Indoor mmWave Repeater Synchronization Without gNodeB Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional repeater systems face challenges in extending cellular mmWave signal coverage indoors due to path loss and building penetration, requiring extensive coordination with gNodeB and UEs, leading to increased complexity and cost, and are unable to support a large number of wireless sensors and IoT devices effectively.
Innovation Solution
A repeater system that autonomously synchronizes with outdoor 5G RAN nodes using publicly broadcast synchronization signals, eliminating the need for additional signaling and coordination, and distributes synchronized 5G signals to indoor UEs through a mesh network of relay devices, enhancing data throughput and SNR without additional infrastructure cost.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional RF repeater systems are used to extend signal range, then coverage area is increased, but signal strength is reduced due to window and building penetration losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional RF repeaters to mmWave technology, changing the frequency dimension to achieve better penetration characteristics. The mmWave system uses higher frequency signals that can be more effectively distributed indoors through specialized relay devices, overcoming the limitations of traditional RF approaches while maintaining extended coverage area.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters by using mmWave frequencies instead of conventional RF bands. This parameter change enables the use of directional beams and focused transmission, which compensates for penetration losses by concentrating signal energy rather than distributing it omnidirectionally, thus maintaining signal strength while extending coverage.
2Productivity
If 5G IAB systems are deployed for indoor coverage, then network capacity is improved, but system complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the synchronization and coordination functions from the complex 5G IAB architecture, implementing them in a simplified manner through autonomous relay devices. The system removes the need for extensive gNodeB coordination by using independent synchronization mechanisms, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining network capacity through distributed relay nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The relay devices operate autonomously by self-synchronizing with outdoor 5G signals and independently managing their beamforming and resource allocation. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex centralized coordination, reducing system complexity while preserving network capacity through distributed intelligence.
3Loss of energy
If base station transmit power is increased to improve cell-edge signal quality, then signal strength is improved, but inter-cell interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality enhancement by using directional mmWave beams that concentrate signal energy specifically at cell-edge locations rather than increasing omnidirectional transmit power. The relay devices create focused signal paths to specific indoor areas, improving local signal strength without generating widespread inter-cell interference that would result from base station power increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces relay devices as intermediary elements between the base station and cell-edge users. These intermediaries receive signals from the base station and retransmit them with appropriate beamforming, effectively amplifying signals locally at cell-edge locations without requiring increased base station power, thus avoiding inter-cell interference.
4Reliability
If conventional repeaters are placed inside buildings to improve indoor coverage, then indoor signal availability is improved, but additional losses occur due to absorption and scattering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses mmWave technology with directional beamforming capabilities, changing the transmission dimension from omnidirectional RF to focused mmWave beams. This enables the system to penetrate building structures more effectively and maintain signal strength indoors by concentrating energy in specific directions, overcoming the absorption and scattering losses that affect conventional repeaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization with outdoor 5G signals before indoor distribution, pre-aligning beam directions and optimizing signal paths before signals encounter building structures. This preliminary action allows the system to anticipate and compensate for potential attenuation, maintaining stronger indoor signals despite absorption and scattering effects.
Data Source
AI summary
A repeater device having a donor radio antenna that captures publicly broadcast synchronization signals from an outdoor 5G Radio Access Network (RAN) node, and a controller that decodes the captured publicly broadcast synchronization signals from the outdoor 5G RAN node. The controller synchronizes with the decoded publicly broadcast synchronization signals, to align a frame structure of the donor radio antenna to a frame structure of the outdoor 5G RAN node, independent of additional signaling and explicit coordination from the outdoor 5G RAN node. The repeater device includes a relay radio antenna that communicates the synchronized publicly broadcast synchronization signals to a first set of indoor relay devices. The controller executes frequency or spatial isolation, to reduce interference between user equipment (UEs) of one or more indoor UEs associated with the outdoor 5G RAN node, independent of the explicit coordination from the outdoor 5G RAN node.