Small Cell eNodeB Access System With Control Plane Gateway
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The scarcity of spectrum resources and the surge in mobile users with massive flow traffic in LTE systems lead to severe signal attenuation at high-frequency bands, limiting the coverage range of small cells and causing frequent switching between cells, which results in significant signaling impact on the core network, hindering the introduction of a large number of small cell eNodeBs.
Innovation Solution
A small cell eNodeB access system is implemented with a control plane gateway connected to the radio access and core networks, separating control and user plane functions to manage connections between the core network and radio access network nodes, allowing for independent control and data transmission between macro and small cell eNodeBs, thereby reducing signaling impact and enhancing mobility performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If small cell eNodeBs are introduced to increase user throughput and mobility performance, then network capacity and service quality improve, but frequent cell switching causes severe signaling impact on the core network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane and user plane into separate processing paths. The control plane processes signaling messages independently from user data traffic, allowing small cell switching to occur without generating excessive signaling to the core network. This segmentation enables the system to handle user throughput improvements while isolating the signaling impact to local network elements only.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the control plane acts as a mediator between the user plane and the core network. When users switch between small cells, the control plane manages the switching locally without requiring core network involvement for each switching event, thus reducing signaling impact while maintaining user throughput performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If small cell eNodeBs are deployed to enhance network capacity, then coverage and service quality improve, but system complexity increases due to frequent switching management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the network into independent control plane and user plane segments. The control plane handles switching management logic locally at the eNodeB level, while the user plane handles data transmission. This segmentation reduces switching management complexity by localizing control functions and eliminating the need for complex core network coordination during switching events.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane implements self-service mechanisms where eNodeBs autonomously manage small cell switching decisions and local signaling without requiring external coordination from the core network. This self-service approach reduces system complexity by enabling distributed intelligence at the network edge.
3Reliability
If traditional LTE architecture is used, then network stability is maintained, but user throughput and mobility performance are limited due to single eNodeB connection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional monolithic LTE architecture into separate control plane and user plane components. This allows users to maintain stable control plane connections while establishing multiple user plane connections to different eNodeBs simultaneously, thereby improving user throughput without compromising network stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic capabilities where the user plane can flexibly establish and switch connections between multiple eNodeBs based on network conditions and user mobility, while the control plane maintains stable, static connections. This dynamic user plane enables improved throughput and mobility performance while the stable control plane preserves network reliability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 2(c)~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Disclosed are a small cell eNodeB access system and a method for realizing network access therefor, including: setting up a control plane link and a user plane link respectively, the small cell eNodeB access system processing control plane data of access UE through the set up control plane link, and processing user plane data of an access UE via the set up user plane link. In the embodiment of the present invention, it makes the UE have data transmission and reception with two different eNodeBs such as macro cell (eNodeB) and small cell (eNodeB) simultaneously by separating the control plane with the data plane, so as to increase the user throughput and enhance the mobility performance, and to solve the problem that the user switches between the cells so that information exchanges frequently between nodes and so as to cause an impact on the core network, and further to realize the introduction of a large number of small cell eNodeBs at the radio side.