Multi-source same-cell wireless distribution system (wds) with dynamic source adaptation

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure relate to a multi-source same-cell wireless distribution system (WDS) with dynamic source adaptation. In this regard, the WDS includes multiple remote units each configured to distribute a downlink communications signal having identical cell identification in a respective coverage area. The WDS includes a signal distribution circuit communicatively coupled to multiple signal sources. The signal distribution circuit can dynamically determine a selected coverage cell among multiple coverage cells having a client device load higher than a predefined load threshold. Accordingly, the signal distribution circuit can redistribute the defined source capacity of a selected signal source among the multiple signal sources exclusively to the selected coverage cell. By dynamically distributing more capacity to the selected coverage cell with higher client device load, it is possible to increase data throughput, thus helping to provide improved user experience in the selected coverage cell.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communications system, comprising:
 a plurality of signal sources associated with an identical cell identification, wherein each of the plurality of signal sources has a defined source capacity and configured to distribute a downlink communications signal comprising the identical cell identification, wherein the communications system does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification;   a plurality of remote units each configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to one or more client devices in a respective coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells associated with the identical cell identification in the communications system;   a central unit communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units via optical fiber-based communications media, the central unit comprising optical-to-electrical converters and electrical-to-optical converters; and   a signal distribution circuit communicatively coupled to the plurality of signal sources, the signal distribution circuit configured to:
 receive the downlink communications signal from the plurality of signal sources; 
 determine a selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having a client device load higher than a load threshold; 
 determine a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and 
 distribute the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell. 
   
     
     
         2 . The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to determine one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the load threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The communications system of  claim 2 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to:
 determine a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and   distribute the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells.   
     
     
         4 . The communications system of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more second selected coverage cells overlap at least partially with the selected coverage cell. 
     
     
         5 . The communications system of  claim 3 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to:
 receive a plurality of client device load reports from the plurality of remote units; and   determine the client device load in each of the plurality of coverage cells based on the plurality of client device load reports.   
     
     
         6 . The communications system of  claim 3 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to:
 receive an uplink communications signal from the selected coverage cell;   provide the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources;   receive the uplink communications signal from the one or more second selected coverage cells; and   provide the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source.   
     
     
         7 . The communications system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of remote units is further configured to:
 distribute the downlink communications signal in an identical downlink radio frequency (RF) spectrum; and   receive the uplink communications signal in an identical uplink RF spectrum.   
     
     
         8 . A communications system, comprising:
 a plurality of signal sources associated with an identical cell identification, wherein each of the plurality of signal sources has a defined source capacity and configured to distribute a downlink communications signal comprising the identical cell identification, wherein the communications system does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification;   a plurality of remote units, each comprising at least one optical-to-electrical converter and at least one electrical-to-optical converter, each remote unit configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to one or more client devices in a respective coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells associated with the identical cell identification in the communications system;   optical fiber-based communications media communicatively coupled to the plurality of remote units; and   a signal distribution circuit communicatively coupled to the plurality of signal sources, the signal distribution circuit configured to:
 receive the downlink communications signal from the plurality of signal sources; 
 determine a selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having a client device load higher than a load threshold; 
 determine a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and 
 distribute the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell. 
   
     
     
         9 . The communications system of  claim 8 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to determine one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the load threshold. 
     
     
         10 . The communications system of  claim 9 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to:
 determine a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and   distribute the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells.   
     
     
         11 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more second selected coverage cells overlap at least partially with the selected coverage cell. 
     
     
         12 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the defined source capacity of the selected signal source equals the defined source capacity of the second selected signal source. 
     
     
         13 . The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the signal distribution circuit is further configured to:
 receive a plurality of client device load reports from the plurality of remote units; and   determine the client device load in each of the plurality of coverage cells based on the plurality of client device load reports.   
     
     
         14 . A method for supporting multi-source same-cell operation with dynamic source adaptation in a communications system, comprising:
 providing a plurality of remote units, each comprising an optical-to-electrical converter and an electrical-to-optical converter, and each remote unit configured to distribute a downlink communications signal comprising an identical cell identification to one or more client devices in a respective coverage cell among a plurality of coverage cells in the communications system, wherein the communications system does not include a macro coverage cell associated with the identical cell identification;   communicatively coupling a signal distribution circuit to a plurality of signal sources each having a defined source capacity and associated with the identical cell identification, the plurality of signal sources configured to distribute the downlink communications signal to the communications system;   receiving the downlink communications signal from each of the plurality of signal sources;   determining a selected coverage cell among the plurality of coverage cells having a client device load higher than a load threshold;   determining a selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for providing the respective defined source capacity to the selected coverage cell; and   distributing the downlink communications signal received from the selected signal source exclusively to the selected coverage cell.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 determining one or more second selected coverage cells among the plurality of coverage cells having the client device load lower than the load threshold;   determining a second selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources for sharing the respective defined source capacity between the one or more second selected coverage cells; and   distributing the downlink communications signal received from the second selected signal source to the one or more second selected coverage cells.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 receiving an uplink communications signal from the selected coverage cell;   providing the uplink communications signal received from the selected coverage cell exclusively to the selected signal source among the plurality of signal sources;   receiving the uplink communications signal from the one or more second selected coverage cells; and   providing the uplink communications signal received from the one or more second selected coverage cells to the second selected signal source.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 distributing the downlink communications signal in an identical downlink radio frequency (RF) spectrum; and   receiving the uplink communications signal in an identical uplink RF spectrum.