Adaptive AAS Beam Allocation for Aerial UE Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional radio network planning and optimization do not provide optimized coverage for aerial vehicles flying at high altitudes, leading to issues such as frequent handovers, cell re-selections, interference, and reduced battery life due to excessive signaling, and impact terrestrial network performance.
Innovation Solution
A network control function (NWCF) adaptively allocates radio resources using an advanced antenna system (AAS) by receiving demand information, mapping resources, and instructing the AAS to adjust its antenna arrangement to serve aerial vehicles, creating separate radio cells with suitable properties and parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional radio network planning and optimization is used with AAS main lobes directed to ground, then terrestrial mobile terminal coverage is optimized, but aerial vehicle coverage is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the AAS to dynamically adjust its antenna beam directions based on the service target. The system can switch between ground-optimized configurations (main lobes to ground for terrestrial UEs) and aerial-optimized configurations (main lobes to sky for aerial vehicles), making the radio network adaptable to different operational requirements rather than static
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating different radio cell configurations for different spatial regions. Terrestrial areas receive coverage optimized with main lobes directed to ground, while aerial regions receive coverage with main lobes directed to sky. This allows different parts of the coverage area to have locally optimized properties for their specific use case
2Adaptability or versatility
If aerial vehicles fly at higher altitudes, then more radio cells become detectable, but handover frequency increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring dedicated aerial-optimized radio cells with main lobes directed to sky. These cells are prepared in advance for aerial vehicle service, so when aerial vehicles are detected in the coverage area, they can immediately connect to appropriately optimized cells rather than undergoing frequent handovers between ground-optimized cells
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary function through the network control entity that manages the allocation and configuration of radio cells based on aerial vehicle detection. This intermediary coordinates between aerial vehicle requirements and available radio resources, optimizing handover management and reducing unnecessary cell reselections
3Reliability
If AAS antennas are directed to serve terrestrial terminals, then ground coverage is optimized, but aerial vehicle service requires additional hardware
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by enabling the existing AAS hardware to perform multiple functions. The same antenna elements and beamforming capabilities that serve terrestrial mobile terminals are also utilized to provide optimized coverage for aerial vehicles. The system can reconfigure the same physical infrastructure to serve different types of users without requiring additional dedicated hardware for aerial service
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures optimized radio network coverage for aerial vehicles, minimizing handovers and cell re-selections, maintaining user experience, and balancing ground and aerial vehicle resource demands without additional hardware, thus reducing operational costs and manpower.
Implementation Method 1
Each AAS 11 comprises multiple radio antenna elements 13, which by way of beamforming, for example, create macro radio cells 10 by main antenna lobes 12 substantially directing to the ground
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of adaptively allocating, by a network control function, NWCF, (34), radio resources provided by an advanced antenna system, AAS, (330) of a radio access network, RAN, (30). The AAS (330) has an adaptive radio antenna arrangement (331) configured for serving (37) terrestrial radio user equipments, UEs, (27). The NWCF (34), upon receiving information of an upcoming demand for radio resources of the RAN (30) for serving aerial vehicle radio user equipments, UEs (14), maps the demand to radio resources to be allocated by the AAS (330) for serving the aerial vehicle UEs (14), and instructs the AAS (330) to allocate the radio resources (38) for serving the aerial vehicle UEs (14) by adapting (332) the radio antenna arrangement (331) of the AAS (330). A network control function (34), an advanced antenna system (330), and radio cell site equipment (33) are provided.