Enhancing LTE with Cloud-RAN and Load-Controlled Parasitic Antenna Arrays - 通信人家园

Cloud radio access network (C-RAN) systems
consisting of remote radio heads (RRHs) densely distributed in a
coverage area and connected by optical fibers to a cloud
infrastructure with large computational capabilities, have the
potential to meet the ambitious objectives of next generation
mobile networks. Actual implementations of C-RANs tackle
fundamental technical and economic challenges. In this article, we
present an end-to-end (E2E) solution for practically
implementable C-RANs by providing innovative solutions to key
issues such as the design of cost-effective hardware and powereffective signals for RRHs, efficient design and distribution of data
and control traffic for coordinated communications and
conception of a flexible and elastic architecture supporting
dynamic allocation of both the densely distributed RRHs and the
centralized processing resources in the cloud to create virtual
base-stations (BSs). More specifically, we propose a novel antenna
array architecture called load-controlled parasitic antenna array
(LCPAA) where multiple antennas are fed by a single RF chain.
Energy and spectral-efficient modulation as well as signaling
schemes that are easy to implement are also provided.
Additionally, the design presented for the fronthaul (FH) enables
flexibility and elasticity in resource allocation to support BS
virtualization. A layered-design of information control for the
proposed E2E solution is presented. The feasibility and
effectiveness of such LCPAA-enabled C-RAN system setup has
been validated through an over-the-air (OTA) demonstration.

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