Base Station Interference Management via Beamforming Clusters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular communication networks face challenges in managing cross-link interference, particularly at cell edges where uplink and downlink signals from adjacent base stations can interfere, leading to deterioration in communication quality, with existing solutions either consuming UE battery resources or increasing signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a base station-driven method using directional beamforming to identify and manage cross-link interference by forming clusters of user equipment, calculating carrier-to-interference ratios, and informing neighboring base stations to schedule user equipment with different radio resources, thereby avoiding interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE participation is used to manage cross-link interference, then interference management capability is improved, but UE battery consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs self-service by autonomously identifying clusters of user equipment prone to cross-link interference, calculating carrier-to-interference ratios, and determining scheduling plans without requiring UE participation. This transfers the interference management burden from UE to base station, resolving the contradiction by improving interference management capability while eliminating additional UE battery consumption.
2Measurement precision
If detailed interference management signaling is implemented, then interference management precision is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes existing uplink signal measurements and scheduling information that base stations already possess, rather than introducing new signaling procedures. By leveraging readily available data for cluster identification and carrier-to-interference ratio calculation, the solution achieves precise interference management while avoiding additional signaling overhead.
3Reliability
If advanced interference management algorithms are deployed, then interference reduction effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the interference management process into distinct functional modules: cluster identification based on uplink signal reception, carrier-to-interference ratio calculation for specific UE pairs, and scheduling plan determination. This modular segmentation reduces computational complexity by processing interference management in discrete, manageable steps rather than requiring complex holistic algorithms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach effectively reduces cross-link interference by allowing neighboring base stations to schedule user equipment with different resources, improving communication quality without relying on UE participation or increasing computational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
user equipments whose uplink signals may be received using a single first directional beamforming beam
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for a base station including at least one processing core, configured to cause the apparatus at least to define a first cluster of time-division duplex user equipments at least partly by including in the first cluster user equipments whose uplink signals may be received using a single first directional beamforming beam, determine a ratio of received signal strengths of a pair of user equipments in the first cluster, the pair including a first user equipment associated with the apparatus and a second user equipment associated with a neighbouring base station device, and responsive to the ratio fulfilling a predetermined condition, inform the neighbouring base station device of a scheduling plan of the first user equipment.