Relay Node Identifier Allocation in Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunications, the introduction of decode-and-forward relays in wireless networks faces challenges in managing information and responsibilities between relay nodes and base stations, leading to potential delays and increased signaling load, while ensuring compatibility with existing user equipment and protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method where the base station maintains a set of identifiers allocatable to user equipment, divided into subsets assigned to relay nodes, allowing direct response to radio resource requests without additional delay, while maintaining allocation records and ensuring compatibility by using the same protocols as the base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If relay nodes mediate identifier allocation requests between user equipment and base station, then device compatibility and protocol uniformity are maintained, but communication delays increase and signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the identifier allocation authority by dividing the set of identifiers into mutually exclusive subsets, each assigned to specific relay nodes. This allows relay nodes to independently allocate identifiers from their assigned subsets without mediating through the base station, eliminating the round-trip delay while maintaining overall system coordination. The base station retains control over the global identifier space through the assignment process, while relay nodes gain autonomy in actual allocation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary action by pre-assigning identifier subsets to relay nodes before actual user equipment connections are established. This advance preparation enables relay nodes to immediately allocate identifiers to user equipment without waiting for base station approval, significantly reducing communication delays while the base station maintains oversight through the initial assignment framework.
2Adaptability or versatility
If relay nodes mediate identifier allocation requests, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting identifier allocation authority and assigning specific subsets to relay nodes, the patent eliminates the need for relay nodes to forward every identifier allocation request to the base station. This segmentation reduces the volume of signaling messages between base stations and relay nodes, as relay nodes can independently serve allocation requests using their assigned subsets, thereby reducing overall signaling load while maintaining protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Relay nodes are empowered to self-service identifier allocation by maintaining local pools of identifiers from their assigned subsets. Instead of relying on the base station to service every allocation request, relay nodes autonomously fulfill requests using their local resources, significantly reducing the signaling load on the base station while maintaining protocol compatibility through the standardized assignment interface.
3Productivity
If relay nodes directly allocate identifiers from assigned subsets, then allocation speed increases and delays are reduced, but identifier management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by pre-assigning identifier subsets to relay nodes based on anticipated needs and network configuration. This advance preparation simplifies the relay node's task to merely selecting from pre-approved subsets rather than managing the entire identifier space, reducing the complexity burden on relay nodes while enabling fast local allocation. The complex management decisions are centralized in the base station's assignment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning specific identifier subsets to specific relay nodes based on their local needs and service areas. Each relay node manages only its assigned subset locally, which simplifies its identifier management complexity compared to managing all identifiers globally. This localized approach enables fast allocation within each relay's domain while the base station maintains global coordination through the assignment framework.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system that comprises a base station and a substation connected to the base station. The base station maintains a set of identifiers, each identifier of the set being at least temporarily allocatable to a user equipment for identifying the user equipment when it resides in a cell of the base station. From the set of identifiers of the base station at least one subset of identifiers is extracted, and assigned to the substation. The substation may then respond to a connection establishment request of user equipment by providing it with an identifier from the subset of identifiers assigned to it. The substation also transmits to the base station information on the connection establishment request and on the identifier provided to the user equipment.