Copper-based front-hauling architecture for massive MIMO systems

Data di pubblicazione

11-07-2016

Codice

DEIB.15.038.A

Stato

Disponibile

Data di priorità

28-10-2015

Fase

US provisional, PCT, EP, Fasi Nazionali (Cina, Francia, Germania, UK, Italia, US, Svezia)

Titolare

Politecnico di Milano

Dipartimento

DIPARTIMENTO DI ELETTRONICA, INFORMAZIONE E BIOINGEGNERIA

Autori

Umberto Spagnolini

Descrizione

Future (5G or beyond) mobile networks aim to be pervasive (cell size <1km), with high data-rate (>20-50Mb/s) and intensive usage of the multiple antennas and MIMO technology. In this scenario, centralized radio access network (CRAN) is the most promising paradigm, that aggregates the baseband processing capability to comply with this dense antennas deployment. The present invention proposes a novel radio over copper (RoC) architecture for transport of radio signals in high-carrier frequencies over multiple copper cables (e.g., conventional LAN and CAT5/6/7 cables). Invention solves the technical problem of distributing signals from multiple antennas of MIMO technology into multiple twisted pairs (and vice-versa) to maximize spectrum efficiency of the cascade. Twisted pair cables can transport at least 500MHz bandwidth per-pair over 50-100m of cable length, and multiple pairs can offer a sum-bandwidth capability that easily matches with the transport capability of the radio access signals. To further exemplify, the sum-bandwidth of 4 twisted pairs CAT5 cable can be as high as 3.5GHz up to 100m. The different quality per pair and band is exploited by the invention that is characterized by allocating the baseband analog signals of wireless bandwidths and antennas over multiple twisted pairs and cable bandwidths when transferring from/to the Remote Units according to pre-defined criteria.

Campo di applicazione

Future generation wireless communication sector Heterogeneous networks and front-hauling

Vantaggi

The capability of cables to power supply the RUs makes the RoC a flexible solution in many settings, and complementary (if not preferred) to optical front-hauling technology whenever necessary. Cable bandwidths and distances are well matched to the 5G expectations, and this makes the RoC a technology enabler for using or reusing the existing copper-based cablings such as LAN deployments.

Stadio di sviluppo

Conceptual stage

Contatto

licensing.tto@polimi.it