Compensated SINR for CQI Reports with Blocked PRBs

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Solution Overview

Problem

CQI reports from user equipment (UE) are inaccurate when physical resource blocks (PRBs) are blocked due to Enhanced Flexible Channel Bandwidth (E-FCB) operation, leading to muted downlink control channels and reference signals, which affects channel quality estimation and throughput.

Innovation Solution

A network node compensates the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) value based on the reported CQI value to account for blocked PRBs, using compensation functions and mapping tables to select transmission parameters that reflect true channel propagation properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If Enhanced Flexible Channel Bandwidth (E-FCB) operation is implemented to allow partial spectrum overlap between LTE and other RATs, then spectrum utilization efficiency is improved, but CQI report accuracy deteriorates due to blocked PRBs causing muted downlink control channels and reference signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum utilization efficiencyVSAvoidCQI report accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The network node identifies blocked PRBs in advance before CQI measurement and reporting occurs. By determining the blockage pattern beforehand, the network can compensate for the muted reference signals and control channels, allowing accurate CQI reporting despite E-FCB operation. This preliminary identification enables the system to account for blocked resources when calculating channel quality metrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention modifies the CQI calculation parameters by introducing compensation factors based on blocked PRB patterns. Instead of using standard CQI computation, the network adjusts the calculation to account for muted reference signals and control channels in blocked PRBs. This parameter change allows accurate channel quality assessment even when part of the spectrum is blocked for E-FCB operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If PRBs are blocked for E-FCB operation, then interference from other RATs is reduced, but channel quality estimation accuracy deteriorates due to muted reference signals

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference from other RATsVSAvoidchannel quality estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The network node determines blocked PRB patterns before channel quality estimation occurs. By identifying which PRBs are blocked in advance, the system can pre-calculate compensation factors for muted reference signals. This allows accurate channel quality estimation despite the absence of reference signals in blocked PRBs, as the compensation accounts for the missing measurements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of muted reference signals into a beneficial compensation mechanism. Instead of treating the missing reference signals as a loss, the system uses the known blockage pattern to calculate compensation factors that adjust the CQI calculation. This transforms the problem of missing measurements into an opportunity for more accurate channel quality estimation by explicitly accounting for the blocked resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If downlink control channels and reference signals are muted in blocked PRBs, then spectrum flexibility is improved, but transmission parameter selection accuracy deteriorates due to inaccurate CQI reports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum flexibilityVSAvoidtransmission parameter selection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the transmission parameter selection process by incorporating blocked PRB information into the parameter choice algorithm. Instead of relying solely on raw CQI reports, the network adjusts parameter selection based on compensation factors derived from known blockage patterns. This ensures accurate transmission parameter selection even when reference signals are muted in blocked PRBs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the network node receives CQI reports from UEs and combines them with internal knowledge of blocked PRB patterns. This dual-input feedback allows the network to cross-validate channel quality information and make more accurate transmission parameter decisions, compensating for the muted reference signals through the combination of UE measurements and network-side blockage awareness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250300761A1Handling of CQI reports in the presence of PRB blocking

Publication Date: 2025.09.25 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

There is provided techniques for selecting transmission parameters for a user equipment. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises receiving a channel quality report from a user equipment served by a communication network where a portion of PRBs is blocked with muting of DL control channels and reference signals. The channel quality report comprises a CQI value. The method comprises obtaining a compensated SINR value for the user equipment from the CQI value as compensated due to downgrade caused by the DL control channels and reference signals being muted. The CQI value is compensated as a function of how large the blocked portion of PRBs is. The method comprises selecting the transmission parameters for the user equipment as a function of the compensated SINR value.