Small Cell Self-Organization via IMS SIP Messaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional small cells lack self-organization capabilities in heterogeneous networks, which would require additional hardware features like radio sniffing, increasing costs and power consumption, and are inaccurate, affecting reliability in LTE environments.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a self-organization process using SIP registration, subscription, and publishing mechanisms within the IMS layer, where HeNBs register, subscribe to updates, and publish changes to optimize configurations, leveraging the application server and HSS for inter-communication and profile management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If radio sniffing component is added to HeNB for self-organization, then self-organization capability is improved, but hardware cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-organization capabilityVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an application server as an intermediary component that performs self-organization functions externally. Instead of equipping each HeNB with complex radio sniffing hardware, the application server acts as a centralized mediator that collects information from HeNBs via simple SIP messages and performs self-organization calculations, thereby reducing individual device complexity while maintaining overall system adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/radio-based sniffing approach with a software-based SIP messaging system. By substituting the physical radio sniffing component with virtualized SIP registration, subscription, and publishing mechanisms over IP networks, the solution eliminates the need for specialized hardware while achieving the same self-organization objectives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If radio sniffing component is added to HeNB for self-organization, then self-organization capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-organization capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The application server serves as an energy-efficient intermediary by centralizing the computationally intensive self-organization tasks. HeNBs only need to send and receive simple SIP messages with minimal processing, while the application server handles the complex information collection and analysis, thereby significantly reducing the power consumption at the distributed HeNB level

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses SIP message copies (registration, subscription, publishing) to transfer information between HeNBs and the application server. This copying mechanism allows HeNBs to share their configuration states and receive optimization recommendations without requiring continuous active radio monitoring, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining self-organization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Loss of information

If radio sniffing is used for network information collection, then information acquisition is enabled, but measurement accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation acquisitionVSAvoidinformation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the inaccurate radio sniffing method with precise SIP-based information exchange. By substituting the indirect and error-prone radio signal interception with direct SIP messaging protocols, the system achieves reliable and accurate information acquisition about network state and configuration parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where HeNBs publish their configuration states to the application server, which then analyzes the information and sends back optimization recommendations. This closed-loop feedback system ensures accurate information acquisition and verification, improving measurement precision compared to one-way radio sniffing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS9788216B2Method and apparatus for heterogeneous small cells self-organization in LTE networks based on internet protocol multimedia subsystems

Publication Date: 2017.10.10 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A wireless network includes a plurality of small cells. The small cells each register with the network, and an application server tracks the locations of the small cells within the network. Upon entry to the network, the small cell registers with various event packages managed by the application server. When a small cell in the network updates its configurations and/or parameters, the small cell publishes those changes to the application server. The application server determines other nearby small cells that are “interested” in those changes based on their proximity to the changed cell. The application server then notifies those proximate cells of the changes made to the changed cell so that the proximate cells can update their own configurations.