Patent ID: 7920858

Claim:
A system for distributing cellular radio frequency signals, the system comprising: a hub unit configured to communicate with a first base station associated with a first cellular service provider and a second base station associated with a second cellular service provider, the first base station configured to use a first air interface and the second base station configured to use a second air interface; and a radio access node located at a location that is remote from the hub unit; wherein the hub unit comprises a first analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize a first analog radio frequency signal in order to generate first digital data indicative of the first analog radio frequency signal, wherein the first analog radio frequency signal is broadcast from the first base station associated with the first cellular service provider using the first air interface; wherein the hub unit comprises a second analog-to-digital converter configured to digitize a second analog radio frequency signal in order to generate second digital data indicative of the second analog radio frequency signal, wherein the second analog radio frequency signal is broadcast from the second base station associated with the second cellular service provider using the second air interface; wherein the first and second digital data are transported to the radio access node from the hub unit using a shared transport medium; and wherein the radio access node comprises: a first digital-to-analog converter configured to reconstruct a version of the first analog radio frequency signal from the first digital data; and a second digital-to-analog converter to reconstruct a version of the second analog radio frequency signal from the second digital data, wherein the reconstructed versions of the first and second analog radio frequency signals are radiated in a coverage area associated with the radio access node.