IAB Node Power Priority Handling for Interference Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) networks, face challenges in managing interference among IAB-nodes, leading to inefficient power usage and potential network congestion.

Innovation Solution

Implementing priority values for IAB-nodes to adjust transmission configurations based on interference detection, allowing lower priority nodes to reduce power when causing interference to higher priority nodes, and employing tie-breaking rules or randomization algorithms to manage equal priority scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If IAB-nodes transmit at high power to maintain communication quality, then communication reliability is improved, but interference to other nodes increases and power consumption increases

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the transmission power parameter dynamically based on priority levels. High priority nodes maintain higher transmission power to ensure communication reliability, while low priority nodes reduce power to minimize interference. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by making power transmission selective rather than uniform across all nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces asymmetric power transmission where different nodes transmit at different power levels according to their priority assignments. Instead of symmetric equal-power transmission that causes mutual interference, high priority nodes transmit at higher power while low priority nodes transmit at lower power, creating an asymmetric structure that reduces overall interference while maintaining necessary communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Reliability

If all IAB-nodes transmit at full power simultaneously, then individual node communication quality is maintained, but network congestion and resource waste increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different transmission characteristics to different nodes based on their local priority conditions. Instead of uniform power transmission across the network, each node adapts its transmission power locally according to its priority level and interference situation, allowing critical communications to maintain quality while non-critical communications reduce resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by having only high priority nodes transmit at full power while low priority nodes transmit at reduced power or remain silent. This partial transmission approach ensures that essential communications receive full resource allocation while non-essential communications use minimal resources, thereby improving overall network efficiency and reducing congestion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of energy

If priority-based power management is implemented, then interference is reduced and power efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases due to priority assignment and monitoring mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by enabling IAB-nodes to autonomously determine their transmission power based on pre-assigned priority levels and local interference conditions. Each node independently monitors its own communication quality and adjusts its power accordingly without requiring complex centralized control, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining power efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where nodes monitor interference levels and communication quality, then adjust transmission power based on this feedback. High priority nodes receive feedback to maintain power when needed, while low priority nodes receive feedback to reduce power when causing interference. This feedback-based adaptation achieves power efficiency without requiring overly complex centralized management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4472300B1Power management priority handling in integrated access and backhaul
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4472300B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4472300B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4472300B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for interference measurements based on a priority value in a network (e.g., an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network). Certain aspects provide a method for wireless communications. The method generally includes determining, at a first wireless node, a policy for handling interference between a second wireless node and a third wireless node, each of the second wireless node and the third wireless node being configured to serve one or more child nodes, and wherein the policy is based on a priority value associated with at least one of the second wireless node or the third wireless node, and transmitting an indication of the policy to at least one of the second wireless node or the third wireless node.