Centralized Radio Equipment Controller for Base Station Hub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional base station systems face challenges in establishing efficient X2 connections between adjacent base stations, leading to increased interference and reduced data throughput, and require multiple radio equipment controllers, resulting in higher hardware and power consumption costs.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically selects and switches radio equipment controllers based on expected or existing mobile user traffic load, allowing for shared resources and efficient use of the transport network, while ensuring continuous service quality by determining if overlapping radio equipment can serve existing users without disconnecting them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple radio equipment controllers are deployed at each antenna site, then each base station can independently control its radio equipment, but it becomes difficult to establish X2 connections between adjacent base stations and increases hardware cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the radio equipment controller from the antenna site and places it at a centralized base station hub. This separation allows the radio equipment to remain distributed at antenna sites while the controller is consolidated, enabling simplified X2 connections through the hub without requiring complex peer-to-peer connections between distributed controllers at each site.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station hub acts as an intermediary between the core network and multiple radio equipment controllers. It provides a centralized interface that simplifies connection management and enables efficient X2 connections between adjacent base stations through the hub infrastructure, rather than requiring direct connections between distributed controllers.
2Reliability
If multiple radio equipment controllers are deployed, then each base station has dedicated control capability, but hardware cost and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple radio equipment controllers into a single centralized controller at the base station hub. This consolidation reduces the total number of controllers required while maintaining control functionality through shared resources, thereby reducing hardware cost and power consumption while preserving system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized radio equipment controller at the base station hub provides universal control capability for multiple radio equipment units. A single controller can manage multiple radio equipment instances, making the controller multi-functional and eliminating the need for dedicated controllers at each antenna site, thus reducing overall hardware quantity.
3Quantity of substance
If fewer radio equipment controllers are used, then hardware cost and power consumption are reduced, but the ability to handle mobile user traffic load dynamically is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control where the centralized radio equipment controller can dynamically allocate resources and adjust control functions based on real-time traffic load conditions. The system can dynamically switch between controlling different radio equipment units depending on which antenna sites have higher traffic demand, providing adaptability with fewer controllers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by dynamically switching which radio equipment is controlled by the radio equipment controller based on traffic load measurements. When traffic patterns change, the controller adapts by changing its control targets and resource allocation parameters, maintaining versatility without requiring additional hardware.
4Device complexity
If radio equipment is centralized at a base station hub, then X2 connections are easier to establish, but transport network infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the base station system into distributed radio equipment at antenna sites and a centralized controller at the hub, connected through a transport network. This segmentation allows X2 connections to be managed centrally while using existing transport infrastructure, balancing the trade-off between simplified connection management and transport network requirements.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of controlling a base station system is provided. The method comprises generating and transmitting a control signal arranged to cause a radio equipment controller to control a first radio equipment from a plurality of radio equipment at a first time; and generating and transmitting a control signal arranged to cause the radio equipment controller to control a second radio equipment from the plurality of radio equipment instead of the first radio equipment at a later time; wherein each of the plurality of radio equipment is coupled to a respective antenna having a respective coverage area. Also provided is a controller and a computer program product configured to control a base station system.