Macro Cell ABS Proportion Adjustment for Heterogeneous Network Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

The Almost Blank Subframe (ABS) utilization rate reported by micro cells to macro cells in heterogeneous networks does not accurately reflect the actual utilization rate, leading to inefficient interference management in traditional macro cell networks.

Innovation Solution

A method where the macro cell receives the number of interfered UEs and ABS utilization rate from micro cells, adjusts the ABS proportion based on load information, including GBR PRB and GBR DL PRB utilization rates, to dynamically optimize ABS subframe allocation, ensuring accurate interference reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If micro cells allocate ABS subframe resources to non-interfered UEs when resources are redundant, then PRB utilization rate improves, but ABS subframe utilization rate reporting becomes inaccurate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePRB utilization rateVSAvoidABS subframe utilization rate accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where macro cells collect ABS utilization rate reports from micro cells, verify their accuracy by comparing with actual interfered UE information, and provide corrective feedback to adjust future reporting. This ensures accurate information flow for dynamic ABS proportion adjustment while allowing flexible resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification layer at the macro cell level that mediates between micro cell resource allocation decisions and the accuracy of utilization rate reporting. The macro cell acts as an intermediary to collect, verify, and reconcile the reported utilization rates with actual interference conditions, ensuring system-wide optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If ABS proportion is increased to protect interfered UEs, then interference reduction effectiveness improves, but resource waste increases when no interfered UEs exist

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference protection effectivenessVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic ABS proportion adjustment where macro cells continuously monitor the number of interfered UEs and ABS utilization rates from micro cells, and dynamically adjust the ABS proportion in real-time. This allows the system to increase ABS protection when interfered UEs are present and reduce or eliminate ABS when no interfered UEs exist, optimizing resource utilization while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the ABS proportion parameter dynamically based on actual network conditions. Macro cells adjust this parameter according to the reported number of interfered UEs and ABS utilization rates, transitioning between different operational states (high protection mode when interfered UEs exist, low protection mode when they don't) to balance reliability and resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If ABS subframe resources are allocated to non-interfered UEs, then resource utilization improves, but interference management accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidinterference management accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the ABS subframe resource allocation into two distinct parts: protected resources reserved for interfered UEs and non-protected resources available for non-interfered UEs. This segmentation allows micro cells to allocate non-protected resources flexibly to improve utilization while maintaining accurate tracking of protected resource usage for interference management purposes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different quality requirements to different portions of ABS subframe resources. Protected resources maintain strict interference management characteristics, while non-protected resources allow flexible allocation for improved utilization. This local quality differentiation enables simultaneous optimization of both resource utilization and interference management accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3200540B1Interference adjusting and processing method and device
Publication Date: 2019.11.13 ZTE CORP
  • EP3200540B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3200540B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP3200540B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

An interference adjustment processing method and device are provided. In the interference adjustment processing method, a macro cell receives the number of interfered UEs and an Almost Blank Subframe (ABS) utilization rate from a micro cell in a coverage of the macro cell; and the macro cell adjusts an ABS proportion according to load information of the macro cell, the number of the interfered UEs under the micro cell and the ABS utilization rate, wherein the load information comprises a Guaranteed Bit Rate Physical Resource Block (GBR PRB) utilization rate and a Guaranteed Bit Rate Downlink Physical Resource Block (GBR DL PRB) utilization rate, and the ABS proportion is a ratio of the number of ABSs in an ABS pattern period to a total number of downlink subframes in the ABS pattern period. The technical scheme solves the problem in the related art that the ABS subframe utilization rate reported by the micro cell to the macro cell cannot truly reflect the actual ABS utilization rate. The macro cell is enabled to provide an accurate ABS proportion for micro cells in the coverage of the macro cell.