Cellular Mesh Fronthaul for Faster Coverage Expansion

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Solution Overview

Problem

The process of extending cellular coverage by adding new radio units is time-consuming and expensive due to the installation of wired fronthaul connections between baseband unit entities and remote radio units.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a combination of wired and wireless connections, where mesh radio units are communicatively coupled to baseband units via donor radio units, enabling less time-consuming and less expensive extension of cellular coverage by using in-band or out-of-band channels for fronthaul communications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wired fronthaul connections are installed between baseband unit entities and remote radio units to extend cellular coverage, then network coverage is extended, but installation time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical wired fronthaul connection system with a wireless communication system. Mesh radio units establish wireless connections with donor radio units to receive fronthaul communications, eliminating the need for physical cable installation while maintaining network coverage extension functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces mesh radio units as intermediary devices that relay fronthaul communications between donor radio units and remote locations. These mesh units act as wireless intermediaries, forwarding control plane and user plane data without requiring direct wired connections to the baseband unit

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If wired fronthaul connections are installed between baseband unit entities and remote radio units to extend cellular coverage, then network coverage is extended, but installation cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidinstallation cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive wired infrastructure with wireless communication technology. By using wireless fronthaul connections between donor and mesh radio units, the system eliminates costs associated with cable procurement, installation, and maintenance while achieving the same coverage extension objective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses software-defined networking principles where virtual network functions are instantiated on mesh radio units. This allows the network to replicate and extend coverage capabilities through software configuration rather than expensive physical infrastructure deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of time

If wireless connections are used for fronthaul communications between mesh radio units and donor radio units, then installation time is reduced, but connection reliability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation timeVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic link adaptation where mesh radio units can switch between different wireless connections to donor radio units based on channel conditions. This dynamic behavior allows the system to maintain reliable fronthaul communications by selecting optimal paths in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs redundancy mechanisms where mesh radio units can establish connections with multiple donor radio units beforehand. This preparatory setup ensures that if one connection fails, alternative paths are already available, cushioning against potential reliability issues

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS20250309979A1Cellular mesh network for remote radio units

Publication Date: 2025.10.02 OUTDOOR WIRELESS NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods for expanding coverage of a cellular network are described herein. In an aspect, a system includes a BBU entity and RU's which include at least one donor RU communicatively coupled to the BBU entity via a wired connection and at least one mesh RU communicatively coupled to the at least one donor RU via a wireless connection. The at least one mesh RU is communicatively coupled to the BBU entity via the at least one donor RU. The at least one donor RU is configured to communicate fronthaul communications with the at least one mesh RU over the wireless connection. The system includes antennas communicatively coupled to the RUs, wherein each RU is communicatively coupled to a respective subset of the antennas. The BBU entity, the RUs, and the antennas are configured to implement a base station for wirelessly communicating with UEs.