Coordinated Multipoint Helper Cell Selection via Economic Bidding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern wireless communication networks face challenges in efficiently utilizing frequency resources due to interference between users, particularly in scenarios where backhaul bandwidth limitations restrict cooperation between cells, leading to suboptimal selection of helper cells for cooperative multipoint processing.

Innovation Solution

The system requests bandwidth assistance from multiple cells, ranks potential helper cells based on demand price and headroom information, and iteratively refines the selection to ensure sufficient iterations, ultimately determining suitable helper cells for cooperative multipoint processing while considering backhaul architectural constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If cells cooperate through coordinated multipoint processing, then network efficiency and user throughput are improved, but backhaul bandwidth limitations restrict the cooperation and cause suboptimal selection of helper cells

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidbackhaul bandwidth constraints
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the cell selection problem into an economic market mechanism where cells bid for helper cell positions using demand price and headroom information. This parameter transformation converts technical selection criteria into economic parameters that can be optimized through competitive bidding, resolving the contradiction between network efficiency improvement and backhaul bandwidth constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary market mechanism that mediates between cells seeking bandwidth assistance and potential helper cells. This intermediary system processes bids, matches cells optimally, and manages the cooperative relationships, thereby improving network efficiency while managing backhaul constraints through structured economic interactions rather than direct technical coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If more cells are selected for cooperative multipoint processing, then user throughput is enhanced, but the complexity of cell selection and coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser throughputVSAvoidcell selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables cells to autonomously determine their own value as helper cells by calculating and broadcasting their own demand price and headroom information. Each cell independently evaluates potential helpers through bid submission and selection, eliminating the need for centralized complex coordination while enhancing user throughput through self-organized cooperative relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If iterative refinement of helper cell selection is performed, then network utility is maximized, but the time and signaling overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork utilityVSAvoiditeration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous iterative bidding and selection processes where cells continuously refine their helper cell selections based on updated demand price and headroom information. This continuous refinement maximizes network utility by allowing the system to converge toward optimal configurations while maintaining active cooperation throughout the iteration process rather than stopping at suboptimal solutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentEP3007485B1Methods and apparatus for coordinated multipoint communication
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3007485B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3007485B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3007485B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and techniques for managing helper cells in coordinated multipoint processing. Bandwidth assistance is requested from one or more cells operating in a network. In response to demand price and headroom information provided by a plurality of cells receiving the request, a set of potential helper cells is rank ordered and identified one or more helpers is identified from the ordered set and a candidate helper set is assembled based on bandwidth performance assistance criteria. A new request for bandwidth assistance is made. In response to new demand price and headroom information obtained from the candidate helper set, a determination is made whether sufficient iterations have been performed. If sufficient iterations have not been performed, the process is repeated, and if sufficient iterations have been performed, a requesting cell proceeds to operate while receiving bandwidth assistance from the assembled set.