Femto Cell Power Level Auto-Provisioning via Ec/No Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for setting power levels in wireless communication systems, particularly in environments with both macro-cells and femto-cells, are inadequate for auto-provisioning and optimizing power levels in femto-cells due to diverse RF environments and the lack of centralized planning methods.
Innovation Solution
A network element and method that receive signal quality measurements from wireless communication units, process these measurements, and adjust the transmit power level based on predetermined criteria, including unauthorized access attempts, to ensure optimal communication quality and minimize interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If centralized radio network planning is used to set P-CPICH power levels in macro cells, then power level optimization can be achieved through iterative modeling and drive-by testing, but this approach is unusable for femto cells due to their large scale deployment and diverse RF environments
Solution Approach 1:
The femto cell access point automatically determines its own P-CPICH power level by receiving Ec/No measurements from wireless communication units and processing these measurements through signal processing logic, eliminating the need for centralized network planning and manual configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously receives Ec/No measurements from wireless communication units and uses this feedback to iteratively adjust the P-CPICH power level, creating a closed-loop control system that adapts to changing RF conditions in real-time
2Productivity
If femto cells are deployed in large numbers with overlapping coverage areas, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but interference management becomes more complex and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the P-CPICH power level parameter based on received Ec/No measurements and processing results, allowing each femto cell to adapt its transmission power to minimize interference while maintaining network capacity
3Area of stationary object
If P-CPICH power level is increased to improve downlink coverage area, then more wireless communication units can be served, but interference to neighboring cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The P-CPICH power level is made dynamic rather than static, continuously adjusting based on real-time Ec/No measurements from wireless communication units to balance coverage area and interference levels
Data Source
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AI summary
A network element (230) for communicating with a wireless communication unit (214) in a communication cell (200) of a communication system (200) comprises a receiver arranged to perform a frequency sweep across a plurality of operational frequencies. Signal processing logic (255), operably coupled to the receiver, processes the received signals from the frequency sweep and providing an estimate of a level of interference at a number of frequency carriers of the swept frequencies. The signal processing logic (255) is capable of determining whether a transmit power level at a frequency selected from the processed frequency sweep satisfies at least one predetermined quality criterion of the communication system (200). A transmitter (270) is arranged, upon initial activation of the network element (230), to transmit to a wireless communication unit at the determined transmit power level.