Method and apparatus for multiplexing in a wireless communication infrastructure

Abstract

A network is provided that includes a plurality of antennas coupled over the network to a plurality of base stations. The network can be optical or constructed with RF microwave links. The base stations are configured to provide cellular transmission. A plurality of links couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base stations. At least one link of the plurality of links provides multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base stations with at least a portion of the antennas.

1 - 82 . (canceled)  
   
   
       82 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the at least one multiple transmission link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       83 . The network of  claim 82 , wherein the plurality of links are optical fiber links.  
   
   
       84 . The network of  claim 83 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one fiber link carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       85 . The network of  claim 83 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       86 . The network of  claim 85 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       87 . The network of  claim 82 , wherein the plurality of links are free space optical links.  
   
   
       88 . The network of  claim 87 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       89 . The network of  claim 82 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to transmit at least two optical wavelengths to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       90 . The network of  claim 89 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       91 . The network of  claim 89 , wherein additional transmission paths are created using frequency division multiplexing on the optical carriers.  
   
   
       92 . The network of  claim 82 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       93 . The network of  claim 92 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       94 . The network of  claim 83 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       95 . The network of  claim 94 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       96 . The network of  claim 87 , wherein at least one of the links is configured to use time division multiplexing to create at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       97 . The network of  claim 96 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       98 . The network of  claim 82 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       99 . The network of  claim 98 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       100 . The network of  claim 83 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       101 . The network of  claim 100 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base transceiver stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       102 . The network of  claim 87 , wherein wavelength division multiplexing and time division multiplexing in combination creates at least a portion of the multiple transmission paths.  
   
   
       103 . The network of claim  12 , wherein the plurality of links are configured to provide that at least one TDM channel and/or optical wavelength carrier carries at least one backhaul signal from a base transceiver station of the plurality of base stations to a switch or a bridge network.  
   
   
       104 . The network of  claim 82 , further comprising:  
   
   
       105 . a plurality of digital transceivers coupled to the plurality of antennas and base stations that generate digital signals.  
   
   
       106 . The network of  claim 104 , wherein at least one of a digital transceiver is positioned at a base station and digitizes a downlink analog cellular signal generated by the base station that is representative of a wireless spectrum band and transmits it to one or more antennas over the network.  
   
   
       107 . The network of  claim 105 , wherein the digital transceiver at the base transceiver station receives an uplink digital signal representative of a wireless spectrum band from an antenna over the network and reconstructs the analog cellular signal to pass to the base transceiver station.  
   
   
       108 . The network of  claim 106 , wherein a digital transceiver at an antenna digitizes an uplink cellular signal received from the antenna and transmits a digital signal to one or more base transceiver stations over the network.  
   
   
       109 . The network of  claim 107 , wherein the digital transceiver positioned at the antenna receives a digital signal representative of a downlink wireless spectrum band from a base station over the network and reconstructs the downlink analog signal to transmit to one or more mobile wireless units.  
   
   
       110 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links configured to permit multiple operators to use the at least one link at the same time, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       111 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of optical fiber links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of optical fiber links configured to permit multiple operators to use the at least one link at the same time, at least one link of the plurality of optical fiber links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       112 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of optical fiber links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths over at least two optical wavelengths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       113 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of free space optical links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least a portion of the plurality of free space optical links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators; at least one free space optical link of the plurality of free space optical links providing multiple transmission paths over at least two optical wavelengths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       114 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of free space links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least a portion of the plurality of free space links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators, at least one free space link of the plurality of free space links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas,    at least one base transceiver station or antenna location being geographically remote from the network and is connected to the network with a free space link;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas;    a plurality of conduits that feed electrical power to one or more poles or posts and also distribute optical fiber to the one or more poles or posts; and    wherein equipment located at the one or more poles or posts, for radiating signals, is powered by power delivered to the equipment through the plurality of conduits.    
   
   
       115 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the at least one multiple transmission link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       116 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links configured to permit multiple operators to use the at least one link at the same time, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       117 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of optical fiber links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of optical fiber links configured to permit multiple operators to use the at least one link at the same time, at least one link of the plurality of optical fiber links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       118 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission;    a plurality of optical fiber links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths over at least two optical wavelengths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators;    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    wherein the network provides that a neutral host provider implements sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       119 . A method of transmission, comprising: 
 providing a network with a plurality of links that couple a plurality of antennas with a plurality of base transceiver stations, the network including at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the links to one of the antennas;    providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas    using the OADM to select at least one wavelength transmitted on the link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas; and    utilizing a host provider to implement sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       120 . A method of transmission, comprising: 
 providing a network with a plurality of optical links that couple a plurality of antennas with a plurality of base transceiver stations, the network including at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled by one of the optical links to one of the antennas;    providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas;    using the OADM to select at least one wavelength transmitted on the optical link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of optical links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators; and    utilizing a neutral host provider to implement sharing of voice and data of the network between multiple wireless operators.    
   
   
       121 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission, at least a portion of the antenna including discriminators to selected signals;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators; and    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the at least one multiple transmission link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas.    
   
   
       122 . A network, comprising: 
 a plurality of antennas optically coupled over the network to a plurality of base transceiver stations, the base transceiver stations configured to provide cellular transmission, at least a portion of the antenna including discriminators to selected signals;    a plurality of downlink amplifier units positioned at antenna locations;    a plurality of links that couple the plurality of antennas and the plurality of base transceiver stations, at least one multiple transmission path link of the plurality of links providing multiple transmission paths between at least a portion of the base transceiver stations with at least a portion of the antennas, at least a portion of the plurality of links providing optical multiplexing of multiple operators; and    at least one optical add/drop multiplexer (OADM) coupled to the at least one multiple transmission path link, the OADM capable of selecting at least one wavelength transmitted on the at least one multiple transmission link, while passing other wavelengths, one of the transmission paths between one of the base transceiver stations and one of the antennas passing through the OADM prior to reaching the one of the antennas.