C-RAN Signal Processing for Co-Channel Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
In densely populated areas, wireless communication networks face challenges with co-channel interference due to the increased number of users and small cell deployments, leading to reduced spectral efficiency and network congestion, as traditional solutions focus on avoiding or reducing interference rather than utilizing it constructively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of cloud-based or centralized radio access networks (C-RANs) that leverage interfering signals to improve spectral efficiency by jointly processing signals from multiple cell sites, utilizing 'interfering' signals to enhance communication throughput and network performance through advanced algorithms and architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the number of cell towers and small cells is increased to serve more wireless users, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but signal interference among devices communicating with overlapping cell towers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful interfering signals into beneficial information by having base stations process and utilize signals from multiple cell towers including interfering ones. The base station receives principal signals from its served device and interfering signals from other cell towers, then processes these signals together to extract useful information, thereby transforming the harmful interference into a resource that improves network capacity and spectral efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If traditional interference control solutions are used to avoid or reduce interference sources, then interference levels are reduced, but spectral efficiency improvement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of merely reducing interference through traditional methods like frequency reuse or antenna pattern adjustment, the patent processes interfering signals to extract useful information. The base station utilizes both principal and interfering signals together, converting the previously harmful interference into a resource that enhances spectral efficiency and network throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the processing of principal signals and interfering signals at the base station. Rather than treating them as separate entities where interfering signals are discarded, the system combines both signal types and processes them together to extract useful information, thereby improving overall spectral efficiency.
3Device complexity
If base stations only process their own received signals from devices within their serving area, then processing complexity is reduced, but interfering signals are treated as noise and spectral efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the signal processing scope of base stations by having them process not only their own received signals but also interfering signals from other cell towers. This unified processing approach allows the system to extract useful information from previously discarded interfering signals, improving spectral efficiency despite increased processing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station is given multi-functionality by enabling it to process both principal signals from its served devices and interfering signals from other cell towers. This universal processing capability allows the base station to serve multiple purposes: maintaining its primary function while also utilizing interfering signals to improve overall network spectral efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing system may utilize interfering signals of two or more wireless devices for improving communications involving the two or more wireless devices. These techniques and architectures may allow for improved spectral efficiency that enables a relatively large number of wireless devices to communicate among one another via receivers that share overlapping or adjacent frequencies. Such utilization of interfering signals may help solve a general problem involving, for example, co-channel interference (CCI) arising from densely deployed relatively small wireless communication cells for increasing communication throughput.