Split Precoding Between gNB Central and Distributed Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular networks face challenges in meeting performance targets such as latency and delay, particularly when a large number of mobile devices communicate with base stations, necessitating improved methods for communication between base stations and mobile devices.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a disaggregated Generation Node-B (gNB) architecture with a split precoding and prefiltering functionality between its central unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU), allowing for efficient communication through the use of precoding matrices and prefiltering matrices to optimize signal transmission and reception across multiple antennas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a large number of mobile devices communicate with the base station, then network capacity increases, but latency and delay performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is segmented into a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU), with further functional splits into protocol layers (PDCP, RLC, MAC, PHY). This segmentation allows processing to be distributed across multiple locations and units, enabling parallel processing of multiple user devices simultaneously, thereby reducing latency and delay while maintaining high network capacity.
2Reliability
If signal processing is performed entirely at the base station, then communication quality is maintained, but system complexity and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station's signal processing functions are segmented and distributed between the central unit and distributed unit, with protocol layers further divided (PDCP at CU, RLC/MAC/PHY at DU). This segmentation reduces the processing burden on any single base station component while maintaining communication quality through coordinated processing across the distributed architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The central unit acts as an intermediary between the core network and distributed units, managing higher-layer protocols (PDCP, RLC) and coordinating with multiple DUs. This intermediary structure distributes processing responsibilities, reducing complexity at individual base station components while maintaining overall communication quality through centralized coordination.
3Productivity
If precoding and prefiltering are performed at multiple stages, then signal transmission efficiency improves, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Precoding and prefiltering operations are segmented and distributed across different protocol layers and processing stages. The PHY layer at the DU performs precoding for multiple antennas, while the CU handles higher-layer processing. This segmentation enables efficient signal transmission through multi-stage processing while distributing complexity across the network architecture rather than concentrating it at a single point.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of a Generation Node-B (gNB) and methods of communication are disclosed herein. The gNB may be configured with logical nodes including a gNB central unit (gNB-CU) and a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU). The gNB-CU 106 may determine a first precoding matrix and a second precoding matrix for a precoding of one or more data streams for transmission on a plurality of antennas coupled to the gNB-DU. The precoding may be in accordance with a split functionality between the gNB-CU and the gNB-DU that includes: precoding by the gNB-CU with the first precoding matrix, and precoding by the gNB-DU with the second precoding matrix.