Base Station Power and Beam Adaptation for Interference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication networks face challenges in reducing transmission power and inter-cell interference while maintaining coverage, especially in scenarios where user terminals are interference limited, and existing methods struggle to identify eligible base stations for power reduction without affecting performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and arrangement that provide interference and noise information to user terminals and base stations to identify interfering base stations, allowing for joint analysis and adaptation of transmit power and antenna beams to reduce power consumption and increase coverage, utilizing reconfigurable antennas to redirect beams from interference-limited areas to noise-limited areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If base stations use large transmit power to improve coverage, then coverage area is increased, but inter-cell interference increases and energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidinter-cell interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making different base stations have different transmit power levels based on their local interference conditions. Base stations are categorized into first base stations (with higher power) and second base stations (with lower power) according to whether they cause or experience dominant interference, allowing each to operate optimally for its local context rather than using uniform power levels across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the transmit power parameter dynamically by adjusting power levels of different base stations based on interference measurements. The system modifies the power parameter from a static uniform setting to a dynamic differentiated setting, where power levels are changed according to real-time interference conditions and user distribution patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If base stations use large transmit power to improve coverage, then coverage area is increased, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-generated harmful factors

If beam tracking is used to reduce inter-cell interference, then interference is reduced, but device complexity increases due to antenna arrays and fast beam steering requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinter-cell interferenceVSAvoidantenna array complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the beam direction adaptive rather than static. Reconfigurable antennas dynamically adjust beam directions to follow user terminal distributions and traffic patterns, allowing the system to reduce interference through adaptive steering rather than requiring complex fast-tracking antenna arrays. The beam configuration changes based on measured user locations and interference conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces reconfigurable antennas as an intermediary between traditional fixed antennas and complex beam tracking systems. These antennas provide intermediate functionality with moderate complexity, enabling beam steering and direction control without requiring full antenna array implementations or fast electronic beam tracking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Area of stationary object

If reconfigurable antennas are used to increase coverage without increasing transmit power, then coverage is increased, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidantenna complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the beam direction adaptive rather than static. Reconfigurable antennas dynamically adjust beam directions to follow user terminal distributions and traffic patterns, allowing the system to reduce interference through adaptive steering rather than requiring full antenna array implementations or fast electronic beam tracking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9008707B2Method and arrangement for reducing interference and enhancing coverage

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

In a method of controlling downlink transmitting power and antenna coverage of base stations in a communication system, the system comprising a plurality of base stations and a plurality of user equipment each associated with at least one of the plurality of base stations, providing (S10) interference and noise information for each of at least a subset of the plurality of user equipment. Subsequently, identifying (S20) at least one interfering base station for at least one user equipment of the subset, and jointly analyzing (S30) the provided interference and noise information for the subset together with the identified at least one interfering base station. Finally, jointly adapting (S40) a transmitting power level and/or an antenna beam of the at least one identified interfering base stations based on the analysis, to provide reduced power consumption and increased coverage in the communication system.