Identifying remote units in a wireless distribution system (WDS) based on assigned unique temporal delay patterns

A wireless distribution system (WDS), comprising:

• a plurality of signal paths;
• a plurality of remote units, each remote unit among the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to a respective signal path among the plurality of signal paths;
• a central unit configured to communicate a respective communications signal among a plurality of communications signals to each remote unit among the plurality of remote units in the respective signal path communicatively coupled to the remote unit;
• a plurality of delay elements disposed in the plurality of signal paths, respectively, wherein each delay element among the plurality of delay elements is configured to digitally delay the respective communications signal communicated in the respective signal path according to a respective unique temporal delay pattern among a plurality of unique temporal delay patterns assigned to a respective remote unit among the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the respective signal path to provide a delayed communications signal in the respective signal path;
• and
• a remote unit identification system, comprising:
• a controller configured to assign the plurality of unique temporal delay patterns to the plurality of remote units in the WDS;
• and
• a determination unit configured to:
• for at least one delayed communications signal provided in at least one signal path among the plurality of signal paths:
• determine a unique temporal delay pattern associated with the at least one delayed communications signal;
• and
• identify a remote unit among the plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the at least one signal path based on the unique temporal delay pattern.