Relay Cell Establishment Using Shared Cell IDs for Coverage Extension
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IoT communications systems, relay nodes introduce complexity in operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) due to independent cell configurations, leading to bandwidth consumption and management challenges, especially in scenarios like multi-story buildings where base stations are located on rooftops, leaving devices on lower floors without coverage.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight L3 relay technology is introduced, where relay nodes act as extensions of donor base stations, sharing cell identifiers and configurations, and only supporting air interface connections, eliminating the need for separate OAM management and reducing bandwidth consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay nodes are configured as independent cells, then coverage extension is achieved, but OAM management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the relay node cell with the donor base station cell by sharing the same cell ID and making the relay node act as a remote radio head. This eliminates the need for separate OAM configuration and management for relay nodes, as they are managed through the same OAM system that manages donor cells, thus reducing OAM management complexity while maintaining coverage extension capability
2Area of stationary object
If relay nodes are configured as independent cells, then coverage extension is achieved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the relay node into the donor cell structure and sharing cell identifiers, the patent eliminates redundant signaling and configuration transmissions between OAM and relay nodes. This reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining the coverage extension function
3Adaptability or versatility
If relay nodes use separate OAM configurations, then independent cell management is enabled, but management overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the donor cell's OAM configuration system universally applicable to both donor cells and relay nodes. The same OAM configuration mechanisms serve multiple functions: managing donor cells directly and managing relay nodes indirectly through the shared cell ID, thereby reducing management overhead while maintaining flexibility
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a cell establishment method and apparatus. The method includes: receiving, by a relay node, first downlink information sent by a base station, where the first downlink information includes cell configuration information of a first cell, and the first cell is a cell of the base station; and establishing, by the relay node, a second cell based on the cell configuration information, where the second cell serves as extended coverage of the first cell, and a cell global identifier and/or a physical cell identifier of the second cell are/is the same as those/that of the first cell. According to this application, the relay node may be used as extended coverage of any cell of the base station, to avoid complexity of operation, administration and maintenance caused by the relay node as an independent cell.