Abstract: Certain features relate to a telecommunications system with a modular frequency combiner combining multiple received signals at different frequency bands without using frequency-dependent multiplexers. The frequency combiner can include adjustable tuning elements for adjusting various signal-processing parameters of the frequency combiner while the frequency combiner is in the telecommunications system. For example, adjustable tuning elements can adjust the phases of phase shifters of each RF path so that the RF paths are matched for combining the received signals and outputting them through an output port. The adjustable tuning elements can also adjust the electrical length or physical length of the transmission lines that carry the received signals. The adjustable tuning elements can be adjusted manually or automatically while the frequency combiner is deployed in the field in the telecommunications system.

Abstract: One embodiment discloses an antenna structure. An antenna structure comprises: a transmit antenna element comprising a plurality of transmit antenna sub-elements; a receive antenna element comprising a plurality of receive antenna sub-elements, wherein the transmit antenna element and the receive antenna element are orthogonally-polarized with respect to each other; a ground plane defining a reflector for the antenna structure; at least one electronic component coupled with the ground plane, the at least one electronic component comprising: a transmit balanced to unbalanced (BALUN) circuit configured to split a transmit signal from a transmitter into two balanced transmit signals, wherein the plurality of transmit antenna sub-elements are coupled to the transmit BALUN; and a receive BALUN circuit configured to combine feeds from the plurality of receive antenna sub-elements into a receive single output to a receiver.

Abstract: A master unit for use within a distributed antenna system includes: re-sampling devices configured to output re-sampled digital downlink signals by re-sampling digital downlink signals at customized resample rates based on at least one factor, the re-sampled digital downlink signals having a smaller bandwidth than the digital downlink signals; and a framer configured to multiplex the re-sampled digital downlink signals and to generate a first frame that includes the re-sampled digital downlink signals as framed data for transport to one or more remote units of the distributed antenna system, wherein the one or more remote units of the distributed antenna system are configured to transmit radio frequency signals using at least one antenna, wherein the transmitted radio frequency signals are derived from the framed data of the first frame received from the master unit.

Abstract: Certain aspects and aspects of the present invention are directed to a distributed antenna system having a downlink communication path, an uplink communication path, and a non-duplexer isolator sub-system. The downlink communication path can communicatively couple a transmit antenna to a base station. The uplink communication path can communicatively couple a receive antenna to the base station. In one aspect, the non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be electronically configured for isolating uplink signals traversing the uplink communication path from downlink signals. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be configurable in one or more mechanical steps selecting a frequency response. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can include an active mitigation sub-system.

Abstract: A unit includes circuitry configured to: receive a downlink signal; sub-divide the downlink signal into a sub-divided downlink signal having downlink signal components in a time domain, each downlink signal component corresponding to a respective sub-band; determine that at least one downlink signal component corresponds to at least one sub-band having data to be transmitted via a distributed antenna system; generate a transformed downlink signal representing the downlink signal in a frequency domain by performing a frequency transform on the downlink signal; determine that the at least one sub-band of the transformed downlink signal includes the data to be transmitted; extract the at least one sub-band from the transformed downlink signal at least in part by providing data for at least one portion of the transformed downlink signal in the frequency domain that corresponds to the at least one sub-band to the at least one remote antenna unit.

Abstract: A switching control module can optimize time division duplexing operations of a distributed antenna system (“DAS”). The switching control module can include a measurement receiver and a processor. The measurement receiver can measure signal powers of downlink signals in a downlink path of the DAS. The processor can determine start times for downlink sub-frames transmitted via the downlink path based on downlink signal powers measured by the measurement receiver exceeding a threshold signal power. The processor can identify a clock setting that controls a timing of switching signals used for switching the DAS between an uplink mode and a downlink mode. The processor can statistically determine a switching time adjustment for the clock setting based on switching time differentials between the clock setting and the start times. The processor can update the clock setting based on the switching time adjustment.

Abstract: Certain aspects involve a wideband remote unit. The wideband remote unit can include one or more antennas and an analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”). The antenna can receive wideband signals. The wideband signals can include an uplink RF signal and a leaked downlink RF signal. The uplink RF signal can have an uplink signal power at or near a noise level. The leaked downlink RF signal can have a downlink signal power greater than the uplink signal power. The ADC can convert the received wideband signals to digital RF signals representing the uplink signal and the downlink signal. The wideband remote unit can transmit the digital RF signals to a unit of a DAS that is in communication with a base station.

Abstract: Certain aspects involve power management subsystems for a distributed antenna system (“DAS”) or other telecommunication system. The power management subsystem can include a measurement module and an optimization module. The measurement module can monitor a utilization metric for a remote unit in the DAS or other telecommunication system. The power optimization module can determine whether the remote unit is underutilized based on the monitored utilization metric. The power optimization module can configure the remote unit for a low-power operation in response to determining that the remote unit is underutilized.

Abstract: A remote unit of a distributed antenna system is disclosed that can communicate analog RF signals with both base stations and terminal devices in a coverage zone serviced by the remote unit. In some aspects, the remote unit can include a signal processing module and a transceiver. The transceiver can communicate RF signals between a master unit of the distributed antenna system and a terminal device. The transceiver can also receive analog downlink RF signals from a base station. The signal processing module can convert the analog downlink RF signals to digital downlink signals and provide the digital downlink signals to the master unit.

Abstract: Certain aspects and aspects of the present invention are directed to a distributed antenna system having a downlink communication path, an uplink communication path, and a non-duplexer isolator sub-system. The downlink communication path can communicatively couple a transmit antenna to a base station. The uplink communication path can communicatively couple a receive antenna to the base station. In one aspect, the non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be electronically configured for isolating uplink signals traversing the uplink communication path from downlink signals. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be configurable in one or more mechanical steps selecting a frequency response. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can include an active mitigation sub-system.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a base station router disposed in a distributed antenna system. The base station router includes a backplane and a controller. The backplane can manage an availability of sectors for coverage zones. Each sector can include communication channels to be radiated to mobile devices in the coverage zones and can represent an amount of telecommunication capacity. The controller can respond to a traffic indicator by causing the backplane to redistribute the availability of at least one sector. The sector can be redistributed from a first coverage zone to a second coverage zone.

Abstract: A communication system includes a receive antenna for receiving communication signals, processing circuitry for processing the received communication signals and repeating the signals for further transmission and at least one transmit antenna for transmitting the repeated signals. The processing circuitry utilizes configurable settings for controlling the operation of the communication system and the configurable settings are variable for varying the operation of the system. The processing circuitry is further operable for receiving inputs regarding current operating conditions of the communication system and for selectively adapting the configurable settings of the system based upon the operating condition inputs.

Abstract: An interface is provided for processing digital signals in a standardized format in a distributed antenna system. One example includes a unit disposed in a distributed antenna system. The unit includes an interface section and an output section. The interface section is configured for outputting a first complex digital signal and a second complex digital signal. The first complex digital signal is generated from a digital signal in a standardized format received from a digital base station. The output section is configured for combining the first complex digital signal and the second complex digital signal into a combined digital signal. The output section is also configured for outputting the combined digital signal. The combined digital signal comprises information to be wirelessly transmitted to a wireless user device.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for automatically detecting passive components in communications systems using radio frequency identification (“RFID”) tags. A coupling circuit is provided in a system between a communications network and an RFID tag. The RFID tag is associated with a passive element of a distributed antenna system (“DAS”). The coupling circuit can allow an RFID signal received from an RFID transmitter over the communications network to be transported to the RFID tag. The coupling circuit can substantially prevent mobile communication signals on the communications network from being transported to the RFID tag.

Abstract: A distributed antenna system is provided for communicating with a plurality of base stations. The distributed antenna system includes a system controller and a master unit communicating with at least one of the plurality of base stations. A remote unit communicates over a high data rate media with the master unit and/or a downstream remote unit. Alternatively, the distributed antenna system includes a controller and a digital time/space crosspoint switch controlled by the controller. A digitizing transceiver is in communication with the digital time/space crosspoint switch. The crosspoint switch is configured to transmit and receive digital data through the digitizing transceiver.

Abstract: Certain aspects are directed to a thermal fuse for preventing overheating of RF devices in a telecommunication system. In one embodiment, an RF thermal fuse comprises a body: a conductive bolt positioned in the body, the conductive bolt having a length sufficient to provide an impedance at a point of protection on a transmission line in response to the conductive bolt contacting a live conductor of the transmission line, wherein the impedance reflects a portion of the incident power of an RF signal from an RF signal source; and a driving mechanism that causes the conductive bolt to selectively contact the live conductor in response to an event.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed for extracting sub-bands of interest from signals in a frequency domain for transmission via a distributed antenna system. In one aspect, a transformed downlink signal is generated by performing a frequency transform on a downlink signal. The transformed downlink signal represents the downlink signal in a frequency domain. At least one sub-band of the transformed downlink signal is identified as including data to be transmitted via the distributed antenna system. The sub-band is extracted from the transformed downlink signal for transmission via the distributed antenna system.

Abstract: Certain aspects and aspects of the present invention are directed to a distributed antenna system having a downlink communication path, an uplink communication path, and a non-duplexer isolator sub-system. The downlink communication path can communicatively couple a transmit antenna to a base station. The uplink communication path can communicatively couple a receive antenna to the base station. In one aspect, the non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be electronically configured for isolating uplink signals traversing the uplink communication path from downlink signals. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can be configurable in one or more mechanical steps selecting a frequency response. In another aspect, a non-duplexer isolator sub-system can include an active mitigation sub-system.

Abstract: An endpoint element of a distributed antenna system includes processing circuitry configured for processing a plurality of digital signals for conditioning the signals and compression circuitry configured for compressing at least one of the digital signals according to a compression scheme to yield at least one compressed digital signal and compression settings. The digital signals are combined into a single digital stream and combined and time division multiplexed onto a serial data link with the compression settings. The digital signals are also transmitted with compression settings to another endpoint element over the serial data link.

Abstract: Scalable telecommunications systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, a node unit for a scalable telecommunications system comprises: a plurality of universal digital RF transceivers each configured to communicatively couple the node unit to external equipment; one or more universal digital transport interfaces each configured to communicatively couple the node unit to a respective transport link; a universal backplane communicatively coupled to the universal digital RF transceivers and universal digital transport interfaces; and a system controller; wherein each of the universal digital RF transceivers is configured to couple to a respective modular power amplifier and a modular duplexer inserted within the node unit.