Base Station Self-Interference Cancellation for Sync Failure Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communications networks face destabilization due to synchronization failures in base stations, which can lead to dropped calls and incorrect data transmission, and existing detection methods are inefficient in quickly identifying affected base stations before they impact neighboring stations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that enable base stations to listen to neighboring stations for synchronization data by canceling out their own transmission signals, allowing for the computation of phase offsets and detection of synchronization failures through a server that compares data to control data, identifying failures when differences exceed predetermined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If base stations continuously transmit synchronization signals, then neighboring base stations can monitor synchronization status, but the base station's own transmission signal interferes with its ability to listen to neighboring stations
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by transmitting a test signal with known characteristics before actual communication. This allows the base station to monitor neighboring stations' synchronization status using the test signal as a reference, enabling synchronization monitoring without interfering with normal communication operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station transmits test signals that serve as a mediator between the base station and neighboring stations. These test signals allow the base station to listen to and compare synchronization information from neighboring stations without the interference of normal communication traffic
2Loss of time
If base stations transmit at full power continuously, then communication coverage is maintained, but detection of synchronization failures is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The base station transmits test signals continuously at lower power levels as a preliminary action to monitor synchronization status. This allows early detection of synchronization failures before they impact full-power communication, enabling proactive response to maintain network stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuous monitoring by having the base station repeatedly transmit test signals and listen for responses from neighboring stations. This continuous useful action ensures that synchronization status is always current, allowing immediate detection when failures occur without interrupting normal communication
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the base station listens to neighboring stations for synchronization data, then synchronization failures can be detected, but the base station must cancel its own transmission signal which increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the signal transmission into different types: normal communication signals and test signals. The base station transmits test signals at lower power specifically for monitoring purposes, separating this function from full-power communication. This segmentation allows the base station to listen to neighboring stations without canceling all transmissions, reducing the complexity of signal cancellation while enabling synchronization failure detection
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems are provided for enabling a base station to receive signals and synchronization information from neighboring base stations over a frequency band designated for transmissions to mobile devices. In embodiments, a cancellation signal is used to cancel antenna overload resulting from a base station's own transmission. By negating antenna overload, the base station may listen for synchronization signals output by neighboring base stations over the frequency band designated for transmission to mobile devices, such as a downlink band, for example. In embodiments, synchronization signals are used by the base station and/or a server to detect when synchronization failures occur at the base station and/or neighboring base stations. Synchronization signals from a neighboring base station may be used to re-synchronize a base station that have experience such a failure, in some embodiments.