Carrier Aggregation Control for Handover-Free Small Cell Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing handovers and optimizing communication quality in carrier aggregation environments, particularly when user equipment moves between small cells, leading to potential interruptions and increased load on macro cells.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a carrier aggregation method that separates control and user planes between macro and small cells, utilizing FDD and TDD modes to prevent handovers and optimize resource utilization, allowing for high-speed switching and reduced interruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover is performed when UE moves between small cells, then mobility is supported, but communication interruptions and load on macro cell increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network into macro cell and small cells with distinct functional roles. The macro cell handles control plane functions and provides seamless mobility, while small cells provide high-speed user plane data transmission. This segmentation allows UE to move between small cells without triggering handover procedures, as the macro cell maintains continuous control plane connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro cell acts as an intermediary between the UE and small cells. When UE moves between small cells, the macro cell mediates the connection by maintaining the control plane relationship, allowing small cell transitions to occur without direct handover signaling between UE and small cells, thus avoiding interruptions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If handover is performed when UE moves between small cells, then mobility management is achieved, but macro cell load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments signaling functions between macro cell and small cells. Control plane signaling remains with the macro cell while user plane data flows through small cells. This reduces the signaling load on macro cells during small cell transitions, as no handover signaling needs to traverse the macro cell infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial handover action by maintaining control plane connection with macro cell while allowing user plane to switch between small cells. This partial approach achieves mobility management without the full overhead of traditional handover procedures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If carrier aggregation with FDD macro cell and TDD small cell is implemented, then spectrum utilization flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The macro cell is designed with multi-functionality to handle both control plane operations and provide fallback user plane connectivity. This universal design simplifies the overall system by having the macro cell perform multiple roles, reducing the complexity of coordinating between separate control and data paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by assigning FDD mode to macro cells and TDD mode to small cells. This parameter differentiation allows each cell type to operate optimally in its designated mode while the carrier aggregation framework manages the complexity of coordinating these different operational modes.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus comprising a transceiving unit and a control unit, and a communication method using the same, wherein the transceiving unit is configured to perform communication with at least one network node in a macro cell, the macro cell comprising at least one small cell and communicating in an FDD mode, and wherein the control unit is configured to control the small cell to communicate in a TDD mode, generate control information for preventing the occurrence of handover when a terminal moves between the small cells within the macro cell, and perform control to transmit the control information to the terminal.