Time synchronized routing in a distributed antenna system

Abstract

A system for routing signals in a Distributed Antenna System includes a plurality of Digital Access Units (DAUs) and a plurality of Digital Remote Units (DRUs). The plurality of DAUs are coupled and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs. The plurality of DRUs are coupled to the plurality of DAUs and operable to transport signals between DRUs and DAUs. The system also includes a plurality of Base Transceiver Stations (BTS) and a plurality of Base Transceiver Station sector RF connections coupled to the plurality of DAUs and operable to route signals between the plurality of DAUs and the plurality of Base Transceiver Stations sector RF port connections. The system further includes one or more delay compensation merge units operable to delay signals transmitted from or received by each of the plurality of DRUs

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A system for transporting wireless communications, comprising:
 a base transceiver station (BTS) hotel including a plurality of multiple-sector base transceiver stations (BTSs);   at least one Digital Access Unit (DAU) including:
 a plurality of radio frequency (RF) signal source interfaces; and 
 at least one remote interface, 
 wherein each of the plurality of RF signal source interfaces are operable to communicatively couple the at least one DAU to a sector of one of the multiple-sector BTSs, and 
 wherein the at least one remote interface is operable to communicatively couple the at least one DAU to one of a plurality of remote units; 
   the plurality of remote units, each of the plurality of remote units including:
 an optical port operable to communicatively couple the each of the plurality of remote units to the at least one DAU; 
 at least one PEER port operable to communicatively couple the each of the plurality of remote units to another of the plurality of remote units via the at least one PEER port of each of the plurality of remote units; and 
 an antenna operable to receive and transmit RF signals; and 
   one or more delay compensation merge units operable to delay signals transmitted from or received by each of the plurality of remote units.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more delay compensation merge units are integrated as components of each of the plurality of remote units. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the one or more delay compensation merge units is integrated as a component of the at least one DAU. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one DAU comprises a plurality of DAUs, and the plurality of DAUs are coupled via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one DAU is coupled to the plurality of remote units via at least one of Ethernet cable, Optical Fiber, Microwave Line of Sight Link, Wireless Link, or Satellite Link. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of remote units are connected to the at least one DAU in a daisy chain configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one DAU creates a digital representation for signals received from each of the multiple-sector BTSs. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one DAU is capable of packetizing the digital representation for signals received from each of the multiple-sector BTSs. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one DAU is capable of packetizing the digital representation for each of the received signals in compliance with the Common Public Interface Standard (CPRI) standard. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each remote unit of the plurality of remote units creates a digital representation for each of signals received from the at least one DAUs. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each remote unit of the plurality of remote units is capable of packetizing the digital representation for each of the signals received from the at least one DAUs. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein each remote unit of the plurality of remote units is capable of packetizing the digital representation for signals received from the at least one DAUs in compliance with the Common Public Interface Standard (CPRI) standard.