Dynamic Antenna Coordination Patterns for Inter-Cell Interference Reduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In multi-cell wireless environments, existing technologies face challenges in minimizing inter-cell interference (ICI) and ensuring fair resource allocation among users, particularly those at cell edges, where interference levels are high, leading to suboptimal performance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that dynamically vary coordination patterns among antennas and base stations to group antennas into clusters, allowing different subsets of antennas to serve different subsets of users on different transmission resources, with a scheduling algorithm that determines which user terminals to schedule and on which resources, thereby reducing ICI and improving fairness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a fixed cell structure with one-to-one user-base station mapping is used, then the system structure is simple and easy to implement, but inter-cell interference is high and user performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from a fixed cell structure to a dynamic coordination pattern structure. The system dynamically reconfigures which base stations coordinate together based on real-time channel conditions, allowing the cell structure to adapt rather than remain static. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining implementation simplicity while eliminating fixed structural limitations that cause interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of coordination pattern configuration. Instead of fixed one-to-one mapping, the system varies coordination patterns by grouping different sets of base stations together based on channel conditions. This parameter change allows the system to maintain simplicity in implementation while significantly reducing inter-cell interference through adaptive reconfiguration.
2Productivity
If neighboring base stations use the same transmission resource, then resource utilization is high, but inter-cell interference increases severely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different spatial regions (coordination patterns) to have different transmission characteristics. Within each coordination pattern, base stations coordinate to provide localized interference management, while different coordination patterns can use the same resources independently. This resolves the contradiction by enabling high resource utilization through coordinated local transmissions without causing severe interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the transmission system into multiple coordination patterns, where each pattern represents a distinct grouping of base stations serving specific users. This segmentation allows resource reuse across different segments while managing interference within each segment through coordinated transmission, resolving the contradiction between resource utilization and interference.
3Productivity
If a scheduling algorithm prioritizes users with best channel conditions, then throughput is maximized, but fairness among users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics to the scheduling process by allowing users to be reassigned to different coordination patterns based on changing channel conditions. Users experiencing poor conditions in one pattern may be served by another pattern with better conditions, creating dynamic fairness while maintaining high throughput. This resolves the contradiction by making the scheduling adaptive rather than static.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the scheduling system universal by allowing any user to be served by any coordination pattern depending on conditions. Rather than fixed user-base station mapping, the system universally assigns users to optimal patterns, enabling both throughput maximization and fairness through flexible multi-functional service delivery.
4Device complexity
If users at cell edges are served with fixed coordination patterns, then implementation is simple, but user performance is poor due to high interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring channel conditions and using this information to reassign users to different coordination patterns. Users at cell edges receive feedback about their interference levels and channel quality, allowing the system to adaptively switch them to patterns with better conditions. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple implementation through automated feedback-based adaptation rather than complex manual reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system is disclosed herein for scheduling in a multi-cell environment. In one embodiment, the system comprises a plurality of user terminals; a plurality of base stations to communicate with the plurality of user terminals, wherein the plurality of antennas from the base stations are grouped into coordination patterns that specify which antennas operate together as a cluster to coordinate transmissions with a subset of the plurality of user terminals, and further wherein defined pairs of the antenna sets and associated user sets vary over transmission resources based on coordination pattern changes such that different sets of antennas in the plurality of antennas are grouped together on different resources to coordinate transmissions to different subsets of users; and at least one controller to execute at least one scheduling algorithm to schedule transmissions with user terminals by specifying which user terminal to schedule for service by which sets of antennas and on which transmission resource and with what transmission rate.