UE Camera-Based Base Station Handover for mmWave Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern cellular telecommunications networks using high-frequency bands like mmWave, User Equipments (UEs) require frequent Line of Sight (LoS) changes with base stations, leading to increased control signaling and poor indoor service due to high attenuation through building materials, and traditional handover methods fail to maintain connectivity when UEs move out of coverage areas.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing an optical camera on UEs to capture images of base stations, processed by a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server with a computer vision process, to determine LoS and initiate seamless handovers between base stations, eliminating the need for traditional measurement reporting and enabling energy mode switching and predictive transfers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If base stations use high-frequency bands (mmWave) to provide service, then network capacity and data rate are improved, but coverage area is reduced and indoor service quality deteriorates due to high attenuation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handover process into visual detection phase and traditional measurement phase. The visual detection component divides the network into smaller sectors with targeted beam directions, allowing precise identification of suitable target base stations without requiring full-coverage measurement reporting, thereby reducing the coverage area limitation while maintaining high capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces visual data (images captured by UE cameras) as an intermediary to assist the handover process. This visual intermediary provides direct information about base station visibility and LoS conditions, bypassing the need for extensive measurement signaling and compensating for the limited coverage area of high-frequency bands.
2Speed
If base stations use high-frequency bands, then data transmission speed is improved, but control signaling overhead increases due to frequent handovers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary visual detection before traditional measurement reporting. By capturing images and detecting base stations in advance, the system pre-identifies potential target base stations and their LoS conditions, allowing the handover to proceed more efficiently with reduced measurement signaling overhead while maintaining high data transmission speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts visual information about base stations from the environment using UE cameras. This extracted visual data provides direct information about base station visibility and positioning, removing the need for extensive measurement signaling and reducing control overhead while preserving high-speed data transmission capabilities.
3Reliability
If traditional handover methods are used, then connectivity is maintained within coverage areas, but handover fails when UEs move out of coverage areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a visual dimension to the traditional handover process. By using image capture and computer vision to detect base stations, the system operates in an additional dimensional space beyond traditional radio measurement, enabling handover detection and initiation even when UEs are at the edge of or outside traditional coverage areas, thereby improving both reliability and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary visual detection of base stations before traditional handover procedures are triggered. This advance detection using camera images allows the system to identify potential target base stations and initiate handover preparation earlier, improving connectivity reliability and enabling handover in scenarios where traditional methods would fail.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures better quality connections by maintaining LoS, reduces network signaling overhead, and allows for proactive handovers, even when traditional methods would fail, thereby improving network efficiency and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
A method utilizing an optical camera on UEs to capture images of base stations
Implementation Method 2
processed by a Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) server with a computer vision process, to determine LoS
Data Source
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AI summary
This invention provides a method, and a network node for implementing the method, of switching a base station in a cellular telecommunications network between a first and second mode, in which the base station uses more energy when operating in the first mode than the second mode, wherein the cellular telecommunications network further includes a User Equipment, UE, having a camera, the method comprising: storing visual data including a visual representation of at least a part of the base station; receiving visual data captured by the camera of the UE; performing a computer vision operation, trained on the stored visual data, on the captured visual data to determine whether the visual representation of the base station or part thereof is present in the captured visual data; and, in response initiating a switch in the base station between the first and second modes.