Base Station Sector Division for Wireless Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face a conflict between uplink and downlink processing in improving system capacity, with frequency reuse providing higher gains in downlink but lower gains in uplink communication, despite a constant number of antennas.
Innovation Solution
The system creates N sectors by using M sectors for uplink signals, where N > M, primarily employing multi-sector technology for downlink and multi-antenna technology for uplink to resolve this conflict and enhance system capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If more sectors are used in downlink to improve frequency reuse, then downlink system capacity is improved, but the number of antennas per sector decreases reducing MIMO gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the antenna resources differently for uplink and downlink directions. For downlink, it creates N sectors (N>M) by dividing the M uplink sectors, allowing each downlink sector to use fewer antennas for frequency reuse. For uplink, it maintains M sectors with more antennas per sector for MIMO processing. This asymmetric segmentation resolves the contradiction by optimizing antenna distribution according to different directional requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies asymmetry by creating different sector configurations for uplink and downlink. Specifically, N downlink sectors are created from M uplink sectors where N>M, resulting in more downlink sectors with fewer antennas each, while uplink maintains fewer sectors with more antennas. This asymmetric design allows frequency reuse optimization in downlink and MIMO optimization in uplink simultaneously.
2Productivity
If fewer sectors are used in uplink to increase antennas per sector, then uplink MIMO gain is improved, but frequency reuse efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation where the same physical antenna resources are configured differently for uplink and downlink directions. The system dynamically assigns M sectors for uplink reception and creates N virtual sectors (N>M) for downlink transmission, allowing the sector count to adapt according to directional requirements. This dynamic configuration enables optimal frequency reuse in downlink and optimal MIMO performance in uplink.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the antenna system multi-functional by using the same M antenna sectors to serve dual purposes: receiving uplink signals in M sectors and transmitting downlink signals in N created sectors. This universal usage of antenna resources allows the system to achieve both frequency reuse efficiency in downlink and MIMO gain in uplink without requiring separate dedicated hardware for each direction.
3Productivity
If the total number of antennas remains unchanged, then hardware cost is controlled, but system capacity improvement requires choosing between frequency reuse and MIMO gain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a directional dimension to the optimization problem by treating uplink and downlink as separate optimization dimensions. Instead of choosing a single sector configuration that compromises both directions, it creates N downlink sectors from M uplink sectors, enabling independent optimization in each dimensional direction. This dimensional approach allows frequency reuse optimization in downlink while maintaining MIMO capability in uplink, achieving system capacity improvement without sacrificing flexibility.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiment of the present invention provide a signal transmission method, apparatus, and base station. The method includes: sending downlink signals through N sectors, where the N sectors are created by using M sectors used to receive uplink signals, and N > M. In the embodiments of the present invention, the base station creates N sectors by using M sectors used to receive uplink signals and sends downlink signals through the N sectors, so that the multi-sector technology is mainly used in the downlink and the multi-antenna technology is mainly used in the uplink. This may resolve an existing conflict between the uplink and the downlink when system, capacity is being improved, thereby improving system capacity of a wireless communication network.