Self-Organizing Mesh Network for 5G Small Cell Backhaul
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in 5G wireless communications is to develop a cost-effective, flexible, and scalable backhaul solution for 5G small cell networks that meets high throughput, low latency, and high availability requirements, while minimizing operational costs and complexity, especially in outdoor deployments where traditional macro cell solutions are insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A self-optimizing wireless mesh network (WMN) solution with dynamic routing and scheduling mechanisms that utilize pencil-beam millimeter wave links and rapid beam steering, enabling fast autonomous protection, dynamic load balancing, and easy deployment and management, by pre-calculating alternative routing paths and schedules to ensure microsecond-level switching and reduced latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mesh networks are used for connectivity between 5G small cells, then reliability and flexibility are improved via alternative routes, but network complexity increases making planning and control more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the mesh network into multiple domains, each managed independently with its own gateway. This segmentation reduces overall network complexity by breaking down the large-scale mesh into smaller, more manageable units while maintaining reliability through alternative routing paths within and between domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces domain gateways as intermediary nodes that simplify routing decisions. Instead of every node needing to make complex routing decisions across the entire mesh, gateways act as mediators that handle inter-domain traffic, reducing the computational complexity at individual nodes while maintaining reliable connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If manual network planning and deployment are used for traditional macro cells, then network control is simplified, but deployment cost and time increase significantly for small cell networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores multiple routing paths (primary and backup) and scheduling cycles before network operation begins. This preliminary action enables rapid adaptation to failures and traffic changes without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining ease of operation while enabling fast deployment and scaling of small cell networks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-organizing network capabilities where the network automatically adjusts routing and scheduling based on pre-calculated options and real-time conditions. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual reconfiguration during deployment and operation, significantly improving deployment productivity while maintaining simple operational control.
3Reliability
If dynamic routing path switching is implemented for fast failure recovery, then network availability is improved, but switching latency and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-calculates and stores multiple routing paths (primary and backup) and scheduling cycles before network operation begins. This preliminary action enables rapid adaptation to failures and traffic changes without requiring complex real-time calculations, thus maintaining ease of operation while enabling fast deployment and scaling of small cell networks.
Data Source
AI summary
A mesh network includes domain(s) of multiple nodes interconnected through links and in which there are gateway(s) connecting a domain to another network. The domain(s), their multiple nodes, and their links are part of a topology. A set of primary and backup routing paths, each including an ST that includes the selected gateway and route to that selected gateway for nodes in the domain, for a selected one of the gateway(s) is accessed or determined. Schedule(s) to be used by node(s) in the mesh network over one or more scheduling cycles are accessed or determined. Based on status of link(s) between nodes and on the schedule(s), switching is performed to a selected one of the primary or backup routing paths for the selected gateway. Routing in the mesh network is caused to be modified based on the selected routing path. Information is sent to nodes for the paths and schedules.