Small Cell Base Station Enterprise Network Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Deploying small cells in enterprise networks requires modifying network settings hop by hop, increasing network construction costs due to the need for separate network configurations and logical isolation using VLANs.

Innovation Solution

A communication method that utilizes an existing enterprise network resource by connecting a micro base station to the intra-enterprise Ethernet, obtaining IP addresses through DHCP or a secure digital SD card, and establishing connections with a micro base station controller to forward resource requests, reducing the need for extensive network modifications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a separate network configuration is set for the pico with VLAN isolation, then network security and service isolation are improved, but network construction costs and device complexity increase due to hop-by-hop setting modifications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidnetwork configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the pico's network configuration with the existing enterprise network by allowing the pico to obtain IP addresses from the enterprise DHCP server and use the existing enterprise VLANs. This eliminates the need for separate network configuration and VLAN isolation specifically for the pico, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining network security through the existing enterprise network architecture

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the enterprise network infrastructure serve multiple functions: it provides both general enterprise services and pico backhaul connectivity. The enterprise DHCP server serves both regular enterprise devices and picos, and enterprise VLANs carry both enterprise traffic and pico traffic, eliminating the need for dedicated pico network infrastructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If network settings are modified hop by hop for each deployed small cell, then service connectivity is improved, but network construction costs and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice connectivityVSAvoidnetwork construction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary configuration at the enterprise network level by pre-configuring the DHCP server with IP address pools for picos and pre-establishing VLANs. When a pico is deployed, it automatically obtains configuration through standard DHCP protocols without requiring hop-by-hop manual configuration, significantly reducing deployment time while ensuring proper service connectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables the pico to self-configure by automatically obtaining IP addresses and network parameters from the enterprise DHCP server through standard DHCP protocols. This eliminates the need for manual hop-by-hop configuration and allows rapid deployment while ensuring proper integration with the enterprise network

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3310078B1Communication method, small cell base station, small cell base station controller, terminal and system
Publication Date: 2019.06.05 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3310078B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3310078B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3310078B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application relates to a communication method, a micro base station, a micro base station controller, a terminal, and a system. The method includes: connecting, by the micro base station, to an intra-enterprise Ethernet, and obtaining an Internet Protocol IP address of the micro base station; obtaining an IP address of the micro base station controller; sending a connection request to the micro base station controller according to the obtained IP address of the micro base station controller, where the connection request includes the IP address of the micro base station, so that the micro base station controller connects to the micro base station according to the connection request; and sending a resource request message to the micro base station controller, where the resource request message includes a destination address of a requested resource, so that the micro base station controller forwards the resource request message to a server corresponding to the destination address. According to the method provided in embodiments of this application, networking is performed by using an existing network resource of an enterprise to complete wireless network communication, so as to reduce network construction costs.