FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to communication systems for distributing signals in a communications network.

BACKGROUND

A bidirectional amplifier or signal booster10amplifies radio signals21,22passing between a signal source12, such as a base transceiver station, to terminal units or terminal equipment16, such as a radio or a cell phone. The base transceiver station12can be connected to the bidirectional amplifier10in a variety of ways. One such way is through an air interface or channel where the radio signal21is propagated from an antenna18through open air and received by another antenna24connected to the bidirectional amplifier10. The connection between signal source12and the bidirectional amplifier10could also manifest through a physical link such as a coaxial cable or optical fiber, and the signal21amay be sent to the terminal units16through an interface from one or more antennas26distributed throughout a coverage area20where the terminal units16are located. Signals transmitted to terminal units16may be referred to as downlink signals (21,21a), and signals transmitted from the terminal units16may be referred to as uplink signals (22,22a).FIG. 1is a demonstrative illustration of known systems for transmitting signals between a signal source12and a terminal unit16through a bidirectional amplifier10. In this demonstrative prior art system, the bidirectional amplifier10receives downlink signals21from the signal source12as well as uplink signals22from the terminal unit16. This results in an amplified downlink signal21abetween the bidirectional amplifier10and the terminal unit16and an amplified uplink signal22abetween the bidirectional amplifier10and the base transceiver station12. The downlink signal21from the signal source and the uplink signal22from the terminal unit remain unaltered by the bidirectional amplifier10, except that the bidirectional amplifier also amplifies noise and also introduces noise, such as thermal noise, for example.

A distributed antenna system30is a known variation of the prior art system shown inFIG. 1. In a distributed antenna system30, the base transceiver station12connects with a principal or master unit32of the distributed antenna system30, and master unit32in turn is connected to one or more secondary or remote units34. Each remote unit34may be in turn be connected to one or more antennas (19a-d), which may be referred to as nodes in the distributed antenna system30. In one implementation, a plurality of nodes19a-cmay individually provide local coverage20a-cwithin a broader coverage area20.FIG. 2is a demonstrative illustration of such a distributed antenna system30.

These aforementioned known systems are currently being applied to propagate signals to enclosed or partially enclosed environments (e.g., coverage areas20and20d) where direct signals from base transceiver stations12are out of range from the desired coverage areas and terminal units16within, or if not out of range then too weak to provide a reliable or quality communication. These known systems allow for an acceptable quality of communications services, such voice and data signal transmission, within these closed or remote coverage areas.

Transmitting from a central base transceiver station12to a distributed antenna system30and/or utilizing a bidirectional amplifier10has numerous limitations. Base transceiver stations12do not have unlimited traffic capacity. Thus, when a distributed antenna system30is employed, or even a single bidirectional amplifier10to reach a remote coverage area20, for example, the traffic capacity is dedicated to providing service at the remote coverage area20. Because traffic capacity is finite, this necessarily reduces coverage directly from the base transceiver station12. Of further concern is that the use of bidirectional amplifiers10not only boost signals21,22but also boosts input signal noise, and also introduces additional noise such as thermal noise, which can be introduced by the distributed antenna system30or the bidirectional amplifier10. The noise is particularly problematic in the uplink signal22. By increasing noise, performance of the network is degraded. Also problematic is signal delay added by the distributed antenna system30or the bidirectional amplifier10. This delay affects the synchronization of the system and also contributes to interference, such as time domain interference or extreme multipath interference. This interference is particularly potent where a terminal unit16is at the border between remote coverage area20and the central coverage area provided by base transceiver station12, for example when the terminal unit is close to the antenna24(FIG. 1) or antenna28(FIG. 2).

Another known solution for providing signal propagation to closed or remote coverage areas is to provide local or intermediate base transceiver stations12ato establish a signal distribution system40. These intermediate base transceiver stations12amay be positioned within communication range of terminal units16where the terminal units16otherwise would be outside of communication range from distant base transceiver station12. Intermediate base transceiver stations may be of different sizes or operate on different bands. Intermediate base transceiver stations12amay be connected, such as through a base transceiver station backbone42, to one or more base transceiver station networks44located in another area. In this known system, each intermediate base transceiver station12agenerates its own coverage area20.FIG. 3is a demonstrative illustration of such a signal distribution system40.

Utilizing intermediate base transceiver stations12aalso has its drawbacks. To begin with, this signal distribution system40is significantly more costly than a distributed antenna system30. Additionally, base transceiver stations12aare deployed for particular communication systems, such as systems dedicated to support of a police department, fire department, or ambulance network. Thus, a signal distribution system40as described herein proves difficult to accommodate terminal unit16coverage for multiple, different communication systems (police, fire department, etc.). In order for a signal distribution system40to function for multiple communication systems, multiple intermediate base transceiver stations12amust be deployed for each remote coverage area20. This is impractical and costly. Of final concern is the consequence of failure of an intermediate base transceiver station12a, which would result in a complete loss of coverage for that communication system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the various embodiments disclosed herein. This summary is not an extensive overview of every detail of every embodiment. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of every embodiment nor delineate the scope of every disclosed embodiment. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In one embodiment of the disclosure a communication system is provided. The communication system may include a base transceiver station for transmitting and receiving remote data signals within to and from a target coverage area, a bidirectional amplifier interposed between the base transceiver station and the target coverage area, with the bidirectional amplifier incorporating an integrated base transceiver station operable to generate local data signals. The communication system also includes an integrated coverage area antenna connected with the bidirectional amplifier and the integrated base transceiver station and operable to transmit and receive the remote data signals and the local data signals to and from terminal units within the target coverage area. The integrated base transceiver station incorporated in the bidirectional amplifier may be connected to a principal communication network core.

In one embodiment, the communication system may include a base transceiver a distributed antenna system interposed between the base transceiver station and the target coverage area. The distributed antenna system may include a master unit connected to at least one remote unit. The at least one remote unit incorporates an integrated base transceiver station operable to generate local data signals. The communication system may also include an integrated coverage area antenna connected with the at least one remote unit and the integrated base transceiver station. The integrated coverage area antenna is operable to transmit and receive the remote data signals and the local data signals to and from terminal units within the target coverage area. The integrated base transceiver station incorporated in the remote unit may be connected to a principal communication network core.

The following description and annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects of the disclosure. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed may be employed. Other advantages and novel features disclosed herein will become apparent from the following description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

