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 for equalizing delay of transmission paths in a distributed antenna network. The distributed antenna network includes a plurality of remote antenna units, a central unit or a base station connected to the remote antenna units by transmission media, where each connection between the base station and one of the remote antenna units forms a separate transmission path having an associated delay time, a delay detector for determining the associated delay time of the separate transmission paths for each of the remote antenna units, and a delay compensator for adjusting the associated delay times in response to the delay detectors so that all of the associated delay times are substantially equalized. The system and method allow the delay parameters for the entire network to be set upon installation and then to be periodically updated without physical intervention by an operator. The detection and compensation allow for equalization of delay time differences that could not otherwise be compensated in the base stations of mobile stations of conventional systems and methods. Furthermore, the equalization synchronizes the bursts so that air frame timing between cells served by the remote antenna units is enhanced and the hand-off performance therebetween is improved.