Time synchronized routing in a distributed antenna system

Abstract

A system for routing signals in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs) and a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs). The plurality of DAUs are coupled and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs. The plurality of DRUs are coupled to the plurality of DAUs and operable to transport signals between DRUs and DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and a plurality of Base Transceiver Station sector RF connections coupled to the plurality DAUs and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs and the plurality of Base Transceiver Stations sector RF port connections. The system further includes one or more delay compensation merge units operable to delay signals transmitted from or received by each of the plurality of DRUs

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs), wherein the plurality of DAUs are coupled and configured to route signals between the plurality of DAUs;   a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs) coupled to the plurality of and configured to transport signals between the plurality of DRUs and the plurality of DAUs, wherein a PEER port of a DRU included in the plurality of DRUs is configured to communicatively couple the DRU to another DRU included in the plurality of DRUs via another PEER port of the another DRU, wherein the another PEER port is dedicated to receiving signals from the plurality of DRUs; and   one or more delay compensation units configured to delay signals transmitted from or received by each of the plurality of DRUs, wherein one or more delays applied to signals transmitted from or received by the DRU are determined based on a calibration process involving at least one DAU included in the plurality of DAUs and the another DRU.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more delay compensation units are integrated as components of each of the plurality of DRUs. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more delay compensation units is integrated as a component of one of the plurality of DAUs. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of are coupled via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DAUs are coupled to the plurality of DRUs via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DRUs are connected in a daisy chain configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DRUs are connected to the DAUs in a star configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DAUs are connected to the BTSs via at least one of an Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of DRUs are connected in a loop to a plurality of DAUs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a single DAU port is connected to a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations. 
     
     
         11 . A method for routing signals in a Distributed Antenna System including a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs), a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs), a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTSs), and a plurality of Base Transceiver Station connections, the method comprising:
 transporting signals between the plurality of DRUs and the plurality of DAUs;   routing the signals between the plurality of DAUs;   routing the signals between the plurality of DAUs and the plurality of BTS sector connections;   providing routing tables;   using a first delay compensation merge unit in a first DRU of the plurality of DRUs to delay a first signal; and   using a second delay compensation merge unit in a second DRU of the plurality of DRUs to delay a second signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a power level of each carrier in each DRU of the plurality of DRUs is independently controlled. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first signal comprises an uplink signal associated with the first DRU and the second signal comprises an uplink signal associated with the second DRU. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one PEER port of a DAU included in the plurality of DAUs is configured to communicatively couple the DAU to another of the plurality of DAUs via the at least one PEER port. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a delay compensation merge unit included in the another DRU is configured to delay a signal received from the DRU based on a delay associated with the DRU.