Virtual Base Station for Multi-Hop Relay Network Resource Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The migration of WiMAX networks from one-hop PMP architecture to multi-hop relay (MMR) architecture poses challenges in radio resource allocation and mobility management, leading to inefficient relay operations due to excessive resource consumption and unmanageable forwarding tables in relay stations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual base stations (VBS) and virtual access points (VAPs) with shared/dedicated radio resource allocation policies, along with auto-configuration and tunnel connection identifiers, enables efficient radio usage and mobility management by logically partitioning the network into virtual groups and optimizing data relay across relay stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If relay stations acquire and decode all MAC PDUs to obtain CIDs for relay operation, then relay functionality is provided, but resource consumption becomes excessive and forwarding tables become unmanageable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary CID information from MAC PDUs by implementing a selective decoding mechanism. Instead of decoding all MAC PDUs to obtain all CIDs, the relay station extracts only the CID information needed for its specific relay operations, significantly reducing processing resources while maintaining relay functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the forwarding table into multiple smaller tables organized by different criteria (e.g., by relay station, by subscriber station, by connection type). This segmentation makes the forwarding information more manageable and reduces the complexity of CID lookup operations at each relay station
2Adaptability or versatility
If all MS CIDs are transferred from all RS along the old branch to all RS along the new branch during handover, then mobility is supported, but relay operation efficiency becomes very inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring forwarding tables at relay stations before handover occurs. When a handover is initiated, the target relay station already has the necessary CID information in its forwarding table, eliminating the need for time-consuming CID transfers during the actual handover process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized controller or gateway as an intermediary that manages CID information distribution. Instead of transferring CIDs directly between all relay stations, the intermediary coordinates the information distribution, reducing the complexity and improving the efficiency of the handover process
3Area of stationary object
If WiMAX network migrates to multi-hop relay architecture to extend coverage, then access coverage is extended, but radio resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each relay station to independently manage its own radio resources and forwarding tables based on its local network conditions and traffic requirements. This distributed approach reduces the overall system complexity compared to centralized control while still achieving extended coverage through the multi-hop architecture
Data Source
AI summary
In a wireless multi-hop relay network arranged in a tree topology, the base station and one or more relay stations are associated as a virtual base station (VBS). The base station and each relay station have a unique virtual base station identifier (VBS-ID) associated with the path defined by the base station and the one or more relay stations. A relay station in the branch uses its VBS-ID for communicating with an attached subscriber station (e.g. a mobile station) such that communications between the base station and subscriber station occur via the VBS. Subscriber station data communications are relayed between the base station and the one or more relay stations over the VBS via a tunnel connection. The VBS is auto configurable. Mobility for subscriber stations and 10 relay stations is provided through reconfiguration of VBS's.