Virtual Cell Formation via Pre-stored Collaborative Beam Indices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for forming virtual cells in wireless communication systems with beamforming technology are inefficient due to the need for extensive beam training, leading to energy waste and delays.

Innovation Solution

The method involves forming a plurality of beams with directivity by Base Stations (BS) and storing collaborative beam index information to minimize beam training, allowing BSs to select and communicate using overlapping beams, thereby reducing the number of beams requiring training.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional beam training is performed for all beam indexes in cells with beamforming technology, then virtual cell formation is achieved, but energy consumption and time delay increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual cell formationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing collaborative beam index information in a database before virtual cell formation. Base stations perform beam training in advance and store the results, so when a terminal moves to a new cell, the beam training process is significantly shortened because the new base station can retrieve pre-stored collaborative beam indices instead of performing complete beam training from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by having base stations store collaborative beam index information from neighboring cells in a database. When forming a virtual cell, the base station copies or retrieves the beam index information from the database rather than performing complete beam training, thereby reducing energy consumption and time delay while maintaining reliable virtual cell formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If conventional beam training is performed for all beam indexes in cells with beamforming technology, then virtual cell formation is achieved, but time delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevirtual cell formationVSAvoidtime delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing collaborative beam index information in a database before virtual cell formation. Base stations perform beam training in advance and store the results, so when a terminal moves to a new cell, the beam training process is significantly shortened because the new base station can retrieve pre-stored collaborative beam indices instead of performing complete beam training from scratch.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by having base stations store collaborative beam index information from neighboring cells in a database. When forming a virtual cell, the base station copies or retrieves the beam index information from the database rather than performing complete beam training, thereby reducing energy consumption and time delay while maintaining reliable virtual cell formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of manufacture

If omni-directional antennas are used for virtual cell formation, then the method is simple to implement, but it is unsuitable for beamforming technology and causes inefficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcommunication efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using directional beams with specific orientations instead of omni-directional antennas. Each base station identifies and uses collaborative beams that are locally optimized for communication with terminals in specific directions. This approach maintains implementation simplicity through database storage and retrieval while achieving high communication efficiency through targeted beamforming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of beam directionality from omni-directional to directional beams with specific indices. By storing and retrieving beam index information that specifies particular beam directions, the system transitions from simple omni-directional transmission to efficient directional beamforming, improving productivity while maintaining ease of implementation through database management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2756607B1Method and apparatus for forming virtual cell in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2756607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2756607B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2756607B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

An apparatus is configured to perform a method for forming a virtual cell in a wireless communication system. A method of a Base Station (BS) for forming a virtual cell in a wireless communication system includes determining at least one beam among a plurality of beams through beam training with a terminal. The method also includes confirming a collaborative beam of a neighboring BS for the determined beam, and sending a request for virtual cell formation for the terminal, to the terminal and the neighboring BS corresponding to the collaborative beam.