US20180198493A1 - Distributed antenna system including crest factor reduction module disposed at optimum position - Google Patents

Abstract

A distributed antenna system includes a plurality of head-end units for each receiving mobile communication signals from at least one corresponding base station, a hub unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of head-end units, and a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the hub unit, wherein the hub unit configured to distribute the mobile communication signals received from each of the plurality of head-end units to the plurality of remote units, wherein each of the plurality of remote units is remotely disposed to transmit the distributed mobile communication signals to a terminal in service coverage, and wherein the hub unit includes a mixing processing stage configured to perform digital mixing processing on the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and a crest factor reduction (CFR) module disposed posterior to the mixing processing stage, with respect to a signal transmission direction.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/084,749 filed on Mar. 30, 2016, which is a Continuation of PCT International Application No. PCT/KR2015/014538, filed Dec. 30, 2015, and claims priority from Korean Patent Applications No. 10-2014-0194369, No. 10-2014-0194380 and No. 10-2014-0194381, filed Dec. 30, 2014, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUND1. Field
• The inventive concept relates to a distributed antenna system (DAS), and more particularly, to a DAS including a crest factor reduction (CFR) module.
2. Description of Related Art
• Crest factor reduction (CFR) is frequently used as a technique for reducing a peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of a signal. Particularly, in a system using a digital pre-distorter (DPD), the CFR is implemented at the front end of the DPD.
• In a distributed antenna system (DAS), the CFR is generally implemented at the front end of a DPD in a remote unit (RU) among node units constituting the DAS. However, when the number of RUs is large, the complexity and cost for implementing the RUs may increase. Moreover, when it is required to perform multi-band signal processing on the RUs in the DAS, the CFR is required by the number of bands, and therefore, the complexity for implementing the RUs considerably increases.
SUMMARY
• An embodiment of the inventive concept is directed to a DAS having at least one CFR module disposed at an optimum position according to a form of each topology or a design form in a distributed antenna system.
• According to an aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a distributed antenna system, comprising: a plurality of head-end units each configured to receive mobile communication signals from at least one corresponding base station; a hub unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of head-end units; and a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the hub unit, wherein the hub unit configured to distribute the mobile communication signals received from each of the plurality of head-end units to the plurality of remote units, wherein each of the plurality of remote units is remotely disposed to transmit the distributed mobile communication signals to a terminal in a service coverage, and wherein the hub unit includes a mixing processing stage configured to perform digital mixing processing on the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and a crest factor reduction (CFR) module disposed posterior to the mixing processing stage with respect to a signal transmission direction.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the plurality of head-end units may receive mobile communication signals in at least one mobile communication service band from the at least one corresponding base station, convert the received mobile communication signals into mobile communication signals in a baseband or intermediate frequency (IF) band, perform digital signal conversion on the band-converted mobile communication signals, and transmit the digital-converted mobile communication signals to the hub unit.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the plurality of head-end units may receive different mobile communication signals, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal summer configured to digitally sum different mobile communication signals respectively from the plurality of head-end units, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal summer.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal summer configured to digitally sum signals in the same mobile communication service band among the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal summer.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the hub unit may further include a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units and separate signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the signal summer may perform sub-band signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator, and digitally re-sum signals for each mobile communication service band, which obtained by performing the sub-band signal summing.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the plurality of head-end units may be communicatively coupled to the at least one corresponding base station to receive signals for each sector in the same mobile communication service band, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal swapper configured to perform swapping on the signals for each sector, respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal swapper.
• According to another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a distributed antenna system, comprising: a head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals from a plurality of base stations; and at least one remote unit communicatively coupled to the head-end unit, the at least one remote unit receiving the mobile communication signals from the head-end unit, the at least one remote unit being remotely disposed to transmit the mobile communication signals to a terminal in a service coverage, wherein the head-end unit includes a mixing processing stage configured to perform digital mixing processing on the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and a CFR module disposed posterior to the mixing processing stage with respect to a signal transmission direction.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the head-end unit may be configured to receive mobile communication signals in at least one mobile communication service band from the plurality of base stations, convert the received mobile communication signals into mobile communication signals in a baseband or IF band, and perform digital signal conversion on the band-converted mobile communication signals.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the head-end unit may be configured to receive different mobile communication signals from the plurality of base stations, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal summer configured to digitally sum the different mobile communication signals received from the plurality of base stations, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal summer.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal summer configured to digitally sum signals in the same mobile communication service band among the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal summer.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the head-end unit may further include a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals respectively transmitted from the plurality of base stations and separate only signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the signal summer may perform sub-band signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator, and digitally re-sum signals for each mobile communication service band, which obtained by performing the sub-band signal summing.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the head-end unit may be communicatively coupled to the plurality of base stations to receive signals for each sector in the same mobile communication service band, wherein the mixing processing stage may include a signal swapper configured to perform swapping on the signals for each sector, respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and wherein the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal swapper.
• According to still another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a distributed antenna system, comprising: at least one head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals from a plurality of base stations; and at least one remote unit communicatively coupled to the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit receiving the mobile communication signals from the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit being remotely disposed to transmit the mobile communication signals to a terminal in a service coverage, wherein the at least one remote unit includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum the mobile communication signals transmitted from the at least one head-end unit, and a CFR module disposed posterior to the signal summer, with respect to a signal transmission direction.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the at least one remote unit may further include a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals transmitted from the at least one head-end unit and separate only signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.
• According to an exemplary embodiment, wherein the signal summer may perform digital signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator.
• According to still another aspect of the inventive concept, there is provided a distributed antenna system, comprising: at least one head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals from a plurality of base stations; and at least one remote unit communicatively coupled to the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit receiving the mobile communication signals from the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit being remotely disposed to transmit the mobile communication signals to a terminal in service coverage, wherein the at least one remote unit includes a group delay equalizer configured to perform group delay equalization processing on the mobile communication signals transmitted from the at least one head-end unit, and a CFR module is disposed posterior to the group delay equalizer.
• According to embodiments of the inventive concept, it is possible to position crest factor reduction (CFR) at an optimum position according to a form of each topology or a design form in a distributed antenna system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
• Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a topology of a distributed antenna system (DAS) as one form of a signal distributed transmission system to which the inventive concept is applicable.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a remote unit in the DAS to which the inventive concept is applicable.
• FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one form of the topology of the DAS according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a crest factor reduction (CFR) disposing method according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.
• FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another form of the topology of the DAS according to an embodiment of the inventive concept.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a CFR disposing method according to another embodiment of the inventive concept.
• FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a CFR disposing method according to still another embodiment of the inventive concept.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
• Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The inventive concept may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the inventive concept.
• In description of the inventive concept, detailed explanation of known related functions and constitutions may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the subject manner of the inventive concept. Ordinal numbers (e.g. first, second, etc.) are used for description only, assigned to the elements in no particular order, and shall by no means specify the name of the pertinent element or restrict the claims.
• It will be understood that when an element is “connected” or “coupled” to another element, the element may be directly connected or coupled to another element, and there may be an intervening element between the element and another element. To the contrary, it will be understood that when an element is “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there is no intervening element between the element and another element.
• Hereinafter, a distributed antenna system (DAS) will be mainly described as an application example to which embodiments of the inventive concept are applicable. However, the embodiments of the inventive concept are identically or similarly applicable to other signal distributed transmission systems such as a base transceiver station distributed antenna system, as well as the DAS.
• FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a topology of a DAS as one form of a signal distributed transmission system to which the inventive concept is applicable.
• Referring toFIG. 1, the DAS may include a base station interface unit (BIU)10 and a main unit (MU)20, which constitute a head-end node of the DAS, a hub unit (HUB)30 serving as an extension node, and a plurality of remote units (RUs)40 respectively disposed at remote service positions. The DAS may be implemented as an analog DAS or a digital DAS. When necessary, the DAS may be implemented as a hybrid of the analog DAS and the digital DAS (e.g., to perform analog processing on some nodes and digital processing on the other nodes).
• However,FIG. 1 illustrates an example of the topology of the DAS, and the DAS may have various topologies in consideration of particularity of its installation areas and application fields (e.g., in-building, subway, hospital, stadium, etc.). In view of the above, the number of theBIU10, theMU20, theHUB30, and theRUs40 and connection relations between upper and lower nodes among theBIU10, theMU20, theHUB30, and theRUs40 may be different from those ofFIG. 1. In the DAS, theHUB30 may be used when the number of branches to be branched in a star structure from theMU20 is limited as compared with the number ofRUs40 required to be installed. Therefore, theHUB30 may be omitted when only thesingle MU20 sufficiently covers the number ofRUs40 required to be installed, when a plurality ofMUs20 are installed, or the like.
• Hereinafter, nodes in the DAS applicable to the inventive concept and their functions will be sequentially described based on the topology ofFIG. 1.
• The BIU10 serves as an interface between a base station transceiver system (BTS)5 and theMU20. Although a case where a plurality ofBTSs5 are connected to thesingle BIU10 is illustrated inFIG. 1, theBIU10 may be separately provided for each provider, each frequency band, or each sector.
• In general, a radio frequency (RF) signal transmitted from theBTS5 is a signal of high power. Hence, theBIU10 converts the RF signal of high power into a signal with power suitable to be processed in theMU20 and transmits the converted signal to theMU20. According to an embodiment, theBIU20, as shown inFIG. 1, may receive mobile communication signals for each frequency band (or each provider or each sector), combine the received signals, and then transmit the combined signal to theMU20.
• When theBIU10 converts mobile communication signals of high power, transmitted from theBTS5, into mobile communication signals of low power, combines the mobile communication signals, and then transmits the combined mobile communication signal to theMU20, theMU20 may distribute the combined and transmitted mobile communication signal (hereinafter, referred to as the relay signal) for each branch. In this case, when the DAS is implemented as the digital DAS, theBIU10 may be separated into a unit for converting RF signals of high power, transmitted from theBTS5, into RF signals of low power, and a unit for converting RF signals into intermediate frequency (IF) signals, performing digital signal processing on the converted IF signals, and then combining the processed digital signals. Alternatively, when theBIU10 performs only the function of converting the relay signals of high power, transmitted from theBTS5, into the relay signals of low power, theMU20 may combine the transmitted relay signals and distribute the combined relay signal for each branch.
• As described above, the combined relay signal distributed from theMU20 may be transmitted to theRUs40 through theHUB30 or directly transmitted to theRUs40, for each branch (seeBranch #1, . . . , Branch #k, . . . , Branch #N ofFIG. 1). EachRU40 may separate the transmitted combined relay signal for each frequency band and perform signal processing (analog signal processing in the analog DAS and digital signal processing in the digital DAS). Accordingly, eachRU40 can transmit relay signals to user terminals in its own service coverage through a service antenna. Specific components and functions of theRU40 will be described in detail below with reference toFIG. 2.
• InFIG. 1, it is illustrated that theBTS5 and theBIU10 are connected through an RF cable, theBIU10 and theMU20 are connected through an RF cable, and all nodes from theMU20 to lower nodes thereof are connected through optical cables. However, a signal transport medium between nodes may be variously modified. As an example, theBIU10 and theMU20 may be connected through an RF cable, but may be connected through an optical cable or a digital interface. As another example, theMU20 andHUB30 may be connected through an optical cable, theMU20 and theRU40 directly connected thereto may be connected through an optical cable, and the cascade-connectedRUs40 may be connected through an RF cable, a twist cable, a UTP cable, etc. As still another example, theMU20 and theRU40 directly connected thereto may also be connected through an RF cable, a twist cable, a UTP cable, etc.
• Hereinafter, this will be described based onFIG. 1. Therefore, in this embodiment, each of theMU20, theHUB30, and theRUs40 may include an optical transceiver module for electrical-to-optical (E/O) conversion/optical-to-electrical (O/E) conversion. When node units are connected through a single optical cable, each of theMU20, theHUB30, and theRUs40 may include a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) element. This will be clearly understood through functions of theRU40 inFIG. 2, which will be described later.
• The DAS may be connected to an external management device, e.g., a network management server or system (NMS)50. Accordingly, a manager can remotely monitor states and problems of the nodes in the DAS through theNMS50, and can remotely control operations of the nodes in the DAS through theNMS50.
• FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the RU in the DAS to which the inventive concept is applicable.
• Here, the block diagram ofFIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of theRU40 in the digital DAS in which nodes are connected through an optical cable. In addition, the block diagram ofFIG. 2 illustrates only components related to a function of providing service signals to terminals in service coverage through a forward path and processing terminal signals received from the terminals in the service coverage through a reverse path.
• Referring toFIG. 2, with respect to a downlink signal transmission path (i.e., a forward path), theRU40 includes an optical-to-electrical (O/E)converter50, a serializer/deserializer (SERDES)44, adeframer52, a digital signal processor (DSP)70, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)54, an upconverter56, and a power amplification unit (PAU)58.
• In the forward path, an optical relay signal digital-transmitted through an optical cable may be converted into an electrical signal (serial digital signal) by the O/E converter50. The serial digital signal may be converted into a parallel digital signal by theSERDES44. The parallel digital signal may be deformatted by thedeframer52 to be processed for each frequency band in theDSP70. TheDSP70 performs functions including digital signal processing, digital filtering, gain control, digital multiplexing, etc. on relay signals for each frequency band. The digital signal passing through theDSP70 is converted into an analog signal through theDAC54 posterior to adigital part84, based on the signal transmission path. In this case, when the converted analog signal is an IF signal, the analog signal may be frequency up-converted into an analog signal in the original RF band through the upconverter56. The converted analog signal (i.e., the RF signal) in the original RF band is amplified through thePAU58 to be transmitted through a service antenna (not shown).
• With respect to an uplink signal transmission path (i.e., a reverse path), theRU40 includes a low noise amplifier (LNA)68, adown converter66, an analog-to-digital converter ADC64, theDSP70, aframer62, theSERDES44, and an electrical-to-optical (E/O)converter60.
• In the reverse path, an RF signal (i.e., a terminal signal) received through the service antenna (not shown) from a user terminal (not shown) in a service coverage may be low-noise amplified by theLNA68. The low-noise amplified signal may be frequency down-converted into an IF signal by thedown converter66. The converted IF signal may be converted into a digital signal by theADC64 to be transmitted to theDSP70. The digital signal passing through theDSP70 is formatted in a format suitable for digital transmission through theframer62. The formatted digital signal is converted into a serial digital signal by theSERDES44. The serial digital signal is converted into an optical digital signal by the E/O converter60 to be transmitted to an upper node through an optical cable.
• Although not clearly shown inFIG. 2, in the state in which theRUs40 are cascade-connected to each other as illustrated inFIG. 1, the following method may be used when a relay signal transmitted from an upper node is transmitted to a lower adjacent RU cascade-connected to the upper node. For example, when an optical relay signal digital-transmitted from an upper node is transmitted to a lower adjacent RU cascade-connected to the upper node, the optical relay signal digital-transmitted from the upper node may be transmitted to the adjacent RU in an order of the O/E converter50→theSERDES44→thedeframer52→theframer62→theSERDES44→the E/O converter60. This will be clearly understood throughFIG. 4 which will be described later.
• InFIG. 2, theSERDES44, thedeframer52, theframer62, and theDSP70 may be implemented as a field programmable gate array (FPGA). InFIG. 2, it is illustrated that theSERDES44 and theDSP70 are commonly used in the downlink and uplink signal transmission paths. However, theSERDES44 and theDSP70 may be separately provided for each path. InFIG. 2, it is illustrated that the O/E converter50 and the E/O converter60 are provided separately from each other. However, the O/E converter50 and the E/O converter60 may be implemented as a single optical transceiver module (e.g., a single small form factor pluggable (SFP) (seereference numeral82 ofFIG. 2)).
• In the above, one form of the topology of the DAS and an embodiment of the RU have been described with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2. Particularly, the RU in the digital DAS in which digital signals are transmitted through a transport medium has been mainly described inFIG. 2. However, it will be apparent that the inventive concept may be applied to various application examples.
• Hereinafter crest factor reduction (CFR) disposing methods according to various embodiments of the inventive concept will be described with reference toFIGS. 3 to 7.
First Embodiment—CFR Position in HEU(M):HUB(1):RU(N) Topology
• According to a first embodiment, in a topology (see a topology ofFIG. 3 or 5) of a plurality (M) of head-end units (HEUs), a single HUB, and a plurality (N) of RUs in the DAS, CFR is implemented in the HUB, thereby reducing signal degradation and RU complexity.
• Referring toFIG. 3 or 5, the DAS includes a plurality ofHEUs100A,100B, and100C, asingle HUB200, and a plurality of RUs connected in a star structure or/and a cascade structure to thesingle HUB200.
• In the topology ofFIG. 3 or 5, each of theHEUs100A,100B, and100C may converts mobile communication signals in a plurality of mobile communication service bands, received from a plurality of BTSs, into signals in a baseband or IF band, perform digital signal conversion on the mobile communication signals of which band is converted, and transmit the digital-converted mobile communication signals to theHUB200.
• In the topology ofFIG. 3, each of theHEUs100A,100B, and100C receives mobile communication signals in specific mobile communication service bands from a plurality of BTSs through transport mediums. In the embodiment ofFIG. 3, it is illustrated that each of theHEUs100A,100B, and100C receives a signal in a WCDMA band, a signal in an LTE band, and a signal in an LTE-A band from three BTSs. In addition, it is assumed that theHEUs100A,100B, and100C receive mobile communication signals of different mobile communication operators, respectively. InFIG. 3, it is assumed that one HEU and one mobile communication operator are matched one by one. However, the inventive concept is not limited thereto. On the other hand, in the topology ofFIG. 5, it is illustrated that each of theHEUs100A,100B, and100C receives a signal for each sector in a specific mobile communication service band through a transport medium.
• In the HEU(M):HUB(1):RU(N) topology described above, a CFR module (seereference numeral1040 ofFIG. 4 or 6, which will be described later), with respect to a signal transmission direction, may be positioned posterior to a mixing processing stage in the HUB, which perform digital mixing processing on mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of HEUs. In the topology, as the CFR module is positioned posterior to the mixing processing stage, signal degradation (i.e., complementary cumulative distribution function (CCDF) degradation) can be minimized.
• Hereinafter, CFR disposing methods according to embodiments of the inventive concept will be sequentially described with reference toFIG. 4 based on the topology ofFIG. 3 andFIG. 6 based on the topology ofFIG. 5.
• FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating components constituting a mixing processing stage related to a CFR disposing method according to an embodiment of the inventive concept in a digital part implemented in a HUB or HEU. However, this is described based on the HEU(M):HUB(1):RU(N) topology ofFIG. 3, and therefore, the components ofFIG. 4 are implemented in the HUB.
• Referring toFIG. 4, the mixing processing stage implemented in the digital part of theHUB200 may include asignal divider1010, aband separator1020, and asignal summer1030.
• Thesignal divider1010 divides signals such that mobile communication signals transmitted from each of theHEUs100A,100B, and100C can be input a digital filter for each mobile communication service band in theband separator1020. For example, it is assumed that mobile communication signals (see reference numeral (A) ofFIG. 4) of a mobile communication operator A are input to theHUB200 from the HEU ofreference numeral100A, mobile communication signals (see reference numeral (B) ofFIG. 4) of a mobile communication operator B are input to theHUB200 from the HEU ofreference numeral100B, and mobile communication signals (see reference numeral (C) ofFIG. 4) of a mobile communication operator C are input to theHUB200 from the HEU of reference numeral100C. In this case, the signals input to the HUB for each mobile communication operator may include mobile communication signals in the WCDMA band, the LTE band, and the LTE-A band.
• The mobile communication signals for each mobile communication operator may be input, through thesignal divider1010, to a digital filter for each service band (see a digital filter for separating the WCDMA band, a digital filter for separating the LTE band, and a digital filter for separating the LTE-A band inFIG. 4).
• Theband separator1020 is provided with the digital filter for each service band, to separate only a signal corresponding to the service band. Referring toFIG. 4, the mobile communication signals (A) of the mobile communication operator A, the mobile communication signals (B) of the mobile communication operator B, and the mobile communication signals (C) of the mobile communication operator C are band-separated by the digital filter for each service band. Here, reference numeral (a1) designates a signal in the WCDMA band among the mobile communication signals (A) of the mobile communication operator A, reference numeral (b1) designates a signal in the WCDMA band among the mobile communication signals (B) of the mobile communication operator B, and reference numeral (c1) designates a signal in the WCDMA band among the mobile communication signals (C) of the mobile communication operator C. In the same manner, reference numeral (a2), (b2), or (c2) designate a signal in the LTE band among the mobile communication signals of each mobile communication operator, and reference numeral (a3), (b3), or (c3) designate a signal in the LTE-A band among the mobile communication signals of each mobile communication operator.
• As described above, if the signals for each mobile communication operator pass through theband separator1020, sub-band signals (see Sub-band1,Sub-band2, and Sub-band3) in the same mobile communication service band may be extracted as shown inreference numeral1020A ofFIG. 4. Here, the Sub-band1 conceptually illustrates a frequency band used by the mobile communication operator A in a process of providing a specific mobile communication service, the Sub-band2 conceptually illustrates a frequency band used by the mobile communication operator B in a process of providing a specific mobile communication service, and the Sub-band3 conceptually illustrates a frequency band used by the mobile communication operator C in a process of providing a specific mobile communication service.
• Each sub-band signal separated for each of the same communication services band via theband separator1020 is input to thesignal summer1030. In the embodiment of the inventive concept, thesignal summer1030 primarily digitally sums different sub-band signals in the same communication service band, input via the band separator1020 (see a component withreference numeral1032 ofFIG. 4), and finally digitally sums the summed signals for the respective communication service bands (see a component with reference numeral1034).
• As described above, a plurality of sub-band signals exist in the same mobile communication service band. In this state, when digital signal summing is performed in theHUB200, CFR processing is performed after the digital signal summing is performed, thereby minimizing signal degradation. Thus, inFIG. 4, theCFR module1040 is disposed posterior to thesignal summer1030.
• In the above, it is illustrated that the summing of sub-band signals for each of the same mobile communication service bands is performed on forward mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of HEUs. In addition, the CFR module may be disposed posterior to a final signal summing stage in various cases of digital signal summing.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating components constituting a mixing processing stage related to a CFR disposing method according to another embodiment of the inventive concept in a digital part implemented in a HUB or HEU. However, this is described based on the HEU(M):HUB(1):RU(N) topology ofFIG. 5, and therefore, the components ofFIG. 6 are implemented in the HUB.
• Referring toFIG. 6, the mixing processing stage implemented in the digital part of theHUB200 may include asignal swapper1050. In this case, theCFR module1040 may be disposed posterior to thesignal swapper1050 so as to minimize signal degradation.
• When sector swap processing is required in theHUB200 as a case where the plurality ofHEUs100A,100B, and100C receive different sector signals in the same mobile communication service band and transmit the received signals to theHUB200 as shown inFIG. 5, theCFR module1040 may be positioned posterior to thesignal swapper1050 that performs the signal swap processing. Referring toFIG. 6, a signal input for each sector (see a sector A, a sector B, and a sector C ofFIG. 6) is subjected to swap processing in a frequency band by a signalband swap processor1052, and theCFR module1040 is disposed posterior to a component for summing the swap-processed signals (see a component withreference numeral1054 ofFIG. 6).
Second Embodiment—CFR Position in HEU(1):RU(N) or HEU (1):HUB(1):RU(N) Topology
• According to a second embodiment, when a topology of a single HEU and a plurality (N) of RUs or a topology of a single HEU, a single HUB, and a plurality (N) of RUs is implemented in the DAS, CFR is implemented in an MU, thereby reducing signal degradation and RU complexity.
• In this case, a plurality of base stations or a single/a plurality of operators may be connected to a single HEU, and the signal HEU may be connected, directly or through a single HUB, in a star structure or a cascade structure to N RUs. In this case, when signals are transmitted directly or through the HUB to the N RUs, the HEU may digitally sum mobile communication signals received for each base station and then transmit the summed mobile communication signal. Since the digital signal summing is finally performed in the HEU, the CFR may be implemented in the HEU. Here, the CFR module, as described above, may be disposed posterior to the signal summer (seereference numeral1030 ofFIG. 4). As described with reference toFIG. 6, when sector swapping is required in the HEU, the CFR module may be disposed posterior to the signal swapper (seereference numeral1050 ofFIG. 6).
Third Embodiment—CFR Position in RU
• As described above through the aforementioned embodiments, when a plurality of sub-band signals exist in the same mobile communication service band, separation and summing of signals for each band are required. In this case, CFR is performed after signal summing processing is performed, thereby preventing the CCDF degradation.
• For example, if final signal summing is performed in an HEU or HUB, the CFR may be implemented in the HEU or HUB. However, signal summing may be performed in an RU when necessary (e.g., due to a decrease in transmission capacity, etc.). Therefore, the CFR may be implemented at the rear end of the signal summer (seereference numeral1030 ofFIG. 4) implemented in a digital part of the RU. This has been described in detail with reference toFIG. 4, and therefore, overlapping description will be omitted.
• In addition, there may exist a case where the CFR is positioned in the RU, thereby minimizing signal degradation. This will be described with reference toFIG. 7.FIG. 7 illustrates a case where a group delay equalization processing function is implemented in the digital part of the RU. The group delay equalization processing function may be used to equalize delays between a plurality of sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band. For example, in LTE signals using an OFDM scheme, it is important to equalize delays between sub-band signals. To this end, the digital part of the RU may include asignal divider1110, a sub-banddigital filter1120, andgroup delay equalizer1150. In this case, aCFR module1140, with respect to a signal transmission direction, is disposed posterior to thegroup delay equalizer1150 that performs group delay equalization processing on received mobile communication signals, thereby minimizing signal degradation.
• Although the inventive concept has been described in connection with the exemplary embodiments, the inventive concept is not limited thereto but defined by the appended claims. Accordingly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive concept defined by the appended claims.

Claims (17)

What is claimed is:

1. A distributed antenna system, comprising:

a plurality of head-end units each configured to receive mobile communication signals from at least one corresponding base station;

a hub unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of head-end units; and

a plurality of remote units communicatively coupled to the hub unit,

wherein the hub unit configured to distribute the mobile communication signals received from each of the plurality of head-end units to the plurality of remote units,

wherein each of the plurality of remote units is remotely disposed to transmit the distributed mobile communication signals to a terminal in a service coverage, and

wherein the hub unit includes a mixing processing stage configured to perform digital mixing processing on the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and a crest factor reduction (CFR) module disposed posterior to the mixing processing stage with respect to a signal transmission direction.

2. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 1, wherein the plurality of head-end units receive mobile communication signals in at least one mobile communication service band from the at least one corresponding base station, convert the received mobile communication signals into mobile communication signals in a baseband or intermediate frequency (IF) band, perform digital signal conversion on the band-converted mobile communication signals, and transmit the digital-converted mobile communication signals to the hub unit.

3. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 2, wherein the plurality of head-end units receive different mobile communication signals,

wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum different mobile communication signals respectively from the plurality of head-end units, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal summer.

4. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 2, wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum signals in the same mobile communication service band among the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal summer.

5. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 4, wherein the hub unit further includes a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of head-end units and separate signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.

6. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 5, wherein the signal summer performs sub-band signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator, and digitally re-sum signals for each mobile communication service band, which obtained by performing the sub-band signal summing.

7. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 2, wherein the plurality of head-end units is communicatively coupled to the at least one corresponding base station to receive signals for each sector in the same mobile communication service band,

wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal swapper configured to perform swapping on the signals for each sector, respectively received from the plurality of head-end units, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal swapper.

8. A distributed antenna system, comprising:

a head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals from a plurality of base stations; and

at least one remote unit communicatively coupled to the head-end unit, the at least one remote unit receiving the mobile communication signals from the head-end unit, the at least one remote unit being remotely disposed to transmit the mobile communication signals to a terminal in service coverage,

wherein the head-end unit includes a mixing processing stage configured to perform digital mixing processing on the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and a CFR module disposed posterior to the mixing processing stage with respect to a signal transmission direction.

9. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 8, wherein the head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals in at least one mobile communication service band from the plurality of base stations, convert the received mobile communication signals into mobile communication signals in a baseband or IF band, and perform digital signal conversion on the band-converted mobile communication signals.

10. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 9, wherein the head-end unit configured to receive different mobile communication signals from the plurality of base stations,

wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum the different mobile communication signals received from the plurality of base stations, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal summer.

11. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 9, wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum signals in the same mobile communication service band among the mobile communication signals respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal summer.

12. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 11, wherein the head-end unit further includes a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals respectively transmitted from the plurality of base stations and separate only signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.

13. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 12, wherein the signal summer performs sub-band signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator, and digitally re-sum signals for each mobile communication service band, which obtained by performing the sub-band signal summing.

14. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 9, wherein the head-end unit is communicatively coupled to the plurality of base stations to receive signals for each sector in the same mobile communication service band,

wherein the mixing processing stage includes a signal swapper configured to perform swapping on the signals for each sector, respectively received from the plurality of base stations, and

wherein the CFR module is disposed posterior to the signal swapper.

15. A distributed antenna system, comprising:

at least one head-end unit configured to receive mobile communication signals from a plurality of base stations; and

at least one remote unit communicatively coupled to the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit receiving the mobile communication signals from the at least one head-end unit, the at least one remote unit being remotely disposed to transmit the mobile communication signals to a terminal in a service coverage,

wherein the at least one remote unit includes a signal summer configured to digitally sum the mobile communication signals transmitted from the at least one head-end unit, and a CFR module disposed posterior to the signal summer, with respect to a signal transmission direction.

16. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 15, wherein the at least one remote unit further includes a band separator configured to receive mobile communication signals transmitted from the at least one head-end unit and separate only signals corresponding to a specific mobile communication service band among the received mobile communication signals.

17. The distributed antenna system ofclaim 16, wherein the signal summer performs digital signal summing on different sub-band signals in the same mobile communication service band among the signals band-separated by the band separator.

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