Cellular Broadcast Augmented Unicast Relay Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular communication systems face inefficiencies in supporting broadcast transmissions using relay nodes, particularly in LTE 3GPP systems, due to repeated transmissions consuming additional radio resources and potential propagation delays causing timing issues, which affect the accuracy of eMBMS signal detection and combination at user equipment.

Innovation Solution

A cellular communication system that supplements broadcast transmissions with augmented unicast transmissions, dynamically adjusting parameters such as transmit power, data rate, and error coding redundancy to improve signal detection and reduce duplicate data transmission, allowing relay nodes to re-broadcast eMBMS data accurately and efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the same broadcast signal is transmitted by multiple cells using the same physical resources (SFN), then spectral efficiency is improved, but timing alignment becomes difficult due to propagation delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidtiming alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base station transmits the broadcast signal before the relay node re-transmits it. This preliminary transmission ensures that the base station's signal arrives at the user equipment first, establishing a reference timing that helps synchronize the combined signal from multiple transmitters and reduces interference from propagation delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The relay node acts as an intermediary that receives the broadcast signal from the base station and re-transmits it to user equipment. This intermediary structure allows the system to maintain timing coordination while extending coverage, as the relay node can buffer and forward the signal in a controlled manner

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If relay nodes re-broadcast eMBMS data, then coverage is extended, but radio resources are consumed due to repeated transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidradio resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the base station's broadcast transmission with the relay node's re-transmission to provide coverage extension. By combining these transmissions in a coordinated manner rather than treating them as separate repeated transmissions, the system achieves coverage extension while managing radio resource consumption more efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The relay node performs partial re-transmission of the broadcast signal rather than complete duplication. This partial action approach extends coverage to areas that would otherwise not be served, while consuming fewer radio resources than full repeated transmissions would require

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If augmented unicast transmissions are added to supplement broadcast, then signal detection accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different transmission qualities to different signal paths: the base station provides the primary broadcast transmission with standard quality, while the relay node provides augmented unicast transmissions with enhanced quality parameters. This local quality differentiation improves signal detection accuracy for users in challenging reception conditions without requiring all transmissions to use high complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The relay node serves as an intermediary that receives the broadcast signal and provides an augmented unicast version. This intermediary structure allows the system to maintain relatively simple base station and user equipment while concentrating the complexity management at the relay node, which can process and forward signals with appropriate enhancements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9961412B2Cellular communication system for broadcast communication

Publication Date: 2018.05.01 NVIDIA CORP

AI summary

A cellular communication system is described for supporting broadcast transmission in at least one of a plurality of communication cells. The cellular communication system comprises at least one base station (210) capable of broadcasting content to at least one wireless communication unit (226) via at least one relay node (RN) (224), wherein the at least one base station (210) is arranged to supplement the broadcast transmission with at least one augmented unicast transmission associated with the broadcast content.