Terminal-Specific Access Node Clusters for Millimeter-Wave Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency wireless communication networks, such as those using millimeter-wave bands, face challenges with signal loss due to path loss, oxygen and rain absorption, and the reliance on narrow beamforming, leading to abrupt signal blockages and service interruptions, which conventional handover methods are too slow to address.
Innovation Solution
A terminal-specific cluster of access nodes is formed to quickly switch serving beams among access nodes within the cluster, with a Principal Serving Access Node managing data flow and Assistant Serving Access Nodes providing diversity to maintain connection integrity, allowing for proactive buffering and rapid handover with minimal user equipment involvement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If narrow beamforming is used to achieve large directional gain, then link SNR and data rate are improved, but connection stability deteriorates due to abrupt signal blockage by obstacles or device rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the serving access node function by creating a cluster of multiple access nodes (principal AN and assistant ANs), where each node can independently serve the terminal. When the principal AN loses connection due to blockage, the terminal can switch to assistant ANs within the cluster, maintaining connection stability while preserving the high SNR benefits of narrow beamforming at each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a cluster of access nodes with pre-configured beamforming directions and pre-buffered data at assistant nodes. This preparation allows for rapid handover when the principal AN becomes unavailable, minimizing service interruption while maintaining the directional gain benefits of narrow beams.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional hard handover is used to switch serving access nodes, then connection switching is achieved, but service interruption increases due to long control signaling time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing a cluster of access nodes with pre-configured beamforming directions and pre-buffered data at assistant nodes. This preparation allows for rapid handover when the principal AN becomes unavailable, minimizing service interruption while maintaining the directional gain benefits of narrow beams.
Solution Approach 2:
The assistant access nodes act as intermediaries that are pre-positioned and pre-configured to take over the principal AN's function. When handover is needed, these intermediary nodes are already ready with buffered data and configured beams, enabling fast switching without the long control signaling delays of conventional hard handover.
3Device complexity
If single access node serving is used, then network simplicity is maintained, but connection robustness deteriorates due to lack of diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the serving access node function by creating a cluster of multiple access nodes (principal AN and assistant ANs), where each node can independently serve the terminal. When the principal AN loses connection due to blockage, the terminal can switch to assistant ANs within the cluster, maintaining connection stability while preserving the high SNR benefits of narrow beamforming at each node.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by creating a terminal-specific cluster with access nodes having different spatial locations and beamforming directions. Each assistant AN provides diversity in terms of its local geometric relationship with the terminal, offering different signal paths that can compensate for blockages affecting the principal AN's connection.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless communication network includes an assistant serving access node (415) and a principal serving access node (410). The principal serving access node (410) receives one or more measurement reports. The principal serving access node (410) communicates an assistance request to communicate one or more data packets. The assistant serving access node (415) buffers the one or more data packets before receiving the assistance request and communicates the one or more data packets to the user equipment (110).