Independent Downlink and Uplink Base Station Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous mobile communication networks, the power imbalance between Macro and Pico base stations leads to suboptimal performance in uplink communication due to conventional Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)-based cell association, which fails to optimize both downlink and uplink channels effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing independent downlink and uplink connections by allowing one base station to handle downlink transmissions and another to handle uplink transmissions, using carrier aggregation and backhaul interfaces to manage these connections efficiently, thereby optimizing channel quality for each direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional RSRP-based cell association is used in heterogeneous networks, then downlink performance is optimized by connecting to the base station with highest RSRP, but uplink performance deteriorates due to pathloss imbalance between Macro BS and Pico BS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downlink and uplink connections into independent components. The mobile terminal establishes a downlink connection to one base station (Macro BS with highest RSRP) while simultaneously establishing an uplink connection to a different base station (Pico BS with lowest pathloss). This segmentation allows each connection to be optimized independently for its respective direction, resolving the contradiction between downlink reliability and uplink throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple base stations into a coordinated system where one base station handles downlink transmissions while another handles uplink transmissions. The Macro BS and Pico BS work together in a coordinated manner, with the Macro BS providing strong downlink signals and the Pico BS providing low-pathloss uplink reception, thereby combining their strengths to overcome the limitations of single-base-station associations.
2Loss of energy
If Pico BS transmits at lower power to reduce interference, then network energy efficiency improves, but uplink reception capability deteriorates due to power imbalance with Macro BS
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination mechanism between the Macro BS and Pico BS. The serving base station (Macro BS) acts as an intermediary that receives uplink transmissions from the mobile terminal and forwards them to the Pico BS, or coordinates the uplink connection setup. This intermediary role enables the Pico BS to operate at lower power while still ensuring reliable uplink reception through coordinated resource allocation and signal routing.
Data Source
AI summary
In communication of data between a first base station and a mobile terminal, a second base station may handle uplink transmissions from the mobile terminal. For this purpose, the first base station sends, to the second base station, a request to handle the uplink transmissions from the mobile terminal. Further, the first base station sends carrier information to the second base station. The carrier information indicates one or more uplink carriers for receiving the uplink transmissions. The one or more uplink carriers are controlled by the second base station. Moreover, the first base station sends downlink transmissions to the mobile terminal. The downlink transmissions include configuration data. By means of the configuration data, the mobile terminal is configured to send uplink transmissions on the one or more uplink carriers as indicated by the carrier information, e.g., on an uplink payload channel controlled by the second base station.