LTE-U Transmission Gaps for Interference Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio communication networks face challenges in managing interference and optimizing resource allocation when operating on unlicensed bands, particularly in scenarios where multiple networks, including LTE-U and WLAN, share the same frequency band, leading to potential capacity reduction and interference issues.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves generating transmission gaps in data transmission to minimize interference, requesting terminal devices to perform interference measurements during both transmission gaps and active data transmission, and using the interference reports to adjust network resource allocation, ensuring effective coexistence with other network elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If LTE-U networks operate on unlicensed bands shared with WLAN, then network capacity and data demand are increased, but interference issues and capacity reduction occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network element generates periodic transmission gaps within data transmission performed by the network element. These transmission gaps occur at regular intervals, allowing terminal devices to perform interference measurements during both the gaps and active data transmission periods. This periodic structure enables continuous monitoring of interference levels while maintaining overall network productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The network element receives interference reports from terminal devices based on measurements performed during transmission gaps and active data transmission. These reports provide feedback on interference levels, which the network element uses to adjust communication resources and optimize network performance, thereby resolving the interference-capacity contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If transmission gaps are generated for interference measurement, then interference management is improved, but data transmission efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference managementVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network element generates transmission gaps only partially within the data transmission, rather than stopping all transmission. The gaps are inserted at specific intervals within the overall data transmission flow, allowing interference measurements to be performed without completely halting data transmission. This partial action maintains data transmission efficiency while enabling sufficient interference management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If interference measurements are performed during both transmission gaps and active data transmission, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs a unified interference measurement procedure that works during both transmission gaps and active data transmission. The same measurement mechanism and reporting structure are used in both scenarios, making the device's measurement capability multi-functional. This universal approach improves measurement accuracy across different transmission states without requiring separate complex measurement procedures for each state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3225066B1Improving communication efficiency
Publication Date: 2021.02.24 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3225066B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3225066B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3225066B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6A

AI summary

There is provided a method comprising: generating, by a network element, at least one transmission gap within data transmission performed by the network element, transmitting a control message to at least one terminal device, wherein the control message comprises a first request to perform, by the at least one terminal device, a first interference measurement during the at least one transmission gap, and wherein the control message further comprises a second request to perform, by the at least one terminal device, a second interference measurement during the said data transmission, receiving, from the at least one terminal device, an interference report comprising information that is at least partly based on the first and the second interference measurements, and providing communication resources on the basis of the received interference report.