UTRAN Router IP Multicast Macro Diversity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current macro diversity solutions in UTRANs result in costly transmission resource consumption due to split downlink flows and uncombined uplink flows being transported between RNC and Node B, leading to significant operational costs.
Innovation Solution
Distributing macro diversity functionalities to routers within the IP-based UTRAN transport network using IP multicast protocols to split and combine DCH traffic flows, reducing redundant data transport and optimizing transmission resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If macro diversity functionality is implemented in RNC with split downlink flows and uncombined uplink flows being transported between RNC and Node B, then radio link quality is improved through diversity combining, but transmission resource consumption increases leading to high operational costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the macro diversity combining functionality from the RNC and relocates it to the transport network router. This allows the split downlink flows to be recombined at the router level, eliminating the need to transport separate flow copies between RNC and Node B, thereby reducing transmission resource consumption while maintaining radio link quality improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The transport network router acts as an intermediary element between the RNC and Node B. It performs the combining function that was previously done only in the RNC, serving as a mediator that reduces the transmission burden on the radio interface while maintaining the diversity combining benefit for radio link quality
2Reliability
If RNC locations are distributed geographically to support macro diversity, then radio coverage and reliability are improved, but operation and maintenance complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the macro diversity combining function with the existing transport network router infrastructure. This eliminates the need for geographically distributed RNC locations to support macro diversity, as the combining function is now centralized in the transport network. Operators can maintain centralized RNC locations while still achieving macro diversity benefits, thereby simplifying operation and maintenance
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a router, computer program products and a method in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). The router resides in an Internet Protocol (IP) based UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) Transport Network. The UTRAN transport network carries Dedicated Channel (DCH) frames on DCHs between a RNC and at least one Node B, wherein the router comprises means for splitting one DCH traffic flow into at least two DCH traffic flows by using an IP multicast protocol.