Network-Controlled Relay for Millimeter-Wave Coverage Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction of coverage area due to the high rectilinearity of radio signals in high frequency bands, such as millimeter and terahertz waves, poses a challenge in mobile communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, leading to areas where user equipment cannot directly communicate with base stations.
Innovation Solution
A network-controlled repeater apparatus (NCR) is introduced to relay radio signals between base stations and user equipment, utilizing a control terminal to measure and adjust radio environments, enabling dynamic beamforming and directional transmission to extend coverage efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high frequency band radio signals are used for wide-band transmission, then transmission bandwidth is improved, but coverage area is reduced due to high rectilinearity
Solution Approach 1:
A repeater apparatus is introduced as an intermediary device between the base station and user equipment. The repeater receives radio signals from the base station, amplifies them, and retransmits them to extend coverage to areas where direct base station signals cannot reach, thereby resolving the coverage limitation of high frequency bands while maintaining the bandwidth advantage
Solution Approach 2:
The communication system is segmented into multiple components: base station, repeater apparatus, and user equipment. The repeater apparatus acts as an independent relay node that divides the communication path, allowing wide-band transmission to be maintained in segments while extending overall coverage through the relay function
2Area of stationary object
If repeater apparatus is used to extend coverage, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases due to control mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The repeater apparatus includes a measurement function that monitors the radio environment and provides feedback information to the base station. The base station uses this feedback to autonomously control the repeater's operation, such as adjusting amplification levels or activation states, thereby managing complexity through distributed intelligence and automated control loops
Solution Approach 2:
The repeater apparatus performs autonomous measurements of the radio environment and generates measurement information without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages its operation by automatically reporting status and receiving control commands, reducing the operational complexity burden on network operators
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method performed in a relay apparatus, the relay apparatus including a relay device configured to perform a relay operation of relaying a radio signal transmitted between a network and a user equipment, and a control terminal configured to receive a control signal used for control of the relay device from the network, the method including the steps of measuring a radio environment related to the relay apparatus, and transmitting measurement information obtained by the measuring from the control terminal to the network.