Virtual-single-cell wireless networks with 3G-LTE-based protocol and PON for backhaul network

Abstract

This paper presents possibility of dense small cell network for local areas from a view of network control considering two types of applications; one is 100m cells for a major road supporting vehicles' mobility and another one is 10m cells for campuses supporting walking mobility. They adopt 3GLTE protocol after slight modification. Handover is directly triggered from a UE (User Equipment) to a target BS (base station) to shorten the handover period though it is relayed on a serving BS in conventional systems while drawing large latency due to backhaul communications. The direct request uses SR (Schedule Request) signal on PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) of 3G-LTE protocol. This can be allowed by short propagating delay in a small cell and synchronous operation of all BSs under clock of PON (Passive Optical Network) used for the backhaul network. Handover resources like SR codes, downward frames, and terminal ID are reserved among the target UE and a group of BSs next to one serving the target UE before handover. Cells surrounding the target UE follow the move of the UE always confining the target UE in the cells with the reserved handover resources.