Primary UE Duplicating Base Station Functions for Network Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, optimizing wireless performance for user equipment devices located within a base station's coverage area is challenging due to varying channel characteristics and capabilities, making it difficult to provide uniform and efficient data throughput.
Innovation Solution
A communications network architecture where a primary user equipment device is selected to duplicate and perform data unit and control unit functions of a wireless base station, enabling it to boost wireless communications for secondary devices by routing data and offloading procedures, thereby enhancing overall throughput and mobility management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single base station serves all user equipment devices in its coverage area, then the base station can maintain centralized control, but it becomes difficult to provide optimized wireless communications for each user equipment device due to varying locations, capabilities, and link qualities
Solution Approach 1:
The base station's control functions are segmented into two units: a Centralized Unit (CU) that maintains centralized control and a Distributed Unit (DU) that is duplicated on selected user equipment devices. This segmentation allows the system to maintain centralized coordination while enabling localized adaptive communications for individual devices.
Solution Approach 2:
A selected user equipment device acts as an intermediary by hosting a duplicated DU that facilitates communications between other user equipment devices and the base station. This intermediary enables optimized local communications while maintaining connection to centralized control through the CU.
2Productivity
If the base station directly manages all communications with user equipment devices, then control is simplified, but wireless data throughput for devices with poor link quality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
User equipment devices with good link quality are selected to host duplicated DUs that serve as intermediaries for devices with poor link quality. This allows data to be routed through the intermediary device, improving throughput for devices that would otherwise have unreliable or slow connections to the base station.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by having DUs distributed on user equipment devices that are strategically positioned to provide better local connectivity. This allows communications to be optimized for local conditions rather than relying solely on base station coverage, improving throughput for devices in difficult locations.
3Ease of operation
If control functions are distributed to user equipment devices, then mobility management and measurement operations can be performed locally, but the complexity of coordinating multiple control units increases
Solution Approach 1:
Control functions are segmented into CU and DU components, with the CU handling centralized coordination and the DU handling local operations. This segmentation allows mobility management and measurement operations to be performed locally by the DU while the CU maintains overall system coordination, reducing the complexity burden on any single component.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the DU on the user equipment device reports local measurements and mobility information back to the CU. This feedback loop enables the CU to maintain accurate system state information and coordinate control effectively, managing the complexity of having distributed control units.
Data Source
AI summary
A network may include user equipment (UE) devices and a base station that communicates using a control unit (CU) and a data unit (DU). A primary UE may duplicate the DU and a subset of control functions of the CU. When the DU on the primary UE is active, the base station and primary UE may effectuate a split or bearer duplication of the DU at the RLC/PDCP/MAC layer between the primary UE and the base station. Data may be concurrently routed data through the primary UE using inter-UE links and direct cellular telephone links to the base station. When the subset of the control functions of the CU are active on the primary UE, the device may perform RRC functions, MAC control functions, RLC control functions, or other control functions to generate information for use by the base station in updating communications.