Femtocell Interference Mitigation via Coordinated Resource Prediction

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Solution Overview

Problem

The dense deployment of femtocells in wireless communication networks leads to substantial interference between femtocells and macro cells, particularly in Closed Subscriber Groups (CSG), which can result in reduced quality of service (QoS) and dropped connections for mobile stations, as existing solutions do not effectively guarantee QoS during interference mitigation.

Innovation Solution

A method for coordinated interference mitigation in wireless communication systems, where a CSG femtocell base station collaborates with the serving base station to predict and prepare for resource adjustments, reducing interference by controlling downlink transmission power and frequency/time slots, ensuring seamless handovers and maintaining QoS for both member and non-member mobile stations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If femtocells are densely deployed to improve network capacity and coverage, then network productivity and service coverage are improved, but interference between femtocells and macro cells increases causing quality of service degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by predicting future interference conditions based on current resource usage patterns and mobile station movements. The femtocell base station and macro base station exchange prediction information and prepare resource adjustments in advance, executing power control and resource allocation changes before interference actually degrades service quality, thus resolving the contradiction between dense deployment and interference mitigation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If downlink transmission power is reduced to mitigate interference to non-member mobile stations, then interference is reduced, but service quality for member mobile stations deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference to non-member MSVSAvoidservice quality for member MS
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies local quality by implementing differentiated power control and resource allocation for different mobile station groups. The femtocell base station identifies member and non-member mobile stations, applying interference mitigation resource adjustments specifically targeted at reducing interference to non-member stations while maintaining or adapting resources for member stations based on their current service conditions, thus resolving the contradiction between protecting non-members and serving members.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic resource adjustment where the femtocell base station continuously monitors service quality indicators for member mobile stations and dynamically adapts the interference mitigation strategy. When member station service quality deteriorates, the system adjusts power control parameters and resource allocation in real-time, making the interference mitigation approach flexible and adaptive rather than static, thus resolving the contradiction between interference reduction and service maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If sudden resource adjustments are made to mitigate interference, then interference is reduced quickly, but mobile station connections are dropped and service continuity is broken

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary coordination between the femtocell base station and macro base station before executing resource adjustments. Prediction information about future interference conditions is exchanged in advance, and resource adjustment plans are coordinated and communicated to affected mobile stations beforehand, ensuring that adjustments are executed smoothly with proper handover preparation, thus resolving the contradiction between quick interference mitigation and connection stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements beforehand cushioning by preparing compensatory measures and alternative resource allocations before interference actually occurs. The coordinated system between femtocell and macro base stations pre-arranges handover paths and backup resource allocations, so when interference mitigation is needed, mobile stations can transition smoothly to pre-prepared alternative configurations rather than experiencing sudden connection drops, thus resolving the contradiction between rapid interference response and service continuity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP2471197B1Methods and apparatus to support coordinated interference mitigation in multi-tier networks
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2471197B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2471197B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2471197B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

For use in a wireless network, a femtocell base station in communication with at least one first mobile station is provided. The femtocell base station is configured adjust a resource of the femtocell base station to mitigate interference at a second mobile station. In certain embodiments, the femtocell base station is configured to coordinate a handover of the at least one first mobile station from the femtocell base station to a neighboring base station. In certain embodiments, the femtocell base station is configured to transmit a message regarding the resource adjustment to the at least one first mobile station.