X2 Interface Address Selection in LTE Base Stations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE mobile communication systems, establishing an X2 interface between base stations is hindered when the target base station lacks the necessary transmission address information, particularly in cases where base stations belong to different operators or are multi-mode, leading to difficulties in selecting the correct transmission address for connection.

Innovation Solution

A method where the source base station transmits related information, such as a global identifier and operator information, through a mobility management entity (MME) to the target base station, allowing it to filter and transmit the required transmission address information for establishing an X2 interface connection, facilitating the connection setup.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a base station is configured with multiple transmission addresses for X2 interface connection, then the adaptability of the base station is improved, but the difficulty of selecting the correct transmission address increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddifficulty of selecting transmission address
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a new message type (Transmission Address Request/Response) as an intermediary mechanism between source and target base stations. This mediator facilitates the automatic selection process by carrying relevant information (operator ID, global identifier) that enables the target base station to identify the correct transmission address without manual configuration or complex selection algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the target base station sends back the selected transmission address information to the source base station through the MME. This feedback loop ensures that the correct transmission address is confirmed and used for establishing the X2 interface, resolving the selection difficulty through iterative verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If the target base station does not know which transmission address to transmit, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of X2 interface establishment deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the target base station prepare and store multiple transmission addresses with their corresponding relevant information (operator ID, global identifier) before the X2 interface establishment is needed. When a connection request arrives, the target base station can immediately filter and select the correct address without delay, ensuring both ease of operation and reliable connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If manual configuration of transmission addresses is used, then the reliability of connection is improved, but the productivity of network setup deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling base stations to automatically select and configure the correct transmission address through the new request-response mechanism. The target base station autonomously filters relevant information from multiple addresses and sends the correct one back to the source base station, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining connection reliability and improving setup productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2384033B1Method for obtaining the transmission address of the target base station and method for establishing the x2 interface connection
Publication Date: 2016.04.13 ZTE CORP
  • EP2384033B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2384033B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method for obtaining transmission address information of a target base station (BS), comprising: configuring a target BS with corresponding relations between information of each transmission address of the target BS and related information of other BSs; a source BS transmitting its related information to the target BS through a MME; after receiving the related information of the source BS, the target BS filtering out transmission address information required for establishing an X2 interface connection with the source BS from all transmission addresses of the target BS according to the related information of the source BS, and transmitting the out-filtered transmission address information to the target BS through the MME. A method for establishing an X2 interface connection between BSs further comprises, besides the above steps, the source BS initiating a flow of establishing the X2 interface connection to the target BS using the transmission address information of the target BS after receiving it.