Channel Usage Beacon Signal Design for Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication networks face interference and congestion due to increasing demand for mobile broadband access, which degrades performance in both downlink and uplink transmissions, especially in multiple-access networks like UTRAN.

Innovation Solution

The method involves detecting clear channel assessment opportunities to transmit channel usage beacon signals (CUBS) with specific frequency subcarrier configurations, allowing for efficient data transmission and reception by setting automatic gain control based on the CUBS configuration, thereby optimizing transmission times and reducing interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If more UEs access the wireless communication networks to meet growing demand for mobile broadband access, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but interference and congestion increase which degrades transmission performance

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel access process into distinct phases: CCA detection phase, CUBS transmission phase, and data transmission phase. By dividing the transmission opportunity into structured segments with specific frequency subcarrier allocations for CUBS, the system manages interference more effectively while maintaining network capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The CUBS (Channel Usage Beacon Signal) acts as an intermediary signal that reserves the channel and notifies other devices of upcoming data transmissions. This intermediary mechanism allows the network to coordinate access and reduce collisions, thereby managing interference while supporting increased network capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If CUBS is transmitted with specific frequency subcarrier configurations to optimize channel usage, then transmission efficiency is improved, but signal detection and configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission efficiencyVSAvoidsignal configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by configuring specific frequency subcarriers for CUBS transmission based on the CCA opportunity assigned to the network. The CUBS configuration includes selecting particular subcarriers from the available frequency spectrum, which optimizes channel usage while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized configuration patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If receiver sets AGC based on CUBS configuration to optimize data reception, then reception accuracy is improved, but processing time and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereception accuracyVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The receiver performs AGC (Automatic Gain Control) setting in advance by detecting the CUBS signal before the actual data transmission begins. This preliminary action allows the receiver to optimize its gain settings based on the incoming signal characteristics, improving reception accuracy without adding significant processing time during the critical data reception phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3061300B1Channel usage beacon signal design for cooperative communication systems
Publication Date: 2018.04.04 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3061300B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3061300B1 patent drawingFigure 2A
  • EP3061300B1 patent drawingFigure 2B

AI summary

Design of channel usage beacon signals (CUBS) in cooperative networks is disclosed. After detecting a clear clear channel assessment (CCA), a transmitter selects a configuration of a CUBS associated with the transmitter based on the CCA opportunity assigned to the network. The configuration of the CUBS associated with the transmitter may include a set of frequency subcarriers for CUBS transmissions. The transmitter transmits the CUBS according to transmission characteristics based on the CCA opportunity. In additional aspects, randomization may be introduced into the frequency subcarrier allocations of CUBS configurations where the transmitter receives assignment of virtual frequency subcarriers for CUBS transmissions and maps the virtual subcarrier to physical frequency subcarriers for CUBS transmission. Additional aspects allow for pattern offset values to be determined independently from the transmitter cell identifier. In such aspects, the assigned pattern offsets may be cell identifier-independent, while others may be cell identifier-dependent.