Optimization of traffic load in a distributed antenna system

Abstract

A system for dynamically routing signals in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs). The plurality of DAUs are coupled and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs) coupled to the plurality of DAUs and operable to transport signals between DRUs and DAUs and a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS). The system further includes a plurality of traffic monitoring modules and a network optimization goal and optimization algorithm.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 one or more Digital Access Units (DAUs) operable to receive at least one signal from at least one of a first signal source and a second signal source from one or more of a plurality of signal sources, each DAU of the one or more DAUs including an input port configured as an uplink/downlink port and an output port configured as an uplink/downlink port;   one or more Digital Remote Units (DRUs) connectable to the one or more DAUs and operable to transport signals between one or more of the one or more DRUs and the one or more DAUs;   a plurality of radio resources associated with the one or more DRUs comprising a first radio resource and a second radio resource different from the first radio resource, each radio resource being allocated to a subset of the one or more DRUs, wherein a first subset of radio resources is assigned to a first geographical area and a second subset of radio resources is assigned to a second geographical area;   a traffic monitoring unit coupled to each of the DAUs, wherein the traffic monitoring unit is configured to track a utilization of the plurality of radio resources at one or more of the input or output ports of the one or more DAUs; and   a network optimization processor, coupled to the traffic monitoring unit, operable to reconfigure an allocation of the plurality of radio resources to the one or more DRUs based on a change in the utilization of the plurality of radio resources assigned to the first geographical area, wherein the reconfiguring includes reassigning a portion of the radio resources from the first geographical area to the second geographical area.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor comprises an optimization algorithm. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor comprises an optimization goal. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor includes a network optimization goal and an optimization algorithm configured to, based on traffic measurements, optimize performance of the system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the optimization does not require maximum values for traffic management metrics, but also includes distribution of traffic that improves system performance while remaining short of maximum performance. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor is in a different server than the traffic monitor unit. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor is further operable to model rebalancing of traffic load. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the network optimization processor is further operable to rebalance a traffic load at each DAU in the system. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs) coupled to the one or more DAUs, wherein each BTS comprises the plurality of radio resources. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a network optimization goal comprising a percentage of users associated with each of the plurality of radio resources. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is external to the one or more DAUs. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is provided as a component of each of the one or more DAUs. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is external to the one or more DRUs. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is provided as a component of each of the one or more DRUs. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is configured to analyze Key Performance Indicators (KPis) of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) network. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit is configured to analyze Quality of Service (QoS) values of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) network. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the traffic monitoring unit, cooperating with one or more of the DAUs, provides for optimization of a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) network and the traffic monitoring unit is external to the DAUs. 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving, at one or more Digital Access Units (DAUs), at least one signal from at least one of a first signal source and a second signal source from one or more of a plurality of signal sources, each DAU of the one or more DAUs including an input port configured as an uplink/downlink port and an output port configured as an uplink/downlink port;   transporting signals between one or more Digital Remote Units (DRUs) and the one or more DAUs;   managing a plurality of radio resources associated with the one or more DRUs comprising a first radio resource and a second radio resource different from the first radio resource, each radio resource being allocated to a subset of the one or more DRUs, wherein a first subset of radio resources is assigned to a first geographical area and a second subset of radio resources is assigned to a second geographical area;   tracking, by a traffic monitoring unit coupled to each of the DAUs, a utilization of the plurality of radio resources at one or more of the input or output ports of the one or more DAUs; and   reconfiguring, by a network optimization processor coupled to the traffic monitoring unit, an allocation of the plurality of radio resources to the one or more DRUs based on a change in the utilization of the plurality of radio resources, wherein the reconfiguring includes reassigning a portion of the radio resources from the first geographical area to the second geographical area.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising optimizing performance using an optimization algorithm based on traffic measurements. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising rebalancing a traffic load at each DAU.