Patent ID: 8472579
Filing Date: 2013-06-25
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A communication system, comprising: a master host unit adapted to communicate analog signals with a plurality of service provider interfaces using a first set of bands of analog spectrum, wherein the master host unit includes a master clock distribution unit that generates a digital master reference clock signal; a plurality of communication links coupled to the master host unit, wherein the master host unit is further adapted to communicate digitized spectrum in N-bit words over the plurality of communication links; the master host unit further adapted to convert between the first set of bands of analog spectrum for the plurality of service provider interfaces and N-bit words of digitized spectrum for the plurality of communication links; the master host unit further adapted to communicate the digital master reference clock signal over the plurality of communication links; at least one hybrid expansion unit, communicatively coupled to the master host unit over at least one of the plurality of communication links and adapted to communicate N-bit words of digitized spectrum with the master host unit across the at least one of the plurality of communication links, the at least one hybrid expansion unit further adapted to convert between the N-bit words of digitized spectrum and a second set of bands of analog spectrum; an analog communication medium coupled to the at least one hybrid expansion unit, wherein the at least one hybrid expansion unit is further adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum across the analog communication medium; each hybrid expansion unit further adapted to: at least one remote antenna unit communicatively coupled to one of the at least one hybrid expansion units over the analog communication medium and adapted to communicate the second set of bands of analog spectrum with the one of the at least one hybrid expansion units across the analog communication medium, each remote antenna unit further adapted to transmit and receive wireless signals over a plurality of air interfaces for the associated service provider interfaces; each of the plurality of remote antenna units further adapted to receive the analog reference clock signal across the analog communication medium.