Dynamic cell bonding (DCB) for radio-over-fiber (RoF)-based networks and communication systems and related methods

A controller comprising:

• a head-end unit communicatively coupled to and configured to conduct a communication session with a first plurality of remote units and a second plurality of remote units;
• where the head-end unit is configured to:
• (a) determine the first plurality of remote units in a cloud bonded to a communication session;
• (b) measure at least one of a received signal strength and a data rate from each of the first plurality of remote units;
• (c) measure at least one of a received signal strength and an estimated data rate from each of the second plurality of remote units in the cloud not bonded to the communication session;
• and
• (d) dynamically bond one of the second plurality of remote units to the communication session if at least one of the measured received signal strength and the estimated data rate of the one of the second plurality of remote units is greater than the at least one of the measured received signal strength and the data rate of one of the first plurality of remote units.

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of remote units;
• and
• a head-end unit communicatively coupled to and configured to conduct a communication session with a first plurality of remote units and a second plurality of remote units comprising a controller for directing a signal to the plurality of remote units,
• wherein the head-end unit is configured to:
• (a) determine the first plurality of remote units in a cloud bonded to the communication session;
• (b) measure at least one of a received signal strength and a data rate from each of the first plurality of remote units;
• (c) measure at least one of a received signal strength and an estimated data rate from each of a second plurality of remote units in the cloud not bonded to the communication session;
• and
• (d) dynamically bond one of the second plurality of remote units to the communication session if at least one of the measured received signal strength and the estimated data rate of the one of the second plurality of remote units is greater than at least one of the measured received signal strength and the data rate of one of the first plurality of remote units.