Small Cell eNB Cause Value Transmission for Wireless Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems lack an effective method to indicate why a small cell cannot be switched on, particularly due to the influence of adjacent cells, leading to improper control operations by macro cells.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for transmitting a cause value related to a small cell, using a failure message with a newly defined cause value, indicating that the small cell cannot be switched on due to the influence of adjacent cells, through handover, cell activation, or dual connectivity procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a small cell switching procedure is performed without transmitting cause value information, then the control operation is simpler, but the macro cell cannot determine the proper reason for failure leading to improper control operations
Solution Approach 1:
The failure message is segmented to include a specific cause value field that separates the reason for failure from the general failure indication. This allows the macro cell to receive targeted information about why the small cell cannot be switched on, enabling differentiated control operations based on the specific cause without complicating the overall procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
A cause value indicator acts as an intermediary element between the small cell and macro cell communication. This intermediary provides the missing information about failure reasons without requiring complex additional signaling procedures, thus maintaining operational simplicity while preventing information loss.
2Reliability
If cause value information is transmitted in the failure message, then the macro cell can perform proper control operations, but the message structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The failure message structure is enhanced locally by adding a specific cause value field only where needed, rather than redesigning the entire message structure. This localized modification provides the necessary reliability for accurate control operations while minimizing the increase in overall message complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The cause value information is prepared and included in advance within the failure message structure, allowing the macro cell to immediately determine the proper control operation without requiring additional signaling exchanges or complex post-processing, thus improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Reliability
If small cells are switched on continuously to ensure service availability, then service quality is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell switching state is made dynamic rather than static, allowing the system to transition between on and off states based on actual service needs and cause value information. This dynamic approach ensures service availability when required while reducing energy consumption during periods when small cells are not needed, resolving the contradiction between continuous availability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is implemented where the macro cell receives cause value information from small cells about their ability to switch on, and uses this feedback to make intelligent switching decisions. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain service availability by switching on small cells only when necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption while ensuring service quality.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for transmitting a cause value related to a small cell in a wireless communication system is provided. An evolved NodeB (eNB) of a small cell receives a request message form a macro cell, and as a response to the request message, transmits to the macro cell a failure message including a cause value related to the small cell. The cause value related to the small cell can indicate the reason why the small cell which is in an “off” state cannot shift to an “on” state, and the failure message can be any one of a handover preparation failure message, a cell activation failure message, or a secondary evolved NodeB (SeNB) addition failure message.