Base Station Antenna Carrier Allocation for Traffic Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing communication resources to densely deployed indoor antenna sites, leading to high costs and suboptimal capacity utilization due to uneven traffic distribution and the need for over-provisioning in hotspots.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that estimate traffic load on individual antenna sites and dynamically distribute antenna carriers based on this load, concentrating resources at high-traffic areas to optimize resource usage and reduce costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If full baseband processing capacity and full front haul capacity are provided for all antennas, then network capacity is maximized, but costs become prohibitively high due to over-provisioning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidcommunication resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic allocation of antenna carriers to antenna sites based on real-time traffic load conditions. The baseband unit continuously monitors traffic demand and adjusts the number of antenna carriers assigned to each antenna site accordingly, transitioning from static full-capacity provisioning to dynamic adaptive resource allocation. This resolves the contradiction by providing full capacity only when and where needed, rather than permanently over-provisioning all sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of antenna carrier allocation based on traffic load measurements. When traffic load exceeds thresholds, additional antenna carriers are allocated to antenna sites; when load decreases, carriers are reallocated elsewhere. This parameter adjustment mechanism allows the system to achieve high network capacity during peak demand while reducing resource consumption during low-demand periods, eliminating the need for permanent over-provisioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If antenna carriers are allocated to all antenna sites uniformly, then coverage is maintained across all areas, but resource efficiency decreases due to allocation in low-traffic areas

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecoverageVSAvoidresource efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating resource allocation based on local traffic conditions at each antenna site. Instead of uniform allocation, the system assigns different numbers of antenna carriers to different antenna sites according to their specific traffic load characteristics. High-traffic sites receive more carriers while maintaining coverage, low-traffic sites receive fewer carriers, and extremely low-traffic sites may have carriers reallocated, optimizing overall resource efficiency while preserving necessary coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the baseband unit continuously monitors traffic load at each antenna site and uses this information to adjust antenna carrier allocation. The feedback loop ensures that coverage requirements are met by allocating sufficient carriers to active sites while simultaneously improving resource efficiency by reducing allocations to sites with insufficient traffic demand, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If the number of antenna carriers is increased to handle traffic hotspots, then capacity in hotspots is improved, but overall resource utilization decreases due to uneven distribution

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity in hotspotsVSAvoidtotal communication resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where antenna carriers are not permanently assigned to hotspot areas but are allocated based on real-time traffic conditions. When hotspots develop, additional carriers are allocated to those antenna sites; when the hotspot dissipates or traffic shifts elsewhere, carriers are reallocated. This dynamic approach provides high capacity in hotspots when needed while maintaining overall resource utilization by allowing flexible redistribution rather than permanent over-allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the allocation parameters of antenna carriers based on measured traffic load thresholds. When traffic load at an antenna site exceeds predetermined thresholds, the system increases the number of antenna carriers allocated to that site to improve hotspot capacity. When load decreases below thresholds, carriers are reduced and reallocated elsewhere. This parameter-based adaptive allocation improves hotspot capacity while preventing waste of total communication resources through unnecessary permanent allocations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3011773B1Method and apparatus in a base station for controlling communication resources to a plurality of antenna sites of the base station
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3011773B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3011773B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3011773B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a method performed by a base station (200) in a wireless communication system for controlling communication resources to a plurality of antenna sites (231, 232, 233, 234) of the base station, the base station providing communication resources as a number of antenna carriers providing IQ data flows (IQ1, IQ2, IQ3) to the plurality of antenna sites. The method comprises: estimating (302) traffic load on individual of the plurality of antenna sites (231, 232, 233, 234), and distributing (312) the number of antenna carriers to the plurality of antenna sites based on the estimated traffic load on individual of the plurality of antenna sites.