NCR Repeater ON-OFF Resource Priority for Interference Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Interference management is needed for network-controlled repeaters (NCRs) in 5G/NR communication systems to avoid interference to serving and neighbor cells, and there are issues with determining the relationship between higher layer indications for ON-OFF information and L1/L2 signaling for NCR forwarding units.
Innovation Solution
The method and apparatus provide methods and apparatuses for ON-OFF information indication for smart repeaters, allowing the gNB to control NCRs by switching them on or off in specific time/frequency resources, using priority flags to manage interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NCRs are activated to extend coverage and improve signal quality, then network coverage and signal quality are improved, but interference to serving and neighbor cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NCR is dynamically controlled through L1/L2 signaling to switch between ON and OFF states based on real-time network conditions. The gNB can activate or deactivate the NCR and adjust its operational parameters dynamically, allowing the system to optimize between coverage enhancement and interference mitigation depending on current traffic and channel conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters of the NCR including time-domain resources, frequency resources, and beam configurations through L1/L2 signaling. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the NCR can adapt its operation to minimize interference while maintaining signal quality, such as switching to different time slots or frequency bands when interference is detected
2Area of stationary object
If multiple beams are used to improve coverage area, then coverage area is expanded, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coverage area is segmented into multiple beams, each serving different spatial directions or user groups. The NCR is configured with multiple beams that can be independently controlled through L1/L2 signaling, allowing selective activation of specific beams based on user distribution and interference conditions, thereby managing complexity through modular resource allocation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of activating all available beams simultaneously, the system activates only the necessary subset of beams required for current coverage needs. L1/L2 signaling enables selective beam activation, where the gNB can indicate which specific beams should be active at any given time, reducing resource allocation complexity while maintaining adequate coverage
3Reliability
If NCR is kept ON continuously to ensure service availability, then service availability is maintained, but energy consumption and interference increase
Solution Approach 1:
The NCR operates in periodic ON-OFF cycles controlled by L1/L2 signaling from the gNB. Instead of continuous operation, the NCR is activated only during periods when service is needed and deactivated during periods of low traffic or when interference would be problematic, achieving energy efficiency while maintaining service availability through periodic monitoring and activation
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the gNB monitors network conditions, user requests, and interference levels, then uses L1/L2 signaling to control NCR activation. This closed-loop control ensures the NCR is activated only when genuinely needed for service availability, preventing unnecessary energy consumption and interference from continuous operation
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses and methods for ON-OFF indication for repeaters. A method for a network-controlled repeater (NCR) includes receiving, by an NCR mobile termination (NCR-MT) entity, first information for a first time-domain resource and for a corresponding first beam for an access link of an NCR forwarding (NCR-Fwd) entity and second information for a second time-domain resource and for a corresponding second beam for the access link of the NCR-Fwd entity. The first time-domain resource overlaps with the second time-domain resource in a first set of symbols. The first time-domain resource is not associated with a priority flag. The second time-domain resources is associated with the priority flag. The method further includes receiving or transmitting a first radio frequency (RF) signal on the access link using the second beam over the first set of symbols.