Relay Station Handover Control in Wireless Access Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless access systems, such as IEEE802.16-based WiMAX, face limitations in coverage and data throughput, especially at the edge of cells or in shadowed areas, and lack a method for effective handover control in mobile multi-hop relay systems, leading to reduced performance and increased costs when trying to expand coverage.
Innovation Solution
A handover control method in a wireless access system that involves a relay station and a base station, where the relay station measures and arbitrates message signal strength, and the base station determines whether to perform handover, allowing for centralized resource allocation and seamless handover between base stations and relay stations, enhancing coverage and throughput without additional response time or modifying traditional mobile stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If relay stations are introduced to expand coverage, then coverage area and data throughput are improved, but device complexity and network wiring costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces relay stations as intermediary nodes between base stations and mobile stations. These relay stations forward messages and data between the base station and mobile stations in coverage extension areas, enabling expanded coverage without requiring direct base station deployment in every area. The relay station acts as a mediator that simplifies the network architecture compared to deploying additional base stations.
2Productivity
If relay stations are deployed to enhance throughput in shadowed areas, then data throughput is improved, but facility costs and network wiring increase
Solution Approach 1:
Relay stations are deployed as intermediary nodes in shadowed areas where direct base station coverage is insufficient. These relay stations receive signals from base stations and forward them to mobile stations in coverage extension areas, enhancing data throughput without requiring additional base station facilities. This approach uses fewer facilities compared to deploying more base stations while achieving the same throughput enhancement goal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If handover control methods are implemented in relay systems, then mobility support and seamless connectivity are improved, but system complexity and control overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The relay station serves as an intermediary in the handover control process. When a mobile station moves between coverage areas, the relay station assists in measuring signal strength, arbitrating handover decisions, and forwarding handover messages between the mobile station and base station. This intermediary role enables mobility support while keeping the control system relatively simple by distributing control functions rather than centralizing them in complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where relay stations measure signal strength from mobile stations and provide this information to base stations for handover arbitration. The base station receives feedback about signal conditions and makes informed handover decisions. This feedback-based approach enables adaptive mobility support while maintaining manageable system complexity through information-based control rather than complex predetermined control logic.
4Area of stationary object
If base stations are increased in density to improve coverage, then coverage area is improved, but network wiring costs and facility costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of increasing base station density, the patent introduces relay stations as intermediary nodes that extend the coverage of existing base stations. The relay stations are deployed in coverage extension areas and forward signals from base stations to mobile stations, achieving expanded coverage without requiring additional base station facilities. This reduces both the quantity of base stations needed and the associated network wiring costs.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a handover control method in a wireless access system, a relay station and a base station for performing handover control in a mobile multi-hop relay wireless access system such that the wireless access system is enabled to cover a wider area. To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a handover control method in a wireless access system, wherein the wireless access system comprises a mobile station and a base station, which receive and send message via a wireless channel, and further comprises a relay station for forwarding message from the mobile station and the base station under control of the base station, characterized in that the method comprising a relay station measure and arbitration step in which the relay station measures the message and arbitrates whether to relay the message, and a base station measure and handover step in which the base station measures the message and arbitrates whether to perform handover.