Cell Identifier Collision Detection in Wireless Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially those with unplanned deployments of small coverage base stations, identifier conflicts can occur due to the limited number of available local cell identifiers, leading to issues like call outages and quality degradation, as user devices may receive concurrent signals from base stations with the same identifier, causing improper channel estimation and registration failures.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for detecting local cell identifier collisions by receiving a dedicated identifier from a user device, which includes a user device identifier and a local cell identifier associated with a second base station, allowing the first base station to determine if a collision exists based on this information, enabling remedial actions such as changing its own identifier or prompting central adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If small coverage base stations are deployed in unplanned or ad-hoc networks, then network coverage and capacity are improved, but identifier collision risk increases due to limited local identifier space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated identifier as an intermediary that combines the user device identifier and local cell identifier. This intermediary structure allows the base station to indirectly detect identifier collisions by receiving and analyzing the dedicated identifier from user devices, rather than directly monitoring all local identifiers in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where user devices send dedicated identifiers back to base stations. The base station uses this feedback information to detect whether identifier collisions are occurring, enabling continuous monitoring and remediation of collision issues in unplanned deployments.
2Reliability
If the number of local cell identifiers is increased, then identifier collision probability is reduced, but the complexity of identifier management and modulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the user device identifier and local cell identifier into a single dedicated identifier structure. This combination allows the system to use existing identifier spaces more efficiently without requiring an expansion of local cell identifier bits, thereby avoiding increased management complexity while still reducing collision probability.
3Productivity
If base stations use local identifiers for cell identification, then user devices can efficiently search for pilot signals, but identifier conflicts cause call outages and quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary detection of identifier collisions by analyzing dedicated identifiers before they cause call outages or quality degradation. By detecting collisions early through the feedback mechanism, the system can take remedial action to prevent the harmful effects on call reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback loop through dedicated identifier transmission enables continuous monitoring of identifier uniqueness, allowing the system to maintain both search efficiency and call reliability by detecting and resolving collisions before they impact service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
Detecting local cell identifier collision by a base station may be achieved by receiving, at a first base station from a user device, a dedicated identifier associated with a second base station. The dedicated identifier may include or otherwise map to a user device identifier associated with the second base station and a local cell identifier associated with the second base station. Based on the dedicated identifier, it may be determined, at the first base station, that there is a local cell identifier collision between the first base station and the second base station.