Drone Mobile Relay for Cell Traffic Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile relays face challenges such as increased signaling requirements, signal masking by buildings, and high transmission power needs due to distance, leading to inefficiencies and difficulties in maintaining communications, especially in high-traffic areas known as hotspots.
Innovation Solution
Deploying drones as mobile relays that can fly at low altitudes, allowing for line-of-sight communication and reducing the need for high transmission power, with the ability to quickly move to areas of congestion and recharge, thus improving Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) and reducing operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mobile relays are placed in balloons to achieve line-of-sight communication, then transmission quality is improved, but transmission power requirements increase and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters by deploying relays at low altitudes (10-100 meters) rather than high altitudes, using multiple distributed relays instead of single high-altitude relays. This parameter change maintains line-of-sight communication benefits while reducing individual transmission power requirements through proximity to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the coverage area by deploying multiple low-altitude relays distributed across different locations rather than using a single high-altitude relay. Each relay serves a localized area, reducing the transmission distance and power requirements while maintaining overall coverage.
2Reliability
If mobile relays are placed in balloons to achieve line-of-sight communication, then transmission quality is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive, easily deployable drone relays that can be quickly deployed and retired without complex maintenance. These drones use commercially available components and can be replaced economically, reducing operational complexity compared to high-altitude balloon systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The drone relays are designed to be autonomously controllable and self-managing, reducing the need for complex ground control operations. The system can automatically deploy, position, and manage multiple drones without requiring highly complex operational procedures.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional mobile relays are used in road vehicles, then deployment cost is reduced, but signal transmission is degraded by buildings causing masking effect
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from ground-level relay deployment (2D horizontal movement) to aerial deployment (3D vertical positioning). By elevating relays to low altitudes, the system achieves line-of-sight communication that bypasses building obstruction problems while maintaining cost-effectiveness through drone technology.
4Reliability
If high transmission power is used to overcome distance losses, then communication reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the distance parameter by deploying relays much closer to users (low-altitude proximity) rather than using high power to extend range. This parameter change achieves reliable communication through reduced path loss rather than increased transmission power.
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 enhances communication quality by increasing SNR, decreases the need for redundancy in bit rates, lowers transmission power requirements, and allows for efficient deployment and maintenance, effectively addressing congestion in mobile networks while minimizing energy consumption and material costs.
Implementation Method 1
communications between, on the one hand, a mobile relay and the mobile terminals it serves, and on the other hand, this mobile relay and the base station that it relays, are in the line of sight, so as to provide an optimal quality of transmission because not suffering from the phenomena of fast fading and mask effect
Implementation Method 2
drones can fly at low altitudes, allowing for line-of-sight communication and reducing the need for high transmission power
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for offloading communication traffic in a mobile network, comprising the following steps: a base station detects persistent congestion in a zone of a cell for which it provides cover; the base station sends at least one mobile telecommunication relay to said zone. The method is characterised in that the mobile relay is borne by a drone.