US 8,694,056 B2 · Scalable digital base band processor for cellular base stations

Abstract

An array of base band processors cooperating for sharing processing power in managing and controlling user equipment traffic in a small cellular communication base station (Femtocell). The base band processors array comprises: a master base band processor; and a plurality of slave base band processors, wherein each base band processor comprise a processing unit, a first layer engine, and communication, control and interface modules providing scalability support functionality, and wherein the processing unit and the first layer engine are arranged in cooperation to manage and control user equipment traffic in the cellular communication base station, and wherein the scalability support functionality is arranged to enable coherent and aligned cooperation between the master base band processor and the plurality of slave base band processors connected thereto. Advantageously the array of base band processors may achieve tight control over base station power consumption, increased range and adjustable number of supported users.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A digital base band processor for use in a cellular communication network, comprising:

a processing unit;
a first layer engine;
a communication module;
a control module;
an interface module;
and
a counter configured to be aligned with counters of a plurality of similar digital base band processors,
wherein the digital base band processor and the plurality of similar digital base band processors are configured to manage user equipment traffic in respective regions from among a plurality of regions within a coverage area of the cellular communication network,
wherein the processing unit and the first layer engine are configured to, in cooperation, manage and control the user equipment traffic over their respective region from among the plurality of regions within the coverage area of the cellular communication network, and
wherein the communication module, the control module, the interface module, and the counter are configured to enable coherent and aligned cooperation between the digital base band processor and the plurality of similar digital base band processors connected thereto.

7 more elements

A cellular communication base station configured to manage and control communication traffic within a coverage area, comprising:

a digital base band processor from among a plurality of digital base band processors configured to manage and control the communication traffic corresponding to at least one user equipment from among a plurality of user equipment within the coverage area, each of the plurality of digital base band processors being similar digital base band processors,
wherein the digital base band processor is further configured to provide a synchronization signal to at least two remaining digital base band processors from among the plurality of digital base band processors to synchronize the plurality of digital base band processors to enable coherent and aligned cooperation between the plurality of digital base band processors, and
wherein each digital base band processor from among the plurality of digital base band processors is configured to manage the communication traffic in a respective region from among a plurality of regions within the coverage area.

A digital base band processor, comprising:

a processing unit configured to manage and control communication traffic of at least one user equipment from among a plurality of user equipment within a respective region from among a plurality of regions of a coverage area of a cellular communication base station, the processing unit being configured to be communicatively coupled to a plurality of similar digital base band processors, the processing unit and each similar digital base band processor from among the plurality of similar digital base band processors being configured to manage the communication traffic in respective regions from among the plurality of regions within the coverage area;
and
a counter configured to be aligned with counters of the plurality of similar digital base band processors,
wherein the processing unit is further configured to provide a synchronization signal to the plurality of similar digital base band processors to align the counter with the counters of the plurality of similar digital base band processors to enable coherent and aligned cooperation between the digital base band processor and the plurality of similar digital base band processors.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Scalable digital base band processor for cellular base stations

Life of this patent

Scalable digital base band processor for cellular base stations

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21