Backhaul Modem Cell Association Control for Relay Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mobile communication systems, the association of a backhaul modem with a cell generated by the same base station transceiver can lead to service failures, causing quality-of-service degradations and instability, especially in fast-moving environments like vehicles.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a control module in both the backhaul modem and base station transceiver that communicates through an interface to prevent association with specific cells, using identification information to maintain a blacklist of cells to avoid handovers and cell reselections, thereby ensuring stable communication links.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the backhaul modem is allowed to associate with any available cell, then the adaptability and coverage are improved, but the system stability and service reliability deteriorate due to unwanted associations with cells generated by the same base station transceiver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecell association flexibilityVSAvoidservice reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A control module acts as an intermediary between the backhaul modem and the base station transceiver. This control module receives cell identification information from the base station transceiver, maintains a blacklist of cells to be avoided, and prevents the backhaul modem from associating with blacklisted cells. This intermediary mechanism enables the system to maintain flexible cell association while reliably preventing unwanted associations that would cause service failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the backhaul modem performs handovers and cell reselections freely, then the service coverage and adaptability are improved, but the system stability deteriorates due to unwanted handovers to cells generated by the same base station transceiver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandover flexibilityVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The control module performs preliminary actions by maintaining a blacklist of cells to be avoided before handovers or cell reselections occur. The blacklist is populated with cell identification information received from the base station transceiver in advance. When the backhaul modem evaluates potential target cells for handover or reselection, it checks against the pre-established blacklist and prevents associations with blacklisted cells, thereby avoiding unstable connections before they can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system allows maximum mobility and cell reselection, then the adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but the quality of service deteriorates due to associations with inappropriate cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility adaptabilityVSAvoidquality of service
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control module implements a feedback mechanism where the base station transceiver provides cell identification information to the control module, which then updates the blacklist accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that the backhaul modem has current information about cells to avoid, enabling it to maintain high mobility and adaptability while consistently selecting appropriate target cells for handover and reselection, thereby preserving quality of service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3062556B1Apparatuses, methods and computer programs for a backhaul modem and a base station transceiver of a relay station transceiver
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 NASH INNOVATIONS GMBH
  • EP3062556B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3062556B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3062556B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments provide apparatuses, methods and computer programs for a backhaul modem and a base station transceiver of a relay station transceiver. A relay station transceiver (300) comprises a backhaul modem (100) for communicating with one or more cells of a mobile communication system (500) and a base station transceiver (200) for generating at least one cell of the mobile communication system (500) for communicating with one or more mobile transceivers (400). 1. An apparatus (10) for a backhaul modem (100) of a relay station transceiver (300) comprises an interface (12) to communicate with the base station transceiver (200), and a control module (14) to control a set of cells of the mobile communication system (500) the backhaul modem (100) associates with. The control module (14) is further configured to prevent associating with the at least one cell of the base station transceiver (200) by communicating with the base station transceiver (200) using the interface (12). An apparatus (20) for a base station transceiver (200) of a relay station transceiver (300) comprises an interface (22) to communicate with the backhaul modem (100), and a control module (24) to control a set of transceivers of the mobile communication system (500) associating with the at least one cell generated by the base station transceiver (200). The control module (24) is further configured to prevent the at least one cell generated by the base station transceiver (200) from associating with the backhaul modem (100) by communicating with the backhaul modem (100) using the interface (12).