SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EQUALIZING THE DELAY TIME FOR TRANSMISSION PATHS IN A DISTRIBUTED ANTENNA NETWORK

摘要

A communication system and method are provided forequalizing delay of transmission paths in a distributedantenna network. The distributed antenna network includes aplurality of remote antenna units, a central unit or a basestation connected to the remote antenna units by transmissionmedia, where each connection between the base station and oneof the remote antenna units forms a separate transmissionpath having an associated delay time, a delay detector fordetermining the associated delay time of the separatetransmission paths for each of the remote antenna units, anda delay compensator for adjusting the associated delay timesin response to the delay detectors so that all of theassociated delay times are substantially equalized. Thesystem and method allow the delay parameters for the entirenetwork to be set upon installation and then to beperiodically updated without physical intervention by anoperator. The detection and compensation allow forequalization of delay time differences that could nototherwise be compensated in the base stations of mobilestations of conventional systems and methods. Furthermore,the equalization synchronizes the bursts so that air frametiming between cells served by the remote antenna units isenhanced and the hand-off performance therebetween isimproved.