Femtocell Base Station Dynamic Access Mode Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless telecommunications systems face challenges in managing the increasing demand for high-speed data services, as macrocell base stations are not suited for high-capacity data services and traditional femtocells are limited in offloading macrocell traffic due to high control signaling requirements for temporary access to unregistered users.

Innovation Solution

Femtocell base stations are selectively switched between private and public access modes based on the rate of handover requests from unregistered users, allowing unregistered users to access the network when demand exceeds a certain level, thereby increasing overall capacity and reducing power usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If femtocell base stations operate in private access mode only, then quality of service for registered users is maintained, but capacity to handle macrocell traffic is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of serviceVSAvoidcall handling capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The femtocell base station dynamically switches between private access mode and public access mode based on the rate of handover requests from unregistered users. When the handover request rate exceeds a threshold, the system transitions to public access mode to accommodate macrocell traffic, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining service quality and increasing overall capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If femtocell base stations allow temporary access to unregistered users, then macrocell traffic offloading is enabled, but control signaling overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetraffic offloading capacityVSAvoidcontrol signaling
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs dynamic mode switching between private and public access based on monitored handover request rates. This dynamic adjustment enables traffic offloading only when necessary (when handover requests exceed a threshold), avoiding the continuous control signaling overhead that would result from permanently enabling public access.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the access mode parameter of the femtocell base station based on the handover request rate parameter. By monitoring this rate and switching modes accordingly, the system optimizes the balance between traffic offloading capability and control signaling complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If macrocell base stations are deployed to meet high-speed data service demand, then coverage area is maintained, but power consumption and infrastructure cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata service capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts traffic handling capability from macrocell base stations by enabling femtocell base stations to operate in public access mode. This allows macrocell traffic to be offloaded to femtocells, reducing the load and power consumption of macrocell base stations while maintaining overall network capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates additional capacity by deploying low-power femtocell base stations that replicate the traffic handling function of macrocell base stations in specific local areas, thereby reducing the need for additional high-power macrocell infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2326118B1A femtocell base station, and a method of controlling a femtocell base station
Publication Date: 2014.10.22 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2326118B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2326118B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A femtocell base station is provided. The base station is switchable in use between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. In the first mode of operation only user terminals that are registered with the femtocell base station are connectable to the femtocell base station. In the second mode of operation a user terminal that is not registered with the femtocell base station is connectable to the femtocell base station.