Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) communication channel reconfiguration in remote antenna unit (RAU) coverage areas in a distributed antenna system (DAS) to reduce RF interferences. In this regard, a spectrum optimization unit dynamically reconfigures RF communication channels employed by RAU coverage areas in a DAS to reduce or avoid adjacent-channel and/or co-channel RF interferences. Each of the RAU coverage areas provides a respective sniffed RF signal to the spectrum optimization unit. The spectrum optimization unit analyzes the respective sniffed RF signal to determine a respective lesser-interfered RF communication channel for an RAU coverage area and dynamically reconfigures the RAU coverage area to communicate on the respective lesser-interfered RF communication channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to digital-analog interface modules (DAIMs) for flexibly distributing digital and/or analog communications signals in wide-area analog distributed antenna systems (DASs). In this regard, in one aspect, a DAIM is a multi-functional device capable of distributing the digital and/or analog communications signals to a local-area DASs in a wide-area DAS. The DAIM comprises an analog radio frequency (RF) communications signal interface for coupling with an analog signal source, a digital communications interface for coupling with a digital signal source, an analog local distribution interface for coupling with a remote antenna unit (RAU), and at least one digital remote distribution interface for coupling with a head-end unit (HEU) of the local-area DAS. By employing the DAIM in the wide-area DAS, it is possible to flexibly reconfigure the wide-area DAS for distributing digital and/or analog communications signals over the digital communications mediums.

Abstract: Wireless communications systems supporting carrier aggregation and selective distributed routing of secondary cell component carriers based on capacity demand are disclosed. The wireless communications system includes a signal router circuit communicatively coupled to a signal source. The signal router circuit is configured to distribute a primary cell component carrier, including control information, to each of multiple remote units to be distributed to any mobile device in a respective coverage area of any remote unit to avoid the need to support handovers. In addition, the signal router circuit is configured to selectively distribute one or more secondary cell component carriers to any subset of the remote units based on capacity demand associated with the remote units.

Abstract: One embodiment of the disclosure relates to radio frequency (RF) communication channel reconfiguration in remote antenna unit (RAU) coverage areas in a distributed antenna system (DAS) to reduce RF interferences. In this regard, a spectrum optimization unit dynamically reconfigures RF communication channels employed by RAU coverage areas in a DAS to reduce or avoid adjacent-channel and/or co-channel RF interferences. Each of the RAU coverage areas provides a respective sniffed RF signal to the spectrum optimization unit. The spectrum optimization unit analyzes the respective sniffed RF signal to determine a respective lesser-interfered RF communication channel for an RAU coverage area and dynamically reconfigures the RAU coverage area to communicate on the respective lesser-interfered RF communication channel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to optimizing power efficiency of a power amplifier circuit to reduce power consumption in a remote unit in a wireless distribution system (WDS). A power amplifier circuit is provided in the remote unit to amplify a received input signal associated with a signal channel(s) to generate an output signal at an aggregated peak power. In this regard, a control circuit is configured to analyze at least one physical property related to the signal channel(s) to determine a maximum output power of the power amplifier circuit. Accordingly, the control circuit configures the power amplifier circuit according to the determined maximum output power. By configuring the maximum output power based on the signal channel(s) in the input signal, it may be possible to optimize the power efficiency of the power amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce the power consumption of the remote unit.

Abstract: Automatic configuration of cell assignment of non-Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC)-engaged remote units in a wireless distribution communications system (WDCS) to non-ICIC-engaged WDCS cells to avoid or reduce dividing radio resources. The WDCS is configured to identify which remote units are “ICIC-engaged remote units.” A cell assignment configuration circuit is configured to identify ICIC-engaged WDCS cell(s) (i.e., in ICIC relation with a neighboring cell) among the WDCS cells in the WDCS, based on determining the WDCS cells assigned to ICIC-engaged remote units. The cell assignment configuration circuit is configured to determine a cell assignment configuration for the WDCS based on reassigning non-ICIC-engaged remote units assigned to the identified ICIC-engaged WDCS cells to non-ICIC-engaged WDCS cells. In this manner, radio resources for servicing non-ICIC-engaged remote units are not divided among non-ICIC-engaged remote units.

Abstract: Selective activation of communications services on power-up of a remote unit(s) in a wireless communication system (WCS) based on power consumption is disclosed. To avoid a remote unit drawing more power than is allowed and risking shutting down all of its communications services, after a remote unit in the WCS is powered-up to start its operations, the remote unit selectively activates its different communications services. The remote unit selectively activates communications services based on the power consumption of the remote unit to avoid the remote unit drawing more power than is allowed. If activating a next communications service would cause the remote unit to draw more power than is allowed, the remote unit discontinues activating additional communications services. In this manner, the already activated communications services in the remote unit can remain operational without risking powering down of the remote unit and discontinuing all of its communications services.

Abstract: A gain level control circuit in a wireless distribution system (WDS) is provided. The digital level control circuit receives a number of first digital communications signals having a number of first digital amplitudes and generates a number of second digital communications signals having a number of second digital amplitudes. When a selected second digital amplitude approaches a full-scale digital amplitude represented by a predefined number of binary bits, the gain level control circuit determines a selected first digital communications signal having a selected first digital amplitude causing the selected second digital amplitude to exceed the full-scale digital amplitude and adjusts the selected first digital amplitude to reduce the selected second digital amplitude to lower than or equal to the full-scale digital amplitude.

Abstract: Wireless communications systems which support carrier aggregation and selectively distribute routing of secondary cell component carriers to selectively direct wireless capacity are disclosed. The wireless communications system includes a signal router circuit communicatively coupled to a signal source. The signal router circuit is configured to distribute a primary cell component carrier, including control information, to each of multiple remote units to be distributed to any mobile device in a respective coverage area of any remote unit. The signal router circuit selectively distributes one or more secondary cell component to the multiple remote units to increase wireless capacity. Thus, because the control information in the primary cell component carrier is distributed to each remote unit, if a mobile device moves between different coverage areas provided by different remote units, no handover is required.

Abstract: A gain level control circuit in a wireless distribution system (WDS) is provided. The digital level control circuit receives a number of first digital communications signals having a number of first digital amplitudes and generates a number of second digital communications signals having a number of second digital amplitudes. When a selected second digital amplitude approaches a full-scale digital amplitude represented by a predefined number of binary bits, the gain level control circuit determines a selected first digital communications signal having a selected first digital amplitude causing the selected second digital amplitude to exceed the full-scale digital amplitude and adjusts the selected first digital amplitude to reduce the selected second digital amplitude to lower than or equal to the full-scale digital amplitude.

Abstract: Digital wireless distributed communications systems (WDCS) employing a centralized spectrum chunk construction of communications channels for distribution to remote units are disclosed. Individual, discrete communications channels received from one or more signal sources are centrally constructed into spectrum chunks before being distributed to remote units. When the communications channels are constructed into spectrum chunks, the individual communications channels are positioned in their respective defined center radio frequency (RF) frequencies of their respective communications band before being distributed to the remote units. Thus, the remote units do not have to include the additional cost and associated power consumption of processing circuitry to construct the communications bands for individual communications channels.

Abstract: A gain control circuit in a wireless distribution system (WDS) is provided. The gain control circuit generates a combined digital communications signal based on a number of received radio frequency (RF) communications signals. The combined digital communications signal has a digital amplitude(s) representing a summed analog power level(s) of the RF communications signals in a predefined number of binary bits. When the summed analog power level(s) exceeds a maximum analog power level represented by the digital amplitude(s) in the predefined number of binary bits, the gain control circuit determines a selected RF communications signal(s) causing the summed analog power level to exceed the maximum analog power level and attenuates the selected RF communications signal(s) to reduce the summed analog power level to below the maximum analog power level. As such, it is possible to achieve a calculated balance between performance, complexity, and cost in the gain control circuit.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a remote antenna unit (RAU) with multiple antenna assembly in a distributed antenna system (DAS). In this regard, an RAU(s) in a DAS includes a plurality of directional antennas, a power generation circuit, and a controller. The power generation circuit is configured to generate a power output having an aggregated power. The controller is configured to allocate the aggregated power to the directional antennas based on a power allocation scheme. By allocating the aggregated power between the directional antennas based on the power allocation scheme, it is possible to programmably control radiation patterns and transmission powers of the directional antennas in the RAU(s). As a result, it is possible to provide optimized radio frequency (RF) coverage throughout a coverage area(s) of the RAU(s) without preconfiguring the radiation patterns and transmission powers of the directional antennas.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein include distributed antenna systems (DASs) supporting expanded, programmable communications services distribution to remote communications service sector areas. In one embodiment, the DAS includes a first programmable switch for distributing downlink communications signals into one or more communications service sector sets. The DAS further includes a second programmable switch configured to distribute the one or more communications service sector sets to one or more remote communications service sector areas. A configurable extender module is also included to provide expanded routing of communications service sector sets in the DAS.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to optimizing power efficiency of a power amplifier circuit to reduce power consumption in a remote unit in a wireless distribution system (WDS). A power amplifier circuit is provided in the remote unit to amplify a received input signal associated with a signal channel(s) to generate an output signal at an aggregated peak power. In this regard, a control circuit is configured to analyze at least one physical property related to the signal channel(s) to determine a maximum output power of the power amplifier circuit. Accordingly, the control circuit configures the power amplifier circuit according to the determined maximum output power. By configuring the maximum output power based on the signal channel(s) in the input signal, it may be possible to optimize the power efficiency of the power amplifier circuit, thus helping to reduce the power consumption of the remote unit.

Abstract: Individualized gain control of remote uplink band paths in a remote unit in a wireless communication system based on combined uplink power level in the remote unit. The combined uplink power of a combined uplink communications signal in a remote unit is measured. If the combined uplink power level exceeds a defined uplink threshold power level for the remote unit, the gain is reduced for individual uplink band paths that provide a higher power contribution to the combined uplink power of combined uplink communications signal in the remote unit. This allows the initial uplink gain of the uplink band paths in a remote unit to be set higher to increase sensitivity, because the gain of the uplink band paths providing higher power contributions to the combined uplink power in the remote unit can be reduced, without reducing gain in other uplink band paths of the remote unit.

Abstract: Automatic configuration of cell assignment of non-Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC)-engaged remote units in a wireless distribution communications system (WDCS) to non-ICIC-engaged WDCS cells to avoid or reduce dividing radio resources. The WDCS is configured to identify which remote units are “ICIC-engaged remote units.” A cell assignment configuration circuit is configured to identify ICIC-engaged WDCS cell(s) (i.e., in ICIC relation with a neighboring cell) among the WDCS cells in the WDCS, based on determining the WDCS cells assigned to ICIC-engaged remote units. The cell assignment configuration circuit is configured to determine a cell assignment configuration for the WDCS based on reassigning non-ICIC-engaged remote units assigned to the identified ICIC-engaged WDCS cells to non-ICIC-engaged WDCS cells. In this manner, radio resources for servicing non-ICIC-engaged remote units are not divided among non-ICIC-engaged remote units.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to allocating digital channels into spectrum chunks in a wireless distribution system (WDS). In a WDS, a central unit is configured to communicate downlink and uplink communications signals with a plurality of remote units over a plurality of downlink and uplink communication links. In one aspect, discrete downlink channels in the downlink communications signals are grouped into downlink spectrum chunks at the central unit when the processing circuitry at the central unit is underutilized. In another aspect, discrete uplink channels in the uplink communications signals are grouped into uplink spectrum chunks at the remote units when the processing circuitries at the remote units are underutilized. By grouping discrete downlink channels into downlink spectrum chunks and/or grouping uplink discrete channels into uplink spectrum chunks, it is possible to optimize system resource utilization in the WDS, thus providing enhanced overall performance in the WDS.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a remote unit supporting radio frequency (RF) spectrum-based coverage area optimization in a wireless distribution system (WDS). A remote unit in a WDS includes a plurality of sector RF paths configured to support sectored coverage areas around the remote unit. Each of the sector RF paths includes an antenna configured to communicate an RF communications signal(s) in an RF spectrum(s). A processing circuit determines a selected downlink sector communications signal(s) to be distributed at a selected power from a selected sector RF path(s) in a selected RF spectrum(s) and provides the selected downlink sector communications signal(s) to the selected sector RF path(s). In this manner, the processing circuit can independently configure a sector RF path(s) to distribute a downlink RF communications signal(s) in an RF spectrum(s) at a desired power(s), thus enabling directional capacity optimization and/or RF interference mitigation around the remote unit.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed in the detailed description include supporting an add-on remote unit(s) (RU) in an optical fiber-based distributed antenna system (DAS) over existing optical fiber communications medium using radio frequency (RF) multiplexing. An existing DAS comprises at least one existing head end equipment (HEE) communicatively coupled to a plurality of existing RUs through an existing optical fiber communications medium. In aspects disclosed herein, an add-on RU is added to the existing DAS to support additional wireless communications. No new optical fibers are required to be deployed to support communications to the add-on RU in the existing DAS. Instead, the existing DAS is configured to support the add-on RU through the existing optical fiber communications medium using RF multiplexing. As a result, the add-on RU can be added to the existing optical fiber-based DAS without adding new optical fibers, thus leading to reduced service disruptions and deployment costs.