Emergency Backhaul Link Between Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Providing effective diversity protection against backhaul link failures in wireless telecommunications networks is challenging, especially for out-of-region cellular base stations, due to high installation costs and complexities such as requiring separate links and FCC licenses for microwave backhaul solutions.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a temporary emergency backhaul link between radio base stations over an air interface, allowing for the diversion of backhaul traffic without additional equipment, using existing frequencies and communication protocols to maintain network service during primary link failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual diversity protection with two physically distinct links is implemented, then reliability against backhaul link failures is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the air interface component perform multiple functions: it serves both as a communication interface with mobile devices and as a backhaul transport mechanism. By enabling the air interface to carry backhaul traffic between base stations in addition to its primary function of serving mobile devices, the system achieves diversity protection without requiring separate dedicated backhaul infrastructure, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The base station uses its own existing air interface components (transmitters, receivers, antennas) to establish emergency backhaul links with other base stations. Rather than requiring external dedicated backhaul equipment, the system leverages the base station's inherent wireless communication capabilities to provide self-service backhaul functionality, simplifying the overall system architecture
2Reliability
If microwave backhaul with separate radio systems is installed, then backhaul diversity protection is improved, but ease of manufacture and deployment deteriorate due to FCC licensing and frequency coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repurposes the existing air interface for dual functionality: serving mobile devices and transporting backhaul traffic. This eliminates the need for separate microwave radio systems that would require FCC licensing and frequency coordination, as the air interface already operates with authorized frequencies for mobile service. The same licensed spectrum is leveraged for both access and backhaul functions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the access function and backhaul function into a single air interface system. Instead of maintaining separate microwave backhaul infrastructure with its own licensing requirements, the solution combines both functions over the existing licensed air interface, simplifying deployment by eliminating the need for additional regulatory approvals and frequency coordination procedures
3Ease of manufacture
If no additional equipment is used for emergency backhaul, then ease of manufacture and cost are improved, but the ability to provide diversity protection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of the air interface component to adapt between different operational modes. The system can dynamically switch between serving mobile devices, establishing emergency backhaul links, or performing both functions simultaneously through time-division or frequency-division multiplexing. This dynamic adaptability allows the system to provide diversity protection using existing equipment without requiring permanent hardware modifications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the air interface component to enable backhaul functionality. By adjusting frequency allocation, time slots, and power distribution parameters, the existing air interface hardware is reconfigured to carry backhaul traffic. This parameter-based reconfiguration allows diversity protection to be achieved without additional equipment, maintaining cost-effectiveness while enhancing reliability
Data Source
AI summary
An emergency backhaul link is created between a first radio base station and a second radio base station over an air interface in response to an interruption or failure of a primary backhaul link of the first radio base station. In some embodiments, the first radio base station and the second radio base station are provided with no additional equipment to support the emergency backhaul link. In other embodiments, the second radio base station includes a tunable receiver configured to switch between receiving mobile device traffic on an uplink frequency and receiving backhaul traffic on a downlink frequency. In other embodiments, the second radio base station includes a receiver configured to receive backhaul traffic from the first radio base station over a downlink frequency. After the primary backhaul link is restored, the emergency backhaul link is torn down and backhaul traffic resumes on the primary backhaul link.