless voice and data distribution system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims52

Description4,494 words

Drawings

Classification3 codes

Life of this patent

Description4,494 words