Network-Controlled Repeater RRC Timing for Millimeter-Wave Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reduction of coverage area due to the high rectilinearity of radio signals in high frequency bands, such as millimeter waves and terahertz waves, poses a challenge in 5G mobile communication systems, particularly in areas with obstacles blocking direct communication between base stations and user equipment.
Innovation Solution
A Network-controlled Repeater (NCR) apparatus is introduced, which includes a relay device (NCR-Fwd) for relaying radio signals between a network node and user equipment, and a control terminal (NCR-MT) for controlling the relay device, allowing for dynamic beamforming and directional transmission to extend coverage, while being controlled by the network node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a repeater apparatus is introduced to extend coverage, then coverage area is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a repeater apparatus as an intermediary device between the base station and user equipment. This repeater receives radio signals from the base station, amplifies them, and retransmits them to extend coverage area. The repeater acts as a mediator that solves the coverage limitation without requiring fundamental changes to the existing network architecture, thus improving coverage while managing complexity through a dedicated relay component.
2Productivity
If high frequency band is used for wide-band transmission, then transmission capacity is improved, but coverage is reduced due to high rectilinearity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into multiple hops by introducing a repeater apparatus. Instead of direct transmission from base station to user equipment, the signal is divided into segments: base station to repeater, then repeater to user equipment. This segmentation allows the use of high frequency bands for the first segment (achieving wide-band transmission) while the repeater handles the second segment to extend coverage, effectively resolving the contradiction between transmission capacity and coverage.
3Speed
If RRC connection establishment procedure is initiated frequently, then connection responsiveness is improved, but network resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the repeater apparatus pre-establish an RRC connection with the base station before actual communication begins. The repeater maintains this connection in advance, so when user equipment needs to connect, the path is already prepared. This eliminates the need for frequent RRC connection establishment procedures while maintaining connection responsiveness, as the repeater can immediately forward signals once connected to the user equipment.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method executed by a relay apparatus including a relay device configured to perform a relay operation of relaying a radio signal transmitted between a base station and a user equipment, and a control terminal configured to receive a control signal used for control of the relay device from the base station includes: starting, by the control terminal, a timer restricting the initiation of a radio resource control (RRC) connection establishment procedure of transitioning to an RRC connected state upon having transitioned from the RRC connected state to an RRC idle state; restricting so as not to initiate the procedure, while the timer is running, in response to a cause of performing the RRC connection establishment not being a predetermined cause; and initiating the procedure, while the timer is running, in response to the cause of performing the RRC connection establishment being the predetermined cause.