Millimeter Wave Access Point Clusters for Shadowing Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in cellular networks is to effectively deploy millimeter wave radio equipment due to propagation limitations such as shadowing and body loss, which are exacerbated by higher penetration loss and less favorable link budgets at frequencies above 6 GHz, making traditional systems like LTE inadequate for reliable coverage and capacity.
Innovation Solution
A cluster of co-operating access points with steerable antenna arrays provides high directivity gain and narrow beamwidths, employing beamforming and rapid rerouting mechanisms to overcome shadowing and body loss, ensuring continuous communication by switching between access points if one is obstructed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If millimeter wave radio equipment is deployed to increase cellular capacity and meet growing data traffic demand, then spectral efficiency and data rate are improved, but propagation reliability deteriorates due to shadowing and body loss effects
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the coverage area into multiple sectors served by different access points within a cluster. Each access point handles a specific spatial sector, and the network dynamically routes user connections through the most suitable access point based on real-time propagation conditions, thereby maintaining high capacity while mitigating shadowing effects through spatial diversity
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters by deploying multiple access points with adjustable transmit power and beamforming characteristics. The network dynamically adjusts these parameters based on channel conditions, user location, and interference levels to optimize both capacity and reliability in the millimeter wave spectrum
2Power
If access points use steerable antenna arrays with narrow beamwidths to achieve high directivity gain, then link budget is improved, but coverage area and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamically steerable antenna arrays that adaptively adjust beam directions and widths based on user location and channel conditions. The access points can rapidly switch between different beam configurations to track users and maintain optimal link quality, achieving high directivity gain while managing complexity through intelligent control algorithms
Solution Approach 2:
The steerable antenna arrays serve multiple functions: they provide high directivity gain for link budget improvement, enable spatial multiplexing to increase capacity, facilitate rapid rerouting around obstacles, and perform interference management by directing beams away from other cells. This multi-functionality justifies the added system complexity
3Reliability
If clusters of access points are deployed to overcome shadowing effects, then coverage reliability is improved, but network complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple access points into coordinated clusters that function as a unified network entity. The access points within each cluster share backhaul connections and coordinate their operations to provide seamless coverage, achieving improved reliability through diversity while managing network complexity through centralized cluster management
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cluster manager or coordinating entity that acts as an intermediary between individual access points and the core network. This intermediary handles the complexity of inter-access-point coordination, resource allocation, and rapid rerouting decisions, thereby improving coverage reliability while shielding the rest of the network from the complexity of cluster operations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enhances coverage reliability and capacity in millimeter wave networks by mitigating shadowing effects and maintaining link quality, enabling high-rate communications with improved link budgets and reduced interference.
Implementation Method 1
employing beamforming and rapid rerouting mechanisms to overcome shadowing and body loss
Data Source
AI summary
The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and an apparatus to determine a beacon signal for a network node, where the network node is configured to connect with a cluster of access points in a wireless communication network, and where the beacon signal identifies the cluster; and send the beacon signal towards the wireless communication network. Further, the exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and an apparatus to determine a dominant access point of a cluster of access points based on signaling from at least one access point associated with the cluster of access points; and in response to the determining, direct communications towards the dominant access point of the cluster of access points.