Centralized Base Station Architecture Using Ethernet Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication systems, the inefficiency of digital processors when the number of users is below maximum capacity leads to suboptimal operation, and the distance and bandwidth requirements between digital and remote radio units restrict the scalability and efficiency of base stations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a centralized base station architecture that utilizes Ethernet instead of CPRI or OBSAI interfaces, allowing for virtualization of digital units and separating digital and remote radio units to optimize scheduling and data transmission, thereby reducing bandwidth requirements and enabling greater flexibility in network design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If digital processor operates at maximum capability, then processing capacity is improved, but user coverage is limited to maximum capacity only
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is segmented into a centralized digital unit and distributed remote radio units. The digital unit handles high-level scheduling and control functions, while multiple remote radio units can be dynamically allocated to different user groups. This segmentation allows the system to scale flexibly from 1 to N remote units, enabling the digital processor to operate efficiently while adapting to varying user loads through dynamic resource allocation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If distance between digital unit and remote radio unit is increased, then deployment flexibility is improved, but bandwidth requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional high-bandwidth CPRI or OBSAI interfaces with Ethernet-based communication. This substitution dramatically reduces the bandwidth requirement between the digital unit and remote radio units, enabling deployment over standard Ethernet networks without the stringent bandwidth constraints of conventional interfaces. The lower bandwidth requirement of Ethernet allows for greater deployment flexibility and reduced infrastructure costs.
3Reliability
If CPRI or OBSAI interface is used, then connection reliability is improved, but network complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts Ethernet as a universal interface that can serve multiple functions: data transmission, control signaling, and synchronization. By using standard Ethernet technology instead of specialized CPRI or OBSAI interfaces, the system achieves comparable reliability while dramatically reducing network complexity. Ethernet's widespread adoption and standardization provide robust connectivity without requiring proprietary hardware or complex configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for operating a centralized Base Station (BS) in a mobile communication system are provided. An operation method of a remote radio unit in a separate type BS of a mobile communication system includes receiving channel state information transmitted by a terminal and transmitting the channel state information to a digital unit, performing scheduling using the channel state information, deciding data to be transmitted based on its own scheduling result and a scheduling result received from the digital unit, and providing the data to be transmitted to a modulator/demodulator (modem).