Base Station Antenna Downtilt Scanning for Interference Localization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current base stations face interference issues due to complex electromagnetic environments, leading to poor signal coverage, self-interference, and external interference from unauthorized devices and weather conditions, making it difficult to determine and eliminate the sources of interference.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a downtilt angle scanning function of the antenna to differentiate between internal and external interference by analyzing changes in broadband and narrowband receiving power with antenna adjustments and transmission channel states, allowing for the identification of interference sources and their locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If downtilt angle scanning is performed to locate interference sources, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the scanning process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference source location accuracyVSAvoidtime for interference detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring receiving power at different downtilt angles before actual interference occurs. The pre-established power difference thresholds enable rapid interference source identification without requiring full scanning when interference is present, thus reducing detection time while maintaining location accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station uses its own antenna downtilt scanning capability and receiving power measurement functions to automatically detect and locate interference sources. The system serves itself by utilizing existing hardware resources (antenna, receiver) for dual purposes: normal communication and interference detection, eliminating the need for separate dedicated detection equipment and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Measurement precision

If broadband and narrowband receiving power measurements are taken at multiple downtilt angles, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference source identification accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption for power measurements
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial measurements by taking receiving power data at selectively chosen downtilt angles rather than exhaustive scanning at all possible angles. The method uses power difference comparisons between broadband and narrowband measurements to identify interference sources, requiring only sufficient (not excessive) angular sampling points to achieve accurate source localization while reducing total measurement count and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3197199B1Method and system for locating interference to base station
Publication Date: 2019.03.20 ZTE CORP
  • EP3197199B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3197199B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3197199B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided are a method and a system for locating interference to a base station. The method includes: enabling a downtilt angle scanning function of an antenna of a base station, adjusting a downtilt angle of the antenna, performing scanning and recording values of broadband receiving power and narrowband receiving power received by the base station at corresponding downtilt angles; and determining a source of interference according to a relationship of changes of the values of the broadband receiving power and the narrowband receiving power with the downtilt angle of the antenna and whether the values of the broadband receiving power and the narrowband receiving power change after a downlink transmission channel of the base station is turned off.