Abstract: Methods and systems for indoor mobile unit positioning, for seamlessly toggling a mobile unit positioning between outdoor positioning and indoor positioning and for providing location based services or application generated by and external location server to the mobile unit while the mobile unit is indoors. The indoor mobile unit positioning includes mobile unit-based positioning with makes use of reception of access point signals by the mobile unit.

Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing leaked downlink interference signals in a remote unit uplink path(s) in a distributed antenna system (DAS) are provided. In a remote antenna unit (RAU) disclosed herein, a downlink interference signal may be leaked from a downlink path to an uplink path in the RAU. In this regard, an adjustment circuit is provided in the downlink path of the RAU to suppress the downlink interference signal. A control system is provided in the DAS to monitor the leaked downlink interference signal and control the adjustment circuit in the RAU to minimize the leaked downlink interference signal in the uplink path. By providing the adjustment circuit in the RAU and the control system in the DAS to minimize the leaked downlink interference signal in the uplink path, it is possible to reduce interferences between downlink and uplink communications signals without increasing costs of the RAU.

Abstract: Flexible head-end chassis supporting automatic identification and interconnection of radio interface modules (RIMs) and optical interface modules (OIMs) in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system (DAS) are disclosed. In one embodiment, the flexible head-end chassis includes a plurality of module slots each configured to receive either a RIM or an OIM. A chassis control system identifies an inserted RIM or OIM to determine the type of module inserted. Based on the identification of the inserted RIM or OIM, the chassis control system interconnects the inserted RIM or OIM to related combiners and splitters in head-end equipment for the RIM or OIM to receive downlink communication signals and uplink communications signals for processing and distribution in the optical fiber-based DAS. In this manner, the optical fiber-based DAS can easily be configured or reconfigured with different combinations of RIMs and OIMs to support the desired communications services and/or number of remote units.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to providing simultaneous digital and analog services in optical fiber-based distributed radio frequency (RF) antenna systems (DASs), and related components and methods. A multiplex switch unit associated with a head-end unit of a DAS can be configured to receive a plurality of analog and digital downlink signals from one or more sources, such as a service matrix unit, and to assign each downlink signal to be transmitted to one or more remote units of the DAS. In one example, when two or more downlink signals are assigned to be transmitted to the same remote unit, a wave division multiplexer/demultiplexer associated with the multiplex switch unit can be configured to wave division multiplex the component downlink signals into a combined downlink signal for remote side transmission and to demultiplex received combined uplink signals into their component uplink signals for head-end side transmission.

Abstract: Variable power ratio (VPR) directional couplers that permit an amount of power directed to different outputs to be varied and managed. In some embodiments, the power ratio of the VPR coupler is represented by an equivalent coupling factor C? corresponding to a conventional coupling factor C. The VPR coupler may include one or more variable reactive network (VRN) circuits, each configured to reflect a portion of power received from an input back toward the input, and to transmit a remainder of the power toward an output. An amount of power reflected and transmitted by the VRN circuit may be varied based on a control voltage applied to the VRN circuit. In one example, a plurality of VPR couplers can be arranged in series to create a versatile and simplified network for distributing signals to a plurality of end units.

Abstract: A method and system suitable for supporting various wireless services on a Distributed Antenna System (DAS). The DAS can provide wireless services including voice and data services using the same equipment. The DAS can include one or more active antenna units controlled by an access point, and includes control channels for transferring control and status information between the access point and the antenna. The control channels can be transferred over a separate cable, or transferred using one or more intermediate frequency signals transferred over existing cables. The control channels can be used to configure and control and receive status from the managed components of the DAS including active antennas, control the amplifiers used to process TDD signals, and control the switching of diversity antenna systems.

Abstract: Monitoring non-supported wireless spectrum within a coverage area of a distributed antenna system (DAS) in which a listening module connected to a remote unit of the DAS monitors non-supported wireless frequencies (i.e., frequencies that are outside the frequency ranges supported by the downlink and uplink signals of the DAS), via one or more antennas. The listening module also transmits the wireless frequencies to a monitoring module connected to head-end equipment (HEE) of the DAS. In that manner, a monitoring module can use an existing DAS infrastructure to monitor non-supported portions of the wireless spectrum at remote locations. In addition to avoiding the need to run a parallel DAS infrastructure, the disclosed arrangements are also useful in shared spectrum environments and other environments where efficient spectrum utilization is desired.

Abstract: Frequency shifting a communications signal(s) in a multiple frequency (multi-frequency) distributed antenna system (DAS) to avoid or reduce frequency interference is disclosed. Related devices, methods, and DASs are disclosed. Non-limiting examples of frequency interference include frequency band interference and frequency channel interference. As a non-limiting example, frequency interference in a multi-frequency DAS may result from non-linearity of a signal processing component generating an out-of-band harmonic of a first, in-use communications signal in a first frequency band, within different frequency band(s) of other in-use communications signal(s). To avoid or reduce such interference, embodiments disclosed herein involve predicting frequency interference that may result from processing received, in-use communications signals in multiple frequency bands to be distributed in a multi-frequency DAS.

Abstract: A protection circuit may be configured for detecting electrical power of downlink radio frequency (RF) signals, and diverting a substantial portion of the downlink RF signals away from a downlink RF interface of a distributed antenna system DAS in response to the detected electrical power being equal to or greater than a predetermined electrical power. The downlink RF signals diverted away from the downlink RF interface may be routed to an electrical load. The protection circuit may include hysteresis.

Abstract: Power management in a distributed communications system, such as a distributed antenna system (DAS), that includes determining user activity at remote units of the DAS. When user activity in one or more remote units falls below or above a specified threshold, power usage by the one or more remote units is reduced or increased accordingly. The power usage may reduced and/or increased by turning select remote units on or off, by increasing or reducing an operating voltage of one or more power amplifiers, and/or by turning select multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) front ends on or off. Power may be reduced such that wireless coverage within a specified area is maintained.

Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) allow for the integration of multiple electronic circuits on a chip to provide distributed antenna system functionalities. RFIC chips are employed in central unit and remote unit components, reducing component cost and size, increasing performance and reliability, while reducing power consumption. The components are also easier to manufacture. The RFIC chip(s) can be employed in distributed antenna systems and components that support RF communications services and/or digital data services.

Abstract: Wireless infrastructures have hardware and cable components capable of mobile, rapid deployment and recovery. The wireless infrastructures can be transported to a deployment site and remote units deployed to individual coverage areas. A communications path is established between head end equipment and the remote units to provide wireless communications to the coverage areas. When the deployment has ended, the infrastructure can be recovered and transported from the deployment site for use at another deployment.

Abstract: A method and system for supporting MIMO technologies which can require the transport of multiple spatial streams on a traditional Distributed Antenna System (DAS). According to the invention, at one end of the DAS, each spatial stream is shifted in frequency to a pre-assigned band (such as a band at a frequency lower than the native frequency) that does not overlap the band assigned to other spatial streams (or the band of any other services being carried by the DAS). Each of the spatial streams can be combined and transmitted as a combined signal over a common coaxial cable. At the other “end” of the DAS, the different streams are shifted back to their original (overlapping) frequencies but retain their individual “identities” by being radiated through physically separate antenna elements.

Abstract: System-wide uplink band gain control in a distributed antenna system (DAS) based on per-band gain control of remote uplink paths in remote units is disclosed. In one embodiment, for each uplink band in the DAS, a gain control system receives remote uplink band power measurements for each remote uplink path for the uplink band. Based on these power measurements, the gain control system determines if the uplink gain of all of the remote uplink paths of the plurality of uplink paths of the uplink band should be adjusted. If the uplink gain of the remote uplink paths of the uplink band should be adjusted, the gain control system directs a remote uplink gain control circuit for each remote uplink path of the uplink band to adjust the uplink gain by a defined remote uplink band gain level.

Abstract: A system, and related methods and devices, is disclosed for documenting a location of installed equipment. The system includes a mobile reader and a memory. The mobile reader is configured to read a unique identification of an equipment unit and to determine a location of the equipment unit while proximate the equipment unit. The location and the unique identification of the equipment unit is associated and stored in the memory. The memory may be located in the mobile reader or in a remotely located database. The mobile reader may be an optical reader configured to read the unique identification from an optical barcode associated with the equipment unit, or the mobile reader may be an RFID reader configured to read the unique identification from an RFID tag associated with the equipment unit.

Abstract: Power management techniques in distributed communication systems are disclosed. Related components, systems, and methods are also disclosed. In embodiments disclosed herein, the power available at a remote unit (RU) is measured and compared to the power requirements of the RU. In an exemplary embodiment, voltage and current is measured for two dummy loads at the RU and these values are used to solve for the output voltage of the power supply and the resistance of the wires. From at these values, a maximum power available may be calculated and compared to power requirements of the RU.

Abstract: Systems and methods for simultaneous sampling of serial digital data streams from multiple analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), including in distributed antenna systems, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a controller unit samples a plurality of serial digital data streams simultaneously. To allow the controller unit to sample the multiple serial digital data streams simultaneously from a plurality of ADCs, the controller unit is configured to provide a plurality of data input ports. Each of the ADCs is coupled to a common chip select port and clock signal port on the controller unit. The controller unit communicates a chip select signal on the chip select port to activate all of the ADCs simultaneously to cause each of the ADCs to provide its respective digital data stream to the respective data input port of the controller unit simultaneously for sampling. As a result, fewer or lower-cost components may be used to sample multiple ADCs.

Abstract: Radio-frequency (RF) integrated circuit (RFIC) chip(s) allow for the integration of multiple electronic circuits on a chip to provide distributed antenna system functionalities. RFIC chips are employed in central unit and remote unit components, reducing component cost and size, increasing performance and reliability, while reducing power consumption. The components are also easier to manufacture. The RFIC chip(s) can be employed in distributed antenna systems and components that support RF communications services and/or digital data services.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improvements for distributed antenna systems and more particularly to methods and systems for improving uplink communications. In one embodiment, Aggregation Point Noise Blocking provides for blocking or filtering the noise contributed by one or more of the branches coupled to an aggregation point that are not carrying the signal from a particular terminal. Signal activity from a given terminal on a particular branch can be identified and that information can be used to selectively block or filter the signal noise contributed by the other branches to an aggregation point. The selective blocking or filtering can also include an attenuation function to attenuate the signal and provide dynamic range smoothing. In another embodiment the signal can be regenerated to produce a signal that has a restored or very high SNR.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and system for supporting MIMO technologies which can require the transport of multiple spatial streams on a traditional Distributed Antenna System (DAS). According to the invention, at one end of the DAS, each spatial stream is shifted in frequency to a pre-assigned band (such as a band at a frequency lower than the native frequency) that does not overlap the band assigned to other spatial streams (or the band of any other services being carried by the DAS). Each of the spatial streams can be combined and transmitted as a combined signal over a common coaxial cable. At the other “end” of the DAS, the different streams are shifted back to their original (overlapping) frequencies but retain their individual “identities” by being radiated through physically separate antenna elements.