Radio resource management in a telecommunication system

Abstract

Certain communication devices in a telecommunications network may be suitable for providing assistance in supporting other communication devices in comparatively poor radio coverage. The telecommunications network is dynamically adapted to improve overall network performance without requiring the introduction of new network equipment by determining how these communication devices are to be activated / deactivated and maintained. In one example, the dynamic activation / maintenance of the radio coverage assistance serves to reduce problems associated with users at the cell edge, resulting in improvements in overall cell capacity.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]This disclosure relates to radio resource management in a telecommunication system. In particular the disclosure relates to the management of radio resources in a telecommunication system that provides wireless wide area communications in cellular telecommunications networks.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0002]Cellular telecommunications networks characteristically provide “cells” of radio communication coverage between communication devices (which are typically mobile) and a core network (with a “downlink” from core network to communication device and an “uplink” in the opposite direction).[0003]Various radio access technologies (RATs) are implemented: currently digital cellular networks are the most common and these are loosely classed as second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), etc. technologies according to whether the RAT achieves effective data communications that meet increasingly challenging requirements. In meeting the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0044]In certain embodiments, each candidate aggregator device may be a communication device that fulfils at least one criterion selected from: sufficient battery life; location within a portion of the given area of radio coverage for which the aggregator functionality is expected to be required; and current path loss metric for the communication link between the communication device and the cellular communication network falls below a path loss threshold.

[0065]As a result, the system may be deployed without requiring bespoke adaptations of otherwise conventional eNodeBs to include dedicated software functionalities. The introduction of a separate controller entity means that the system may be implemented in association with any conventional macrocell layer deployment.

[0067]As a user may obtain (and to some extent control the positioning of) candidate aggregators, the users of the network may also benefit in that they are able to influence the overall coverage of the macrolayer by their own actions.

[0078]Use of a separate controller entity means that dynamically configured communication devices need not be rigidly addressed through the hierarchical structures of the radio access network and / or the core network. Communication devices in regions of the network architecture governed by different radio network controllers or eNodeBs may be dynamically controlled together to offer a more responsive overall coverage to other communication devices. Coverage extension may more easily transcend the region (i.e. sectors or cells) in which the controlled communication devices currently operate.

Problems solved by technology

Consequently, high levels of interference and low SINR (signal to interference plus noise ratio) can be expected near the cell edge.

The requirement for cellular communications coverage is far from uniform across a typical geographic area.

Furthermore natural features or features of the built environment introduce additional constraints upon the operation of base station entities.

These classes of base transceiver stations are typically used in areas where coverage would otherwise be inadequate or awkward to maintain using conventional eNB equipment.

The installation of fixed small cells by a network operator brings with it the burden of finding suitable locations, paying for the site rental, and deploying additional cables to connect the fixed Small Cells to other nodes of the network.

Furthermore, installation and commissioning (including configuring) of fixed small cells takes time: even if wireless backhaul is used instead of cables, the fixed small cells need to be installed in a suitable position and configured for operation at that location.

In addition, where the small cell device fails or otherwise requires servicing the device and the installation site needs to be accessible by the operator: since these devices are typically the property of the network operator but located on private land and in sometimes inaccessible locations, there are likely to be logistical and practical obstacles to intervention by one of the operator's engineers.

There are certain network conditions where individual communication devices in cellular networks have a disproportionately detrimental effect on the network performance.

Serving radio resources to communication devices at cell-edge has a higher cost in terms of resource allocation and power usage than a similar device in a region of the cell closer to a serving base transceiver station system (such as an eNodeB).

However, the numbers of communication devices and the demand for ever more network resources means that the network may be affected by capacity problems in the radio interface more often than is acceptable.

Network and other performance conditions very often change over time: for instance, individual communication devices that, by virtue of their location at the cell edge and active use of the network, have a detrimental effect on the network performance at one time, may, at other times, be idle and cause no such effect.

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