Intermediate Distributed Base Station for Seamless Handover in Virtual Cell Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The narrow handover region between virtual cells constructed by multiple small base stations in a Virtual Cell Network (VCN) leads to frequent handovers at low reception signal levels, posing a mobility challenge in wireless communication systems.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an Intermediate Distributed Base Station (I-DBS) that operates according to a time division scheme, belonging to different virtual cells during different time periods to widen the handover region and ensure seamless handovers at improved reception signal levels, by allocating frame resources and controlling signal transmission/reception operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If virtual cells are constructed by multiple small base stations to improve frequency resource use efficiency, then system capacity is improved, but handover region becomes narrow and handover reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A boundary base station is introduced as an intermediary element that simultaneously belongs to multiple virtual cells. This mediator enables seamless handover by providing continuous service coverage in the boundary region between virtual cells, preventing handover failures that would otherwise occur in the narrow handover region.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary base station is designed with multi-functionality, serving multiple virtual cells simultaneously through time-division multiplexing. During different time periods, the same base station belongs to different virtual cells, providing continuous coverage and enabling reliable handover without requiring additional dedicated infrastructure.
2Productivity
If small base stations are densely deployed to improve system capacity, then radio capacity is improved, but handover region becomes narrow and mobility performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary base station acts as a mediator that bridges multiple virtual cells, providing continuous service coverage in the handover region. This intermediary ensures that mobile users experience seamless connectivity during movement, maintaining ease of operation despite dense small base station deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The boundary base station dynamically changes its virtual cell affiliation based on time periods. This dynamic behavior allows the base station to adaptively serve different virtual cells, ensuring continuous coverage and maintaining mobility performance in densely deployed networks.
3Reliability
If time division scheme is used for boundary base station to belong to different virtual cells, then handover region is widened and handover reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boundary base station employs periodic time-division multiplexing to switch between different virtual cells. This periodic action allows the same physical base station to serve multiple virtual cells in a systematic manner, achieving improved handover reliability through regular time-based switching rather than complex spatial management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for improving a mobile problem caused by a narrow handover region in a boundary region between virtual cells constructed by a plurality of small base stations are provided. A plurality of Virtual Cells (VCs) include a plurality of Distributed Base Stations (DBSs) whose VCs cooperatively communicate with each other. An Intermediate Distributed Base Station (I-DBS) is located in a region where adjacent at least two VCs among the plurality of VCs are superimposed, and belongs to a different VC according to a time division scheme.