Network-Controlled Repeater ON/OFF Switching to Limit 5G Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional RF repeaters in 5G systems lack the ability to dynamically control their ON/OFF states, leading to unnecessary power consumption and interference due to mismatched data transmission between network devices and terminal equipment, thereby reducing network throughput.
Innovation Solution
Implement a network-controlled repeater (NCR) that includes a mobile termination (NCR-MT) for communication with network devices and a forwarding unit (NCR-Fwd) for signal forwarding, allowing for dynamic control of ON/OFF states based on time domain resources indicated by control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional RF repeater operates continuously in ON state to amplify and forward signals, then signal coverage is enhanced, but power consumption increases and interference is caused to other devices
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater transitions from a static ON/OFF state to a dynamic state machine with multiple states (idle, on, off, switching) that adapts to real-time network conditions. The state transitions are triggered by control messages from the network device, enabling the repeater to dynamically adjust its operation mode based on data transmission requirements, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining signal coverage reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device monitors data transmission states and sends control messages (first control information) to the repeater to indicate whether it should be in ON or OFF state. This feedback mechanism ensures the repeater operates only when necessary for active data transmission, eliminating unnecessary power consumption during idle periods while maintaining reliable signal coverage when needed.
2Reliability
If a traditional RF repeater operates continuously in ON state, then signal coverage is enhanced, but interference is caused to other devices reducing network throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater uses a dynamic state machine that transitions between idle, on, off, and switching states based on real-time control messages from the network device. This dynamic operation ensures the repeater is active only during periods when data transmission is actually occurring, thereby maintaining signal coverage reliability while minimizing interference to other devices during idle periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device provides feedback through control messages that indicate the current data transmission state. Based on this feedback, the repeater adjusts its operation state accordingly, ensuring it operates only when necessary and remains off during idle periods, thus maintaining coverage reliability while reducing harmful interference to network throughput.
3Device complexity
If manual control is used to set ON/OFF states of repeater, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to data transmission dynamics is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater implements an automatic state machine that self-manages its ON/OFF transitions based on control messages from the network device. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual intervention while providing dynamic adaptability to data transmission conditions. The state machine automatically transitions between idle, on, off, and switching states, achieving both low complexity and high adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A repeater includes: a mobile termination configured to communicate with a network device via a control link to receive control information; and, a forwarding entity, configured to perform amplifying-and-forwarding of uplink (UL) and/or downlink (DL) radio frequency (RF) signals between the network device and a terminal equipment via a backhaul link and an access link, a behavior of the forwarding entity being controlled according to the control information received by the mobile termination, wherein, states of the forwarding entity include ON state to transmit signals and OFF state to not transmit signals; wherein the control information includes a first information used for indicating a time domain resource and a second information used for indicating a beam for the access link by indicating a beam index of the beam.