Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for a remote unit and for a central unit of a base station transceiver

Simple SummaryContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

This invention presents an improved apparatus, method, and computer program for base station transceivers used in mobile communication networks. The system splits the base station transceiver into a central unit and a remote unit, which are connected through an optical fiber link. At the remote unit, the received uplink radio signal is modulated (converted into a digital-like signal via techniques such as pulse-width or delta-sigma modulation) and transmitted via the optical link to the central unit, where it is demodulated back to recover the original signal. This design reduces complexity and cost at the remote unit while leveraging the high bandwidth and low loss of fiber optics.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Deployment of cellular base stations in dense urban or rural areas where remote antennas need to be connected to centralized processing units over long distances.
• 5G or 4G network expansion with distributed radio heads and centralized baseband processing (Centralized Radio Access Networks, or C-RAN).
• Tower-mounted radio units in challenging environments where minimizing on-site hardware complexity, power consumption, and maintenance is desired.
• Telecommunication infrastructure upgrades aiming at increased scalability and simplified maintenance through centralized resource management.
• Low-cost, robust radio-over-fiber (RoF) solutions for new or existing mobile communication networks.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Reduces complexity and cost of the remote (antenna-side) unit, since most signal processing is centralized.
• Enables longer distances between antenna and central unit without significant signal degradation, owing to fiber-optic links.
• Allows for easier network upgrades — mainly by updating the central unit without major changes to the antenna-side hardware.
• Improves maintainability of the communication infrastructure by centralizing critical components.
• Supports higher data rates and cell densities by making efficient use of optical fiber bandwidth.
• Uses robust digital modulation techniques (e.g., pulse-width, delta-sigma), which improve noise tolerance and reduce susceptibility to component nonlinearities.

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Patent Abstract

Apparatus, method and computer program for a remote unit 100 of a base station transceiver 300 in a mobile communication system, the base station transceiver 300 comprising a central unit 200 and the remote unit 100. The remote unit apparatus 10 comprises means for obtaining 12 an uplink receive signal and means for modulating 14 the uplink receive signal into a modulated signal. The modulated signal changes between at least two signal levels, the modulated signal comprises rising and falling edges between the at least two signal levels. A time between the rising and falling edges signals information on the uplink receive signal and means for providing 16 the modulated signal to the central unit 200. Apparatus 20, method and computer program for a central unit 200, the central unit apparatus 20 comprises means for receiving 22 a modulated signal from the remote unit 100 and means for demodulating 24 the modulated signal into an uplink receive signal.