Femtocell Basestation Power Reporting via Adjustment Factor

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing power control mechanisms defined in 3GPP specifications do not adequately address the power reporting needs of femtocell basestations, particularly when their transmit power falls outside the standard's reportable range, leading to potential interference and inefficient battery use.

Innovation Solution

A femtocell basestation is configured to report an adjusted transmit power within a standard reportable range by calculating an adjustment factor, allowing it to adapt its power settings based on its own and neighboring basestations' reported powers, ensuring accurate power control without altering terminal software.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the basestation reports its actual transmit power, then the power control accuracy is improved, but the reporting mechanism becomes incompatible with existing 3GPP standards when power falls outside the reportable range

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower reporting accuracyVSAvoidstandard compatibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The power reporting mechanism is segmented into two separate components: an adjusted transmit power value that falls within the standard reportable range, and an adjustment factor that captures the difference. This segmentation allows each component to be handled appropriately - the adjusted power maintains standard compatibility while the adjustment factor preserves measurement precision when combined.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adjusted transmit power acts as an intermediary value that bridges the gap between the actual transmit power and the standard reportable range. By reporting this intermediate value along with an adjustment factor, the system maintains compatibility with existing 3GPP standards while still conveying accurate power information for proper power control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the basestation transmits with high power to ensure signal reception, then the signal quality is improved, but the battery consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal reception qualityVSAvoidbattery consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback-based power control where mobile terminals report received signal quality metrics, and basestations adjust their transmit power accordingly. By accurately reporting power levels (using the adjusted power and adjustment factor mechanism), the system enables precise feedback loops that allow basestations to transmit at the minimum necessary power to maintain signal quality, thereby reducing battery consumption and interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If the basestation transmits with high power to overcome path loss, then the transmission reliability is improved, but the interference with other transmissions increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The power control system dynamically adjusts transmit power levels based on real-time channel conditions, interference levels, and power reporting feedback. By using the adjusted transmit power and adjustment factor mechanism, the system enables continuous optimization of power levels, ensuring transmissions are reliable while minimizing interference to other cells and users in the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2269409B1Basestation power control
Publication Date: 2020.02.12 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2269409B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2269409B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2269409B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A basestation, for use in a cellular communications network, has a mechanism for reporting its transmit power. When the transmit power of the basestation is outside a reportable range, it reports an adjusted transmit power within the reportable range, and also transmits an adjustment factor, by which the adjusted transmit power differs from the transmit power. The basestation is also configured to adapt its power settings based on a reported transmit power of at least one other basestation, and is further configured to detect the reported transmit power of the at least one other basestation and to detect an adjustment factor transmitted separately by the at least one other basestation, and to adapt its power settings based on a sum of the reported transmit power and the adjustment factor.