Small Cell Protocol Processor Segmentation for Dynamic Capacity Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog distributed antenna systems (DAS) are difficult to reconfigure and scale dynamically to meet changing service capacity requirements, limiting their ability to adapt to varying user demands and bandwidth needs.
Innovation Solution
The proposed cellular communication system incorporates a set of small cells with variable architecture, featuring upper and lower protocol processors and a common controller that activates additional processors and switches to match protocol stacks and wireless converters, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration and scaling of service capacity without adding hardware at customer sites.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a traditional analog DAS is deployed, then initial coverage is provided, but the system cannot be reconfigured or scaled to meet changing service capacity requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into multiple small cell units, each with independent protocol processors that can be individually activated or deactivated. This segmentation allows the system to scale capacity by activating additional units without reconfiguring the entire system, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic activation of protocol processors based on service capacity requirements. The controller can selectively enable or disable specific protocol processors to match changing demand, providing scalability without requiring physical reconfiguration or adding customer-site hardware.
2Productivity
If additional hardware devices are added at customer sites to increase capacity, then service capacity is enhanced, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell units are designed as universal, multi-functional components that can serve multiple purposes. Each unit contains protocol processors that can handle various service types and capacity levels, allowing the system to scale user capacity by activating existing units rather than installing new customer-site hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses replicated small cell units that can be activated in place of physical installations. Instead of adding hardware at customer sites, the system creates virtual copies of protocol processing capabilities through software activation of additional units in the network infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If the system is designed to be remotely reconfigurable, then operational flexibility is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service through automated protocol processor activation based on service capacity requirements. The controller automatically determines which protocol processors to activate without requiring complex manual configuration, providing remote reconfigurability while keeping control system complexity manageable through rule-based automation.
Data Source
AI summary
An analog distributed antenna system having a set of small cells as a signal source is provided. A proposed cellular communication system includes an upper small cell unit including upper protocol processors configured to process an upper first part of a protocol stack of a small cell, a lower small cell unit including lower protocol processors configured to process a remaining second part of the protocol stack of the small cell, and a first matching switch configured to respectively match the lower protocol processors to a plurality of remote units. According to one aspect, the cellular communication system includes a common controller configured to control activation of the plurality of upper protocol processors of the upper small cell unit and the plurality of lower protocol processors of the lower small cell unit according to a required service capacity and appropriately control an operation of the first matching switch.