Virtual Base Station Consolidates Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of network communication and management increases with the deployment of multiple independent small-cell base stations, as they need to communicate and manage separately with macro base stations and network management servers, leading to increased network elements and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A communications system that presents multiple macro and small-cell base stations as a single network element on the network management server, using a control apparatus to aggregate and distribute data and manage remote apparatuses, reducing the complexity of network communication and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If independent small-cell base stations are deployed to enhance network capacity, then network capacity is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple separate communication and management connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small-cell base stations and macro base stations into a single logical network element (virtual base station) that communicates with the network management server as one unified entity. This consolidation maintains the individual operational capabilities of each physical base station while presenting a simplified interface to the management system, thereby improving network capacity without proportionally increasing management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual base station as an intermediary layer between the physical base stations (macro and small-cell) and the network management server. This virtual entity aggregates management functions and communicates with the server on behalf of multiple physical stations, reducing the number of direct communication channels and simplifying the overall network architecture.
2Ease of operation
If multiple independent base stations communicate separately with the network management server, then individual management control is achieved, but communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication channels between physical base stations and the network management server into a single aggregated channel through the virtual base station. Management messages for multiple physical stations are consolidated and transmitted through the virtual entity, significantly reducing communication overhead while maintaining the ability to individually manage each physical base station through the unified interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate management connections are established for each base station, then granular control is possible, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual base station acts as an intermediary that receives unified management commands from the network management server and distributes them to appropriate physical base stations. This intermediary layer maintains granular control capability by enabling individual configuration and management of each physical base station while presenting a simplified operational interface to the management system, thereby reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a communications system, including: a control apparatus, multiple remote apparatuses, and a network management server, where the control apparatus communicates with and connects to the multiple remote apparatuses, and the control apparatus controls data aggregation and distribution of the multiple remote apparatuses; the control apparatus communicates with and connects to the network management server, and the network management server and the control apparatus transmit management data and feedback data according to a preset solution, so that the control apparatus and the multiple remote apparatuses are presented as only one network element on the network management server. Compared with the prior art in which many small-cell base stations are independently presented on a network management server side, the communications system provided in the embodiments of the present invention can enable many macro base stations and small-cell base stations to be presented as only one network element on the network management server side, thereby reducing complexity of network communication and management.