Distributed Unit Scheduling for Inter-Cell Interference Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cellular radio access networks (RANs) experience throughput degradation and increased inter-cell interference in border regions due to limited frequency reuse and computational capacity, especially in large deployment areas with high user density, leading to capped support channel resources and connected UEs.
Innovation Solution
A distributed unit (DU) system comprising multiple processing units (PUs) and radio units (RUs) is configured to determine protection zones (PZs) and signal zones (SZs) for each UE, allowing independent scheduling and resource allocation across RU groups, minimizing interference and optimizing resource usage through time slot division and RU grouping strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If frequency reuse is limited to reduce interference, then inter-cell interference is reduced, but throughput degradation occurs in border regions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the RUs into multiple RU groups (RUGs) that are further divided into subsets associated with different PUs. This segmentation enables independent scheduling of different RU groups, allowing frequency reuse across non-overlapping RUGs while preventing interference in border regions through coordinated resource allocation. The segmentation of RUGs into first and second subsets with different PU associations creates a structured approach to managing interference and throughput trade-offs.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of RUs is increased to serve larger deployment areas, then coverage area is expanded, but computational capacity of DU becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the DU into multiple PUs, each responsible for scheduling specific subsets of RUGs. This segmentation distributes the computational load across multiple PUs rather than concentrating it in a single DU, enabling the system to manage a larger number of RUs and broader deployment areas without overwhelming any single computational entity. Each PU handles a subset of scheduling tasks independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dimensional transformation by organizing RUs into hierarchical groups (RUGs and PU associations) rather than managing them as individual entities. This grouping structure adds an organizational dimension to resource management, allowing the system to scale efficiently by managing aggregates of RUs through PU-level coordination rather than handling each RU independently.
3Productivity
If reuse is supported only for user data channels, then data communication is optimized, but support channel resources become capped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the same RU grouping and scheduling framework to serve multiple channel types including both user data channels and support channels (PUCCH, SRS). The RU subsets and PU associations are configured to handle different channel types uniformly, allowing support channels to benefit from frequency reuse and coordinated scheduling just like data channels, thereby expanding support channel resources without sacrificing data communication performance.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple cells are deployed to serve large areas, then user density is increased, but throughput degradation occurs in border regions between cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple cells into a single coordinated system by having multiple PUs manage overlapping RUG sets. The intersection of RUG Groups associated with different PUs creates a unified management approach that coordinates resource allocation across what would traditionally be separate cell borders, eliminating the harmful effects of inter-cell interference while maintaining high user density capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment is directed to a system comprising a distributed unit comprising a plurality of processing units (PUs) and a plurality of radio units (RUs). Each PU is configured to: for each time slot included in a first subset of the time slots, independently perform scheduling for at least one shared channel for only those UEs for which the respective protection zone (PZ) span only RU groups (RUGs) included in a first one of a respective pair of RUG Groups associated with that PU, and, for each time slot included in a second subset of the time slots, independently perform scheduling for the at least one shared channel for only those UEs for which the respective PZs span only the RUGs included in a second one of the respective pair of RUG Groups associated with that PU. Other embodiments are directed to scheduling support channel resources.