Aircraft UE Base Station Selection in Heterogeneous Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In air-to-ground (ATG) communications, aircrafts face challenges such as interference between ATG and terrestrial networks due to shared frequencies, large timing advances required for coverage, significant Doppler effects, and fluctuating aircraft density, which affect network performance and throughput.
Innovation Solution
An aircraft user equipment (UE) selects base stations based on GNSS information, flight level, projected trajectory, and coverage preferences to establish optimal wireless connections, and computes timing advance values using downlink reference signals and GNSS frame offsets, decoupling uplink and downlink access to manage interference and ensure high throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If shared frequencies are used for ATG and terrestrial networks, then spectrum efficiency is improved, but interference between networks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network access into separate uplink and downlink paths. Downlink access uses ATG base stations for aircraft communication, while uplink access uses terrestrial base stations, thereby separating the communication paths to reduce interference while maintaining spectrum efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces timing advance values computed using GNSS information as an intermediary mechanism to coordinate uplink transmissions from different aircraft, preventing interference through precise timing synchronization without requiring frequency separation
2Area of stationary object
If large timing advances are used for ATG coverage, then coverage area is improved, but timing synchronization complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical timing synchronization methods with a GNSS-based timing system. By using GNSS frame offsets and satellite timing information, the system computes timing advance values without complex ground-based synchronization infrastructure, simplifying the overall system while maintaining large coverage areas
3Object-affected harmful factors
If decoupled uplink-downlink access is implemented, then interference management is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal base station configuration where each base station can operate in both ATG and terrestrial modes. The same hardware infrastructure supports multiple functions (ATG downlink, terrestrial uplink, terrestrial downlink), reducing overall network complexity while enabling effective interference management through selective access paths
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 enhances network performance by reducing interference, maintaining ATG and terrestrial network coexistence, and achieving high throughput and low latency, even in environments with varying aircraft density and Doppler effects.
Implementation Method 1
significant Doppler effects, which affect network performance and throughput
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure include methods, apparatuses, and computer readable media for receiving at the aircraft UE in an airspace, at least one of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) information of the aircraft UE, flight level (FL) information of the aircraft UE, a projected trajectory of the aircraft UE, GNSS information of a plurality of base stations (BSs) in a heterogeneous network (HetNet), or coverage preferences of the plurality of BSs, selecting a first BS of the plurality of BSs or a second BS of the plurality of BSs based on the GNSS information of the aircraft UE, the FL information of the aircraft UE, the projected trajectory of the aircraft UE, respective GNSS information of the selected BS, or a respective coverage preference of the selected BS, and establishing a wireless connection with the selected BS.