Radio Access Node Signaling for DL-Only Cell Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE systems lack flexibility in signaling information for DL-only cells, limiting the utilization of additional frequency bands for secondary cells and increasing power consumption due to the need for wide receiver bandwidths, and do not provide adequate information for neighboring cells with only downlink capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method in radio access nodes to request and transmit set-up information, including indicators for uplink transmission capabilities, over the X2 interface, allowing communication between nodes using any frequency band, even for DL-only cells, and enabling the deployment of DL-only cells as secondary cells for additional downlink capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If DL-only cells are deployed as secondary cells for additional downlink capacity, then network capacity is improved, but signaling flexibility is limited due to lack of uplink transmission capability information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary indicator field in the neighboring cell information message that mediates between the DL-only cell configuration and the handover decision process. This indicator explicitly signals whether a neighboring cell supports uplink transmission, allowing the network to properly configure DL-only cells as secondary cells while maintaining necessary information for handover decisions.
2Device complexity
If UE monitors system information on PCell only, then device complexity is reduced, but neighboring cell information availability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the eNB actively requests and provides neighboring cell information to the UE through dedicated signaling messages. This feedback loop compensates for the UE not monitoring system information on all cells, by having the network supply the necessary neighboring cell details on-demand for handover decisions.
3Device complexity
If handover decisions are made without adequate neighboring cell information, then device complexity is reduced, but handover reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the eNB proactively gather and prepare neighboring cell information before handover is needed. The network requests and stores this information in advance, so when a handover decision is required, the necessary cell details are already available, ensuring reliable handover decisions without increasing real-time device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a method (200) in a first radio access node for obtaining neighboring cell information. The method comprises the steps of transmitting via an interface a radio access node request (Si2) for set-up information related to the neighboring cell to at least one second radio access node, and receiving a radio access node response (Si3) over the interface from said at least one second radio access node. The radio access node response (Si3) comprises set-up information including an indicator related to the neighboring cell's capability for uplink transmission. The present disclosure also relates to said first radio access node.