Apparatus and methods for integrated high-capacity data and wireless network services

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for unified high-bandwidth, low-latency data services provided with enhanced user mobility. In one embodiment, a network architecture having service delivery over at least portions of extant infrastructure (e.g., a hybrid fiber coax infrastructure) is disclosed, which includes standards-compliant ultra-low latency and high data rate services (e.g., 5G NR services) via a common service provider. In one variant, an expanded frequency band (e.g., 1.6 GHz in total bandwidth) is used over the coaxial portions of the HFC infrastructure, which is allocated to two or more sub-bands. Wideband amplifier apparatus are used to support delivery of the sub-bands to extant HFC network nodes (e.g., hubs or distribution points) within the network. Premises devices are used to provide the 5G-based services to users at a given premises and thereabouts. In another variant, local area (e.g., “pole mounted”) radio devices are used to provide supplemental RF coverage, including during mobility scenarios.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A network architecture configured to support wireless user devices, the network architecture comprising:
 a distribution node, the distribution node configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) waveforms onto a wireline or optical medium of a network, the RF waveforms being orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) modulated; and   a first plurality of user nodes, each of the first plurality of user nodes in data communication with the wireline or optical medium and comprising a receiver apparatus configured to:
 receive the transmitted OFDM modulated waveforms; 
 upconvert the received OFDM modulated waveforms to at least one user frequency band to form upconverted waveforms; and 
 transmit the upconverted waveforms to at least one wireless user device. 
   
     
     
         23 . The network architecture of  claim 22 , further comprising a radio node in data communication with the distribution node and at least one of the first plurality of user nodes, the radio node configured to provide at least supplemental data communication to at least one of the first plurality of user nodes. 
     
     
         24 . The network architecture of  claim 23 , wherein the radio node is in data communication with the distribution node via at least an optical fiber medium, and the radio node is in data communication with at least one of the first plurality of user nodes via a wireless interface. 
     
     
         25 . The network architecture of  claim 22 , wherein the receipt of the transmitted OFDM modulated waveforms comprises utilization of TDD (time division duplex) multiplexing. 
     
     
         26 . The network architecture of  claim 22 , further comprising a second distribution node, the second distribution node configured to transmit radio frequency (RF) waveforms onto a second wireline or optical medium of the network, the RF waveforms being orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) modulated, the second wireline or optical medium of the network serving a second plurality of user nodes different than the first plurality of user nodes. 
     
     
         27 . The network architecture of  claim 26 , further comprising a radio node in data communication with at least the distribution node and (i) at least one of the first plurality of user nodes, and (ii) at least one of the second plurality of user nodes, the radio node configured to provide at least supplemental data communication to both the at least one of the first plurality of user nodes, and the at least one of the second plurality of user nodes;
 wherein the radio node is in data communication with the distribution node via at least an optical fiber medium, and the radio node is in data communication with both the at least one of the first plurality of user nodes, and the at least one of the second plurality of user nodes, via a wireless interface utilizing an unlicensed portion of sn RF spectrum.   
     
     
         28 . The network architecture of  claim 22 , further comprising at least one wireless local area node, the at least one wireless local area node in data communication with at least one of the first plurality of user nodes, the at least one wireless local area node configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one wireless user device via unlicensed radio frequency spectrum not within the at least one user frequency band. 
     
     
         29 . The network architecture of  claim 28 , further comprising at least one wireless local area node controller in data communication with the distribution node, the at least one wireless local area node controller configured to cooperate with the distribution node to effect handover of one or more wireless sessions between the at least one wireless local area node and the at least one of the first plurality of user nodes. 
     
     
         30 . The network architecture of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one wireless local area node operates within a first unlicensed frequency band, and the at least one of the first plurality of user nodes operates within a second unlicensed frequency band. 
     
     
         31 . The network architecture of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one wireless local area node operates according to an IEEE-Std. 802.11 (Wi-Fi) protocol, and the at least one of the first plurality of user nodes operates according a 3GPP 5G NR (Fifth Generation, New Radio) protocol. 
     
     
         32 . Controller apparatus for use within a hybrid fiber/coaxial cable distribution network, the controller apparatus comprising:
 a radio frequency (RF) communications management module;   a first data interface in data communication with the RF communications management module for data communication with a network core process;   a second data interface in data communication with the RF communications management module for data communication with a first RF distribution node of the hybrid fiber/coaxial cable distribution network; and   a third data interface in data communication with the RF communications management module for data communication with a second RF distribution node of the hybrid fiber/coaxial cable distribution network;   wherein the radio frequency (RF) communications management module comprises computerized logic to enable at least transmission of digital data from at least one of the first RF distribution node and the second RF distribution node with an RF band outside of that normally used by the first RF distribution node and the second RF distribution node.   
     
     
         33 . The controller apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein:
 the RF communications management module comprises a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) gNB (gNodeB) Controller Unit (CU);   the first data interface for data communication with the network core process comprises a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) Xn interface with a 5GC (Fifth Generation Core);   the second data interface comprises a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) F1 interface operative over at least a wireline data bearer medium, the first RF distribution node comprising a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) gNB (gNodeB) Distributed Unit (DU); and   the third data interface comprises an Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) F1 interface operative over at least a dense wave division multiplexed (DWDM) optical data bearer, the second RF distribution node comprising a 3GPP Fifth Generation New Radio (5G NR) gNB (gNodeB) Distributed Unit (DU).   
     
     
         34 . A computerized method of operating a radio frequency (RF) network so that extant infrastructure is used for receipt of integrated wireless data services, the computerized method comprising:
 receiving, from a distribution node and at a receiver apparatus of a user node, OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) waveforms over at least a portion of the extant infrastructure using at least a frequency band wider in frequency than a normal operating band of the extant infrastructure, the frequency band being lower in frequency than a user frequency band;   upconverting the OFDM waveforms to the user frequency band to form upconverted waveforms; and   causing transmission of the upconverted OFDM waveforms to at least one computerized user device.   
     
     
         35 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the extant infrastructure comprises a hybrid fiber coax (HFC) infrastructure;   the integrated wireless data services comprise data delivery at rates in excess of 1 Gbps; and   the receiving of the OFDM waveforms comprises receiving the OFDM waveforms via at least coaxial cable infrastructure of the HFC infrastructure.   
     
     
         36 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein the frequency band wider in frequency than the normal operating band of the extant infrastructure comprises a frequency band of at least 1.6 GHz in total bandwidth. 
     
     
         37 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein the upconverting the received OFDM waveforms to the user frequency band comprises upconverting to a frequency band including 5 GHz. 
     
     
         38 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein the causing of the transmission of the upconverted OFDM waveforms to the at least one computerized user device comprises transmitting using at least a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) compliant air interface in an unlicensed radio frequency band. 
     
     
         39 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein the receiving of the OFDM waveforms comprises receiving the OFDM waveforms over at least coaxial cable and via a plurality of amplifier stages associated with the coaxial cable. 
     
     
         40 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , further comprising converting the upconverted OFDM waveforms to digital baseband data. 
     
     
         41 . The computerized method of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the upconverted OFDM waveforms are in an analog domain; and   the causing of the transmission of the upconverted OFDM waveforms to the at least one computerized user device comprises transmitting the upconverted OFDM waveforms in the analog domain to one or more repeater ports for transmission of the upconverted OFDM waveforms via one or more antennae of a repeater module.