Unified optical fiber-based distributed antenna systems (DASs) for supporting small cell communications deployment from multiple small cell service providers are disclosed. The unified optical fiber-based DASs disclosed herein are configured to receive multiple small cell communications from different small cell service providers to be deployed over optical fiber to small cells in the DAS. In this manner, the same DAS architecture can be employed to distribute different small cell communications from different small cell service providers to small cells. Use of optical fiber for delivering small cell communications can reduce the risk of having to deploy new cabling if bandwidth needs for future small cell communication services exceeds conductive wiring capabilities. Optical fiber cabling can also allow for higher distance cable runs to the small cells due to the lower loss of optical fiber, which can provide for enhanced centralization services.

Disclosed are various embodiments for provisioning radio-based networks with locality rules. In one embodiment, at least one locality rule associated with an organization is accessed. The locality rule(s) require that at least a subset of network traffic for a radio-based network remain within a particular geographic area. The radio-based network includes a radio access network and an associated core network. A topology for the radio-based network is determined based at least in part on the locality rule(s). The radio-based network is provisioned or reconfigured for the organization to have the topology complying with the at least one locality rule.

Disclosed are various embodiments for provisioning radio-based networks with locality rules. In one embodiment, at least one locality rule associated with an organization is accessed. The locality rule(s) require that at least a subset of network traffic for a radio-based network remain within a particular geographic area. The radio-based network includes a radio access network and an associated core network. A topology for the radio-based network is determined based at least in part on the locality rule(s). The radio-based network is provisioned or reconfigured for the organization to have the topology complying with the at least one locality rule.

An electronic device that provides installation instructions is described. During operation, the electronic device may automatically generate a radio-frequency project plan for a network in an environment using a radio-frequency model and a model corresponding to at least a portion of the environment. Then, based at least in part on the radio-frequency project plan, the electronic device may interactively provide the installation instructions to an installer while a given access point in the access points is being installed in the environment. Moreover, after the given access point is installed, the electronic device may validate the given access point. Next, the electronic device may perform automatic testing of the given access point. Furthermore, the electronic device may provide a comparison of estimated communication performance of the given access point in the radio-frequency project plan and measured communication performance of the given access point.

An electronic device that provides installation instructions is described. During operation, the electronic device may automatically generate a radio-frequency project plan for a network in an environment using a radio-frequency model and a model corresponding to at least a portion of the environment. Then, based at least in part on the radio-frequency project plan, the electronic device may interactively provide the installation instructions to an installer while a given access point in the access points is being installed in the environment. Moreover, after the given access point is installed, the electronic device may validate the given access point. Next, the electronic device may perform automatic testing of the given access point. Furthermore, the electronic device may provide a comparison of estimated communication performance of the given access point in the radio-frequency project plan and measured communication performance of the given access point.

A method and an apparatus for managing a data transmission channel includes obtaining a delay of data transmitted on a first channel and a continuity parameter of the first channel, and a delay of data transmitted on a second channel and a continuity parameter of the second channel; detecting whether a fault event occurs on the first channel; and switching a working channel of a source provider edge (PE) and a sink PE to the second channel when the fault event occurs on the first channel.

A method and an apparatus for managing a data transmission channel includes obtaining a delay of data transmitted on a first channel and a continuity parameter of the first channel, and a delay of data transmitted on a second channel and a continuity parameter of the second channel; detecting whether a fault event occurs on the first channel; and switching a working channel of a source provider edge (PE) and a sink PE to the second channel when the fault event occurs on the first channel.

A method for adaptive user equipment (UE) grouping and beamforming includes the assignment each of a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices into a respective UE group of a plurality of UE groups. Each UE group has at least one UE device. A UE device is reassigned from the respective UE group to which it was previously assigned to an updated UE group. An updated respective beamforming vector is generated for the updated UE group until the updated respective beamforming vector for each UE group produces a largest average UE rate for the updated UE group.

A method for adaptive user equipment (UE) grouping and beamforming includes the assignment each of a plurality of user equipment (UE) devices into a respective UE group of a plurality of UE groups. Each UE group has at least one UE device. A UE device is reassigned from the respective UE group to which it was previously assigned to an updated UE group. An updated respective beamforming vector is generated for the updated UE group until the updated respective beamforming vector for each UE group produces a largest average UE rate for the updated UE group.

A system for determining and optimizing wireless network performance of a network having at least two access points comprises a plurality of wireless instruments configured to send, receive, and measure received wireless signals in a monitored area. The system further comprises a master controller in communication with the wireless instruments to form a distributed wireless network testing solution. The master controller is configured to send wireless signals to and receive wireless signals from the wireless instruments, measure the received wireless signals, and perform an analysis of the wireless signals to determine a radio frequency environment performance of the distributed wireless network based at least in part on the wireless signals.