Macro Base Station Coordinated Small Cell Discovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks with macro and small cell base stations, the discovery of sleeping small cells is unreliable, leading to delayed connection setups and inefficient resource activation, as existing methods either compromise energy savings or result in suboptimal resource utilization and increased interference.
Innovation Solution
A macro-cell based approach where the macro base station coordinates small cell discovery by obtaining and reporting vicinity information from small cell base stations, allowing for reliable detection and optimal resource configuration, reducing search space and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If small cell base stations transmit discovery signals frequently to enable reliable UE discovery, then discovery reliability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic discovery signal transmission by sleeping small cell base stations at defined intervals rather than continuous transmission. The macro base station coordinates these periodic transmissions, allowing small cells to remain in low-power state while still enabling UE discovery when necessary. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliable discovery capability only when needed, rather than continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro base station acts as an intermediary that collects vicinity information from sleeping small cell base stations and provides this information to UEs. Instead of requiring small cells to continuously transmit discovery signals, the macro base station mediates the discovery process by aggregating and distributing information about sleeping small cells, thereby maintaining discovery reliability while minimizing energy consumption at the small cell level.
2Loss of energy
If small cell base stations remain in sleep mode to save energy, then energy savings are improved, but discovery reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having small cell base stations provide their vicinity information to the macro base station before entering or while in sleep mode. The macro base station stores this information and makes it available to UEs that need to discover sleeping small cells. This preliminary preparation ensures that even though small cells are sleeping, their information is already available, maintaining discovery reliability while achieving energy savings.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro base station serves as an intermediary that holds and distributes information about sleeping small cells. When UEs need to discover small cells, they query the macro base station which provides the stored vicinity information. This intermediary approach allows small cells to remain in energy-saving sleep mode while the macro base station ensures discovery reliability through its information mediation role.
3Productivity
If macro base station coordinates all small cell discovery and resource activation, then resource utilization is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by having the macro base station perform multiple functions: it coordinates small cell discovery, manages resource activation, collects vicinity information from small cells, and provides this information to UEs. This multi-functional approach consolidates control at the macro base station, optimizing resource utilization across the network while the standardized coordination procedures keep the implemented complexity manageable.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is described for controlling a user equipment to be served by a small cell base station in a wireless communication system including a plurality of small cell base stations controlled by a macro base station. The method includes signaling, by the small cell base station, the small cell base station capabilities to the macro base station; signaling, by the user equipment, the user equipment capabilities to the macro base station; and signaling, by the macro base station, a small cell base station configuration to the user equipment.