Network Node Power Control for Uplink Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In heterogeneous cellular networks, the imbalance between uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmit powers leads to unreliable reception of control information and increased interference, particularly in scenarios where user equipment (UE) is power-controlled by a non-serving cell with lower power, causing performance degradation and interference issues.

Innovation Solution

A network node method that increases the power of control channels while limiting the power increase of data channels by reducing the serving grant, maintaining the transport block size, and adjusting reference values to ensure reliable control information reception without excessive interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the power of control channel is increased to improve reliability of control information reception, then the reliability of control information reception is improved, but the interference in the network is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of control information receptionVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating power control treatment between control channels and data channels. Control channels receive enhanced power to ensure reliable reception of control information, while data channels maintain normal power levels to avoid unnecessary interference. This selective power allocation optimizes the specific function (control information reception) without causing system-wide interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the power control mechanism into separate control for control channels and data channels. By independently managing the power of control channels through specific power control commands while maintaining normal data channel power through grant limitations, the system resolves the contradiction between control information reliability and network interference.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the power of data channel is increased to improve data transmission, then the data transmission performance is improved, but the interference to other cells is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission performanceVSAvoidinterference to other cells
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by providing only the necessary power increase for control channels while deliberately limiting data channel power increase. Through serving grant reduction, the system ensures that data channels do not receive excessive power that would cause interference to other cells, while still maintaining adequate power for reliable control information reception.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the serving grant is reduced to limit data channel power increase, then the interference is reduced, but the transport block size may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveinterferenceVSAvoidtransport block size
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the serving grant parameter to control data channel power. By modifying this key parameter, the system achieves interference reduction while the transport block size is maintained through coordinated power control of control channels, ensuring that control information reliability compensates for any potential data transmission impacts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2915379B1Network node, user equipment, methods therein, computer program product, and a computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2018.10.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2915379B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2915379B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2915379B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments herein relate to a method in a network node (12,15) for managing transmit power of a user equipment (10) in a cellular network (1); wherein the network node (12,15) is comprised in the cellular network (1) and serves the user equipment (10). The network node (12,15) increases a power of a control channel of the user equipment (10). The network node (12,15) further limits a power increase of a data channel to a level by reducing a power of a serving grant of the user equipment (10) an amount, which amount corresponds to the increased power of the control channel. The network node (12,15) also reduces a reference value of the data channel for maintaining a transport block size of the data channel, which reference value determines mapping from the serving grant to the transport block size.