Over-the-Air Interference Coordination for Base Station Scheduling

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications systems, independent scheduling by base stations can lead to interference between UEs due to concurrent transmissions, especially when base stations are connected via non-ideal backhaul links, affecting transmission reliability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing over-the-air (OTA) interference coordination messaging among base stations to modify scheduling decisions, using schemes like beam fixation, suppression, or avoidance to mitigate and stabilize interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If base stations perform independent scheduling, then scheduling flexibility and device complexity are improved, but interference between UEs increases and transmission reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an interference coordination message as an intermediary mechanism between independently scheduling base stations. This message carries scheduling decision information that allows base stations to coordinate their transmissions without centralized control, thereby maintaining scheduling flexibility while reducing interference to improve transmission reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The interference coordination message establishes a feedback loop where base stations exchange scheduling information and adjust their transmissions accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables base stations to adapt their scheduling decisions based on interference conditions, resolving the contradiction between independent operation and interference management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Device complexity

If base stations are connected via non-ideal backhaul links, then device complexity and ease of operation are improved, but interference coordination capability deteriorates and transmission reliability worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork complexityVSAvoidtransmission reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The interference coordination message serves as a lightweight intermediary that enables essential coordination over non-ideal backhaul links. By using this simplified messaging mechanism, the patent achieves interference coordination without requiring complex centralized control systems, thus maintaining low network complexity while improving transmission reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the coordination approach from centralized control to distributed exchange of scheduling parameters through interference coordination messages. This parameter-based coordination adapts well to non-ideal backhaul conditions, maintaining system reliability without increasing network complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If interference coordination messaging is implemented, then transmission reliability is improved, but device complexity and loss of information increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidmessage processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential scheduling decision information needed for interference coordination into the interference coordination message. By taking out only the critical parameters rather than exchanging complete scheduling data, the system improves transmission reliability while minimizing message processing complexity and information overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3984309B1Over-the-air interference coordination among base stations
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3984309B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3984309B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3984309B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In some systems, transmissions from a neighboring base station may interfere with downlink transmissions from a serving base station to a target user equipment (UE). To coordinate interference between the base stations (e.g., mitigate interference, stabilize interference, etc.), the serving base station may generate an interference coordination message and may transmit the message over-the-air (OTA) to one or more neighboring base stations. The message may include parameters indicating a coordination scheme for the neighboring base station(s) to use for modifying one or more scheduling decisions. The coordination scheme may be configured or dynamically selected and may include interfering beam fixation, interfering beam suppression, or interfering beam avoidance. A neighboring base station receiving the OTA interference coordination message may modify a scheduling decision to mitigate or stabilize interference when the serving base station is transmitting to the target UE.