Macro Base Station Small Cell Grouping for Interface Complexity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems face challenges in effectively managing and distributing data traffic and ensuring mobility and radio resource efficiency between macro Base Stations (BS) and small cell BSs, particularly when small cell BSs are located within the service coverage of a macro BS.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that generate small cell BS groups based on proximity and load, with a representative BS established for cooperative communication, allowing data transmission and reception without individual interfaces with each small cell BS, thereby enhancing system performance and resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If individual interfaces are established between macro BS and each small cell BS, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidinterface complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple small cell BS interfaces are merged into a single aggregated interface. The macro BS establishes one interface with the small cell BS group rather than separate interfaces with each small cell BS, reducing interface complexity while maintaining communication reliability through group-based coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The small cell BS group interface serves multiple functions simultaneously - it provides coordinated communication for multiple small cell BSs, enables traffic distribution, and maintains mobility management. This multi-functional interface reduces the overall system complexity compared to multiple dedicated interfaces.

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

2Productivity

If small cell BSs are distributed to increase total capability, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetotal capabilityVSAvoidsystem management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple small cell BSs are merged into a coordinated group that operates as a unified entity. The group is managed through a single representative BS interface, allowing the system to leverage multiple small cells for increased capability while avoiding the complexity of managing each cell independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The small cell BS group acts as an intermediary between the macro BS and individual small cell BSs. This group structure simplifies management by providing a single point of coordination that handles traffic distribution and mobility for all member cells, reducing system management complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If representative BS is used for cooperative communication, then device complexity is reduced, but information transmission accuracy may worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface complexityVSAvoidinformation transmission accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The representative BS continuously receives feedback information from member small cell BSs about their status, traffic conditions, and mobility states. This feedback mechanism ensures that the representative BS can accurately reflect the state of all member cells in its decisions, maintaining information transmission accuracy despite the simplified interface structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Member small cell BSs autonomously provide necessary information to the representative BS and participate in coordinated decisions. Each small cell BS maintains its own operational independence while contributing to the group's collective decisions, ensuring accurate information flow without requiring complex centralized control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2893743B1Apparatus and method for providing cooperative communication service between macro base station and small cell base station in mobile communication system
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2893743B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2893743B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2893743B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for providing a cooperative communication service by a macro Base Station (BS) in a mobile communication system is provided. The method includes generating at least one small cell BS group by grouping small cell BSs if there are small cell BSs of which a number is equal to or larger than a threshold small cell BS number within a service coverage of the macro BS, establishing a cooperative interface with a representative small cell BS among small cell BSs included in the at least one small cell BS group, and providing a cooperative communication service with the at least one small cell BS group using the cooperative interface.