Relay Station Beam Clustering for Traffic Imbalance

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Solution Overview

Problem

The beam hopping technique limits the maximum transmission capacity of each cluster, leading to inefficiencies in time and frequency use due to imbalanced traffic demands among terminals, resulting in either slot deficiencies or excesses within clusters.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission system with a control station and relay station that dynamically assigns slots and beam configurations across multiple emission areas, allowing one emission area to belong to multiple clusters, and prioritizing slot allocation to prevent deficiencies and optimize frequency use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If beam hopping technique is used to reduce the number of frequency converters and amplifiers, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but transmission capacity per cluster is limited and time efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency converters and amplifiersVSAvoidtransmission capacity per cluster
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making emission areas dynamically assignable to multiple clusters rather than being statically assigned to a single cluster. The control station dynamically determines cluster assignments based on traffic demands and slot availability, allowing the system to adapt to changing conditions and optimize transmission capacity while maintaining reduced device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by enabling emission areas to serve multiple clusters simultaneously. An emission area can be assigned to different clusters depending on traffic requirements, making it a multi-functional resource that increases overall system transmission capacity without requiring additional frequency converters or amplifiers for each cluster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Device complexity

If beam hopping technique is used to reduce the number of frequency converters and amplifiers, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but time efficiency and frequency use efficiency deteriorate due to slot deficiencies or excesses

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of frequency converters and amplifiersVSAvoidtime efficiency and frequency use efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by having the control station monitor traffic demands of terminals and slot assignment status across clusters. Based on this feedback information, the control station dynamically adjusts emission area assignments to clusters, ensuring that slots are optimally allocated to meet traffic demands and preventing both slot deficiencies and excesses that would reduce time and frequency use efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically reassigns emission areas to clusters based on real-time traffic conditions and slot availability, allowing the system to respond to changing demands and maintain high time and frequency use efficiency while using a reduced number of frequency converters and amplifiers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Device complexity

If emission areas are statically assigned to single clusters, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to imbalanced traffic demands deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol complexityVSAvoidadaptability to traffic demand variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms static emission area assignments into dynamic assignments where the control station can reassign emission areas to different clusters based on traffic demand patterns. This dynamic approach maintains simple device architecture while significantly improving adaptability to imbalanced traffic demands across different clusters and time periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the assignment parameters of emission areas dynamically based on traffic demand conditions. By adjusting which clusters receive access to which emission areas based on current traffic patterns, the system achieves high adaptability to demand variations without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3783812B1Relay station, control station, data transmission system, and data transmission method
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP3783812B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3783812B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3783812B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A relay station (101) according to the present invention includes a beam formation unit (130) capable of emitting multiple beams to multiple respective emission areas. The beam formation unit (130) forms clusters each from two or more of the emission areas, and emits the beams based on assignment information indicating which slot is assigned to which of the emission areas on a per cluster basis. One emission area belongs to multiple clusters.