Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system that is configured to communicate at least two different types of fronthaul data from a plurality of baseband units to a shared radio point using a single application-layer protocol that supports at least two types of elements. Each of the at least two types of elements is configured for a respective one of the at least two different types of fronthaul data. The system is configured so at least some of the elements communicated using the application-layer protocol include one or more sub-elements, where each sub-element comprises a type field, a length field, and a value portion.

Abstract: A communication system includes a remote unit that exchanges radio frequency signals with mobile devices, at least some of the radio frequency signals comprising information destined for, or originating from, a mobile device, the remote unit being configured to perform first physical layer processing. A controller is separated from the remote unit by a switched Ethernet network, wherein data corresponding to the information is transmitted in frames between the controller and the remote unit. At least some of the data comprises baseband data that is transmitted in frequency domain. The controller and the remote unit are configured to transmit time stamp messages on the switched Ethernet network to synchronize a controller clock and a remote unit clock. The controller is configured to advance downlink subframe timing relative to the remote unit, when transmitting on the switched Ethernet network, based on a measured transport delay across the switched Ethernet network.

Abstract: A communication system includes remote units to exchange RF signals with mobile devices, at least some of the RF signals comprising information destined for, or originating from, a mobile device. The communication system also includes at least one controller or controller resource communicatively coupled to an external network and configured to assign airlink resources to the user equipment. The at least one controller or controller resource is separated from the remote units by an intermediate network comprising a switched Ethernet network over which data corresponding to the information is carried between the at least one controller or controller resource and the remote units. Two or more of the remote units are configured to belong to the same communication cell. The at least one controller or controller resource is configured to assign two or more of the user equipment in the same communication cell to simultaneously use a same airlink resource.

Abstract: Among other things, a communication system comprising at least one remote unit and controller is described. The at least one remote unit wirelessly exchanges radio frequency (RF) signals with mobile devices. Each RF signal comprises information destined for, or originating from, at least one of the mobile devices. The at least two remote units and the controller communicate baseband data corresponding to the information across an intermediate network. The at least two remote units each implement at least some physical layer processing for an air interface used to wirelessly communicate with the subscriber devices. The controller is configured to perform at least some receive signal processing using combined data resulting from combining at least some of the baseband data communicated from more than one of the at least two remote units.

Abstract: A communication system includes remote units to exchange radio frequency (RF) signals with mobile devices, at least some of the RF signals comprising information destined for, or originating from, a mobile device. The communication system also includes a controller comprising one or more modems and connected to an external network, at least one of the modems being a baseband modem and being configured to pass first data corresponding to the information. The controller is separated from the remote units by an intermediate network over which second data corresponding to the information is carried in frames between the controller and the remote units. The second data comprises baseband data, and at least some of the baseband data is compressed in a frequency domain. The remote units and the controller are configured to compress the baseband data for transmission over the intermediate network.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a centralized radio access network (C-RAN) system that is configured so that physical layer processing for the wireless interface is split so that some of the physical layer processing is performed in a controller and some of the physical layer processing is performed in a plurality of radio points. The system is configured so that scrambling of first downlink data to be communicated to a UE over the wireless interface is performed in the controller and so that scrambling of second downlink data to be communicated to said UE over the wireless interface is performed in one of the radio points. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to adaptive predictive uplink receive chain processing that involves determining predicted data for one or more early data symbols of a slot based on first baseband IQ data received for the slot. The predicted data for the early data symbols of the slot comprises a predicted version of data used at some point in performing a first portion of uplink receive processing for the early data symbols. The first portion of the uplink receive processing for the early data symbols of the slot is performed using the predicted data. Actual data corresponding to the predicted data is determined based on at least second baseband IQ data received for the slot. In connection with performing a remaining portion of the uplink receive processing for the early data symbols, the preliminary output data for the early data symbols of the slot are adapted based on the actual data.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a multi-carrier radio point for use in a radio access network (RAN). The multi-carrier radio point is configured so that some of the processing and hardware resources provided by the radio point can be assigned to baseband units (BBUs) in a flexible manner. A single multi-carrier radio point can be used with multiple BBUs, where the processing and hardware resources used for the multiple BBUs need not be configured and used in the same way.

Abstract: A system includes a plurality of remote units; a centralized unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units via a fronthaul network; and an entity that performs deep packet inspection. The centralized unit transmits sets of data to the plurality of remote units across the fronthaul network in packets, each of the sets of data mapped to at least one of the plurality of remote units and each of the packets including a respective indicator indicating each remote unit the associated packet is intended for, wherein each indicator comprises a plurality of bit positions where each bit position is mapped to a different one of the plurality of remote units. The entity performs the deep packet inspection on the packets to determine each remote unit the packets are intended for and communicate each packet to each remote unit the packet is intended for over the fronthaul network.

Abstract: A communication system includes a remote unit that exchanges radio frequency signals with mobile devices, at least some of the radio frequency signals comprising information destined for, or originating from, a mobile device, the remote unit being configured to perform first physical layer processing. A controller is separated from the remote unit by a switched Ethernet network, wherein data corresponding to the information is transmitted in frames between the controller and the remote unit. At least some of the data comprises baseband data that is transmitted in frequency domain. The controller and the remote unit are configured to transmit time stamp messages on the switched Ethernet network to synchronize a controller clock and a remote unit clock. The controller is configured to advance downlink subframe timing relative to the remote unit, when transmitting on the switched Ethernet network, based on a measured transport delay across the switched Ethernet network.

Abstract: A communication system includes remote units, a UTC or GPS reference timing source, and a controller. The controller includes one or more modems and is connected to an external network, at least one of the modems being a baseband modem and being configured to pass first data corresponding to the information. The controller is separated from the remote units by an intermediate network over which second data corresponding to the information is transmitted in frames between the controller and the remote units. The second data includes baseband data. A controller clock is synchronized with the reference timing source and provides timing information to the controller. A remote unit clock is synchronized with the controller clock and provides timing information to a remote unit, the controller and the remote unit being configured to transmit time stamp messages to synchronize the controller clock and the remote unit clock.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a system comprising a plurality of controllers and a plurality of radio points that provide wireless service to user equipment. The system is configured to serve a plurality of logical cells. The system is configured so that each logical cell is served by a respective group of the radio points. The system is configured to associate each group of radio points with a respective one or more controllers in order for the respective one or more controllers to serve the respective logical cell associated with that group of radio points while associated therewith. The system is configured to use a protection scheme in which the respective group of radio points that serves each logical cell does not change in the event of a fail-over that causes the one or more controllers associated with that group of radio points to change.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a multi-carrier radio point for use in a centralized radio access network (C-RAN). The multi-carrier radio point is configured so that the processing and hardware resources provided by the radio point can be associated with controllers of the C-RAN in a flexible manner. A single multi-carrier radio point can be used with multiple controllers to serve multiple cells, where the processing and hardware resources used for the multiple controllers need not be configured and used in the same way.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises determining which functional splits between processing performed in a baseband controller and processing performed in a remote unit are supported by each remote unit served by the baseband controller. The method further comprises determining at least one functional split in the processing performed in the baseband controller and the processing performed in the remote units to use. The method further comprises, for each said at least one functional split and each remote unit associated with that functional split, configuring the processing performed in the baseband controller and the processing performed in that remote unit are configured to use that functional split and configuring a respective interface between the baseband controller and that remote unit are configured for communicating front-haul data therebetween using that functional split.

Abstract: One embodiment is directed to a baseband controller for use with a plurality of radio points to provide wireless service to user equipment (UE) using a wireless interface. The baseband controller makes use of a hybrid virtualized architecture comprising special-purpose hardware configured to implement at least some of the LAYER-1 functions for the wireless interface and a virtual platform configured to implement some of the functions for the wireless interface. Such a baseband controller can be used in dual connectivity radio access networks.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units; a central unit communicatively coupled to the remote units via a fronthaul network; and an entity coupled to the fronthaul network configured to perform deep packet inspection. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to respective subsets of remote units across the fronthaul network and determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to a respective one of the subsets of remote units. The central unit is also configured to add a respective indicator, based on the mapping, to packets for each set of data, wherein each respective indicator indicates each remote unit that the respective packet and set of data is intended for. The central unit is also configured to transmit the packets for the sets of data, each with the respective indicator, to the entity over the fronthaul network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprises determining which functional splits between processing performed in a baseband controller and processing performed in a remote unit are supported by each remote unit served by the baseband controller. The method further comprises determining at least one functional split in the processing performed in the baseband controller and the processing performed in the remote units to use. The method further comprises, for each said at least one functional split and each remote unit associated with that functional split, configuring the processing performed in the baseband controller and the processing performed in that remote unit are configured to use that functional split and configuring a respective interface between the baseband controller and that remote unit are configured for communicating front-haul data therebetween using that functional split.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units (RUs), each being configured to exchange RF signals with at least one UE. The C-RAN also includes a central unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of RUs via a fronthaul interface. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to a plurality of remote units across the fronthaul interface. The central unit is also configured to determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to at least one of the plurality of remote units. The central unit is also configured to add a respective indicator, based on the mapping, to each set of data, wherein each respective indicator indicates each remote unit that the respective set of data is intended for. The central unit is also configured to broadcast the sets of data, each with the respective indicator, to the plurality of remote units.

Abstract: A C-RAN includes a plurality of remote units; a central unit communicatively coupled to the remote units via a fronthaul network; and an entity coupled to the fronthaul network configured to perform deep packet inspection. The central unit is configured to determine sets of data to be sent to respective subsets of remote units across the fronthaul network and determine a mapping of each of the sets of data to a respective one of the subsets of remote units. The central unit is also configured to add a respective indicator, based on the mapping, to packets for each set of data, wherein each respective indicator indicates each remote unit that the respective packet and set of data is intended for. The central unit is also configured to transmit the packets for the sets of data, each with the respective indicator, to the entity over the fronthaul network.

Abstract: Among other things, a communication system comprising at least one remote unit and controller is described. The at least one remote unit wirelessly exchanges radio frequency (RF) signals with mobile devices. Each RF signal comprises information destined for, or originating from, at least one of the mobile devices. The at least two remote units and the controller communicate baseband data corresponding to the information across an intermediate network. The at least two remote units each implement at least some physical layer processing for an air interface used to wirelessly communicate with the subscriber devices. The controller is configured to perform at least some receive signal processing using combined data resulting from combining at least some of the baseband data communicated from more than one of the at least two remote units.