Remote Antenna Systems Using E-band Microwave Links
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Solution Overview
Problem
Designing cellular networks to avoid service gaps and ensure high capacity while minimizing financial and regulatory burdens, especially in areas with varying peak usage times, is challenging due to the limitations of traditional base station and backhaul communication methods.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a communications system that uses remote antenna systems connected via E-band millimeter wave links, allowing for a 'daisy chain' arrangement without the need for terrestrial connections, enabling flexible placement and load balancing across different cell peak times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If larger cells are designed with high-power antennas to avoid coverage holes, then service coverage area is improved, but base station capacity is exceeded causing calls to be dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a large cell into multiple smaller cells by deploying remote antenna units (RAUs) at different locations. Each RAU serves a specific geographic area with lower subscriber density, preventing any single base station from being overwhelmed while maintaining comprehensive coverage. This segmentation allows the network to handle peak loads distributed across multiple smaller cells rather than concentrating all traffic at one high-power base station.
2Reliability
If the number and density of base stations are increased to provide high quality service, then service quality is improved, but financial expense and regulatory challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna function from the traditional base station and places it in remote antenna units (RAUs) that can be deployed in existing structures like buildings and light poles. This separation allows the base station equipment to remain centralized while antenna coverage is distributed, reducing the need for new ground-level base station installations and associated right-of-way permits and architectural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote antenna units are designed to be universally deployable across multiple locations and environments. A single RAU design can be installed on buildings, light poles, and other existing structures without requiring location-specific customizations, thereby reducing deployment complexity and costs while expanding service coverage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If remote antenna systems are positioned remotely from base stations to provide flexible coverage, then deployment flexibility is improved, but terrestrial connection requirements increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional terrestrial fiber optic connection with a wireless microwave communication link between the base station and remote antenna units. This substitution eliminates the need for physical fiber optic cable installation, trenching, and associated civil works, allowing RAUs to be deployed remotely without complex terrestrial connection infrastructure.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides flexible and efficient communication coverage with reduced infrastructure costs and increased capacity, allowing for improved service quality and adaptability in various usage scenarios without the need for fiber optic connections.
Implementation Method 1
A remote antenna system communicates with a base station over a millimeter band microwave link, such as an E-band communications link.
Data Source
AI summary
In a communications system, one or more remote antenna systems communicate with one another and with associated base stations using a millimeter band microwave link, such as an E-band communications link. The remote antennas may be daisy-chained together to communicate with a plurality of base stations located at a base station hotel. Remote antennas may be positioned in cells having different peak traffic times to enable load balancing between base stations that share a common backhaul communications link with a mobile switching center.