Femto Base Station RNC Redirection via UE Location Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Femto radio base stations, installed and relocated by end users, lack the capability to discern the radio access network environment and thus struggle to connect to the correct radio network controller (RNC), leading to inefficiencies in network signaling and handover processes.
Innovation Solution
A method where a femto radio base station, initially connected to a default RNC, uses location-indicative information from a user equipment unit to redirect itself to a more suitable RNC, utilizing the RNC selection database to determine the optimal RNC for connection, even without its own receiver for network environment assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a femto radio base station is initially connected to a default RNC without location-indicative information, then the connection setup is simple and fast, but the femto RNC cannot determine the correct RNC for optimal network signaling and handover
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by initially connecting the femto RBS to a default RNC before obtaining location-indicative information from the UE. This allows the connection setup to proceed quickly without waiting for location data, while the default RNC can later redirect the femto RBS to the correct RNC once location information is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the UE's location-indicative information (such as location area identity or routing area identity) to redirect the femto RBS from the default RNC to the correct RNC. This feedback mechanism enables the system to correct the initial connection choice based on actual location data, improving reliability without significant time penalty.
2Productivity
If the femto RBS obtains location-indicative information from the UE to determine the correct RNC, then the network signaling efficiency improves, but the complexity of the redirection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The default RNC acts as an intermediary that receives location-indicative information from the UE, determines the correct target RNC, and redirects the femto RBS accordingly. This intermediary approach distributes the complexity: the femto RBS only needs to forward location data, while the default RNC handles the complex redirection logic, making the overall process more manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The default RNC performs multiple functions: it initially receives connection requests from the femto RBS, obtains location-indicative information from the UE, determines the correct target RNC, and executes the redirection. This multi-functionality consolidates complexity into a single node rather than requiring multiple specialized components.
3Reliability
If the femto RBS uses UE location information for RNC selection, then handover processes improve, but the requirement for UE cooperation and information sharing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages location-indicative information that the UE already possesses and naturally shares during normal operation (such as location area identity or routing area identity for network selection). The femto RBS simply requests this existing information from the UE without requiring additional special cooperation or configuration, making the process adaptable to standard UE operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus enable a femto radio base station (28f), initially connected to a first or default radio network controller node (261), to be redirected/reconnected to a second or correct radio network controller node (262) for use as an active radio network controller node for the femto radio base station (28f). The redirection/reconnection is accomplished by using location-indicative information obtained from a user equipment unit (30) which is in radio communication with the femto radio base station (28f). The technique of redirection is particularly valuable when the femto radio base station (28f) does not have its own receiver for ascertaining the radio access network (RAN) environment.