Base Station RLF Handling in Cellular Mesh Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing deployment density of base stations in wireless communication networks, especially at millimeter wave and terahertz frequencies, is limited by the availability of expensive fiber backhaul, necessitating efficient handling of radio link failures (RLF) in wireless mesh networks to maintain network stability and throughput.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for detecting RLF on backhaul links, transmitting notifications to connected devices to hold data, and determining whether to reestablish connections to the core network, involving processors and transceivers in base stations and wireless communication devices to manage RLF through soft and hard notification messages, enabling alternative routing and data management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If base station deployment density is increased to improve data throughput and coverage, then spatial reuse and system throughput are improved, but the need for expensive fiber backhaul infrastructure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless communication as an intermediary solution between base stations and the core network. Instead of requiring direct fiber backhaul connections for every base station, the system uses wireless mesh networks where base stations can communicate with parent base stations or directly with the core network through wireless links, thereby reducing the need for extensive fiber infrastructure while maintaining deployment density
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the backhaul connection into hierarchical levels (parent base stations, child base stations, and direct core network connections). This segmentation allows base stations to be deployed densely in certain areas while relying on fewer strategically positioned base stations with fiber connections to maintain overall network connectivity, thus reducing total fiber infrastructure requirements
2Adaptability or versatility
If wireless mesh networks are used to reduce fiber backhaul requirements, then deployment flexibility is improved, but network stability deteriorates due to radio link failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by detecting radio link failures at the base station level before they propagate to user equipment. The base station detects RLF on backhaul links and proactively notifies connected user equipment, allowing the system to prepare for potential connection issues before they affect service quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback mechanisms where base stations monitor backhaul link status and provide real-time notifications to user equipment about network conditions. This feedback loop enables dynamic adaptation of data transmission strategies based on current network stability, improving overall system reliability despite the inherent vulnerabilities of wireless mesh networks
3Reliability
If data transmission is held during RLF to maintain integrity, then data quality is preserved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing selective data holding strategies. Instead of uniformly holding all data transmissions during RLF events, the system notifies specific user equipment of affected data flows and allows non-critical data to continue transmission while holding only critical data that requires integrity assurance, thereby minimizing overall transmission delay while preserving necessary data quality
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for handling radio link failure (RLF) in a wireless communication network. A method for operating a base station (BS) includes detecting occurrence of a RLF on a backhaul link with a parent BS of the BS and transmitting to a wireless communication device connected to the BS a first notification of the RLF indicating to hold data to be transmitted from the wireless communication device to the BS. The method further includes determining whether connection to a core network entity in the wireless communication network can be reestablished and transmitting to the wireless communication device a second notification based on the reestablishment determination.