Small Cell RLF Handling via Macro-Cell Unlicensed Band Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 4G LTE mobile communication systems lack an effective mechanism for small cells to request and configure unlicensed band resources, leading to radio link failures due to severe radio signal interference.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where a small cell determines a radio link failure count and generates an RLF indication message to a macro cell, which then configures and provides unlicensed band resources for data transmission, allowing the small cell to confirm availability and acknowledge resource configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If small cells use licensed band resources for data transmission, then communication service is provided, but radio link failure occurs due to severe radio signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from licensed band to unlicensed band when radio link failure is detected. The small cell monitors RLF count and switches to unlicensed band resources when interference in licensed band becomes severe, thereby resolving the contradiction between maintaining communication reliability and avoiding radio signal interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro cell acts as an intermediary that allocates unlicensed band resources to the small cell when RLF occurs. The macro cell receives RLF indication from the small cell and configures unlicensed band resources through modification request messages, enabling the small cell to switch bands without direct interference resolution.
2Reliability
If small cells switch to unlicensed band resources, then radio link failure is reduced, but resource configuration mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the small cell monitors RLF count and sends RLF indication messages to the macro cell. The macro cell responds with modification request messages containing unlicensed band resource configuration. This closed-loop feedback simplifies the complexity by automating the resource switching decision process.
Solution Approach 2:
The macro cell pre-configures unlicensed band resources and sends modification request messages before the small cell actually needs to switch bands. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of real-time resource allocation and enables smoother transitions when RLF occurs.
3Reliability
If small cells monitor and count radio link failures, then appropriate band switching is triggered, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The small cell autonomously monitors its own RLF count and generates RLF indication messages without requiring continuous external monitoring or complex processing. This self-service approach minimizes processing overhead while maintaining reliable communication quality through automatic band switching.
Data Source
AI summary
A small cell, a macro cell and a transmission assist method are provided. The small cell includes a transceiver and a processor. The processor generates a radio link failure (RLF) indication message when determining that an RLF count in a licensed band between the small cell and a user equipment reaches a threshold. The transceiver transmits the RLF indication message to the macro cell, and receives a modification request message from the macro cell. The modification message includes resource configuration information, and the resource configuration information indicates an unlicensed band radio resource of an unlicensed band. After confirming via the transceiver that the unlicensed band radio resource is available for data transmission with the user equipment, the processor generates a modification request acknowledge message, and transmits the modification request acknowledge message to the macro cell via the transceiver.