Possibility of a new type of wireless network: Connected small cells with 3G-LTE signaling primitives and PON for the backhaul

Abstract

This paper proposes a new type of wireless network named Virtual Single Cell (VSC) network. The VSC network means a small cell net which allows smooth packet transfer to moving terminals as if they stayed in a single cell. Small cells are contiguously deployed over roads, and connected with backhaul using PON (Passive Optical Network) drawing large latency. Each terminal is closed in an LMC (Logical Macro Cell) which consists of a few numbers of adjacent cells around the cell with the target terminal, and LMC is handed over to follow moving terminal. If the interruption due to cell to cell move in an LMC is small enough, the total of the net can be a virtual single cell. This paper examines the 3G-LTE based handover procedures for the small cell net under the conditions that the total of net are synchronously operated considering the cell size is very small, and cells are contiguously placed. Taking advantage of LMC, some information like an identifier for interruption to the target base station for handover is prepared before the handover action. If a terminal notifies directly handover to the target base station using SR (Schedule Request) on PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) at the instance of the handover necessity, the interruption due to handover is very small, and comparable to the packet transfer cycle. PON with multicast functionality contributes to configuring LMC, and its large latency cannot be harmful.