LTE Reference Signal Power Boosting Control via Headroom Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Power boosting in wireless networks increases interference and reduces coverage and reliability by causing retransmissions and disrupting handovers, as it enhances the reference signal strength but also leads to noise and incorrect cell handovers.

Innovation Solution

An access node monitors the power headroom and retransmission rates of wireless devices to adjust the reference signal power, reducing it when the surplus transmit power is high and retransmission requests are low to mitigate interference and maintain network reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reference signal power is increased through power boosting, then reference signal strength received by wireless devices is improved, but interference to other wireless devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal strengthVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of reference signal power boosting based on real-time monitoring of power headroom and retransmission rates. The access node continuously adapts the power boosting level rather than using a fixed setting, allowing the system to optimize reference signal strength while minimizing interference generation under varying network conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where the access node monitors power headroom reports and retransmission rates from wireless devices, then uses this feedback information to adjust reference signal power boosting settings. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to actual network conditions and balance reference signal strength with interference management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Area of stationary object

If reference signal power is increased, then coverage area is extended, but retransmission rate increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidretransmission rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses retransmission rate as a key feedback parameter to monitor the quality of service. When retransmission rates increase indicating degraded service quality, the system adjusts reference signal power boosting downward to reduce interference and improve reliability, thus maintaining an optimal balance between coverage extension and service quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the reference signal power parameter based on monitored conditions. By adjusting this key parameter in response to coverage and reliability metrics, the system can extend coverage area while preventing excessive retransmission rates that would degrade service quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If reference signal power is increased, then reference signal received by wireless devices is improved, but power headroom of wireless devices decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal receivedVSAvoidpower headroom
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic monitoring and adjustment of power headroom levels. The access node adapts reference signal power boosting based on real-time power headroom conditions of wireless devices, ensuring that reference signal strength is improved without causing excessive power consumption that would deplete device power headroom

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes power headroom reports from wireless devices as feedback to adjust reference signal power boosting. This feedback mechanism allows the system to optimize the balance between providing sufficient reference signal strength and preserving device power headroom for other transmissions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Strength

If power boosting is used, then reference signal strength is increased, but handover reliability is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereference signal strengthVSAvoidhandover reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of reference signal power boosting that responds to handover performance metrics. When handover disruptions are detected, the system adapts power boosting levels to ensure reliable handovers while maintaining adequate reference signal strength for normal operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses handover success rate and related metrics as feedback to monitor and adjust reference signal power boosting settings. This feedback mechanism enables the system to maintain handover reliability by preventing excessive power boosting that would cause measurement inaccuracies and handover failures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10123279B1Method and system for controlling reference signal power boosting settings based on power headroom and retransmission rate in an LTE network
Publication Date: 2018.11.06 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
  • US10123279B1 patent drawing
  • US10123279B1 patent drawing
  • US10123279B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and system for controlling a reference signal power boosting settings based on power headroom of one or more wireless devices and retransmission rates within a wireless network. The method of controlling reference signal power boosting at an access node includes monitoring at an access node a received surplus transmit power and retransmission requests of a wireless device over a period of time; determining an average received surplus transmit power and an average retransmission request rate of the wireless device; and modifying a power of a reference signal based on the average received surplus transmit power meeting a first criteria and the average retransmission request rate meeting a second criteria.