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EP-4740508-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING NETWORK COVERAGE IN AN INDOOR FACILITY

EP4740508A1EP 4740508 A1EP4740508 A1EP 4740508A1EP-4740508-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a system (150) specifically designed for facilitating network coverage in indoor facilities. The system comprises a plurality of pico cells (116), each being a consolidated unit that includes a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU), and a remote unit (RU) within a singular hardware framework. These pico cells (116) are interconnected to a distributed antenna system (DAS), linked by one or more radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables with a specified diameter. The system is characterized by its low power consumption, adaptability for installation on various indoor surfaces, and the implementation of a hyper-local architecture to provide dedicated low-power radio sources for different areas within the facility.

Inventors

  • BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
  • BHATNAGAR, PRADEEP KUMAR
  • GUPTA, DEEPAK
  • KHOSYA, NEKIRAM
  • R, Renuka
  • Bansal, Amrish
  • SHAH, BRIJESH ISHVARLAL
  • AWASTHI, NITIN
  • PATIL, SWAPNIL

Assignees

  • Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240621

Claims (17)

  1. 1. A system (150) for facilitating network coverage in an indoor facility, comprising: at least one small cell (116) having a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU) and a Remote Unit (RU); and a distributed antenna system (DAS) connected to the at least one small cell (116).
  2. 2. The system (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one small cell (116) is connected to the DAS using one or more radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables.
  3. 3. The system (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one small cell (116) is a pico cell, a femtocell, or a microcell.
  4. 4. The system (150) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pico cell (116) is configured to employ 4 transmit 4 receive (4T4R) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology.
  5. 5. The system (150) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pico cell (116) is configured to operate with a cumulative Transmit output power of less than or equal to 8 watts from four transmit chains and peak power consumption of less than or equal to 100 watts.
  6. 6. The system (150) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the DAS is a passive DAS.
  7. 7. The system (150) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pico cell (116) is adapted for installation on a variety of indoor surfaces including ceilings, walls, pillars, or poles.
  8. 8. The system (150) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pico cell (116) is connected to a cellular network via the Internet and/or the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to receive and transmit RF signals.
  9. 9. The system (150) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pico cell (116) includes a low-loss cavity filter configured to minimize signal loss while transmitting or receiving RF signals.
  10. 10. A method (600) for facilitating network coverage in an indoor facility, comprising steps of: installing (602) at least one small cell (116), having a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU) and a remote unit (RU), within the indoor facility; and connecting (604) a distributed antenna system (DAS) to the at least one small cell (116).
  11. 11. The method (600) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one small cell (116) is connected to the DAS using one or more radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables.
  12. 12. The method (600) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one small cell (116) is a pico cell, a femtocell, or a microcell.
  13. 13. The method (600) as claimed in claim 12, further comprising configuring the pico cell (116) to employ 4 transmit 4 receive (4T4R) Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) technology.
  14. 14. The method (600) as claimed in claim 12, further comprising installing the pico cell (116) on a variety of indoor surfaces including ceilings, walls, pillars, or poles.
  15. 15. The method (600) as claimed in claim 12, further comprising connecting the pico cell (116) to a cellular network via the Internet and/or the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to receive and transmit RF signals.
  16. 16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: establish a connection to at least one small cell (116) installed within an indoor facility, wherein the at least one small cell (116) includes a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU) and a remote unit (RU); and connect a distributed antenna system (DAS) to the at least one small cell (116).
  17. 17. A user equipment (UE) communicatively coupled with at least one small cell (116), the coupling comprises steps of: receiving a connection request from the at least one small cell (116); sending an acknowledgment of the connection request to the at least one small cell (116); and transmitting a plurality of signals in response to the connection request, wherein the at least one small cell (116) includes a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU) and a remote unit (RU) as claimed in claim 1.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FACILITATING NETWORK COVERAGE IN AN INDOOR FACILITY RESERVATION OF RIGHTS [001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and/or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (herein after referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner. TECHNICAL FIELD [002] The present disclosure relates to wireless cellular communications, and specifically to a system and a method for facilitating network coverage in an indoor facility. BACKGROUND [003] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art. [004] In today's interconnected world, the demand for seamless wireless connectivity inside a building has become paramount. Studies have illuminated the fact that a significant portion of time, roughly 80-90%, is spent indoors, where the need for reliable wireless coverage is critical. Moreover, a substantial majority of cellular calls and data connections, around 70% and 80% respectively, originate from indoor locations such as offices, homes, shopping centers, hotels, medical facilities, and educational institutions. [005] However, indoor structures often pose a challenge for receiving strong signals from cell towers. To tackle this issue effectively, a specialized indoor solution called a distributed antenna system (DAS) has emerged as the recommended approach. In DAS, antennas are strategically deployed throughout a building, thereby distributing coverage into smaller, more manageable sections. DAS allows comprehensive coverage even in areas where conventional outdoor signals might struggle to reach. However, conventional DAS setups have encountered their own set of hurdles. Typically, heavy radios are installed in designated areas within buildings, such as IT rooms and electrical rooms. These locations are often far removed from the distributed antennas, necessitating the use of lengthy and bulky cables to transmit signals and compensate for signal losses. Consequently, this setup not only incurs higher capital costs but also elevates operational expenditure for DAS. Using these bulky cables, results in a heavy and complex system where installation is a cumbersome task and creates challenges for maintenance and system expansion. [006] There is therefore a need in the art to provide a system that facilitates network coverage in an indoor facility, providing a low cost and lightweight passive DAS solution. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE [007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a system and a method for providing a pico cell passive DAS solution. [008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an ingeniously designed pico cell. [009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide the pico cell passive DAS solution that uses an ’A” inch coaxial cable, leading to creating a lightweight infrastructure. [0010] It is an object of the present disclosure to the pico cell passive DAS solution that consumes less power. [0011] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide the pico cell passive DAS solution that uses a smaller size pico cell and an Vi inch coaxial cable and hence has a lower maintenance cost. [0012] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide the solution that has lower capital and operational expenditures. [0013] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a solution with a simplified design. [0014] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide the solution that has radio frequency (RF) performance similar to a conventional DAS. SUMMARY [0015] The present disclosure discloses a system for facilitating network coverage in an indoor facility. The system includes at least one small cell and a distributed antenna system (DAS). The at least one small cell includes a centralized unit (CU), a distribution unit (DU) and a remote unit (RU). The DAS is connected to the at least one small cell. [0016] In an embodiment, the at least one small cell is connected to the DAS using one or more radio frequency (RF) coaxial cables. [0017] In an embodiment, the at least one small cell is a pico cell, a femtocell, or a microcell. [0018] In an embodiment, the pico cell is confi