Apparatus and method for controlling communication path between multiple digital units and multiple radio frequency units in wireless communication system

A path control apparatus configured to couple a plurality of Digital Units (DUs) and a plurality of Radio Frequency Units (RFUs) in a communication system comprising the plurality of DUs, the plurality of RFUs, and a plurality of antennas, the path control apparatus, comprising:

• a first transceiver unit configured to receive a first signal, comprising a first identifier indicative of a destination RFU, from a first DU;
• a path selection unit configured to select a first path to the destination RFU based on the first identifier;
• and
• a second transceiver unit configured to send the first signal through the selected first path.

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• a plurality of Digital Units (DUs) configured to process digital signals;
• a plurality of Radio Frequency Units (RFUs) configured to process radio signals;
• a plurality of antennas at least one of which is included in each of the plurality of RFUs;
• and
• a path control apparatus connected between the plurality of DUs and the plurality of RFUs and configured to control a path of signals between the plurality of DUs and the plurality of RFUs,
• wherein each of the plurality of DUs, the plurality of RFUs, and the plurality of antennas has a unique identifier, and
• the path control apparatus controls the path based on the identifiers.