Localization services in optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods

摘要

Optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods to provide localization services for client devices are disclosed. The localization services allow the providing and/or determination of the location of client devices in communication with a component or components of the optical fiber-based distributed communications system. The location of client devices can be provided and/or determined based on knowledge of the location of the component or components in the optical fiber-based distributed communications system in communication with the client device. This information can be used to determine or provide a more precise area of location or area of location for client devices. The optical fiber-based distributed communications components and systems, and related methods disclosed herein may be well-suited for indoor environments where other methods of providing and/or determining location of client devices may be obstructed or not possible due to the indoor environment.

主权项

1. A distributed communications apparatus, comprising:
at least one first downlink input configured to receive downlink electrical radio frequency (RF) communications signals; at least one uplink output configured to receive and communicate uplink electrical RF communications signals from a communications uplink; at least one optical interface (OI) configured to:
receive and convert the downlink electrical RF communications signals into downlink optical RF communications signals to be provided to at least one remote antenna unit (RAU); andreceive and convert uplink optical RF communications signals from the at least one RAU on the communications uplink into uplink electrical RF communications signals provided to the at least one uplink output; and at least one second downlink input configured to receive at least one electrical tracking signal; wherein the at least one OI is further configured to:
receive and convert the at least one electrical tracking signal into at least one optical tracking signal to be provided to the at least one RAU;provide the at least one optical tracking signal to at least one tracking RAU; andprovide the downlink optical RF communications signals to at least one communications RAU; and further comprising a common antenna coupled to both the at least one communications RAU and the at least one tracking RAU.