Dynamic Special Subframe Allocation for Interference Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Heterogeneous wireless communication systems face challenges in managing interference and optimizing subframe allocation due to the introduction of low-power nodes, which leads to imbalanced uplink and downlink coverage and limited performance gains, especially in heterogeneous networks with co-channel deployments of macro and low-power nodes.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of dynamic special subframe allocation and resource partitioning techniques, allowing for flexible time and frequency resource partitioning, interference cancellation, and adaptive interference management through X2 backhaul coordination, enables efficient interference mitigation and cell range expansion by designating almost blank subframes for reduced interference zones.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If low-power nodes are introduced to increase network capacity, then system capacity is improved, but inter-cell interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidinter-cell interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time domain by dividing frames into different subframe types (MBSFN subframes and non-MBSFN subframes). This segmentation allows different interference management strategies to be applied to different time periods, enabling low-power nodes to transmit data in non-MBSFN subframes while macro cells use MBSFN subframes for broadcast services, thereby reducing inter-cell interference while maintaining system capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different transmission qualities and power levels to different subframes. Low-power nodes transmit at reduced power or remain silent during MBSFN subframes to protect macro cell broadcast services, while maintaining full power transmission during non-MBSFN subframes. This local quality adjustment reduces interference in specific time periods while preserving overall system capacity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If subframe allocation is made flexible to adapt to traffic loads, then spectral efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic subframe allocation where the allocation of MBSFN and non-MBSFN subframes can be adjusted based on traffic conditions. The system can dynamically reconfigure which subframes are designated for MBSFN services versus data transmission, allowing spectral efficiency to be optimized according to real-time traffic loads while maintaining manageable complexity through standardized reconfiguration procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If almost blank subframes are designated for reduced interference zones, then inter-cell interference is reduced, but system capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-cell interferenceVSAvoidsystem capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic MBSFN subframes interspersed with regular data transmission subframes. This periodic structure creates regular interference-free periods for macro cell broadcast services while allowing low-power nodes to transmit data in between, achieving a balance between interference reduction and maintaining system capacity through time-division multiplexing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP3691171B1Special subframe allocation in wireless networks
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 COMCAST CABLE COMM LLC
  • EP3691171B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3691171B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3691171B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A first base station provides overlapping coverage area with each of a plurality of second base stations. The first base station is of a different base station type than the plurality of second base stations. Each of the plurality of second base stations transmits a message to a plurality of wireless devices in connected mode. The message comprises a subframe allocation bitmap indicating a plurality of subframes. The plurality of subframes comprises a plurality of special subframes.