Providing digital data services in optical fiber-based distributed radio frequency (RF) communications systems, and related components and methods

Abstract

Optical fiber-based distributed communications systems that provide and support both RF communication services and digital data services are disclosed herein. The RF communication services and digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber to client devices, such as remote antenna units for example. In certain embodiments, digital data services can be distributed over optical fiber separate from optical fiber distributing RF communication services. In other embodiments, digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services. For example, digital data services can be distributed over common optical fiber with RF communication services at different wavelengths through wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) and/or at different frequencies through frequency-division multiplexing (FDM). Power distributed in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system to provide power to remote antenna units can also be accessed to provide power to digital data service components.

We claim: 
     
       1. A distributed antenna system for distributing radio frequency (RF) communications and digital data services (DDS) to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU), comprising:
 a head-end unit (HEU) configured to:
 receive at least one downlink electrical RF communications signal; 
 convert the at least one downlink electrical RF communications signal into at least one downlink optical RF communications signal to be communicated over at least one communications downlink to the at least one RAU; 
 receive at least one uplink optical RF communications signal over at least one communications uplink from the at least one RAU; and 
 convert the at least one uplink optical RF communications signal into at least one uplink electrical RF communications signal; 
 
 a DDS controller configured to:
 receive at least one downlink signal containing at least one DDS; 
 convert the at least one downlink signal containing at least one DDS to at least one downlink optical digital signal containing at least one DDS; 
 provide the at least one downlink optical digital signal containing at least one DDS over at least one second communications downlink to the at least one RAU; 
 receive at least one uplink optical digital signal over at least one second communications uplink from the at least one RAU; 
 convert the at least one uplink optical digital signal to at least one uplink electrical digital signal; and 
 
 at least one RAU, wherein each RAU of the at least one RAU comprises:
 an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert received downlink optical RF communications signals to downlink electrical RF communications signals and provide the downlink electrical RF communications signals to at least one first port; 
 an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert uplink electrical RF communications signals received from the at least one first port to uplink optical RF communications signals; and 
 a DDS interface coupled to at least one second port and configured to:
 convert downlink optical digital signals into downlink electrical digital signals to provide to the at least one second port; and 
 convert uplink electrical digital signals received from the at least one second port into uplink optical digital signals; and 
 
 at least one device supporting digital data services and connected to at least one RAU via the at least one second port, and 
 wherein the DDS interface further comprises a power interface configured to receive electrical power and provide the electrical power to the at least one second port, the electrical power configured to power the at least one device supporting digital data services and connected to the at least one RAU. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The distributed antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one RAU comprises a plurality of remote antenna units. 
     
     
       3. The distributed antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communications downlink and the at least one communications uplink are the same optical fiber. 
     
     
       4. The distributed antenna system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one communications downlink and the at least one communications uplink comprise separate, different optical fibers. 
     
     
       5. A distributed antenna system for distributing radio frequency (RF) communications and digital data services (DDS) to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU) comprising:
 a head-end unit (HEU) configured to:
 receive at least one downlink electrical RF communications signal; 
 convert the at least one downlink electrical RF communications signal into at least one downlink optical RF communications signal to be communicated over at least one communications downlink to the at least one RAU; 
 receive at least one uplink optical RF communications signal over at least one communications uplink from the at least one RAU; and 
 convert the at least one uplink optical RF communications signal into at least one uplink electrical RF communications signal; 
 
 a DDS controller configured to:
 receive at least one downlink signal containing at least one DDS; 
 convert the at least one downlink signal containing at least one DDS to at least one downlink optical digital signal containing at least one DDS; 
 provide the at least one downlink optical digital signal containing at least one DDS over at least one second communications downlink to the at least one RAU; 
 receive at least one uplink optical digital signal over at least one second communications uplink from the at least one RAU; 
 convert the at least one uplink optical digital signal to at least one uplink electrical digital signal; and 
 
 at least one RAU, wherein each RAU of the at least one RAU comprises:
 an optical-to-electrical (O/E) converter configured to convert received downlink optical RF communications signals to downlink electrical RF communications signals and provide the downlink electrical RF communications signals to at least one first port; 
 an electrical-to-optical (E/O) converter configured to convert uplink electrical RF communications signals received from the at least one first port to uplink optical RF communications signals; and 
 a DDS interface coupled to at least one second port and configured to:
 convert downlink optical digital signals into downlink electrical digital signals to provide to the at least one second port; and 
 convert uplink electrical digital signals received from the at least one second port into uplink optical digital signals; and 
 
 a media converter associated with the at least one RAU and configured to report functionality data to the HEU over the at least one second communications uplink to the HEU, and wherein the HEU is configured to provide control and management of the media converter based on the functionality data. 
 
 
     
     
       6. The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one RAU comprises a plurality of remote antenna units. 
     
     
       7. The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one communications downlink and the at least one communications uplink are the same optical fiber. 
     
     
       8. The distributed antenna system of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one communications downlink and the at least one communications uplink comprise separate, different optical fibers.