Backhaul Link Diversity for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, a single backhaul communication link failure can disrupt a large number of wireless communication links due to the concentration of multiple base stations onto a single link, leading to significant service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to monitor primary backhaul communication links and automatically shift traffic to secondary links based on priority schemes, categorizing traffic types such as emergency voice, premium voice, and high-priority data, ensuring that critical communications are maintained even when primary links fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple base stations are concentrated onto a single backhaul communication link, then network architecture efficiency is improved, but system reliability deteriorates because a single link failure can affect up to a thousand wireless communication links
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the backhaul communication architecture by dividing base stations into different groups, each associated with a specific backhaul link. This prevents single-point failure propagation while maintaining architectural efficiency. The segmentation creates independent failure domains where one link failure does not cascade to affect all base stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the connectivity parameter from single-link to multi-link association, where base stations are configured with multiple backhaul links instead of relying on a single concentrated link. This parameter change transforms the system from vulnerable concentrated architecture to resilient distributed architecture.
2Reliability
If traffic is shifted to secondary backhaul communication links during failures, then service continuity is improved, but network complexity increases due to monitoring and switching mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring secondary backhaul links and establishing traffic shifting capabilities before failures occur. Base stations are pre-associated with multiple links, and the system maintains ready-state backup paths, enabling immediate failover without complex real-time decision-making during actual failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a controller that manages backhaul link monitoring and traffic switching. This intermediary centralizes the complexity of failure detection and traffic rerouting, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining service continuity through automated failover procedures.
3Reliability
If traffic prioritization is implemented during backhaul failures, then critical communication reliability is improved, but traffic management complexity increases due to categorization and priority schemes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels to different traffic types (e.g., emergency services, premium customers, standard traffic). This allows critical communications to receive preferential treatment on secondary links while non-critical traffic is managed differently, ensuring essential services maintain reliability without requiring complex end-to-end traffic management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the traffic management parameter from uniform treatment to differentiated priority-based treatment. By introducing priority levels as a new parameter, the system can automatically categorize and route different traffic types through appropriate paths, improving critical communication reliability while using standardized priority mechanisms rather than complex custom management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for switching backhaul communication links is disclosed. The method comprises monitoring communication traffic flowing across a primary backhaul communication link. When a problem is detected with the primary backhaul communication link, the traffic is shifted from the primary backhaul communication link onto a secondary backhaul communication link. The traffic may be shifted based upon voice traffic types. The traffic may be shifted based upon voice traffic types and data traffic types.