Baseband Switch Architecture for Compressed RRU Signal Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern communication systems face challenges in scaling due to input and output bottlenecks, increased cost, and power consumption, particularly in supporting wide bandwidths and multiple antennas, while implementing MIMO, CoMP, and load balancing techniques.
Innovation Solution
The method involves sending compressed signals directly from remote radio units to a switch, eliminating the need for a separate CPRI device, which reduces local bottlenecks, decreases the number of ports and bandwidth requirements, and allows for simpler load balancing and more efficient resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate CPRI devices and discrete signal routing are used to support multiple antennas and protocols, then communication functionality is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate CPRI devices and discrete signal routing components into a single integrated switch fabric that can handle multiple protocols and antenna configurations. The switch fabric consolidates the functionality of separate CPRI devices while maintaining support for MIMO, CoMP, and other communication protocols through unified resource allocation and signal routing capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more discrete devices and signal routing traces are used to support improved architectures, then communication protocols are supported, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The switch fabric is designed as a universal platform that can handle multiple communication protocols (CPRI, OBSAI, S-RIO, Ethernet) and support various antenna configurations simultaneously. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate discrete devices for each protocol, reducing overall system cost while maintaining full protocol support through software-configurable routing and resource allocation.
3Productivity
If remote radio units are connected with more fiber links to support wider bandwidths and more antennas, then communication capacity is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional point-to-point fiber link architecture to a dimensionally superior switched fabric architecture. Instead of requiring separate fiber links for each antenna and protocol, the switch fabric provides a multi-dimensional routing space that can accommodate multiple signals and protocols sharing common physical infrastructure, thereby supporting wider bandwidths and more antennas without proportionally increasing fiber link complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The method and apparatus of the present invention provides for reduced power consumption and cost while supporting wide bandwidth signals from a large number of antennas, as is required by next generation systems. In accordance with the present invention, a method and apparatus are provided for processing data in a baseband unit in which compressed signals from remote radio units are sent directly to the switch instead of to a separate conversion device. Thereby, the local input and output bottleneck within processing devices is removed in the data path of the signals between the remote radio units and the baseband unit. This also reduces the number of ports in the switch and bandwidth requirement for the switch.