Ethernet Remote Radio Network for Indoor Coverage and Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radio access networks face challenges in providing consistent and high-quality radio frequency (RF) coverage in densely populated locations, such as buildings, due to limitations in Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) and the need for efficient data transmission capacity.
Innovation Solution
A communication system comprising remote units and a controller, where the remote units exchange RF signals with mobile devices and the controller, connected via an intermediate network, performs real-time scheduling and compression of baseband data, utilizing modems for efficient data transmission and synchronization protocols to enhance coverage and capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) is used to provide RF coverage in buildings, then RF coverage is improved, but device complexity and data transmission capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the base station functionality into a centralized controller and distributed remote units. The controller handles higher-layer processing while remote units handle RF transmission and lower-layer processing, allowing distributed deployment for coverage while centralizing complex functions to reduce overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A switched Ethernet network acts as an intermediary between the centralized controller and distributed remote units, enabling efficient data transmission and coordination without requiring complex direct connections between all system components.
2Area of stationary object
If more remote units are deployed to increase coverage area, then area coverage is improved, but data transmission capacity and network load increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple remote units are merged into a single cell controlled by one baseband modem, allowing them to share the same data transmission capacity and network resources. This enables coverage extension without proportionally increasing network load, as remote units can serve multiple users simultaneously within the same cell.
3Productivity
If real-time scheduling is performed at remote units, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Complex scheduling and higher-layer processing functions are extracted from remote units and centralized in the controller. Remote units retain only essential RF transmission and lower-layer processing functions, reducing their complexity while the controller performs real-time scheduling for optimized data transmission efficiency.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
A remote base station system comprising remote radio units and a controller is described. Each of the remote radio units comprises one or more radio frequency (RF) units to exchange RF signals with mobile devices. At least some of the RF signals comprise information destined for, or originating from, a mobile device. The controller comprises one or more modems and is connected to an external network. At least one of the modems is a baseband modem and is configured to pass first data from the external network corresponding to the information. The at least one of the modems is configured to perform real-time scheduling and baseband processing of the first data corresponding to the information to generate second data. The controller is separated from the remote radio units by an intermediate network. The intermediate network comprises a switched Ethernet network over which the second data corresponding to the information is carried in frames between the controller and the remote radio units. The second data may be frequency compressed. The remote radio units are synchronised through the intermediate network with the controller. Cells may be defined comprising one or more of the remote radio units.