Wireless Communication Subsystem with a Digital Interface

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed which provide wireless communication systems implementing subsystems adapted for flexible deployment configurations and to resist the introduction of interference. Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless communication system configuration in which an ODU subsystem is coupled to an IDU subsystem using a fiber optic link. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an ODU subsystem is adapted to provide conversion between digital and analog to thereby facilitate the use of a digital link between the ODU subsystem and a corresponding IDU subsystem. Embodiments of the present invention utilize a plurality of ODU subsystems configured according to the present invention to provide wireless communication coverage of a service area, such as to provide a wireless application termination system (WATS) hub for use in providing wireless communication links with respect to a plurality of subscriber units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system providing broadband access to one or more subscribers, the system comprising:
 an indoor unit comprising a first digital interface for communicating digital subscriber data between the one or more subscribers and the indoor unit and a first fiber optic interface for communicating, via a fiber optic cable, the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and an outdoor unit that comprises a second fiber optic interface for communicating, via the fiber optic cable, the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit and a wireless interface for communicating wireless subscriber data between the outdoor unit and a network, where the indoor unit provides only digital signal processing of the digital subscriber data and the outdoor unit provides all analog signal processing of the digital subscriber data performed by the system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  where the first digital interface is an Ethernet interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  where the fiber optic interface and the second fiber optic interface communicate, via the fiber optic cable, digital synchronous communication data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  where timing bits are simultaneously transmitted with data bits via the fiber optic able between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  where the timing bit are utilized to synchronize communication of the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         6 . A system providing broadband access to one or more subscribers, the system comprising:
 an outdoor unit comprising a wireless interface for communicating wireless subscriber data between the outdoor unit and a network and a first fiber optic interface for communicating, via a fiber optic cable, digital subscriber data between the outdoor unit and an indoor unit comprising a second fiber optic interface for communicating, via the fiber optic cable, the digital subscriber data between the outdoor unit and the indoor unit and a first digital interface for communicating digital subscriber data between the one or more subscribers and the indoor unit, where the indoor unit provides only digital signal processing of the digital subscriber data and the outdoor unit provides all analog signal processing of the digital subscriber data performed by the system.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  where the first digital interface is an Ethernet interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  where the fiber optic interface and the second fiber optic interface communicate, via the fiber optic cable, digital synchronous communication data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  where timing bits are simultaneously transmitted with data bits via the fiber optic able between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  where the timing bit are utilized to synchronize communication of the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing broadband access to one or more subscribers, the system comprising:
 receiving, at an indoor unit via a first digital interface, digital subscriber data from the one or more subscribers;   performing digital signal processing on the received digital subscriber data;   transmitting, from the indoor unit via a fiber optic interface, the digitally processed digital subscriber data from the indoor unit to an outdoor unit that receives the digitally processed digital subscriber data, performs analog signal processing on the digitally processed digital subscriber data, and transmits wireless subscriber data to a network, where the indoor unit provides only digital signal processing of the digital subscriber data and the outdoor unit provides all analog signal processing of the digital subscriber data performed by the system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  where the first digital interface is an Ethernet interface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  where transmitting, from the indoor unit via a fiber optic interface, the digitally processed digital subscriber data comprises transmitting digital synchronous communication data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  where transmitting, from the indoor unit via a fiber optic interface, the digitally processed digital subscriber data comprises simultaneously transmitting timing bits with data bits via the fiber optic able between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where the timing bit are utilized to synchronize communication of the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
     
     
         16 . A method for providing broadband access to one or more subscribers, the system comprising:
 receiving, at an outdoor unit via a wireless interface, wireless subscriber data;   converting the wireless subscriber data to digital subscriber data; and   transmitting, from the outdoor unit via a first fiber optic interface, the digital subscriber data to an indoor unit that receives the digital subscriber data via a second fiber optic interface, performs digital signal processing on the digital subscriber data, and transmits, via a first digital interface, the processed digital subscriber data to the one or more subscribers, where the indoor unit provides only digital signal processing of the digital subscriber data and the outdoor unit provides all analog signal processing of the digital subscriber data performed by the system.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  where the first digital interface is an Ethernet interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 transmitting digital synchronous communication data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 simultaneously transmitting timing bits with data bits via a fiber optic able between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  where the timing bit are utilized to synchronize communication of the digital subscriber data between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit.