Drone-UE Interference Mitigation at Extraordinary Altitudes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cellular communication networks lack the means to detect and mitigate interference caused by unmanned aerial vehicles (Drone-UEs) operating at extraordinary altitudes, which affects neighboring cells and conventional UEs, including those engaged in device-to-device and vehicular communication, leading to degraded throughput performance.
Innovation Solution
A method to detect Drone-UEs operating at extraordinary altitudes, involving network assistance and inter-node signaling to measure and adjust radio access settings, including hierarchical interference level measurement and iterative control loops to minimize interference by adjusting parameters such as transmit power, beamforming, and resource allocation across neighboring cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If Drone-UEs operate at extraordinary altitudes to provide wide coverage, then network coverage area is improved, but interference to neighboring cells and conventional UEs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the transmit power of Drone-UEs based on their altitude and interference measurements. When a Drone-UE is detected at extraordinary altitude causing interference, the network reduces its transmit power parameter to mitigate the harmful effect while maintaining coverage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where neighboring cells measure interference from Drone-UEs and report back to the serving cell. This feedback loop enables the network to detect interference conditions and adjust Drone-UE transmit parameters accordingly, resolving the contradiction between coverage and interference.
2Reliability
If Drone-UEs transmit at high power to maintain connectivity at altitude, then communication reliability is improved, but interference to conventional UEs on ground increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes the transmit power parameter of Drone-UEs based on real-time interference measurements. When interference to conventional UEs is detected, the transmit power is reduced to protect ground users while maintaining sufficient connectivity for the Drone-UE through adaptive modulation and coding.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static transmit power configuration to dynamic power adjustment. The Drone-UE's transmit power is continuously adapted based on interference conditions, altitude changes, and channel quality, enabling the system to maintain reliability while minimizing harmful effects on conventional UEs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the network implements interference detection and mitigation for Drone-UEs, then interference management capability is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing network entities multi-functional by enabling eNodeBs to perform both conventional UE management and Drone-UE interference management using the same measurement and signaling infrastructure. This approach improves interference management capability without proportionally increasing network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network uses its existing interference measurement mechanisms and reporting structures to detect and manage Drone-UE interference. By repurposing existing self-service capabilities rather than introducing entirely new systems, the patent achieves improved adaptability with limited additional complexity.
4Object-generated harmful factors
If the network reduces transmit power of Drone-UEs to minimize interference, then interference to neighboring cells is reduced, but coverage area and signal strength decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by adjusting not only transmit power but also modulation and coding scheme (MCS) parameters. When power is reduced to minimize interference, the system compensates by adapting MCS to maintain effective coverage, thus resolving the contradiction between interference reduction and coverage maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including transmit power, modulation order, and coding rate in response to interference conditions. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to reduce interference to neighboring cells while maintaining adequate coverage and signal quality for served Drone-UEs through real-time parameter optimization.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method of reducing interference in a mobile communication system caused by a first user equipment, UE, device operating in a cell at a significantly higher altitude than other UE devices in the cell so as to cause interference, the method comprising detecting that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude; and reducing interference caused by the first UE device operating at the extraordinary altitude by controlling the operation of the first UE device.