Macro-Small Cell RRC Split for Higher Mobile Broadband Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile broadband communications systems face challenges in increasing bandwidth and capacity while lowering costs, particularly due to the high number of LTE Home eNodeBs connected directly to a mobility management entity (MME) through S1 interfaces, which affects performance and costs.
Innovation Solution
A method where user equipment (UE) first establishes an RRC connection with a macro base station, which then configures a small cell to establish a user plane connection, allowing traffic splitting and reducing the need for direct RRC connections with the UE, thereby increasing bandwidth and capacity while lowering costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If LTE Home eNodeBs are directly connected to MME through S1 interface, then each base station can independently control RRC connections, but the MME performance and cost are significantly influenced due to the large number of connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway as an intermediary node between the MME and multiple LTE Home eNodeBs. The gateway consolidates S1 interface connections, allowing multiple base stations to connect through a single gateway-MME link. This mediator approach maintains independent RRC control at the base station level while reducing MME connection complexity by aggregating interfaces at the gateway level.
2Device complexity
If one Home eNB gateway is added between MME and LTE Home eNodeB, then MME connection complexity is reduced, but the gateway adds an intermediate node that may affect control efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane and user plane functions. The gateway handles user plane traffic aggregation while the MME maintains control plane functions. This segmentation allows the gateway to reduce MME connection complexity without significantly impacting control efficiency, as control signaling still flows directly between MME and base stations while user data traffic is efficiently aggregated at the gateway.
3Device complexity
If traffic is transmitted only through macro base station, then RRC connection management is simplified, but bandwidth and capacity are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the capabilities of macro base stations and small cells into a coordinated system. The macro base station maintains RRC connection management while small cells provide additional user plane capacity. This merging allows the system to maintain simplified RRC management through the macro station while achieving increased bandwidth and capacity through the combined resources of both macro and small cell infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless broadband communication method, device, and system, so as to increase bandwidth and capacity of mobile broadband communications and at the same time lower cost. The method provided in an embodiment of the present invention includes: establishing, by a macro base station, a Radio Resource Control RRC connection with a user equipment UE; receiving, by a small cell (small cell), a configuration message sent, through a wired or wireless interface, by the macro base station; and establishing, by the small cell, a user plane connection between the small cell and the UE based on the RRC connection and the configuration message, and establishing a data bearer with the UE on the user plane connection.