Protected Resource Usage Measurement for CRE Interference

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, evolved nodeBs (eNodeBs) experience higher cell load and interference when serving user equipments (UEs) in cell range extension areas, leading to suboptimal performance due to resource repartitioning which negatively impacts the interfering eNodeB, and existing measurements fail to accurately assess resource utilization in these scenarios.

Innovation Solution

A new measurement of utilization is introduced that takes into account the cell range extension (CRE) status of UEs, differentiating between protected and unprotected subframes, allowing for more accurate resource allocation and reducing interference by calculating and reporting the first protected resource usage to an aggressor eNodeB.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If an eNodeB requests an interfering eNodeB to repartition resources to reduce interference to CRE area UEs, then interference to CRE UEs is reduced, but the interfering eNodeB experiences negative impact on its own resource utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference to CRE UEsVSAvoidresource utilization of interfering eNodeB
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from overall resource utilization to protected resource utilization specifically for CRE area UEs. This allows the victim eNodeB to request resource repartitioning based on the actual protected resource usage rather than total usage, enabling more precise interference management that doesn't unnecessarily impact the interfering eNodeB's overall resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments resource utilization measurements into different categories: protected resource usage for CRE UEs versus overall resource usage. This segmentation allows the system to address interference issues specifically affecting CRE UEs without triggering unnecessary resource repartitioning that would impact the interfering eNodeB's general resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Device complexity

If existing resource utilization measurements are used for CRE area UEs, then measurement simplicity is maintained, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to failure to differentiate protected and unprotected subframes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement complexityVSAvoidresource utilization measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the measurement process into two distinct measurements: protected resource utilization for CRE UEs and overall resource utilization. This segmentation provides accurate measurement for CRE UE resource requests while maintaining separate tracking of overall utilization to prevent unnecessary repartitioning requests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement mechanism that calculates protected resource utilization as a separate metric between the victim eNodeB and the interfering eNodeB. This intermediary measurement allows for more accurate assessment of actual resource needs for CRE UEs without directly impacting the interfering eNodeB's resource management decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2863575B1Resource utilization measurements for heterogeneous networks
Publication Date: 2017.08.30 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2863575B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2863575B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2863575B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Interference issues between wireless network devices are mitigated. An evolved node B (eNodeB) may experience higher cell load or higher interference when serving user equipment (UEs) that are operating in an cell range extension (CRE) area in which the UEs are strongly affected by aggressor eNodeBs. An eNodeB experiencing higher cell load or serving user equipments (UEs) under higher interference generally requests an interfering/aggressor eNodeB to repartition some of its resources. Repartitioning of resources, however, may have a negative impact on the eNodeB serving CRE area UEs. In one aspect, a new measurement of utilization accounts for CRE status and differentiates between protected and unprotected resources, such as subframes.