Interference Mitigation in LTE Signal Quality Measurements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current measurements in LTE cellular communications networks do not accurately account for interference components, leading to mismatched signal quality and interference assessments, especially in heterogeneous network deployments with enhanced receivers that apply interference mitigation, resulting in pessimistic measurements and potential degradation of network performance.
Innovation Solution
A method to generate effective measurements by mitigating interference components in reference measurements using compensation values, allowing for more accurate signal quality assessments, even when enhanced receivers' interference handling techniques are disabled, thereby improving radio link monitoring and resource management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If enhanced receivers with interference handling techniques are used, then interference mitigation capability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to pessimistic measurements when interference handling is disabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces compensation values as an intermediary mechanism to bridge the gap between reference measurements (taken without interference handling) and effective measurements (that reflect actual signal quality). The compensation value acts as a mediator that adjusts the pessimistic reference measurement to account for the interference mitigation capability of the enhanced receiver, thereby resolving the contradiction between having interference handling disabled for measurement purposes and needing accurate measurements that reflect actual signal quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of measurement by introducing compensation values that adjust the reference measurement. Instead of directly measuring signal quality with interference handling disabled (which gives pessimistic results), the system transforms the reference measurement by adding compensation values derived from interference measurements, thereby obtaining effective measurements that accurately reflect signal quality while maintaining the benefit of having interference handling techniques available
2Ease of operation
If reference measurements are taken without interference handling, then measurement process simplicity is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to pessimistic signal quality assessments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating compensation values based on interference measurements taken during the same measurement period. Instead of complicating the measurement process itself, the system performs a preliminary interference measurement and uses the result to adjust the final effective measurement. This approach maintains the simplicity of taking reference measurements without interference handling while still achieving accurate signal quality assessment through the preliminary compensation step
Solution Approach 2:
The compensation value serves as an intermediary that connects the simple reference measurement process with the accurate effective measurement result. By introducing this intermediate compensation step based on interference measurements, the system preserves the operational simplicity of disabled interference handling during measurement while achieving measurement accuracy that reflects actual signal quality
3Measurement precision
If compensation values are applied to reference measurements, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional interference measurement and calculation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the interference measurement process with the signal quality measurement process by taking both measurements during the same measurement period using the same measurement resources. Instead of performing separate interference measurements and separate signal quality measurements, the system combines these operations, thereby reducing device complexity while still achieving accurate effective measurements through the compensation mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for obtaining effective measurements in a cellular communications network are disclosed. In one embodiment, a node (i.e., a measuring node) in a cellular communications network performs a reference measurement at the node, where the reference measurement contains one or more interference components. The node then mitigates at least one of the interference components contained in the reference measurement to thereby provide an effective measurement. In one embodiment, the effective measurement is used by the measuring node, reported to another node, or both used by the measuring node and reported to another node.