Long-Term Sensing for Inter-Operator Coexistence in Unlicensed High Frequency Bands

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, particularly in unlicensed high frequency bands, interference between non-coordinating nodes is a significant issue due to the high directionality and short range of transmissions, leading to severe beam collisions and degraded channel conditions, which existing coexistence techniques struggle to effectively mitigate.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of long-term-sensing-based inter-operator coexistence techniques, where user equipment (UE) and network entities collaborate to identify affected non-coordinating nodes through sensing measurements, and adjust communication channels or frequencies to mitigate interference, using methods such as channel selection, per-beam channel deselection, and dynamic frequency selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If beamforming is used to transmit directional communications in high frequency bands, then communication efficiency is improved, but interference and beam collisions between multiple nodes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinterference and beam collisions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs long-term sensing measurements before communications occur to identify potential interference scenarios. Network entities and UEs collect sensing data over extended periods to detect non-coordinating nodes and assess interference risks in advance, allowing preventive actions to be taken before beam collisions occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where sensing measurements are reported to network entities, which then adjust communication parameters accordingly. UEs report sensing results about non-coordinating nodes to the network, enabling dynamic adaptation of beamforming parameters to avoid interference while maintaining communication efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If coordination between nodes is implemented to reduce interference, then interference mitigation is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference mitigationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces sensing measurements as an intermediary mechanism to facilitate coordination between nodes. Rather than requiring direct complex coordination protocols between all nodes, UEs perform sensing and report findings to network entities, which then make coordinated decisions about resource allocation and beamforming parameters

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Non-coordinating nodes perform self-service by autonomously conducting long-term sensing measurements and reporting their presence and characteristics to the network. This allows the system to identify and mitigate interference from nodes that do not participate in formal coordination protocols, reducing the need for complex universal coordination mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If long-term sensing measurements are performed to identify non-coordinating nodes, then interference assessment accuracy is improved, but measurement and processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterference assessment accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs sensing measurements selectively rather than continuously across all frequencies and directions. Network entities configure UEs to perform long-term sensing only in specific frequency ranges and spatial directions where non-coordinating nodes are likely to be present, based on historical data and current network conditions, achieving sufficient accuracy without excessive time investment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The sensing process is divided into manageable segments where different UEs are assigned to monitor different frequency ranges, directional beams, or time periods. This segmentation allows parallel processing of sensing tasks, reducing overall measurement time while maintaining comprehensive coverage for accurate interference assessment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11838939B2Long-term-sensing-based inter-operator coexistence techniques for unlicensed high frequency bands

Publication Date: 2023.12.05 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, related to long term sensing based inter-operator coexistence techniques for unlicensed high bands providing a measurement framework and candidate measurements, along with channel selection, per-beam channel deselection, and dynamic frequency selection. In one aspect, a network entity may determine that a non-coordinating node satisfies a communication presence threshold based on the at least one long term sensing measurement, and transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), an indication of a remedial action, or adjusting the communication channel based on the determination. In another aspect, a UE may obtain at least one long term sensing measurement, and transmit a long term sensing report including the at least one long term sensing measurement.