Inter-ENB Carrier Aggregation With S-MAC Scheduling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE-A systems are limited by intra-ENB carrier aggregation, preventing effective aggregation of carriers across multiple ENBs, particularly in scenarios involving overlapping pico and micro cells, which reduces transmission rate possibilities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method and apparatus for inter-ENB carrier aggregation by introducing a secondary MAC device (S-MAC) to manage data transmission and reception across cells controlled by different ENBs, allowing for efficient scheduling and resource allocation among multiple ENBs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If intra-ENB carrier aggregation is used, then device complexity is reduced, but transmission rate is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments carrier aggregation into two distinct types: intra-ENB carrier aggregation and inter-ENB carrier aggregation. This segmentation allows the system to apply different management approaches - simpler intra-ENB aggregation for basic scenarios and more complex inter-ENB aggregation with separate MAC entities for scenarios requiring higher transmission rates across multiple ENBs, thus resolving the contradiction between transmission rate and device complexity.
2Productivity
If inter-ENB carrier aggregation is implemented, then transmission rate increases, but scheduling complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a master ENB as an intermediary that coordinates and manages the carrier aggregation across multiple ENBs. The master ENB receives scheduling requests from slave ENBs, makes centralized scheduling decisions, and allocates resources appropriately. This intermediary approach enables inter-ENB carrier aggregation to achieve high transmission rates while the master ENB handles the scheduling complexity centrally, preventing the complexity from becoming unmanageable.
3Productivity
If multiple MAC entities are used for inter-ENB aggregation, then resource allocation efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MAC functionality into separate MAC entities for each ENB involved in the carrier aggregation. Each MAC entity manages resources for its specific ENB independently, improving resource allocation efficiency by allowing parallel and specialized resource management. The segmentation is structured such that while multiple MAC entities exist, each has a well-defined scope and responsibility, preventing the overall system complexity from becoming unmanageable.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present specification discloses a mobile communication sytem. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for transmitting and receiving data using a plurality of carriers in a mobile communication system.