Aperiodic CQI Reporting for Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently reporting channel quality indicators (CQI) due to interference variations and limited flexibility in existing CQI reporting methods, which can lead to suboptimal link adaptation and increased interference in heterogeneous networks.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an aperiodic CQI reporting scheme that allows CQI measurements and reports to be taken and sent in configurable subframes, rather than fixed ones, enabling flexibility in selecting measurement and reporting offsets based on resource partitioning and interference conditions, thereby improving CQI accuracy and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If fixed subframe CQI reporting is used, then reporting simplicity is maintained, but CQI accuracy deteriorates due to interference variations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCQI accuracyVSAvoidreporting flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic CQI reporting by allowing the UE to selectively report CQI based on interference conditions in different subframes. The UE determines whether to report CQI for each subframe based on whether the interference level exceeds a threshold, transforming the static fixed reporting scheme into a dynamic adaptive scheme that adjusts to varying interference conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the reporting parameter from a fixed periodic schedule to a variable condition-based schedule. The reporting behavior is modified by changing the parameter that triggers reporting from time-based (fixed subframes) to condition-based (interference level threshold), allowing the system to adapt reporting frequency and timing based on actual channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If CQI reporting frequency is increased, then CQI accuracy improves, but network interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCQI accuracyVSAvoidnetwork interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by treating different subframes differently based on their interference characteristics. Instead of uniformly increasing reporting frequency across all subframes, the UE selectively reports CQI only in subframes where interference conditions warrant reporting, applying different reporting behaviors to different local contexts (subframes) based on their specific interference levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by reporting CQI only when necessary (when interference exceeds threshold) rather than continuously or periodically. This partial reporting approach provides sufficient CQI accuracy for link adaptation while avoiding the excessive reporting that would cause unnecessary uplink interference and consume additional network resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If separate CQI reporting for different subframe groups is implemented, then link adaptation improves, but reporting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink adaptationVSAvoidreporting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the CQI reporting process by separating the decision to report from the actual reporting mechanism. The UE independently evaluates each subframe's interference conditions and makes separate reporting decisions for each subframe, rather than reporting a single averaged CQI for a group of subframes. This segmentation allows precise link adaptation per subframe while keeping the reporting mechanism itself simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3425840B1Aperiodic CQI reporting for protected and prohibited subframes in a wireless communication network
Publication Date: 2022.08.31 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3425840B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3425840B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3425840B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

According to certain aspects, techniques for aperiodically reporting channel state information (CSI) on protected and unprotected resources are provided. The protected resources may include resources in which transmissions in a first cell are protected by restricting transmissions in a second cell. According to certain aspects, a request for channel quality indicator (CQI) may be sent in a first subframe, (CQI) may be measured for a second subframe having a first offset from the first subframe, and a corresponding (CQI) report sent in a third subframe having a second offset from the first subframe. According to other aspects, resource partitioning enables to indicate several CQI measurement resource sets, i.e. different sets of subframes, corresponding to different interference conditions to the UE. Then the eNB triggers independent CQI requests for the different defined sets of subframes.