Small Cell Direct Link Mode for Cellular Network Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communication networks, the deployment of small cell devices leads to issues such as interference, inefficient bandwidth usage, and sub-frame inefficiencies due to periodic broadcasting of control information and limited coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
A small cell device monitors uplink radio frames to identify direct link opportunities with user equipment, notifies the macro base station, and establishes a direct link using received direct link information, reducing interference and bandwidth usage by not broadcasting control information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If small cell devices periodically broadcast control information, then user equipment can discover and connect to small cells, but bandwidth usage overhead increases and interference with neighboring devices worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control information broadcasting function from the small cell device and relocates it to the macro base station. The small cell device no longer periodically broadcasts control information on downlink frequency subcarriers; instead, the macro base station broadcasts system information including small cell control information, allowing user equipment to discover small cells without increasing local bandwidth overhead or causing interference from small cell transmissions
2Reliability
If small cell devices operate in normal operation mode with continuous radiation power, then coverage and connectivity are maintained, but interference with neighboring small cells and macro base stations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the macro base station as an intermediary that handles control information broadcasting and coordination. The small cell device communicates with user equipment using data packets on established direct links rather than continuous broadcasting, reducing interference while the macro base station manages system-wide coordination and information distribution
3Productivity
If small cell devices use direct link mode to reduce interference and bandwidth overhead, then resource efficiency improves, but device complexity increases due to monitoring and coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell device autonomously monitors uplink radio frames to identify direct link opportunities and independently establishes direct links with user equipment based on signal strength criteria. The device self-manages the transition from broadcast mode to direct link mode without requiring complex centralized coordination, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining resource efficiency
4Reliability
If small cell devices broadcast control information on fixed frequency subcarriers, then system information dissemination is reliable, but sub-frame scheduling efficiency decreases due to occupancy by single users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static periodic broadcasting on fixed sub-frames to dynamic direct link establishment. Control information is initially broadcast during system initialization, then the system dynamically switches to direct unicast communication on dedicated radio resources based on real-time link quality and user equipment needs, improving sub-frame utilization efficiency while maintaining reliable information delivery
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure generally relates to facilitation of a small cell device to detect direct link opportunities to establish a direct link mode connection to a user equipment based upon monitoring uplink communications from the user equipment to a macro base station, and cooperating with the macro base station to establish a direct link with the user equipment.