US 11,659,470 B2 · Fast inter-base station ring (FIBR): new millimeter wave cellular network architectures and processes

Abstract

Fifth Generation (5G) Millimeter Wave (mmWave) cellular networks are expected to serve a large set of throughput intensive, ultra-reliable, and ultra-low latency applications. To meet these stringent requirements, while minimizing the network cost, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project has proposed a new transport architecture, where certain functional blocks can be placed closer to the network edge. In this architecture, however, blockages and shadowing in 5G mmWave cellular networks may lead to frequent handovers (HOs) causing significant performance degradation. To meet the ultra-reliable and low-latency requirements of applications and services in an environment with frequent HOs, a Fast Inter-Base Station Ring (FIBR) architecture is described, in which base stations that are in close proximity are grouped together, interconnected by a bidirectional counter-rotating buffer insertion ring network. FIBR enables high-speed control signaling and fast-switching among BSs during HOs, while allowing the user equipment to maintain a high degree of connectivity. The FIBR architecture efficiently handles frequent HO events in mm Wave and/or Terahertz cellular systems, and more effectively satisfies the QoS requirements of 5G applications.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method comprising:

a) grouping a plurality of distributed units of a base station (DUBS) in a target area (TA) to form a ring network, wherein the ring network further includes a centralized unit of the base station (CUBS);
b) responsive to a mobile user equipment (UE), entering the TA, conducting, by the UE, a search procedure to find any available DUBSs of the ring network with which the UE can communicate mobile data at a predetermined acceptable level;
c) discovering by the UE, the available DUBSs with which it can communicate mobile data;
d) selecting, a plurality of the available DUBSs;
e) submitting a request, by the UE, for the plurality of selected available DUBSs to serve as an access point for the UE on the ring network;
f) accepting, by each of the plurality of selected available DUBSs, the request and adding, by each of the plurality of selected available DUBSs, an identifier of the UE (UE ID) to an address filter database (AFD);
and
g) receiving or determining, by the UE, channel state information with each of the plurality of selected available DUBSs.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fast inter-base station ring (FIBR): new millimeter wave cellular network architectures and processes

Life of this patent

Fast inter-base station ring (FIBR): new millimeter wave cellular network architectures and processes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18