NR Wireless Backhaul Base Station Access via Air Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

The deployment of 5G networks faces challenges due to the high cost and complexity of connecting numerous small base stations to macro base stations using optical fibers for backhaul links, which is inefficient and costly.

Innovation Solution

A radio access method and device that enables NR wireless backhaul base stations to establish wireless connections with candidate donor base stations through an air interface, allowing them to connect to macro base stations without relying on optical fibers, thereby reducing deployment costs and increasing network coverage and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If optical fibers are used to connect small base stations to macro base stations, then reliable backhaul connection is achieved, but deployment cost and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackhaul connection reliabilityVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical fiber connection system with a wireless communication system. Small base stations establish wireless connections to donor base stations through air interfaces, eliminating the need for physical fiber optic cable installation while maintaining reliable backhaul connectivity through protocol-layer solutions for connection management and data transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces donor base stations as intermediary nodes between small base stations and the core network. These donor base stations provide wireless backhaul services to multiple small base stations, reducing overall deployment complexity while ensuring reliable connections through centralized resource management and coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If optical fibers are deployed to each small base station, then adequate bandwidth is ensured, but deployment cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth availabilityVSAvoiddeployment cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes wireless air interfaces universal for backhaul connectivity, allowing the same wireless communication infrastructure to serve multiple functions: user data transmission, backhaul connectivity, and signaling exchange. This eliminates the need for separate fiber optic infrastructure, reducing deployment costs while ensuring adequate bandwidth through dynamic resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges user plane and control plane communications over the same wireless interface, combining multiple functions into a unified communication channel. This consolidation reduces infrastructure requirements and deployment costs while maintaining sufficient bandwidth through efficient spectrum utilization and multiplexing techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If wireless connections are used instead of optical fibers, then deployment cost and speed improve, but transmission reliability may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidconnection stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where small base stations continuously monitor wireless channel conditions and report to donor base stations. Donor base stations use this feedback to dynamically adjust transmission parameters, select appropriate relay nodes, and manage resources, thereby maintaining connection stability and reliability despite the wireless medium's inherent variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes redundant wireless paths and pre-configures alternative connections before failures occur. When link quality deteriorates, the system can quickly switch to pre-prepared alternative paths, cushioning against reliability deterioration and maintaining continuous connectivity without service interruption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS11570641B2Wireless access method and apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD

AI summary

A wireless access method includes: carrying out wireless signal measurement on candidate host base stations to obtain a measurement result, an NR wireless backhaul base station communicates with each candidate host base station by means of an air interface, and the each candidate host base station connects to a macro base station by means of a wired backhaul link; selecting, according to the measurement result, at least one target host base station among the candidate host base stations; and sending an access request to the each target base station, the access request being used to request the each target host base station to allocate radio resources for the NR wireless backhaul base station.