Antenna Coverage Control Using Terminal Feedback for Traffic Hotspots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating virtual cells in radio access networks fail to optimally size and position them based on actual and dynamically varying traffic locations, leading to inefficient resource utilization and suboptimal user performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling an antenna system in a radio access network that adjusts the coverage area by transmitting signals to wireless terminals, receiving indicators based on these signals, and selecting parameters to optimize the coverage area based on actual traffic distribution, using indicators from both connected and idle terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual cells are created with fixed coverage areas based on assumed traffic distribution, then resource allocation can be performed, but the coverage area does not match actual traffic hotspots leading to inefficient resource utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the coverage area of virtual cells to change dynamically based on real-time traffic distribution. The network device receives feedback information from wireless terminals indicating their preferred coverage areas, then adjusts the virtual cell coverage accordingly. This transforms the static coverage area into a dynamic one that adapts to actual traffic hotspots, resolving the contradiction between resource utilization efficiency and adaptability to traffic distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where wireless terminals provide feedback information to the network device about their preferred coverage areas and traffic conditions. The network device uses this feedback to adjust the coverage area of virtual cells. This closed-loop feedback system enables the network to respond to actual traffic distribution, improving both resource utilization efficiency and adaptability simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If indicators are received from all wireless terminals including idle ones, then more accurate traffic distribution information is obtained, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by having different wireless terminals provide different types of feedback information based on their connection state. Connected terminals provide detailed channel state information and preferred coverage area indicators, while idle terminals provide simpler location-based or coverage preference indicators. This differentiated feedback approach maintains high measurement precision for traffic distribution while reducing overall signaling overhead compared to requiring identical detailed feedback from all terminals.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is disclosed for controlling an antenna system of a radio access network to change a coverage area of a cell of the radio access network from a first area to a second area. The method comprises transmitting a signal associated with the cell to a plurality of wireless terminals in the first area, receiving from the plurality of wireless terminals respective indicators, wherein each indicator has been determined by a wireless terminal on the basis of the signal and wherein the indicators comprise or are indicative of respective sets of one or more parameters, e.g. antenna configuration parameters, selecting from the sets a group of one or more similar sets, determining a further set of one or more parameters, e.g. antenna configuration parameters, on the basis of the group of one or more similar sets, controlling the antenna system to change the coverage area of the cell from the first to the second area on the basis of the further set of parameters.