Inter-Base Station Carrier Aggregation via Primary Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current LTE-A systems do not support carrier aggregation between base stations, limiting the potential increase in user equipment throughput.

Innovation Solution

Implementing carrier aggregation by allowing a primary base station to control the addition of a cell or data radio bearer from a secondary base station, enabling the use of multiple component carriers for enhanced data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If carrier aggregation between base stations is not supported, then the system structure remains simple and easy to control, but the user equipment throughput cannot be further increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser equipment throughputVSAvoidsystem structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base station functions by introducing a primary base station that controls and coordinates multiple secondary base stations. Each base station handles specific cells and user equipment, dividing the overall system into manageable segments that can operate semi-independently while contributing to aggregated carrier resources for enhanced throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The primary base station acts as an intermediary between the core network and secondary base stations, as well as between different base stations. It manages the carrier aggregation coordination, resource allocation, and control signaling, enabling inter-base station carrier aggregation while maintaining system manageability through a centralized control point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If carrier aggregation between base stations is implemented, then user equipment throughput increases, but the control and coordination between multiple base stations becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser equipment throughputVSAvoidbase station coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The primary base station performs multiple functions including coordinating secondary base stations, managing carrier aggregation configurations, allocating radio resources, and handling control plane signaling. This multi-functional design consolidates coordination complexity into a single entity that can manage various aspects of inter-base station aggregation through unified procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If multiple component carriers from different base stations are used, then data transmission efficiency improves, but the system load distribution and resource management become more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission efficiencyVSAvoidresource management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring carrier aggregation parameters, resource allocation patterns, and coordination protocols before actual data transmission begins. The primary base station establishes control frameworks and resource distribution schemes in advance, enabling efficient multi-carrier operation without real-time coordination overhead during data transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3843312B1Method, base station, and user equipment for implementing carrier aggregation
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3843312B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3843312B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3843312B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a base station, and a user equipment for implementing carrier aggregation. The method includes: determining, by a primary base station, to add a cell for a user equipment UE; and sending, by the primary base station, a first message to the UE, where the first message is used to instruct the UE to add the cell, the first message includes configuration information of the cell and an identifier or index of a base station to which the cell belongs, and the base station to which the cell belongs is a secondary base station. In the embodiments of the present invention, under the control of the primary base station of the UE, a cell of another base station can be added for the UE, so as to implement carrier aggregation between base stations, thereby further increasing user throughput of the UE.