Dynamic Wireless Cluster Configuration for Multi-Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G wireless systems face challenges in providing ultra-reliable communication and mobility due to the limitations of single connectivity and high gain beamforming, which are not sufficient to meet stringent reliability and latency requirements, especially in scenarios with varying user equipment (UE) mobility and diverse service demands.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a flexible and dynamic cluster configuration for terminal devices, allowing multiple access nodes to form a cluster that can establish concurrent connections and coordinate with each other to ensure continuous service, with the ability to adjust parameters such as connection numbers, beam switching, and cluster head allocation based on traffic load, service type, and deployment conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If single connectivity is used in 5G systems, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates and cannot meet ultra-reliable requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments connectivity into multiple independent connections to different access nodes. Instead of relying on a single connection, the terminal device establishes multiple concurrent connections through different access nodes, each providing independent communication paths. This segmentation of connectivity ensures that failure of one connection does not compromise overall communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple connections from different access nodes into a unified multi-connectivity framework. The terminal device combines resources and capabilities of multiple access nodes to provide enhanced reliability, where the collective performance of merged connections exceeds that of individual single connectivity arrangements.
2Temperature
If high gain beamforming is used to compensate for high frequency propagation losses, then signal strength is improved, but beam coverage area is reduced and mobility performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the coverage area by establishing multiple beams from different access nodes, each covering specific spatial regions. Instead of relying on a single wide beam, multiple focused beams are segmented across different areas, ensuring that when one beam's coverage deteriorates due to UE movement, other beams maintain signal strength in their respective coverage zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-dimension beam approach to a multi-dimensional spatial distribution of beams. By deploying access nodes in different spatial locations and directing beams in various directions, the system creates a three-dimensional coverage structure that maintains signal strength across different spatial dimensions, compensating for the limited coverage area of individual high-gain beams.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed cluster configuration is used for terminal devices, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to varying service demands and traffic load deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic cluster configuration where the set of access nodes forming a cluster is not fixed but can be adjusted based on real-time conditions. The network can add or remove access nodes from the cluster, modify beam configurations, and reassign resources dynamically in response to changing traffic load, service requirements, and channel conditions, enabling the system to adapt to varying demands.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key configuration parameters such as the number of concurrent connections, the set of active access nodes, beamforming parameters, and resource allocation based on service type and traffic load. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system achieves adaptability to different service requirements without requiring complete reconfiguration of the entire system architecture.
4Reliability
If multiple concurrent connections are established from multiple access nodes, then communication reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to increased resource conflicts
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality optimization by allocating resources differently across multiple access nodes and connections. Instead of uniform resource allocation, the network assigns specific frequency resources, time slots, and spatial beams locally to each connection based on channel conditions, service requirements, and interference patterns. This localized resource optimization reduces conflicts while maintaining the reliability benefits of multiple connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes resource allocation parameters including frequency spectrum assignment, time resource scheduling, and spatial beam configuration for each connection. By adjusting these parameters based on real-time network conditions and service priorities, the system optimizes resource utilization efficiency across multiple concurrent connections, reducing waste and conflicts while preserving communication reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method for configuring a cluster for a terminal device in a wireless network. The method is performed at a network node, e.g. a base station or a radio network controller. The terminal device can establish at least two concurrent connections to at least one network node in the cluster. The method (200) comprises dynamically adjusting a configuration of the cluster (210); and informing the terminal device of the adjusted configuration so that connectivity of the terminal device in the cluster is adapted to the adjusted configuration (220). The present invention also provides an apparatus.