Distributed Antenna Uplink Combining for Higher SINR
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Solution Overview
Problem
In traditional distributed antenna systems (DAS), the uplink signal-to-interference-and-noise ratio (SINR) is reduced due to the summation of uplink data from multiple access points, where most access points contribute noise or interference rather than meaningful signals, increasing the noise floor.
Innovation Solution
The DAS employs selection combining by selecting and combining only meaningful uplink data from source entities to generate combined uplink user-plane data for the base station, reducing noise and improving SINR.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If uplink data from all access points is summed to generate base station signals, then coverage area is increased, but noise floor increases and SINR is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the uplink combining process by dividing access points into multiple groups (first set and second set) that are combined separately. This segmentation allows selective combining of signals from different geographic or functional groups, improving SINR by avoiding noise accumulation from all access points while maintaining extended coverage through coordinated multi-group combining.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different combining operations to different sets of access points. The first set of access points uses one combining method while the second set uses another, allowing each group to be optimized for its local characteristics. This resolves the contradiction by enabling coverage extension through multiple groups while maintaining high SINR through localized optimal combining strategies.
2Area of stationary object
If uplink data from multiple access points is combined, then coverage area is extended, but noise and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments access points into distinct sets that are combined separately, preventing noise and interference from all access points from accumulating in a single combined signal. By processing different sets through separate combining operations, the harmful effects are localized and managed independently while coverage is extended through the coordinated operation of multiple segmented groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different combining strategies to different sets of access points, allowing each set to be optimized for its local noise and interference characteristics. This local optimization reduces the overall noise and interference impact while maintaining extended coverage, as each set contributes quality signals without propagating its specific noise characteristics to all other sets.
3Area of stationary object
If all access points contribute to uplink combining, then coverage is improved, but signal quality deteriorates due to noise dominance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the access point population into multiple sets that are combined separately, ensuring that signal quality is maintained in each segment rather than being degraded by noise from all access points. This segmentation allows each group to contribute meaningful signals while preventing noise dominance, and the overall coverage is improved through the coordinated operation of multiple quality-assured segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by using different combining methods for different sets of access points, allowing each set to be tuned for optimal signal quality based on its local characteristics. This ensures that signal quality is maintained or improved in each local group while coverage area is extended through the collective contribution of multiple optimized groups, preventing noise from any single group from dominating the overall signal.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is directed to a method of performing uplink combining in a distributed antenna system serving a base station. The distributed antenna system comprises a combining entity and a plurality of source entities communicatively coupled to the combining entity and configured to source uplink user-plane data for the base station to the combining entity. The method comprises performing selection combining for the base station by doing the following: selecting some of the uplink user-plane data sourced from the source entities for the base station; and performing uplink combining using only the selected uplink user-plane data to generate combined uplink user-plane data for the base station. Other embodiments are disclosed.