Cell Cluster Resource Management for Interference Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ultra-dense networks, existing methods for reducing inter-cell interference, such as Coordinated MultiPoint (COMP) and Inter-Cell Interference Coordination (ICIC), face challenges with scalability and capacity, especially when user equipment lacks ideal backhaul or when interference is severe, leading to inadequate interference coordination.
Innovation Solution
A resource management method where a base station acts as a cluster head within a cell cluster, transmitting resource allocation information to other base stations, enabling efficient resource allocation and improved interference coordination, and allowing the network to expand to lower-level cell clusters, thereby enhancing scalability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Coordinated MultiPoint (COMP) is used to improve cell-edge user equipment performance, then interference coordination capability is enhanced, but the capacity for coordinating interference becomes inadequate when user equipment lacks ideal backhaul or when interference is severe
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into hierarchical levels (macro base stations and small cell clusters), with each level handling coordination independently. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable interference coordination at each level while adapting to local conditions, resolving the contradiction between coordination capability and coordination capacity.
2Reliability
If existing ICIC method is used to transmit all usable resource information via X2 interface, then interference coordination is achieved, but network scalability becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the coordination function into two segments: macro base stations handle high-level resource allocation, while small cell cluster heads handle local interference coordination. This segmentation enables the network to scale by adding more small cell clusters without requiring all base stations to communicate via X2 interface, thus maintaining both coordination reliability and network scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the coordination architecture, with macro base stations operating at one level and small cell clusters at another. This dimensional change allows resource information to be transmitted efficiently within clusters without requiring exhaustive X2 interface communication across the entire network, improving scalability while maintaining coordination effectiveness.
3Productivity
If multiple small cells are densely deployed to improve communication capacity, then spectral reuse capability is enhanced, but harmful mutual interference between small cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the dense small cell network into clusters, each managed by a cluster head. This segmentation allows interference to be coordinated locally within each cluster, enabling dense deployment for high communication capacity while controlling mutual interference through cluster-level resource management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces small cell cluster heads as intermediaries between individual small cells and macro base stations. These intermediaries coordinate resource allocation and interference management within clusters, enabling dense small cell deployment to improve communication capacity while the intermediaries manage the harmful mutual interference that arises.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a resource management method and apparatus for a cell cluster and a communications system. The method includes: transmitting resource allocation information by a base station taken as a cluster head of the cell cluster to other base stations in the cell cluster. By transmitting the resource allocation information by the base station taken as the cluster head of the cell cluster to the other base stations in the cell cluster, resource allocation for the cells may be performed efficiently, capabilities of coordinating inter-cell interference may be improved, and as the cell cluster may be expanded to cell clusters of a lower level or more levels, scalability of the network may be improved.