Channel Reservation Signals for Shared Radio Medium Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, especially in New Radio (NR) deployments, interference and signal collisions increase due to multiple operators sharing the same radio medium, leading to degraded performance and challenges in managing interference and coordinating transmissions with varying power classes and quality of service requirements.

Innovation Solution

A unique reservation technique using new radio channel reservation signals to protect specific power classes and priority classes, allowing for efficient scheduling of transmissions on shared radio mediums, reducing contention and ensuring reliable access, even in competitive environments with mixed power and priority classes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple operators share the same radio medium, then network capacity and resource utilization are improved, but interference and signal collisions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements Listen Before Talk (LBT) procedures where eNBs perform clear channel assessment before transmitting data. This preliminary action allows nodes to detect and avoid collisions with other transmissions, reducing interference while enabling multiple operators to share the radio medium efficiently. The LBT mechanism ensures that transmissions are scheduled in advance, preventing harmful signal collisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If larger eNBs transmit with higher power, then their transmission reliability is improved, but they overpower smaller eNBs and prevent effective transmission

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignal overpowering
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic channel assessment and priority-based access mechanisms where eNBs with different power classes are assigned different transmission opportunities. Larger eNBs with higher power are restricted from transmitting during periods when smaller eNBs have priority access, ensuring that smaller eNBs can effectively transmit their data without being overpowered. This periodic scheduling balances transmission reliability across different power classes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If channel reservation signals are used to protect victim nodes, then transmission reliability for vulnerable nodes is improved, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliability for victim nodesVSAvoidsystem overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements priority class assignments and targeted channel protection mechanisms that apply different levels of reservation signals only where needed. Instead of universal channel reservation for all eNBs, the system identifies victim nodes (smaller eNBs with lower power class) and applies protection measures specifically to them. This local quality approach ensures transmission reliability for vulnerable nodes while minimizing system overhead by avoiding unnecessary reservation signals for dominant nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3552452B1Channel reservation method,system and computer program
Publication Date: 2020.12.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3552452B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3552452B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3552452B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Channel reservation systems and methods are disclosed herein, which schedule transmissions on a shared radio medium that is shared by a plurality of licensed network operators. In embodiments, priority access is pre-assigned to the network and the method determines whether to send a transmission based at least on the transmitter's priority class as compared to another transmitter's priority class and to which transmitter the time slot of a signal is dedicated. In embodiments, priority access may not be preassigned to the network and pre-grants may be used in conjunction with CR-Ts and CR-Rs to determine whether a transmitter transmits.