Base Station Selection Using Composite Metrics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication networks face inefficiencies in selecting a serving base station, particularly when multiple types of base stations (macro, pico, home) are present, and with relay stations, as selecting the base station with the best signal-to-noise-and-interference ratio (SINR) can lead to interference issues and inefficient network capacity utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method for selecting a serving base station based on various metrics such as pathloss, effective transmit power, effective geometry, projected data rate, and control channel reliability, allowing for the selection of a base station with a lower SINR if it provides better network capacity and reduced interference, even if it's not the strongest signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base station with the highest SINR is selected as the serving base station, then the signal quality for the terminal is improved, but the network capacity and interference management deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameter from SINR alone to a composite metric that includes SINR, pathloss, effective transmit power, and network utility. This allows the system to select base stations that optimize overall network capacity rather than just individual signal quality, resolving the contradiction between signal quality and network capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-calculates and stores metrics such as pathloss, effective transmit power, and network utility for each candidate base station before the actual selection process. This allows the system to make informed decisions that balance signal quality with network capacity and interference management, preventing the harmful effect of selecting high-SINR base stations that would degrade overall network performance.
2Reliability
If the base station with the highest SINR is selected as the serving base station, then the connection reliability is improved, but the interference in the network increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces network utility as a selection parameter that explicitly accounts for interference management. By incorporating network utility into the composite metric, the system can select base stations that maintain connection reliability while minimizing the harmful interference they generate in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses network utility metrics that reflect the overall network state, including interference levels. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adjust base station selections to reduce interference while maintaining reliable connections, as the network utility calculation incorporates information about current network conditions and interference patterns.
3Productivity
If multiple metrics are used for base station selection, then the network capacity and interference management are improved, but the selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent calculates and stores multiple metrics (pathloss, effective transmit power, network utility) for each candidate base station in advance, before the actual selection process. This preliminary action allows the system to use a complex multi-metric evaluation without increasing real-time selection complexity, as the heavy computation is performed beforehand and the final selection involves comparing pre-computed values.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for selecting a serving base station for a terminal in a wireless communication network are described. In one design, multiple candidate base stations for the terminal may be identified, with each candidate base station being a candidate for selection as the serving base station for the terminal. The multiple candidate base stations may include base stations with different transmit power levels and/or may support interference mitigation. One of the multiple candidate base stations may be selected as the serving base station. In one design, the serving base station may be selected based on at least one metric for each candidate base station. The at least one metrics may be for pathloss, effective transmit power, effective geometry, projected data rate, control channel reliability, network utility, etc. The selected candidate base station may have a lower SINR than a highest SINR among the multiple candidate base stations.