LTE User Equipment Power Level Selection for Downlink
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks face challenges in optimizing user equipment power levels for downlink transmissions, particularly in fractional frequency reuse (FFR) schemes, where interference management and spectral efficiency are compromised, affecting both cell-edge and interior users.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves computing average spectral efficiency for each user equipment device based on signal power and interference measurements, determining transmission power levels to prioritize higher spectral efficiency, and adaptively adjusting power levels in response to changing channel conditions to improve overall network throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fractional frequency reuse schemes are used to allocate frequencies, then cell-edge user rate and coverage are improved, but network sum throughput and spectral efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power level selection where the network determines multiple candidate power levels for cell-edge users based on channel conditions, interference measurements, and spectral efficiency calculations. The system adapts power allocation in real-time rather than using static FFR schemes, allowing optimization of both coverage and throughput under varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power level parameter dynamically by computing spectral efficiency at different power levels and selecting the optimal power level that maximizes overall network throughput while maintaining cell-edge user coverage requirements. This involves adjusting transmission power as a variable parameter rather than fixed allocation.
2Reliability
If transmission power is increased to improve cell-edge user performance, then coverage and rate are improved, but interference to other users increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different power levels to different users locally based on their specific channel conditions and spectral efficiency measurements. Cell-edge users receive higher power levels when needed, while other users experience appropriate power levels for their conditions, minimizing unnecessary interference. This localized power allocation replaces blanket power increases.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from spectral efficiency calculations and interference measurements to determine optimal power levels. The network computes spectral efficiency for different power levels and uses this feedback to select power levels that improve cell-edge user performance without excessively increasing interference to other users.
3Productivity
If power levels are optimized for spectral efficiency, then network throughput is improved, but complexity of power level determination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power level determination process into discrete candidate power levels that are evaluated based on spectral efficiency calculations. Rather than continuous optimization, the system evaluates a finite set of power level options, simplifying the determination process while still achieving throughput optimization.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If frequency resources are partitioned for fractional frequency reuse, then cell-edge interference is reduced, but spectral efficiency for interior users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power level adjustment that adapts to changing channel conditions and user distributions. Rather than static frequency partitioning, the system dynamically determines power levels that optimize spectral efficiency for all users including interior users, while still providing interference protection for cell-edge users when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving an indication of an average signal power for a downlink connection between a cell and each of a plurality of user equipment devices associated with the cell, receiving an indication of an average interference measurement on the downlink connection between the cell and each of the plurality of user equipment devices associated with the cell, and computing an average spectral efficiency for each of the plurality of user equipment devices based upon the respective average signal power and average interference measurement. The method further includes determining a transmission power level from among a plurality of available transmission power levels for one or more downlink resources for each of the plurality of user equipment devices based upon the computed average spectral efficiency for each of the plurality of user equipment devices.