Virtual Base Station Group Handover Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communication systems, especially in environments with large groups of mobile devices in motion, such as trains, the frequent handover of connections between base stations leads to high loads and complexity, with existing solutions either overloading the network or requiring costly and administratively intensive detection and management of virtual base stations.
Innovation Solution
A method where a virtual base station is created and managed by selecting a fixed base station based on the location and movement of a group of mobile devices or vehicles, allowing seamless handover without individual device requests, using a communication system with a selector to choose the base station and a controller to transmit virtual base station signals, optimizing load and connection quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual mobile devices perform frequent handovers between base stations during common movement, then connection continuity is maintained, but the load and complexity on the communication system increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple mobile devices performing handovers are merged into a single virtual base station entity. The virtual base station consolidates the handover management for all devices in the group, so instead of each device independently managing handovers to different physical base stations, they collectively maintain one connection to the virtual base station. This reduces the number of handover signaling messages and simplifies network management.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual base station acts as an intermediary between mobile devices and the physical base station infrastructure. It receives and processes handover requests from mobile devices, then coordinates with appropriate physical base stations behind the scenes. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity of individual handover management from both the mobile devices and the network core.
2Device complexity
If a virtual base station is created for each individual mobile device, then handover complexity is reduced, but the administrative effort and system resources increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple virtual base stations for individual devices are merged into a single shared virtual base station. Instead of creating separate virtual entities for each mobile device, the invention consolidates them into one virtual base station that serves the entire group of devices simultaneously. This dramatically reduces the number of virtual base station instances from potentially hundreds to just one or a few.
Solution Approach 2:
The single virtual base station is designed to be universal, serving multiple mobile devices simultaneously. It handles connection management, handover coordination, and signal processing for all devices in the group through a unified interface, eliminating the need for device-specific virtual base station instances.
3Reliability
If fixed base stations are designed for peak loads during handover events, then connection reliability is maintained, but energy consumption and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual base station enables periodic or scheduled handover coordination instead of continuous peak-load handling. By pre-coordinating handovers and distributing load more evenly across time, the system avoids concentrating all handover traffic at once, allowing base stations to operate at more consistent, lower power levels rather than constantly preparing for peak loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual base station performs preliminary handover preparation and coordination before actual handover events occur. It pre-negotiates resource allocation and timing with target base stations, allowing them to activate or deactivate resources in advance rather than suddenly scaling up during peak handover moments. This smoothing effect reduces the need for base stations to maintain high power levels continuously.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for a cellular communication system with a plurality of fixed base stations (2) comprising the following steps: Selecting a fixed base station (2) from the plurality of fixed base stations (2) based on the location and/or movement of a group of mobile devices connected to a virtual base station. Transmitting signals from the virtual base station from the selected fixed base station (2).