Virtual Cell Configuration for Seamless UE Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, especially in dense small cell environments, frequent handovers and radio resource control reconfigurations are necessary for user equipment (UE) mobility, which can lead to increased overhead and decreased throughput and quality of experience.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring a plurality of transmission points to form a virtual cell using dual connectivity or dynamic coordinated multi-point (CoMP) transmission, where a set of subframes or resources is allocated to a UE dedicated cell, allowing the network to switch the UE's cell without frequent handover procedures by using the same cell ID across the virtual cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If frequent handover procedures are used to support UE mobility in dense small cell environments, then UE can move freely between cells, but overhead increases and throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple small cells into a virtual cell by assigning the same cell ID to multiple transmission points. This allows UEs to move between physical cells without experiencing handover, as the virtual cell appears as a single continuous coverage area to the UE, thereby eliminating handover overhead while maintaining mobility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual cell as an intermediary concept between multiple physical small cells. The virtual cell acts as a mediator that coordinates multiple transmission points with the same cell ID, enabling seamless UE movement without direct handover between individual small cells, thus reducing overhead and maintaining throughput.
2Adaptability or versatility
If frequent RRC reconfigurations are performed to support cell switching, then UE can adapt to different cells, but overhead increases and quality of experience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple small cells into a virtual cell with a unified cell ID, the patent eliminates the need for frequent RRC reconfigurations. The UE maintains the same cell ID and configuration across all physical cells in the virtual cell, so no reconfiguration is needed when moving between them, thereby reducing overhead and improving quality of experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual cell with a single cell ID serves multiple physical cells simultaneously, making the cell ID universal across the entire virtual cell area. This multi-functionality allows the same RRC configuration to be used for all cells in the virtual cell, eliminating the need for cell-specific reconfigurations and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for communicating with a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. By using concept of dual connectivity, a network may configure a plurality of cells as a master evolved NodeB (MeNB) and each cell among the plurality of cells as a secondary eNB (SeNB), and communicate with the UE using the configured plurality of cells. Alternatively, by using concept of coordinated multi-points (CoMP) transmission, the network may configure a plurality of transmission points (TPs) for a virtual cell, and communicate with the UE using the configured plurality of TPs.