Interference Cancellation via Channel Estimation in Multi-Antenna Receivers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless networking techniques, such as spatial reuse, often result in directional or geographical overlaps that lead to interference between wireless networks, impairing receiver performance and reducing network throughput due to co-channel interference, as devices cannot receive feedback to reduce transmission power and thus continue interfering transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus using multiple antennas to receive and estimate an interference channel, allowing for the cancellation of interfering signals from intended packets, thereby improving receiver performance by suppressing or canceling interference in wireless communication environments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If spatial reuse is implemented to increase spectrum efficiency, then network throughput and user capacity are improved, but co-channel interference between overlapping wireless networks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidco-channel interference

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent receives interference packets from overlapping wireless networks and converts this harmful interference into useful channel state information. By estimating the interference channel from received interference packets, the system transforms the adverse effect of co-channel interference into a beneficial resource for improving signal detection through interference cancellation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary interference cancellation by estimating the interference channel in advance and using it to cancel interference from intended packets. This preliminary anti-action removes the harmful interference effect before it degrades the reception performance, allowing the receiver to operate effectively in spatially reused environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Area of stationary object

If transmission power is maximized to reach far away devices, then coverage range is improved, but interference to other wireless networks increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage rangeVSAvoidinterference to other networks

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the interference generated by high-power transmissions into useful channel state information. By capturing and estimating the interference channel from these strong interfering signals, the system converts the harmful radiated energy into beneficial knowledge about the interference characteristics, which is then used to cancel interference at the receiver.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Measurement precision

If multiple antennas are used to receive interference packets, then interference channel estimation accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference channel estimation accuracyVSAvoidreceiver complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the multiple antennas serve dual functions: receiving both intended packets and interference packets. The same antenna array used for primary communication also captures interference signals for channel estimation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated interference measurement hardware and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own received interference packets to generate the interference channel estimate needed for cancellation. The receiver serves itself by extracting useful interference characterization information from the interference signals it already captures during normal operation, without requiring external calibration signals or additional measurement infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10849133B1Interference cancellation for receivers with multiple antennas

Publication Date: 2020.11.24 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure describes apparatuses and methods of interference cancellation for receivers with multiple antennas. In some aspects, an interference packet transmitted by an interfering device of a wireless environment is received via multiple antennas of a device. Based on the interference packet, an interference channel that describes interference in the wireless environment is estimated. The device then receives an intended packet through the wireless environment in which the interfering device is operating. At least a portion of interference received with the intended packet, such as interference caused by other interfering packets, is cancelled using the interference channel By so doing, a receiver may reduce effects of interfering packets or signals of the wireless environment to improve receive performance (e.g., bit-error rate) for packets that are intended for reception by the device.