Beam-Based Cell Load Balancing for Uneven UE Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Next-generation cellular networks face issues with asymmetric distribution of user equipments (UEs) leading to system throughput degradation due to uneven load distribution and insufficient multiplexing opportunities.
Innovation Solution
A method for load balancing involving determining spatial distributions of terminal devices based on beam candidates, offloading heavily loaded areas to neighboring cells through handover, and utilizing centralized or distributed control mechanisms to optimize resource allocation and beam mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If terminal devices are served by a single base station in asymmetric distribution, then the base station can provide dedicated service, but system throughput degrades due to uneven load distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making load balancing decisions at the granularity of spatial areas and beam directions rather than uniformly across the entire cell. Specifically, the system identifies overloaded spatial areas within a cell and selectively offloads terminal devices only from those specific areas to neighboring cells, while maintaining dedicated service for devices in other areas. This localized approach resolves the contradiction by improving overall system throughput through targeted load redistribution without disrupting the dedicated service model for all terminal devices.
2Productivity
If terminal devices are concentrated in specific areas, then beamforming can be optimized, but multiplexing opportunities are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces spatial dimensionality into load balancing by considering the geographic distribution of terminal devices across different areas and beam directions. Instead of treating load balancing as a single-dimensional problem (overall cell load), the system evaluates terminal device distribution across multiple spatial dimensions (different areas and beam directions) and performs targeted offloading to achieve more uniform spatial distribution. This dimensional approach increases multiplexing opportunities by enabling better resource sharing across space while maintaining optimized beamforming for concentrated device groups.
3Productivity
If load balance is implemented without considering spatial distribution, then implementation is simpler, but beam resource allocation is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell into multiple spatial areas and beam directions, allowing load balance to be implemented independently for each segment rather than as a monolithic system. Each spatial area and beam direction can be evaluated and offloaded separately based on its specific load conditions, terminal device distribution, and beam resource availability. This segmentation reduces implementation complexity by breaking down the overall load balance problem into manageable, independent decisions while simultaneously improving beam resource allocation efficiency through targeted resource assignment in each segment.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for load balance are disclosed. According to an embodiment, a first base station determines a first spatial distribution of terminal devices in a first cell of the first base station, based on measurement reports which are received from the terminal devices and comprise beam candidates suitable for serving the terminal devices. The first base station determines whether the first cell has a first area whose load needs to be offloaded, based on the first spatial distribution. When determining that the first cell has the first area, the first base station sends, to one or more neighboring base stations, an offload request comprising part of the first spatial distribution corresponding to the first area.