Small Cell Adaptive Operation Mode Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing mobile communication systems face challenges in operating 'macro-assisted cells' outside the coverage of macro cells, particularly in indoor or underground areas, and require a mechanism to switch between 'stand-alone' and 'macro-assisted' cell operations seamlessly, especially when macro cells experience service failures.
Innovation Solution
A mobile station and small radio base station configuration that includes reception units to detect specific signals and control units to determine the operation mode, allowing communication to start based on broadcast information from the small cell when operating as a stand-alone cell or on control signals from the macro cell when operating as a macro-assisted cell, enabling adaptive operation modes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a macro-assisted cell is operated within the coverage of a macro cell, then the cell can provide fast throughput and efficient cost and power using high frequency, but the cell cannot operate in areas outside macro cell coverage such as indoor or underground regions
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell dynamically switches between two operation modes: macro-assisted mode (dependent on macro cell) and stand-alone mode (independent operation). This dynamic adaptability allows the system to optimize throughput when macro cell coverage is available while extending coverage to indoor and underground areas when macro cell is unavailable, effectively resolving the contradiction between productivity and adaptability
2Adaptability or versatility
If the macro-assisted cell uses a different concept from conventional cells (not transmitting common reference signals, synchronization signals, or broadcast information), then the cell can operate with flexible configuration, but the cell cannot be operated as a stand-alone cell in regions outside macro cell coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell is designed with multi-functionality to perform both macro-assisted operation (without common reference signals) and stand-alone operation (with full broadcast information). This universal design allows the cell to adapt its functionality based on operational context, maintaining reliability for independent operation while preserving the flexibility benefits of macro-assisted mode when applicable
3Productivity
If the macro cell transmits control information for the small cell, then the small cell can operate as a macro-assisted cell with optimized resource usage, but the small cell cannot operate independently when the macro cell experiences service failure
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for potential macro cell failures by pre-configuring the small cell with the capability to operate in stand-alone mode. When macro cell coverage is available, the small cell operates in macro-assisted mode for resource efficiency. When macro cell fails, the small cell seamlessly transitions to stand-alone mode, providing beforehand cushioning against service interruption and ensuring service continuity
Data Source
AI summary
A “macro-assisted cell” adaptable to multiple operation modes is realized. In a mobile station (UE) of the invention, a control unit (22) is configured to start communication in a small cell on the basis of MIB/SIB of the small cell when a sequence in a “discovery signal” is determined as a sequence for a “stand-alone cell.” The control unit (22) is configured to start the communication in the small cell on the basis of a control signal from a macro cell when the sequence in the “discovery signal” is determined as a sequence for a “macro-assisted cell.”