Coverage Enhancing Device Activity Pattern for Interference Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems using coverage enhancing devices (CEDs) face interference issues when establishing additional propagation paths, which can degrade communication quality and coverage area due to phase incoherence between signal portions from different paths.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced where a first communication node provides a message indicative of an activity pattern to a reconfigurable coverage enhancing device (CED) to establish and manage propagation paths, allowing the CED to actively relay signals or remain silent based on this pattern, thereby optimizing signal exchange and minimizing interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a first propagation path via a coverage enhancing device (CED) is established in addition to a second propagation path, then signal coverage and communication reliability are improved, but interference between propagation paths increases and communication quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by configuring the CED to operate in periodic active and inactive intervals. The activity pattern message specifies time periods during which the CED should establish the first propagation path and time periods during which it should remain inactive. This periodic operation allows the system to benefit from the additional propagation path during active periods while minimizing interference during inactive periods, thus resolving the contradiction between improved reliability and reduced interference.
2Area of stationary object
If the CED actively relays signals continuously to enhance coverage, then coverage area increases, but phase incoherence between signal portions from different paths increases and communication quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The activity pattern configures the CED to operate periodically with defined active and inactive intervals. During active intervals, the CED relays signals to extend coverage; during inactive intervals, it remains silent to maintain phase coherence. This periodic operation pattern allows the system to achieve both extended coverage area and maintained phase coherence, resolving the technical contradiction between these two parameters.
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 enhances communication efficiency by reducing phase incoherence and interference, ensuring improved coverage and quality by dynamically controlling the activity of CEDs in establishing propagation paths.
Implementation Method 1
An RRD can be implemented by an array of antennas that can reflect incident electromagnetic waves/signals
Data Source
AI summary
According to a first aspect, examples provide a method of operating a first communication node (CN), wherein the first CN is configurable for exchanging, with a second CN on a radio channel, signals via a first propagation path and a second propagation path, wherein exchanging the signals via the first propagation path comprises exchanging the signals via a coverage enhancing device (CED), wherein the method comprises providing, to the CED, a message indicative of an activity pattern for establishing the first propagation path. Further examples provide a method of operating a CED, a first CN, a CED and a second CN.