Wireless Access Network Segmentation for Cost Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for high-speed and high-capacity data processing in next-generation mobile communications systems, such as 5G, leads to significant increments in investment and operation costs for base stations and cells, particularly due to the concentric deployment of small cells, which is costly and challenging to manage.
Innovation Solution
A wireless access network structure is configured with an access unit and a central unit, where the access unit transmits uplink RRC messages to the central unit and receives downlink RRC messages to efficiently manage radio resource control, reducing the need for high-capacity backhaul and lowering construction and operation costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If concentric deployment of small cells is implemented to transmit large amount of data at high speed, then data transmission capacity is improved, but investment costs and operation costs of base stations and cells increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base station is segmented into two functional units: a Central Unit (CU) that performs higher-layer processing (RRC, PDCP) and Access Units (AUs) that perform lower-layer processing (RLC, MAC, PHY). This segmentation allows data transmission functions to be distributed while sharing common processing resources, thereby increasing data transmission capacity without proportionally increasing overall system costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The Central Unit provides universal processing services to multiple Access Units, handling radio resource control and data processing for the entire system. This multi-functional approach allows a single CU to support multiple AUs, reducing the need for separate base station equipment at each location and thereby lowering investment and operation costs while maintaining high data transmission capacity.
2Speed
If concentric deployment of small cells is implemented to transmit large amount of data at high speed, then data transmission speed is improved, but investment costs and operation costs of base stations and cells increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting base station functions into CU and AU, the system can deploy multiple AUs in concentric small cell configurations to increase data transmission speed, while the shared CU provides centralized processing that reduces the cost of deploying each individual node.
Solution Approach 2:
The Central Unit acts as an intermediary between the core network and multiple Access Units, consolidating higher-layer processing functions. This intermediary role allows fast data transmission through multiple AUs while centralizing complex processing to reduce overall system costs and simplify management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method may be provided for configuring wireless connection of a terminal with a mobile communication network The method of an access unit may include transmitting, to a central unit, a first message having an uplink RRC message received from the terminal; receiving, from the central unit, a second message having a downlink RRC message; and transmitting the downlink RRC message to the terminal.