Patent Application
20080227441
In wireless communication networks of the art today, such as cellular networks, network operators typically own and operate their own base station equipment and therefore must front the cost of installing such equipment. In urban areas, costs for installing new base stations are readily recovered because of increased revenues generated by wireless network subscriber's use of increased network capacity. To provide wireless communications for subscribers in rural or isolated areas, however, network operators have less economic incentive to invest in the installation of base station equipment because the prospects for growth in the installed subscriber base are significantly more limited when compares to urban areas.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved systems and methods for reduced cost base station solutions for wireless communication networks operators serving rural or isolated areas.
The Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for reduced cost base station solutions, and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification.
In one embodiment, a base station for processing a plurality of communications channels for up to a plurality of network operators is provided. The base station comprises a transceiver module communicatively coupled to up to a plurality of network operators, the transceiver module configured to process a plurality of upstream communication channels and a plurality of downstream communication channels based on one or more wireless communication modulation protocols, each of the upstream and downstream communication channels associated with one of the network operators. The transceiver module is configured to output a combined downstream RF signal based on the downstream communication channels. The transceiver module is configured to output a plurality of upstream data packets based on the upstream communication channels, each upstream data packet of the plurality of upstream data packets associated with one of the up to a plurality of network operators.
Embodiments of the present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof more readily apparent, when considered in view of the description of the preferred embodiments and the following figures in which:
In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout figures and text.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustrating specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical, mechanical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.
Embodiments of the present invention enable multiple telecommunications network operators to implement their networks using shared hardware platforms thus reducing the costs of capital investments and operations and maintenance costs on a per-operator basis. Embodiments of the present invention further enable the ability to divide, assign, configure, manage and monitor resources of a shared hardware platform using software.
In one embodiment, universal base station 120 includes a transceiver module 122 that handles multiple types of wireless communication modulation protocols, based on the particular communications needs specified by the particular network operators 110-1 to 110-N coupled to the universal base station 120. These modulation protocols include, but are not limited to, Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), code division multiple access (CDMA), Wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), or any other appropriate modulation protocol. A modulation protocol is also commonly referred to as an air interface standard, a modulation standard, an air interface protocol, or an air interface modulation protocol. For each of network operators 110-1 to 110-N, transceiver module 122 performs modulation and demodulation for forward and reverse communications channels using one of the wireless communication modulation protocols for a particular communications channel. For example, in one embodiment one of the network operators (Such as network operator 110-1, for example) may communicate data with one or more of subscriber units 150 using a GSM protocol communication channel while another network operator (Such as network operator 110-1, for example) may communicate data with one or more of subscriber units 150 based on a CDMA protocol communication channel.
In one embodiment, one or more of network operators 110-1 to 110-N each include a mobile switching center (MSC) 112 and a base station controller (BSC) 114. For a particular network operator (network operator 110-1, for example), the BSC 114 controls the network operator's data communication flow through universal base station 120 while MSC 112 operates to control the data communication flow through the BSC 114. In one embodiment, an MSC 112 is coupled to, and controls, multiple BSCs belonging to a network operator. In that case, the MSC 112 identifies a base station (such as universal base station 120, for example) having the shortest distance to a wireless subscriber unit 150 and switches data communications for that wireless subscriber unit 150 to that closest identified base station.
Embodiments of the present invention allow network operators 110-1 to 110-N to share universal base station 120 resources by enabling each of network operators 110-1 to 110-N to manage an assigned set of these resources as if each were operating their own dedicated base station.
For example, in one embodiment, universal base station 200 includes four RF transceivers 210, each a GSM transceiver that operates on a different RF carrier frequency that the others. The four GSM transceivers can be assigned to up to four difference network operators, each GSM transceiver processing the communications traffic for one GSM channel for one of the network operators. In another embodiment, RF transceivers 210 include two GSM transceivers, an EDGE transceiver, and a CDMA transceiver. One GSM transceiver and the EDGE transceiver handle one GSM communication channel and one EDGE communication channel, respectively, for one network operator (Such as network operator 110-1, for example). The second GSM transceiver handles a GSM communication channel for second network operator (Such as network operator 110-2, for example), and the CDMA transceiver handles a CDMA communication channel for a third network operator (Such as network operator 110-3, for example). In one implementation of universal base station 200, the RF transceivers 210 are each modularized base-station devices, such as, but not limited to, the nanoBTS manufactured by ip.access Ltd.
Each of the RF transceivers 210 represent a resource of universal base station 200 that is allocated to one of the network operators 110-1 to 110-N and dedicated to the processing of communication channel via an RF channel associated with that one network operator. To facilitate communications between each of network operators 110-1 to 110-N and their allocated RF transceiver, each of the RF transceivers 210 is assigned a unique network address for network 108.
In one embodiment, each RF transceiver 210 is assigned a unique IP address that is within a range of IP addresses used by the respective network operator it is allocated to. For a given communication channel, a network operator transports network traffic to and from their assigned RF transceiver based on the IP address assigned to that RF transceiver. Additionally, the network operator can send configuration and control information to the assigned RF transceiver, as well as receives status and alarm messages, based on the assigned IP address. Separation of RF transceiver operation by IP address assures that each network operator can control and monitor only those resources universal base station 200 to which they are assigned.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
As discussed above, any one network operator may be allocated the use of one or more of the RF transceivers 210. When allocated a transceiver on universal base station 200, a network operator can control those signal processing parameters typically available to network operators by sending messages to their assigned transceiver. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification, these signal processing parameters include, but are not limited to the channel carrier frequency, the modulation protocol for a channel (for example, GSM, GPRS, and EDGE), voice encoder (VOCODER) setting, and power levels of the transceiver's output.
The allocation of RF transceivers 210 to a particular network operator is controlled via software, for example, by assigning an IP address to the RF transceivers within the range of the network operator's IP addresses. In one embodiment, the IP addresses for each transceiver is manually established during the initial set up of universal base station 200. In other embodiments, the IP addresses can be reconfigured remotely.
As illustrated in
In alternate embodiments, the various functions of station supervisor 235 can be made accessible to one or more entities. For example, in one implementation, functions of station supervisor 235 can be made accessible to a base station operator that is a neutral host who is not one of the network operators 110-1 to 110-N (for example, a neutral host that owns universal base station 200 or is otherwise responsible for managing universal base station 200). In another implementation, functions of station supervisor 235 can be made accessible to one of the network operators 110-1 to 110-N (for example, if one of the network operators also owns universal base station 200 and further serves as a host for other network operators). In still another implementation, functions of station supervisor 235 can be made accessible to more than one of the network operators 110-1 to 110-N.
Network operators 110-1 to 110-N can also be selectively allowed to access a subset of the functions of station supervisor 235. For example, all network operators may be allowed to monitor for certain alarm conditions, (such as a LPA 225 failure, for example) but only the base station operator may be allowed to monitor real-time transmitter power levels or turn the LPA 225 on or off. In other embodiments, if a base station operator allows, network operators can also monitor parameters such as, but not limited to the antenna VSWR and the health of the LNA.
For example, in one embodiment, a processor 310 receives a broadband data stream from IP switch 108 that includes voice and/or data communication channels from each of network operators 110-1 to 110-N. In one such an embodiment, SDR algorithms 312 utilize digital filtering to extract individual communication channels into logical RF channels, and then process the logical RF channels based on parameters provided by network operators 110-1 to 110-N. As described with respect to
In one embodiment, processor 310 includes a single network interface 312 that accommodates multiple IP addresses and includes the functionality required to facilitate communications between the network operators 110-1 to 110-N and processor 310. In one such embodiment, SDR algorithms 312 associate a network operator with an allocated logical RF channel based on IP addresses. In other embodiments, the processor 310 is assigned a single IP address on IP network 108, and other means are used to associate a network operator with their allocated logical RF channel.
With respect to choosing between a universal base station implemented using a channelized hardware approach, such as universal base station 200, versus a universal base station implemented using a software defined radio, such as universal base station 300, channelized hardware may prove more economical for realizing a system having a relatively fewer number of distinct RF channels, while a systems implementing a broadband software approach could be selected for a greater number of channels. As would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this specification, the crossover point is a matter of economic consideration.
Returning to
Embodiments of the present invention allow various network operators to share the signal processing resources available from a base station by enabling each of network operators manage an assigned set of these resources as if each were operating their own dedicated base station. This is accomplished by associating each network operator with signal processing resources provided by the base station. Accordingly, the method proceeds to 404 with associating data packets representing a first communications channel with a base station resource for processing a first RF channel and to 406 with associating data packets representing a second communications channel with a base station resource for processing a second RF channel. In one embodiment, a base station resource for processing an RF channel includes a single channel RF transceiver, such as described above with respect to RF transceivers 210. In another embodiment, a base station resource comprises a logical RF channel processes by a software defined radio as described with respect to
In one embodiment, the base station resources are assigned network addresses in order to associate data packets representing a given communications channel with the base station resource allocated for that communication channel. In that case, a network operator addresses downstream data packets to a specific base station resource by specifying the network address of the desired base station resource in the downstream data packets. Similarly, upstream data packets produced by the base station are routed from the base station to specific network operators by specifying the network address of the network operators in the upstream data packets. In one embodiment, reconfiguring the allocation of a specific base station resource to a network operator is accomplished by changing the network address of the base station resource. That is, a resource can be re-assigned to a new network operator by assigning the base station resource a net network address that is associated with the new network operator. The reconfiguration can be performed through software either locally at the base station, or remotely by sending reconfiguration instructions either to the resource, or to a base station's station supervisor.
The method proceeds to 408 with generating an RF signal for wireless transmission to one or more wireless subscriber units based on an output of the first RF channel and the second RF channel. In one embodiment, a plurality of RF signals are produced by the base station resources, one for each downstream communication channel, and the plurality of RF signals are combined into a single broadband RF signal that is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless subscriber units.
In one embodiment, a network operator can adjust one or more signal processing parameters for their assigned base station resource though a message sent to that resource. Adjustable signal processing parameters can include, but are not limited to carrier frequency, the wireless communication modulation protocol, a VOCODER setting, and RF signal power levels. In another embodiment, a base station operator can monitor base station system operating conditions such as, but not limited to RF signal transmission power levels, an RF signal reception power levels, voltage signal wave ratio, linearized power amplifier status, low noise amplifier status, duplexer status, power supply status, battery power status, ambient environment conditions, and cabinet alarms. In one embodiment, the station supervisor monitors the base station system operating conditions and communicates status information to the base station operator. In another embodiment, the base station operator can also adjust base station system operating parameters such as, but not limited to, whether a particular base station resource is enabled or disabled, switching power to a linearized power amplifier, and revising a network address associated with a base station resource. In one embodiment, the base station operator can access the station supervisor via a network address assigned to the station supervisor.
Although embodiments described in this specification discuss the present invention in terms of a network interfaces that utilizes IP standards, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that embodiments of the present invention are not so limited, but also apply to other network interface standards. In addition, embodiments wherein network operators communicate with a universal base station using communication links such as, but not limited to, wired, optical, wireless, or other communication links are contemplated as within the scope of embodiments of the present invention. For example, in one embodiment a universal base station wirelessly communicates voice and/or data information with one or more network operators based on wireless standards such as IEEE 801.11 (WiFi), IEEE 802.16 (WIMAX), or IEEE 802.20 (MBWA).
Several means are available to implement the systems and methods of the current invention as discussed in this specification. In addition to any means discussed above, these means include, but are not limited to, digital computer systems, microprocessors, programmable controllers and field programmable gate arrays. Therefore other embodiments of the present invention are program instructions resident on computer readable media which when implemented by such controllers, enable the controllers to implement embodiments of the present invention. Computer readable media include any form of computer memory, including but not limited to punch cards, magnetic disk or tape, any optical data storage system, flash read only memory (ROM), non-volatile ROM, programmable ROM (PROM), erasable-programmable ROM (E-PROM), random access memory (RAM), or any other form of permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary memory storage system or device. Program instructions include, but are not limited to computer-executable instructions executed by computer system processors and hardware description languages such as Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) Hardware Description Language (VHDL).
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
