Base Station Transceiver Self-Diagnosis via Alternating BCCH Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring and testing base station systems in wireless communication networks are inefficient, often requiring manual intervention and taking significant time to detect and diagnose issues with antennas and transceivers, leading to unbalanced system performance and potential corrosion due to moisture exposure.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an alternating BCCH signal transmitting procedure between transceivers, connected to the same or different antennas, to measure performance over time periods and detect faults, thereby reducing wear and tear and corrosion, and facilitating centralized analysis for timely corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If manual monitoring methods are used to check base station transceiver status, then system complexity is reduced, but detection time and productivity are significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The base station system performs self-diagnosis by automatically monitoring its own transceiver status. The network element itself generates and processes performance data, eliminating the need for external manual monitoring systems while enabling rapid fault detection through automated threshold comparisons and status reporting.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where transceiver performance data is collected, compared against thresholds, and used to automatically generate status reports. This feedback mechanism enables real-time monitoring and rapid detection of deviations from normal operation without manual intervention.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring of all transceivers is implemented, then reliability is improved, but energy consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors transceiver status selectively rather than continuously at full detail. Performance data is collected and evaluated against predefined thresholds, with full monitoring activated only when necessary. This partial monitoring approach maintains system reliability while reducing unnecessary energy consumption during normal operation.
3Productivity
If automatic performance measurement is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station system automatically measures and evaluates its own transceiver performance without external measurement equipment. The system self-generates performance data, performs threshold comparisons, and generates status reports autonomously, improving productivity while avoiding the complexity of external monitoring infrastructure.
4Reliability
If alternating BCCH transmission between transceivers is implemented, then wear and tear is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic alternation of BCCH transmission between different transceivers rather than continuous assignment to a single transceiver. This periodic switching distributes operational load and wear across multiple transceivers, extending their lifespan while using straightforward timer-based control logic rather than complex load-balancing algorithms.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for function testing of a base station system in a wireless communication system, wherein the base station system comprises at least two antennas and at least two transceivers, and said antennas are intended to cover a target area. Function testing of the parts in the base station is based on measurements of performance variations caused by for example bad contact in feeders, misdirected or malfunctioning antennas, malfunctioning feeders, wear and tear of transceivers, and/or corrosion in feeder connections etc. By alternating between TRXs in the base station system for carrying BCCH messages the performance of each TRX is measured at each time period and stored for further analysis. Thereby a decrease or a fault in the base station system is easily detected.