Interference Coordination for Inter-RAT Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing interference coordination methods in inter-RAT networks fail to effectively resolve co-channel interference issues between LTE and GSM networks due to high system overhead, as they cannot perform interference coordination on all physical resources shared in the frequency spectrum.

Innovation Solution

The method involves acquiring time-frequency position information for cell key signals like CRS, CSI-RS, PBCH, and synchronization signals in LTE networks, allowing for targeted interference coordination by GSM base stations to avoid interfering with LTE base stations, thereby reducing system overhead and co-channel interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If interference coordination is performed on all physical resources in the frequency spectrum, then co-channel interference problem is resolved, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveco-channel interferenceVSAvoidsystem overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum resources into two categories: shared time-frequency resources and non-shared resources. Interference coordination is selectively applied only to the shared resources where LTE and GSM networks coexist, rather than all physical resources. This targeted approach resolves co-channel interference in critical areas while avoiding unnecessary overhead in non-shared resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies interference coordination techniques locally to specific time-frequency resources where GSM and LTE networks share spectrum, rather than uniformly across all resources. The base station identifies and applies interference coordination only to the shared resources, making the solution locally optimized rather than globally applied, thus reducing overall system overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If frequency spectrum resources are shared between LTE and GSM networks, then utilization efficiency is improved, but co-channel interference problem arises

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency spectrum utilization efficiencyVSAvoidco-channel interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station acts as a mediator between LTE and GSM networks. It acquires time-frequency position information of LTE cell key signals, identifies shared resources, and applies interference coordination techniques (such as power control or resource allocation adjustments) to GSM transmissions on these shared resources, thereby enabling coexistence while maintaining spectrum sharing benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes transmission parameters (such as power levels, time-frequency allocation) of GSM signals on shared resources based on the identified LTE cell key signal positions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters, the system maintains efficient spectrum utilization while preventing co-channel interference through parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3076737B1Interference coordination method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2021.09.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3076737B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3076737B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3076737B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose an interference coordination method and an apparatus, which are applied to the communications field and can determine, among inter-RAT networks that share a frequency spectrum, a physical resource for interference coordination, so as to reduce system overhead. The method includes: acquiring, by a second base station, time-frequency position information corresponding to cell key information of a first base station, where the time-frequency position information is used for determining a time-frequency position that is corresponding to the cell key information of the first base station and that is on a shared time-frequency resource, and the cell key information includes at least one piece of the following information: a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state indication-reference signal (CSI-RS), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and a synchronization signal; and performing, by the second base station, interference coordination on the first base station. The embodiments of the present invention are applied to interference coordination.