Cellular Network Edge Region Interference Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular telecommunications networks face challenges in providing sufficient LTE coverage and managing interference at the edge regions of radio coverage areas, particularly near territorial borders, due to theoretical frequency coordination models like HCM, which often result in under-prediction or over-prediction of field strengths, leading to inadequate coverage or interference issues.
Innovation Solution
The method involves optimizing cell individual blacklist settings and antenna parameters based on mobile measurements within LTE and UMTS radio cells, using separate blacklist settings for active and idle modes, and referencing physical cell identifiers or primary scrambling codes to reduce unnecessary measurements and interference, thereby enhancing network operation in edge regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the HCM-agreement prediction model is used to ensure field-strength thresholds are not exceeded, then interference between adjacent cellular telecommunications networks is avoided, but the edge region of the radio coverage area is insufficiently covered with LTE service
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the blacklist settings into separate configurations for active mode and idle mode. This allows independent optimization of interference management for each operational state, enabling the network to maintain coverage reliability while preventing interference by applying appropriate blacklist settings specific to each mode rather than using a single conservative configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of cell identifier blacklist settings by introducing mode-specific blacklists with different configurations. For idle mode, a first blacklist is applied, while for active mode, a second blacklist is applied. This parameter differentiation allows the system to achieve both interference avoidance and sufficient coverage by tailoring the blacklist strictness to the operational context
2Object-affected harmful factors
If cell identifier blacklist settings are applied to avoid interference from foreign network cells, then interference is reduced, but unnecessary measurements are still performed that waste network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement control mechanism by introducing mode-specific blacklist settings. In idle mode, the first blacklist prevents measurements of foreign network cells that would waste resources. In active mode, the second blacklist provides targeted interference avoidance. This segmentation eliminates unnecessary measurements while maintaining interference protection, thereby reducing network resource consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring blacklist settings in advance for each operational mode. The blacklists are prepared beforehand based on network planning information about foreign network cells, so that when the UE enters a specific mode, the appropriate blacklist is already in place to prevent unnecessary measurements or interference, rather than reacting after the problem occurs
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for an improved operation of a cellular telecommunications network (100) in an edge region of the radio coverage area of the cellular telecommunications network (100), wherein the cellular telecommunications network comprises an access network (110), wherein a user equipment (20) is located in a radio cell (130) of the access network (110), the radio cell being located in the edge region of the radio coverage area of the cellular telecommunications network and the radio cell being served by a serving base station entity (111), wherein the user equipment (20) - besides receiving radio signals from the serving base station entity (111) - receives radio signals also from a further base station entity (211) of a further cellular telecommunications network (200), wherein a specific physical cell identifier is assigned to the further base station entity (211), wherein the serving base station entity (111) transmits a blacklist information regarding physical cell identifiers to the user equipment, the blacklist information referring to physical cell identifiers for which measurements - to be conducted by the user equipment - of the radio environment at the position of the user equipment (20) are to be avoided, wherein the method comprises the following steps: • in a first step, a first blacklist information - received by the user equipment (20) - refers at most to other physical cell identifiers than the specific physical cell identifier (or even the physical cell identifier blacklist is emptied altogether, i.e. the first blacklist information does not comprise any entries at all or is omitted from the base station entity), and the user equipment receives - from the further base station entity - an information comprising the specific physical cell identifier, wherein the specific physical cell identifier as well as additional information related to the further base station entity are transmitted by the user equipment to the serving base station entity, • in a second step, subsequent to the first step, a second blacklist information - received by the user equipment - refers at least to the specific physical cell identifier, and the user equipment, upon reception from the further base station entity (211) of an identifier information comprising the specific physical cell identifier, avoids transmitting additional information regarding the further base station entity (211) to the serving base station entity (111).