Downlink Interference Alignment via Local Channel Knowledge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interference alignment schemes in wireless communication systems require perfect global channel knowledge, are sensitive to channel estimation and quantization errors, and antenna configuration, and are affected by mobility, leading to high feedback overhead and coordination complexity.

Innovation Solution

A low-complexity interference alignment scheme that aligns interference without requiring perfect global channel knowledge, using local channel knowledge at nodes, where each transmitter only needs to know the channel state information for its affiliated receivers, and each receiver projects cross-channel interference onto a predetermined vector to maximize interference-free space for signal transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional interference alignment schemes are used to improve throughput performance, then interference is aligned and degrees of freedom are maximized, but perfect global channel knowledge is required leading to high feedback overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput performanceVSAvoidfeedback overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the channel knowledge requirement into local components only. Each transmitter needs to know only its own channel to its affiliated receivers and the interfering channel from the other transmitter, rather than requiring complete global channel state information. This segmentation reduces the feedback overhead while still enabling interference alignment through local precoding design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by having each transmitter use only locally available channel knowledge for precoding design. Each transmitter independently designs its precoding matrix based on local channel estimates, eliminating the need for centralized global channel knowledge and reducing feedback requirements while maintaining interference alignment performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If traditional interference alignment schemes are used to improve interference alignment accuracy, then interference is concentrated into fewer dimensions, but the schemes are highly sensitive to channel estimation and quantization errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference alignment accuracyVSAvoidsensitivity to channel estimation error
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by not requiring perfect channel knowledge. Instead of demanding complete and accurate global channel state information, the scheme uses partial local channel knowledge to achieve sufficient interference alignment. This relaxed approach reduces sensitivity to estimation and quantization errors while still concentrating interference into fewer dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-affected harmful factors

If existing interference alignment schemes are applied to manage interference between base stations, then interference effect is decreased, but coordination complexity and feedback overhead increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference effectVSAvoidcoordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables self-service operation where each transmitter independently designs its precoding matrix using only locally available channel knowledge. Each base station autonomously manages its own interference without requiring complex coordination with other base stations, thereby reducing coordination complexity and feedback overhead while still decreasing the interference effect through local interference alignment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2671327B1Downlink multi-user interference alignment scheme
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2671327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2671327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2671327B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In the field of wireless communications, a method, system and device are provided for interference alignment on a downlink. The system uses a predetermined vector and channel knowledge from each transmitter to compute and feed back equivalent channel vector information from each receiver to its affiliated transmitter. With this information, each transmitter selects a set of affiliated receivers and constructs a transmitted signal by applying a selected precoding vector to rank 1 data, thereby eliminating interference to certain non-affiliated receivers.