Wireless Network Self-Configuration via Publish-Subscribe Messaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional cellular communications networks require extensive manual planning and operational expenditure for deploying large numbers of small cells, as each femtocell base station must handle signaling traffic from every other base station, limiting scalability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method using a publish-subscribe messaging pattern to transmit operational context information, allowing access points to autonomously set radio configurations based on received messages from peers, reducing the need for extensive network planning and message processing across all base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If every femtocell base station handles signaling traffic from every other femtocell base station, then radio configuration can be collectively optimized, but device complexity and operational expenditure increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network controller as an intermediary component that centralizes the radio configuration optimization process. Instead of each femtocell base station independently handling signaling traffic from all other base stations, the network controller receives configuration requests from femtocells, coordinates with neighboring base stations, and returns optimized configurations. This mediator approach significantly reduces the processing burden on individual base stations while maintaining collective optimization benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the radio configuration optimization function from the base station level and assigns it to the network controller level. The optimization process is divided into distinct phases: configuration request transmission, neighboring base station identification, coordination with network controller, and configuration application. This segmentation allows distributed base stations to participate in optimization without bearing the full complexity of processing all signaling traffic independently.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual planning is used for network configuration, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but productivity and deployment speed decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service automation where femtocell base stations autonomously generate configuration requests, identify neighboring base stations, and apply optimized configurations without requiring manual network planning intervention. The system automatically handles the entire configuration optimization process, eliminating the need for manual planning while maintaining configuration accuracy through automated coordination with the network controller.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by having femtocell base stations proactively transmit configuration requests and identify neighboring base stations before final configuration is applied. The network controller pre-coordinates with neighboring base stations and prepares optimized configurations in advance, enabling rapid deployment and configuration changes without requiring manual planning intervention at the time of deployment.
3Reliability
If extensive network planning is performed, then network coverage is optimized, but loss of time and operational expenditure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service automation where the network system automatically performs coverage optimization through distributed femtocell base stations communicating with the network controller. Base stations autonomously identify their coverage areas, request configuration optimization, and apply settings without requiring manual network planning. This eliminates time-consuming manual planning while maintaining optimized network coverage through automated coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where femtocell base stations continuously monitor their operational environment, identify neighboring base stations, and request configuration adjustments based on actual coverage conditions. The network controller receives this feedback, coordinates with neighboring base stations, and returns updated configurations. This closed-loop feedback system maintains optimized network coverage dynamically without requiring extensive manual planning upfront.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular communications network includes multiple base stations. In order for the network to provide the best possible coverage for users, it is necessary for the radio configuration of each base station to take into consideration the radio configurations of nearby base stations. Operational context information for the access point is transmitted according to a publish-subscribe messaging pattern. Information is received identifying at least one other access point meeting proximity criteria. The access point subscribes to publish-subscribe messages from the or each other access point identified in said information, and sets its radio configuration information in view of the received messages from the or each other access point.