X2 Proxy for Macro-Femtocell Signaling Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity and management burden of establishing X2 interfaces between femtocell and macrocellular base stations in Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Networks (E-UTRAN) are exacerbated by frequent changes in femtocell deployment and interference susceptibility, which complicates handover operations and interference control.
Innovation Solution
A proxy node is introduced in the signalling path between macrocellular and femtocell base stations to provide unidirectional X2 signalling for mobility and interference control, minimizing the complexity for macro eNBs by aggregating and managing X2 interfaces centrally through a proxy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If X2 interfaces are established between macro eNBs and femtocell eNBs, then handover operations and interference control can be performed, but the complexity and management burden on macro eNBs increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
An X2 proxy is introduced as an intermediary node between macro eNBs and femtocell eNBs. The proxy receives X2 signalling from femtocell eNBs and forwards relevant information to macro eNBs, while macro eNBs only need to establish X2 interfaces with the proxy rather than directly with each femtocell eNB. This mediator approach maintains handover and interference control capabilities while significantly reducing the number of direct interfaces required at macro eNBs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple femtocell eNB connections into a single proxy interface. Instead of establishing separate X2 interfaces from each macro eNB to every femtocell eNB, the system merges these connections through a central proxy that aggregates signalling from multiple femtocell eNBs, reducing the overall interface complexity at macro eNBs.
2Reliability
If X2 interfaces are established between neighbouring femtocell eNBs, then interference control between femtocells is improved, but the number of interfaces to be managed by each femtocell eNB becomes very large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interface management for multiple neighboring femtocell eNBs through a shared proxy. Instead of each femtocell eNB establishing direct X2 interfaces with all its neighbors, they all connect through the proxy, which consolidates the interface management and reduces the number of direct interfaces each femtocell eNB must maintain.
3Adaptability or versatility
If frequent femtocell deployments and deactivations are allowed, then network adaptability is improved, but the reconfiguration burden on macro eNBs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The X2 proxy acts as a buffer and intermediary that absorbs the reconfiguration dynamics caused by frequent femtocell deployments. When femtocell eNBs are activated or deactivated, the proxy handles the signalling changes without requiring macro eNBs to reconfigure their interfaces repeatedly, thus maintaining network adaptability while protecting macro eNBs from reconfiguration burdens.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a method of operating a communication network comprising at least one macrocellular base station, and a plurality of femtocell base stations that are within the coverage area of the at least one macrocellular base station, the method comprising providing a proxy in a signalling path between the at least one macrocellular base station and the plurality of femtocell base stations, providing unidirectional signalling for the support of mobility and interference control from the at least one macrocellular base station to the proxy; and providing signalling for the support of mobility and interference control between the proxy and the plurality of femtocell base stations.