Base Station Supplemental Link for Millimeter Wave Control Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, base stations using directional millimeter wave radio access technologies face challenges in transmitting control information due to insufficient direct connections, high resource and power consumption, and reliability issues, particularly when overloaded or obstructed, leading to inefficient communication setups.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a base station initiated control mechanism that allows control information to be transmitted from a first base station using a directional millimeter wave RAT to a second base station using a more reliable LTE RAT for forwarding to the user equipment, establishing a supplemental link via a backhaul connection, thereby conserving resources and power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a base station uses directional millimeter wave RAT to communicate with UE, then throughput and data transfer capability are improved, but reliability and connection stability deteriorate due to high path loss and beam dependency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a supplemental link using LTE RAT as an intermediary communication path between the base station and UE. When the primary millimeter wave directional link experiences degradation or blockage, the control information can be transmitted through the LTE supplemental link, which provides more reliable coverage and reduces dependency on precise beam alignment, thus resolving the reliability issue while maintaining the high throughput capability of the millimeter wave link
2Productivity
If a base station establishes direct connection using directional millimeter wave RAT, then data transfer efficiency is improved, but resource consumption and setup complexity increase due to beam search and negotiation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The LTE supplemental link serves as a mediator that simplifies the connection setup process. The LTE link can be established using conventional procedures without complex beam search, and once established, it provides a reliable control plane for the millimeter wave data transfer, thereby reducing the overall setup complexity while maintaining data transfer efficiency
3Speed
If a base station transmits control information using directional millimeter wave RAT, then communication speed is improved, but resource consumption increases when direct connection is insufficient or overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the LTE supplemental link as an energy-efficient intermediary for control information transmission. When the millimeter wave direct connection is insufficient or the base station is overloaded, control information is routed through the LTE link, which consumes less power for control signaling and reduces the energy burden on the millimeter wave link, allowing it to focus on high-speed data transfer
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for a base station initiated control mechanism for supporting supplemental a link. In some aspects, control information associated with a directional, first radio access technology (RAT) for a user equipment (UE) may be identified at a first base station, the first base station configured to communicate with the UE using the directional, first RAT, and the control information associated with the directional, first RAT may be transmitted to a second base station to forward to the UE using a second RAT.