Cell Management Unit for Indoor Wireless Capacity Bottlenecks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless cellular indoor communications systems face limitations in capacity and efficiency due to bottlenecks in data flow caused by standard Ethernet switches, particularly in complex scenarios with multiple services and operators, leading to suboptimal cell and load balancing.

Innovation Solution

A wireless cellular indoor communications system employing a cell management unit with a complex matrix function, which replaces distributed standard Ethernet switches, enabling flexible management of multi-service and multi-operator functions, and allows for adaptive load balancing and frequency allocation, thereby optimizing data transfer and capacity distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If standard Ethernet switches are used for data distribution in downlink and data packaging in uplink, then the system can be implemented with existing cabling infrastructure, but bottlenecks in data flow occur leading to limited network capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation easeVSAvoidnetwork capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the hub function from the Ethernet switch and places it in the remote radio head. This allows the Ethernet switch to operate without the bottleneck of 1-to-n distribution, while the remote radio head handles the concentrated data packaging and distribution to multiple radio heads, thereby resolving the capacity limitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a new functional element (the hub function in remote radio head) that acts as an intermediary between the Ethernet switch and the radio heads. This intermediary handles the data concentration and distribution, allowing the Ethernet infrastructure to be reused while avoiding its inherent bottlenecks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If distributed standard Ethernet switches are used in complex systems, then coverage can be extended, but bottlenecks of data flow are evident due to the 1 to n distribution characteristic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoiddata flow efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into multiple cell areas, each served by a remote radio head with integrated hub function. This segmentation allows each remote radio head to independently manage its own data distribution, avoiding the centralized bottleneck of a single Ethernet switch handling all distributions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the distribution architecture from a flat 1-to-n Ethernet switch model to a hierarchical structure where remote radio heads operate in parallel. This dimensional change from centralized to distributed architecture eliminates the data flow bottlenecks while maintaining coverage extension capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If Ethernet hubs are needed in each Ethernet sector for data distribution, then data can be distributed to multiple radio heads, but the system complexity increases and bottlenecks are evident

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata distribution capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the hub function with the remote radio head into a single integrated unit. This combination eliminates the need for separate Ethernet hubs in each sector, reducing system complexity while maintaining the data distribution capability to multiple radio heads.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The remote radio head is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a radio frequency interface and a data distribution hub. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate hub devices, simplifying the system architecture while preserving data distribution capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1924109B1Method and system for wireless cellular indoor communications
Publication Date: 2013.11.06 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP1924109B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1924109B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP1924109B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for wireless cellular indoor communications, the method comprising at least one base station (Bs) connected to a cell management unit (CMU) through a first digital connection interface (i1), the cell management unit connected to at least one RF hub (RFH1,RFH2) through a second digital connection interface (i2), and the at least one RF hub connected to at least one remote radio head (RH1 to RH5) through a third digital connection interface (i3), the at least one remote radio head providing service in a certain cell area (C1, C2) inside a confined environment, and the cell management unit (CMU) comprising means for providing efficient load balancing at and between base stations through adaptive cell reconfiguration; means for mapping carriers, time, frequency or time-frequency allocations to individual radio heads; means for alignment of individual delays accumulated on the digital connections between the cell management unit and each of the radio heads; means for synchronization of the signals between the cell management unit and the individual remote radio heads; and means for failure detection of the individual digital links between the cell management unit and the remote radio heads.