Unified MAC Processing for Low-Overhead Base Station Handover

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Solution Overview

Problem

Handover of wireless LAN terminals between base stations results in significant overhead due to the need for disconnecting from one base station and reconnecting to another.

Innovation Solution

A base station system where a first base station functions as a higher-order access point, centrally managing MAC layer processing for multiple second base stations, using a common MAC address, and transmitting MAC frames to these stations to minimize overhead during handovers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a terminal switches base stations during handover, then the terminal can maintain connection in mobile environments, but overhead increases due to disconnection and reconnection processes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehandover capabilityVSAvoidoverhead during base station switching

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the MAC layer processing functions of multiple base stations into a centralized MAC processing unit. This allows multiple base stations (first base station and second base stations) to share a common MAC address and coordinate handovers without requiring terminal disconnection and reconnection, thereby reducing overhead while maintaining handover capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized MAC processing unit serves multiple base stations with a single MAC address, making the MAC layer universally applicable across different base stations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate MAC addresses at each base station, reducing handover overhead while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If each base station has independent MAC layer processing, then each station operates autonomously, but system complexity increases and handover overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautonomous base station operationVSAvoidMAC layer management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the MAC layer processing function from individual base stations and places it in a centralized MAC processing unit. This separation allows base stations to focus on physical layer operations while the centralized unit handles MAC layer management, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining autonomous operation capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12588058B2Base station, base station system, and communication method

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 NT T INC

AI summary

A base station (20A) that, in a base station system (1) including a first base station (10) and at least two second base stations (20A, 20B), functions as the first base station (10), includes: a MAC processing unit (103) that performs MAC layer processing and generates a first MAC frame used in common between the first base station (10) and the second base station (20A); and a communication processing unit (105A) that transmits the first MAC frame to the second base station (20A).