Aggregator for Digital Radio Signal Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cell solutions face challenges such as noise sensitivity, interference, and inefficient resource utilization in wireless communication, particularly in crowded areas, due to limitations in signal coordination and dynamic network traffic management across multiple remote units.
Innovation Solution
A communication coordination system comprising an aggregator that centralizes and digitally coordinates radio signals from various access units and remote units, using a decision process based on cost functions to optimize communication parameters, ensuring efficient signal distribution and combining according to dynamically changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If brute force combining of all RU signals is used, then signal coverage is improved, but noise sensitivity increases due to contribution of noise level from each RU reception signal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines signals from multiple remote units (RUs) at the aggregator, but applies intelligent selection and weighting rather than simple brute force combining. The system evaluates signal quality metrics and selectively combines signals to improve coverage while minimizing noise contribution from poor-quality RU receptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality assessment to each RU signal individually, evaluating signal strength, noise levels, and reception quality at each remote unit. This allows the aggregator to weight or select signals based on their local quality characteristics, improving overall signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining coverage area.
2Device complexity
If same signal is transmitted via all RU's, then signal distribution is simplified, but DL interference increases and radio resources are redundantly used
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts signal distribution across RUs based on real-time network conditions, traffic demands, and interference levels. Rather than transmitting the same signal via all RUs statically, the aggregator can selectively activate RUs and adjust signal parameters dynamically to reduce interference and optimize resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the downlink signal transmission by allowing different RUs to transmit different signals or different portions of the overall signal based on local conditions. This segmentation reduces redundant transmissions and interference while maintaining comprehensive coverage through coordinated multi-RU operation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RAN agnostic DAS architecture is used, then system compatibility is improved, but dynamic coordination of UL/DL signals with respect to RU is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregator serves as an intelligent intermediary between the RAN and the DAS infrastructure. It maintains RAN agnosticism at the interface while introducing dynamic coordination capabilities internally, allowing the system to adapt to different RAN technologies while still providing intelligent, condition-based signal distribution and coordination across multiple RUs.
4Quantity of substance
If small cell deployment with frequency reuse is used, then capacity is improved, but UL and DL interference between FAPs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The aggregator provides multi-functional coordination capabilities that work across multiple small cells and FAPs simultaneously. It can manage frequency reuse patterns, coordinate uplink and downlink transmissions, and adjust signal parameters across the entire network to maximize user capacity while minimizing inter-FAP interference through centralized intelligent control.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system architecture is provided, having an aggregator, arranged to centralize the access units and coordinate the radio signals of access units of different types digitally, and remote radio units configured to be modularly connectable to different types of radio elements that correspond to the access units and arranged to communicate with the aggregator digitally. Radio signals are scheduled and delivered with respect to the types of the access units and of the radio elements, and the aggregator is further arranged to handle distribution and combining of the radio signals digitally. The aggregator further comprises a controller arranged to continuously optimize communication with respect to the access units and user mobile communication devices by applying a decision process to cost functions that depends on communication parameters to derive specified dynamically changing parameters, and to manage the aggregator dynamically with respect thereto.