Abstract:
In an in-building wireless communications network, a weighted sum of a downlink signal from two relevant base station interfaces (BSIs) is transmitted by a radio transceiver transitioning between two sectors. During a transition period, the weight of the combined downlink signal is adjusted gradually to simulate a smooth shift in the coverage of the sectors and transition the radio transceiver from a first sector to a second sector. This allows a base station to hand over users from a first sector to a second sector while suppressing any disruption in service.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Conventionally, signal quality between a base transceiver station and a mobile unit may degrade under certain conditions. For example, when a user moves from an outside location to an indoor location (e.g., a building), wireless signal strength may degrade significantly because radio signals must pass through or around various obstructions (e.g., walls, ceilings, etc.). U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/884,203 to Feder et al. and 11/435,665 to Wijngaarden et al. discuss methods and apparatuses for introducing cellular or other wireless signals/messages into a building or other location by transmitting data packets corresponding to those signals over a high-speed data network. 
       FIG. 1  shows a conventional in-building communications network such as those described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 10/884,203 and 11/435,665. In the network of  FIG. 1 , the base station interfaces (BSIs)  12 A,  14 B, radio distributor/aggregator (RDA)  110 , remote radio heads (RRHs)  111 - 115  and a plurality of mobile units (including mobile unit  119 ) may be located in a building. A base transceiver station (BTS)  100  may be geographically separated from these in-building network components. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , in the downlink (e.g., from BTS  10  to mobile unit  119 ) wireless signals are received at BSI  12 A from the BTS  10 . The BSI  12 A processes the wireless signals to generate a mobile user-coded baseband signal (hereinafter a data signal) and stores the generated data signal in a buffer (not shown). Once the buffer reaches a given threshold level, or a given amount of time has passed, the BSI  12 A packetizes (e.g., into one or more Ethernet packets) the data signal to generate data packets (or data packet stream) including a destination address (e.g., a MAC address) corresponding to one or more RRHs (e.g., RRHs  111 - 113  corresponding to sector A). The BSI  12 A forwards the data packets over a high-speed data network, such as a gigabit Ethernet network, to the RDA  110 . 
     As is well-known, the RDA  110  serves as a network switch having a plurality of ports. Each port on the RDA  110  may correspond to one or more addressable sectors for routing data packets between BSIs  12 A and  14 B and RRHs  111 - 115 . One or more RRHs may belong to a particular sector. With regard to  FIG. 1 , for example, RRHs  111 - 113  belong to sector A, whereas RRHs  114  and  115  belong to sector B. Each RRH corresponds to and provides an area of wireless coverage within a building. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the RDA  110  receives the data packets from the BSI  12 A having addresses corresponding to sector A and identifies which ports on the RDA  110  are associated with RRHs in sector A. In one example, the RDA  110  identifies these ports by comparing the received addresses with entries in a look-up table. This well-known look-up procedure may use a variety of existing Ethernet protocols, such as using special multicast addresses, or having all RRHs belonging to a particular sector be a part of the same virtual LAN (VLAN), and broadcasting packets on that VLAN. 
     Once the RDA  110  has identified the ports corresponding to sector A, the RDA  110  replicates the data packets (if necessary) and forwards a copy of each data packet to the appropriate RRHs  111 - 113 . In this example, the RDA  110  replicates and sends the received data packets to RRHs  111 - 113  serving mobile unit  119 . 
     As is well-known, each RRH  111 - 115  includes network interface equipment, timing and frequency synchronization equipment, signal processing elements, a power amplifier and one or more antennas. The network interface equipment of the destination RRH (e.g., RRHs  111 - 113 ) receives and buffers the data packets from the RDA  110 , removes the packet header and processes the data packets to recover the data signal. 
     The data signal is buffered, processed, converted to RF signals, amplified and broadcast over the air via the antenna(s) as is well-known in the art. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , in the uplink, mobile units in sector A transmit wireless signals to RRHs  111 - 113 . Each of RRHs  111 - 113  process the received wireless signals in the same manner as the BSI  12 A processes the downlink wireless signals to generate data signals. Each of the RRHs  111 - 113  also buffers and then packetizes the generated data signals in the same manner as at the BSI  12 A to generate a plurality of data packets. The RRHs  111 - 113  transmit the uplink data packets to the RDA  110  via the high-speed data network. 
     The RDA  110  buffers and processes the data packets to recover the uplink data signals and combines the data signals from each of RRHs  111 - 113  to generate a resultant uplink data signal. The resultant uplink data signal is re-packetized and forwarded to BSI  12 A. 
     The BSI  12 A processes the received data packets to recover the resultant uplink data signal and further processes the data signal to generate wireless signals for transmission to the BTS  10 . 
     As discussed above, RRHs may be grouped into sectors. The RRHs within each sector may simulcast the same downlink signal, and the uplink signals received from each RRH may be combined together to form a single uplink signal for transmission to BTS  10 . Conventionally, sectors within a building may be changed using software configurations. In certain situations, it may be desirable to dynamically change the coverage of different sectors to match the changing user traffic density. 
     For example, when a hot spot develops over a certain area covered by a group of RRHs belonging to a single sector, some of the RRHs in the group may be reconfigured to join another sector to shed the traffic load into that sector. However, if the reconfiguration is performed suddenly, the users served by the RRHs switching sectors, may experience disruption in service. 
     SUMMARY 
     Example embodiments provide methods for more smoothly reconfiguring sectors in an in-building communications network. 
     In one example embodiment, remote radio heads (RRHs) may be configured to transmit a weighted sum of downlink data signals from two relevant base station interfaces (BSIs). In at least this example embodiment, during a transition period the weight of the combined downlink data signal may be adjusted gradually to simulate a smooth shift in the coverage of the sectors. This may allow a base transceiver station to hand over users from a first sector to a second sector, while suppressing any disruption in service. 
     According to example embodiments, during the transition period, one or more remote radio heads (RRHs) transitioning from the first sector to the second sector may be assigned to virtual local area networks (VLANs) of each of the sectors. As a result, the transitioning RRHs may receive downlink broadcast signals from both sectors, and the weighted summing may be performed locally within the RRHs. Alternatively, the weighted summing may be performed within the radio distributor/aggregator (RDA) or switch. In addition, if the BSI for each sector is physically integrated on the same circuit board, the weighted summing may be performed at the BSIs. In this example embodiment, a new virtual LAN may be created to carry the resultant combined signal and the transitioning radio heads may be assigned to the new virtual LAN to receive the new signal. 
     According to another example embodiment, in the uplink, during the transition period signals from transitioning RRHs may be combined into a resultant uplink signal for each sector. The resultant signal may be a weighted sum of uplink data signals from mobile units being served by the transitioning RRHs and the RRHs in each of the first sector and the second sector. The weights of the weighted sum may be adjusted gradually to simulate a relatively smooth shift in the uplink coverage of the two sectors. 
     In a method according to an example embodiment, at least one in-building radio transceiver may transition from a first sector to a second sector. The transitioning step may be performed during a transition period in which the at least one radio transceiver transmits a weighted sum of a first data signal and a second data signal. The first data signal may be associated with the first sector and the second data signal may be associated with the second sector. The weighted sum may vary such that, during the transition period, the first data signal decreases in signal strength and the second data signal increases in signal strength. 
     In another example embodiment of a method, at least one radio transceiver may transmit a weighted sum of a first data signal and a second data signal. The first data signal may be associated with a first sector of a wireless network and the second data signal may be associated with a second sector of a wireless. The weighted sum may vary such that, during a transition period, the first data signal decreases in signal strength and the second data signal increases in signal strength. 
     In a method according to another example embodiment, a first weight adjusted data signal associated with a transitioning radio transceiver may be combined with a first data signal associated with a first radio transceiver to generate a resultant weighted signal. The first weight adjusted signal may be adjusted with a first weight, the first weight gradually decreasing during a transition period. A second weight adjusted data signal associated with the transitioning radio transceiver may be combined with a second data signal associated with a second radio transceiver to generate a second resultant weighted signal. The second weight adjusted signal may be adjusted a second weight. The second weight may gradually increasing during the transition period. The first and second resultant weighted signals may be transmitted until the transitioning radio transceiver transitions from the first sector to the second sector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are represented by like reference numerals, which are given by way of illustration only and thus are not limiting of the present invention and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a conventional in-building communications network; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an in-building radio network according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a functional block diagram of an radio distributor/aggregator (RDA) according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a more detailed functional block diagram of a mixing module according to an example embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates an example output spectrum of RRHs supporting GSM air-interface during an example sector boundary transition operation; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates in-building communications network according to an example embodiment after performing sector reconfiguration. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Various example embodiments of the present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which some example embodiments of the invention are shown. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity. 
     Detailed illustrative embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present invention. This invention may, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. 
     Accordingly, while example embodiments of the invention are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments of the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments of the invention are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures. 
     It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. 
     It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected,” or “directly coupled,” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved. 
     Example embodiments will be described with regard to the structure of the communications network shown in  FIG. 2 . However, example embodiments may be applicable to other communications networks. Where used below, the term “mobile unit” may be considered synonymous to user, mobile station, mobile, mobile user, user equipment (UE), subscriber, remote station, access terminal, receiver, etc., and may describe a portable, wireless communication device. The term “base station” may be considered synonymous to base transceiver station (BTS), NodeB, and may describe equipment that provides data and/or voice connectivity between a network and one or more users. 
     Example embodiments are discussed herein as being implemented in a suitable computing environment. Although not required, example embodiments will be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by one or more computer processors or CPUs. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The program modules discussed herein may be implemented using existing hardware in existing communication networks. 
     Example embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices. 
     In the following description, example embodiments will be described with reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations that are performed by one or more processors, unless indicated otherwise. As such, it will be understood that such acts and operations, which are at times referred to as being computer-executed, include the manipulation by the processor of electrical signals representing data in a structured form. This manipulation transforms the data or maintains it at locations in the memory system of the computer, which reconfigures or otherwise alters the operation of the computer in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. 
     The data structures where data is maintained are physical locations of the memory that have particular properties defined by the format of the data. However, while example embodiments are described in the foregoing context, it is not meant to be limiting as those of skill in the art will appreciate that various acts and operations described hereinafter may also be implemented in hardware. 
     As discussed above, in certain situations, it may be desirable to dynamically change the coverage of different sectors of an in-building communication system to match changing user traffic density. For example, when a hot spot develops over a certain area covered by a group of RRHs belonging to a single sector, some of the RRHs in the group may be reconfigured to join another sector to more evenly distribute the traffic load between sectors. Using example embodiments, sectors of an in-building communications network may be re-configured more smoothly by transitioning one or more RRHs between a first sector and a second sector. 
       FIG. 2  shows an in-building communications network according to an example embodiment. In the network of  FIG. 2 , the base transceiver station (BTS)  100  may be the same as the BTS  10  discussed above with regard to  FIG. 1 . In addition, components of the in-building communications network shown in  FIG. 2 , other than the BTS  100 , may have similar functionality to corresponding components in the network shown in  FIG. 1 . In addition, the components may have additional functionality as described herein. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in one example embodiment, the BTS  100  may determine that sector reconfiguration is necessary, for example, based on load measurements associated with RRHs  211 - 215 . Load measurements may be taken in any suitable manner. Although example embodiments will be described herein with regard to BTS  100  determining that sector reconfiguration is necessary, this determination may be made at a number of network elements, for example, base station interfaces (BSIs)  102 A,  104 B, radio distributor/aggregator (RDA)  210 , and/or remote radio heads (RRHs)  211 - 215 . In some instances, the RRHs may also be referred to as “radio transceivers.” 
     Upon determining that sector re-configuration is necessary, the BTS  100  may initiate uplink and downlink transmission of weighted sum signals associated with each of sectors A and B. The uplink and downlink transmission of the weighted sum signals may continue for a time period referred to as a “transition period.” The uplink and downlink transmission of the weighted sum signals may be initiated and/or performed with or without human intervention by a network operator. 
     According to example embodiments, the length of the transition period may be determined based on the time required for handoff to occur. As is well-known in the art, handoff may take on the order of a few hundred milliseconds. Consequently, the transition period may be at least on the order of seconds, for example. 
     Example embodiments will now be described in more detail with regard to  FIGS. 2-5  and with regard to uplink and downlink communication taking place during the above-described transition period in which RRH  213  transitions from sector A to sector B. Accordingly, RRH  213  may be occasionally referred to herein as the transitioning RRH  213 . Although example embodiments are described herein with regard to a single transitioning RRH  213 , any number of RRHs may transition concurrently. Furthermore, in example embodiments, the terms “data packets,” or “plurality of data packets,” may be considered synonymous to and occasionally referred to as a “data packet stream.” 
     Downlink Communication while Transitioning 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , in the downlink (e.g., from BTS  100  to mobile units, such as mobile unit  219 ) wireless signals from BTS  100  are received at base station interfaces (BSIs)  102 A and  104 B. In one example, the BSI  102 A may receive wireless signals from a first sector (or first antenna) of the BTS  100 , whereas the BSI  104 B may receive wireless signals from a second sector (or second antenna) of BTS  100 . 
     The BSI  102 A processes the received wireless signals to generate a downlink data signal intended for sector A (hereinafter referred to as a downlink sector A data signal). 
     The BSI  104 B processes the received wireless signals to generate a downlink data signal intended for sector B (hereinafter referred to as a downlink sector B data signal). 
     The BSI  102 A packetizes the downlink sector A data signal to generate data packets having destination addresses corresponding to sector A (hereinafter referred to as downlink sector A data packets). The BSI  102 A transmits the downlink sector A data packets to a Radio Distributor/Aggregator (RDA)  210  over a high-speed data network (e.g., a Gigabit Ethernet network). 
     The BSI  104 B packetizes the downlink sector B data signal to generate data packets having destination addresses corresponding to sector B (hereinafter referred to as downlink sector B data packets). The BSI  104 B transmits the downlink sector B data packets to the RDA  210  over the high-speed data network. 
     The RDA  210  may transmit the downlink sector A data packets to RRHs  211  and  212  for transmission to mobile units in sector A, and may transmit the downlink sector B data packets to RRHs  214  and  215  for transmission to mobile units in sector B. The RDA  210  may also generate downlink weighted sum data packets including a downlink weighted sum signal based on the downlink sector A data packets and the downlink sector B data packets. The downlink weighted sum data packets may be transmitted to RRH  213  via the high-speed data network. 
     The RRHs  211 - 215  may process the received data packets in the same manner as the RRHs  111 - 115  described above. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a functional block diagram of the RDA  210  in more detail. As shown, the RDA  210  may include a plurality of RDA modules  210 - 1 - 210 - 5  and a mixing module  210 - 6 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the downlink sector A data packets from BSI  102 A may be input to RDA module  210 - 1 , and the downlink sector B data packets from BSI  104 B may be input to RDA module  210 - 2 . 
     The RDA module  210 - 1  may replicate the downlink sector A data packets on a packet-by-packet basis, and forward a first copy of each replicated downlink sector A data packet to the RDA module  210 - 3 . The RDA module  210 - 1  may process a second copy of each downlink sector A data packet to recover the downlink sector A data signal. The RDA module  210 - 1  may forward the recovered downlink sector A data signal to mixing module  210 - 6 . 
     Similar to the RDA module  210 - 1 , the RDA module  210 - 2  may replicate the downlink sector B data packets on a packet-by-packet basis, and forward a first copy of each downlink sector B data packet to the RDA module  210 - 5 . The RDA module  210 - 2  may process a second copy of each downlink sector B data packet to recover the downlink sector B data signal. The RDA module  210 - 2  may forward the recovered downlink sector B data signal to mixing module  210 - 6 . 
     Although discussed herein as being performed on a packet-by-packet basis, the RDA modules  210 - 1  and  210 - 2  may also utilize a buffer. For example, the RDA module  210 - 1  may buffer the received downlink sector A data packets before replicating and processing. 
     Referring still to  FIG. 3 , the RDA module  210 - 3  transmits the downlink sector A data packets to associated RRHs  211  and  212  via the high-speed data network. The RRHs  211  and  212  may buffer the received downlink sector A data packets to remove jitter. The RRHs  211  and  212  may process the buffered downlink sector A data packets to obtain the downlink sector A data signal and transmit the downlink sector A data signal to users in the same manner as the RRHs  111  and  112  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Similar to the RDA module  210 - 3 , the RDA module  210 - 5  transmits the downlink sector B data packets to associated RRHs  214  and  215  via the high-speed data network. The RRHs  214  and  215  may buffer the received downlink sector B data packets to remove jitter. The RRHs  214  and  215  may process the buffered downlink sector B data packets to obtain the downlink sector B data signal and transmit the downlink sector B data signal to users in the same manner as the RRHs  114  and  115  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the mixing module  210 - 6  generates a downlink weighted sum data signal based on the downlink sector A data signal and the downlink sector B data signal. The downlink weighted sum data signal is output to RDA module  210 - 4 . The RDA module  210 - 4  corresponds to RRH  213  transitioning from sector A to sector B. The RDA module  210 - 4  buffers and packetizes the downlink weighted sum data signal to generate downlink weighted sum data packets. The RDA module  210 - 4  may buffer and packetize the downlink weighted sum data signal using the same or substantially the same processes as the BSIs  102 A and  104 B. The RDA  210 - 4  may transmit the weighted sum data packets to the RRH  213  via the high-speed data network. 
     The RRH  213  may buffer and process the weighted sum data packets in the same manner as the RRHs  211 ,  212 ,  214  and/or  215  as discussed above and broadcast the obtained weighted sum data signal to associated mobile units over the air via an antenna. 
     A more detailed example downlink operation at the mixing module  210 - 6  will be described with regard to  FIG. 4 , which illustrates the mixing module  210 - 6  in more detail. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the mixing module  210 - 6  may include downlink gain modules  406 ,  408  and summer  412 . Although only two gain modules are shown in  FIG. 4 , the mixing module  210 - 6  may include any number of gain modules. 
     In accordance with the above-discussed example, the downlink sector A data signal from RDA  210 - 1  may be input to gain module  406 , whereas the downlink sector B data signal from RDA module  210 - 2  may be input to gain module  408 . 
     The gain module  406  may scale the downlink sector A data signal with a first gain parameter and output the gain adjusted (or weighted) sector A data signal to the summer  410 . Similarly, the gain module  408  may scale the downlink sector B data signal with a second gain parameter and output the gain adjusted (or weighted) sector B data signal to the summer  410 . 
     The summer  412  sums (or combines) the weighted sector A and sector B data signals to generate resultant weighted sum data signal. The weighted sector A and sector B data signals may be combined in any well-known manner. 
     According to example embodiments, the first and second gain parameters may be adjusted (e.g., smoothly adjusted) over time during the transition period. That is, for example, during the transition period, the first gain parameter and the second gain parameter may be adjusted such that the strength of downlink sector A data signal decreases, whereas the strength of downlink sector B data signal increases. That is, for example, the first weight or gain parameter applied by gain module  406  may be gradually decreased from a first (e.g., maximum) value to a second (e.g., minimum) value over time during the transition period, while the second weight or gain applied by the gain module  408  may gradually increase from a third (e.g., minimum) value to a fourth (e.g., maximum) value over time during the transition period. The slope of the first and second gain parameters may be linear with time or log linear with time (e.g., with cutoff). 
     In at least one example embodiment, the first and fourth values may be equal, and the second and third values may be equal. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a more specific example output spectrum of, for example, RRH  213  (supporting a GSM air-interface) during a transition period. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the arrows labeled S A  represent carriers from sector A, and the arrows labeled S B  represent carriers from sector B in  FIG. 2 . The positions of the arrows S A  and S B  indicate the carrier frequencies and the heights of the arrows indicate the carrier (or signal) strengths. Referring back to  FIG. 2 , for example, as RRH  213  transitions from sector A to sector B, the carrier strengths of the data signal associated with sector A (e.g., the arrows S A  in  FIG. 5 ) decrease according to time (which progresses from left to right in  FIG. 5 ), while the carrier strengths of the data signals associated with sector B (e.g., the arrows S B  in  FIG. 5 ) increase according to time. 
     Uplink Communication while Transitioning 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , an example uplink communication between mobile units and BTS  100  during a transition period in which RRH  213  transitions from sector A to sector B will be described. 
     In this uplink communication example, RRHs  211 - 212  receive data signals transmitted from mobile units in sector A (hereinafter referred to as uplink sector A data signals). The RRHs  214 - 215  receive data signals transmitted from mobile units in sector B (hereinafter referred to as uplink sector B data signals). 
     Each of RRHs  211  and  212  combine received uplink sector A data signals to generate a resultant uplink sector A data signal. At each of RRHs  211  and  212 , the resultant uplink sector A data signal is buffered and packetized in the same manner as discussed above with regard to the conventional art to generate uplink sector A data packets. The RRHs  211  and  212  transmit the uplink sector A data packets to corresponding RDA module  210 - 3  via the high-speed data network. The RDA module  210 - 3  buffers and processes the received uplink sector A data packets to recover the resultant uplink sector A data signals from each of RRHs  211  and  212 . The RDA module  210 - 3  combines the recovered resultant uplink sector A data signals to generate a second resultant uplink sector A data signal. The RDA module  210 - 3  forwards the second resultant uplink sector A data signal to RDA module  210 - 1 . 
     Each of RRHs  214  and  215  combine received uplink sector B data signals to generate a resultant uplink sector B data signal. At each of RRHs  214  and  215 , the resultant uplink sector B data signal is buffered and packetized in the same manner as discussed above with regard to the conventional art to generate uplink sector B data packets. The RRHs  214  and  215  transmit the uplink sector B data packets to corresponding RDA module  210 - 5  via the high-speed data network. The RDA module  210 - 5  buffers and processes the received uplink sector B data packets to recover the resultant uplink sector B data signals from each of RRHs  214  and  215 . The RDA module  210 - 5  combines the recovered resultant uplink sector B data signals to generate a second resultant uplink sector B data signal. The RDA module  210 - 5  forwards the second resultant uplink sector B data signal to RDA module  210 - 2 . 
     As noted above, during the transition period, the RRH  213  is transitioning from sector A to sector B. Regardless, however, the RRH  213  continues to receive data signals transmitted by mobile units under its coverage before, during or after the transition. Before the transition, the data signals are combined into an uplink signal for sector A (e.g., at RDA module  210 ). After the transition, the signals are combined into an uplink signal for sector B (e.g., at RDA  210 ). During the transition period, the data signals are combined into uplink signals of both sectors A and B with a varying weight (e.g., at RDA  210 ). For the sake of clarity, data signals received from users being served by RRH  213  will be referred to herein as uplink sector A-B data signals. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 3 , the RRH  213  combines the uplink sector A-B data signals to generate a resultant uplink sector A-B data signal. The resultant uplink sector A-B data signal is then buffered and packetized in the same manner as discussed above with regard to the conventional art to generate uplink sector A-B data packets. The RRH  213  transmits the uplink sector A-B data packets to corresponding RDA module  210 - 4  via the high-speed data network. 
     The RDA module  210 - 4  processes the received uplink sector A-B data packets to recover the resultant uplink sector A-B data signal, for example, on a packet-by-packet basis. The recovered resultant uplink sector A-B data signal is forwarded to the mix module  210 - 6 . 
     The mix module  210 - 6  replicates and gain adjusts the resultant uplink sector A-B data signal to generate a weighted sector A-B data signal to be output to each of RDA modules  210 - 1  and  210 - 2 . The mixing module  210 - 6  then outputs the weighted sector A-B data signals to RDAs  210 - 1  and  210 - 2 , concurrently. A more specific example of a manner in which the mixing module  210 - 6  generates the weighted sector A-B data signal will be described with regard to  FIG. 4 . As discussed above,  FIG. 4  is a more detailed illustration of the mixing module  210 - 6  in  FIG. 3 . 
     Referring again to  FIG. 4 , in addition to the downlink components, the mixing module  210 - 6  may include replicator  410  and uplink gain modules  402  and  404 . 
     In this example, the resultant uplink sector A-B data signal from RDA module  210 - 4  may be replicated at replicator  410  to generate a first uplink sector A-B data signal intended for BSI  102 A and a second uplink sector A-B data signal intended for BSI  104 B. The first uplink sector A-B data signal and the second uplink sector A-B data signal may be the same signal. The first uplink sector A-B data signal may be output to uplink gain module  402 , whereas the second uplink sector A-B data signal may be output to uplink gain module  404 . 
     Uplink gain module  402  may gain adjust or weight the first uplink sector A-B data signal using the above-described first gain parameter. Uplink gain module  404  may gain adjust or weight the second uplink sector A-B data signal using the above-described second gain parameter. The uplink gain modules  402  and  404  may gain adjust respective first and second uplink sector A-B data signals in the same or substantially the same manner as the downlink gain modules  406  and  408  described above. Because the first and second gain parameters may be the same or substantially the same as the first and second gain parameters discussed above with regard to the downlink, a detailed discussion will be omitted for the sake of brevity. In addition, because the uplink gain modules  402  and  404  may operate in the same or substantially the same manner as the downlink gain modules  406  and  408 , a detailed discussion will also be omitted for the sake of brevity. 
     Still referring to  FIG. 4 , the weighted first uplink sector A-B data signal may be output to RDA module  210 - 1 , while the weighted second uplink sector A-B data signal may be output to RDA module  210 - 2 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 3 , the RDA module  210 - 1  may buffer and combine the resultant uplink sector A data signal from RDA module  210 - 3  with the weighted first sector A-B data signal in any well-known manner (treating the weighted first sector A-B data signal as an uplink sector A data signal) to generate a first weighted uplink data signal. The RDA module  210 - 1  may then packetize the first weighted uplink data signal and output the resultant data packets to BSI  102 A via the high-speed data network. The BSI  102 A processes the received data packets to recover the first weighted uplink data signal, and transmits the first weighted uplink data signal to the BTS  100  in the same manner as the BSI  12 A. 
     The RDA module  210 - 2  may buffer and combine the resultant uplink sector B data signal from RDA module  210 - 5  with the weighted second sector A-B data signal in any well-known manner (treating the weighted second sector A-B data signal as an uplink sector B data signal) to generate a second weighted uplink data signal. The RDA module  210 - 2  may then packetize the second weighted uplink data signal and output the resultant data packets to BSI  104 B via the high-speed data network. The BSI  104 B may process the received data packets to recover the second weighted uplink data signal, and transmits the second weighted uplink data signal to the BTS  100  in the same manner as the BSI  14 B. 
     The above-described uplink and downlink transmission operations including the mixing module  210 - 6  may continue until the transition period ends. At the end of the transition period, the mixing operations performed by the mixing module  210 - 6  may be omitted. 
     For the sake of clarity,  FIG. 6  illustrates the network of  FIG. 2  after RRH  213  has transitioned from sector A to sector B. Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 ,  FIG. 6  illustrates a sector configuration corresponding to the right side of  FIG. 5  in which carrier strengths of signals from sector A are zero (or nulled), whereas carrier strengths of signals from sector B are at a maximum (e.g., 100% carrier strengths of signals to/from sector B are transmitted/received). 
     Although  FIG. 4  shows a particular example embodiment in which RDA  210  includes a plurality of RDA modules and the RRHs and BSIs are separate there from, other physical implementations are possible. For example, a RRH may implement only a RRH function or may include an RRH and a RDA function. A BSI may implement a BSI function or may include a BSI function and a mix function. An RDA may implement only the distribution of the signals, or a RDA function including uplink and/or downlink combining. 
     When a network according to example embodiments supports CDMA/UMTS air-interface, sectors A and B may operate at the same frequency with the same bandwidth. The downlink signal formed by the mix module  210 - 6  may also be at the same frequency and with the same bandwidth. Thus, additional capability is not required on the RRHs to support this feature. Likewise, on the uplink, the BSIs need not be modified to support this feature. 
     For TDMA air-interfaces such as GSM, sectors A and B may use a different set of carriers. When signals from sectors A and B are combined, the resultant signal contains more carriers than either of the original signals. If example embodiments are implemented in such a way, where the full bandwidth over which the base stations operate is transported and transmitted at the RRHs, the system need not be concerned how many carriers are actually within the supported bandwidth. The mix function may operate the same way as described previously. 
     According to example embodiments, the weighted sum function may be performed within the RDA or at the BSIs (e.g., if the base station interfaces for both sectors are physically integrated on the same circuit board). If performed at the BSI, a new virtual LAN may be created to carry the resultant uplink and downlink signals. The transitioning RRHs may be assigned to the new virtual LAN to transmit and receive the resultant signals. 
     The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention.