Distributed MIMO Base Station with Remote Transmitters for Shaded Coverage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current base station systems face challenges in efficiently transmitting data streams to user entities, especially in large spaces and shaded urban areas, due to limitations in space diversity and obstacles like buildings and trees, which affect transmission quality and require increased beam separation or resolution.
Innovation Solution
A base station system utilizing multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) technology with remote transmitters spaced apart from the main base station, allowing for beamforming and data forwarding to enhance communication quality, where the base station selects the best transmitter based on link quality to meet varying transmission quality requirements, thereby optimizing data transmission across the communication cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If beamforming with multiple beams or beam movement is deployed to transmit data to user entities in large space segments, then transmission coverage is improved, but space-diversity resources are depleted and transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the transmission function by introducing remote transmitters distributed in different spatial locations. Each remote transmitter handles specific spatial segments or user entities independently, allowing the system to maintain focused beamforming resources while expanding overall coverage. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling wide coverage through distributed nodes rather than requiring all beams to operate simultaneously from a single base station.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-base-station beamforming approach to a multi-dimensional distributed transmitter architecture. Remote transmitters are deployed in different spatial dimensions and can be selectively activated based on user entity locations. This dimensional expansion allows the system to provide both wide coverage and reliable transmission by utilizing spatial diversity in the network architecture rather than depleting space-diversity resources through exhaustive beam scanning.
2Reliability
If beam separation or resolution is increased to compensate for shading effects caused by buildings and trees, then transmission quality in shaded areas is improved, but transmission power requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Remote transmitters act as intermediary nodes positioned in locations that provide direct line-of-sight paths to user entities in shaded areas. Instead of increasing power from the main base station to overcome obstacles, the system uses these intermediary transmitters to relay signals through alternative paths. This approach improves transmission quality in shaded regions without requiring excessive transmission power from any single node.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality optimization by deploying remote transmitters specifically in locations that address local shading problems. Each remote transmitter is strategically positioned to serve specific geographic areas or user entities affected by obstacles. This localized approach improves transmission quality where needed without increasing overall system power consumption, as only specific transmitters activate at specific times based on local conditions.
3Reliability
If remote transmitters are deployed to improve coverage in shaded areas, then transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Remote transmitters are designed as universal nodes that can perform multiple functions: they serve as relay points for shaded areas, act as additional beamforming anchors, and provide fallback transmission paths. The base station maintains centralized control for coordination and resource management. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity by using standardized, versatile components rather than specialized equipment for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where remote transmitters report channel conditions, link quality, and operational status to the base station. The base station uses this feedback to dynamically select which remote transmitters to activate, optimize beamforming parameters, and manage resource allocation. This feedback-driven coordination simplifies the management of multiple distributed transmitters by enabling adaptive, centralized control rather than requiring complex distributed consensus protocols.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables efficient and reliable data stream transmission with reduced transmission power, improved coverage in shaded areas, and better utilization of MIMO resources, supporting high data rates and low QoS communications, while minimizing the need for high transmission power and enhancing urban area coverage.
Implementation Method 1
a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) base station configured to handle communications of the user entity in a communication cell using beamforming
Implementation Method 2
This problem can only be partially compensated by electromagnetic diffraction effects, in particular by increasing beam separation or resolution
Data Source
AI summary
A base station system transmits a data stream towards a user entity. The data stream has first data and second data, the first data being associated with a first transmission quality requirement, and the second data being associated with a second transmission quality requirement. The base station system comprises: a multiple-in-multiple-out (MIMO) base station that is configured to handle communications of the user entity in a communication cell using beamforming; at least one remote transmitter, which is arranged spaced apart from the MIMO base station in the communication cell; and a further remote transmitter which is arranged spaced apart from the MIMO base station and from the remote transmitter in the communication cell, the further remote transmitter being configured to support communications towards the user entity in the communication cell.