Radio Base Station Cell Reconfiguration via Parallel Startup
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing system reconfiguration process in radio base stations is inflexible and slow, particularly when changing the number of transmit antennas or bandwidth, which restricts power savings and flexibility in adapting to changing traffic conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and radio base station configuration that allows for parallel startup of a new cell with the desired configuration alongside the original cell, followed by a controlled shutdown of the original cell, enabling flexible and rapid reconfiguration without disrupting ongoing traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the system reconfiguration process modifies SI elements to change cell configuration, then the configuration can be updated, but the process becomes slow and inflexible with limited reconfiguration frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The cell is divided into two separate cells (first cell and second cell) with different configurations. The base station maintains both cells simultaneously and directs different UEs to different cells based on their requirements, enabling flexible configuration adaptation without modifying the original cell's SI elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The second cell with the desired configuration is set up in advance before any reconfiguration is needed. When configuration changes are required, the base station simply activates the pre-configured second cell and directs UEs to it, eliminating the slow SI modification process entirely.
2Loss of energy
If the number of transmit antennas is changed to adapt to traffic conditions, then power savings can be achieved, but the change requires a cell restart which disturbs ongoing traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The base station function is segmented into two parallel cells with different antenna configurations. The first cell maintains the original antenna setup for ongoing traffic, while the second cell uses a reduced antenna configuration for power savings. The base station directs different UEs to appropriate cells, enabling power optimization without interrupting existing connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The second cell acts as an intermediary solution that provides the desired power-efficient configuration without requiring changes to the first cell. UEs are redirected to the second cell when power savings are needed, allowing configuration changes without affecting the original cell's ongoing traffic.
3Adaptability or versatility
If SI modification is used to reconfigure cell bandwidth, then bandwidth adjustment is possible, but the process is slow and can only change a few times per hour
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is segmented into two independent cells, each with its own bandwidth configuration. The first cell maintains the original bandwidth while the second cell operates with a different bandwidth. This segmentation allows immediate bandwidth adaptation by directing UEs to the appropriate cell without any modification delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The second cell with the target bandwidth configuration is prepared in advance. When bandwidth reconfiguration is needed, the base station simply activates the pre-configured second cell and redirects UEs, eliminating the time-consuming SI modification process and enabling instant bandwidth adaptation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method and a Radio Base Station (RBS) in a wireless communication system that enable a fast and flexible reconfiguration of the system from a first configuration to a second configuration. This is achieved by a solution where the RBS is triggered to initiate a system reconfiguration, and the reconfiguration is performed by starting a new cell with the wanted new configuration in parallel with the original cell. During a certain time period, both the original and the new cell are available. Thereafter the original cell is shut down. The time offset between the start up of the new cell and the shut down of the original cell should be long enough to ensure that all UEs associated with the original cell (active, dormant or idle) can be handed over to or can reselect the new cell. However, the time offset should also be short in order to minimize the interference between the original and the new cell.