5G Signal Processing for Radar Interference Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
5G wireless systems are not designed to coexist with high-powered pulsed interferers like Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) Radar, leading to jamming vulnerabilities and interference challenges.
Innovation Solution
Implementing signal processing techniques such as pulse detection and squelching, where radar interference samples are identified and replaced with appropriate values to mitigate interference, using methods like wideband or sub-band squelching, and employing external radar sensors or network-aided detection to determine interference parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If 5G systems operate in licensed frequency bands without advanced signal processing, then system simplicity is maintained, but vulnerability to high-powered pulsed interferers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of pulsed interferers by analyzing signal characteristics (power levels, pulse widths, repetition frequencies) before they severely impact communication. Based on detected interference patterns, the system pre-configures mitigation parameters such as adjusting receiver sensitivity, selecting appropriate frequency channels, or preparing nulling beamforming weights to counteract expected interference sequences
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary signal processing layer that sits between the received RF signal and the 5G protocol stack. This intermediary layer performs pulse detection, characterizes interferers by extracting parameters like pulse width and repetition frequency, and applies mitigation techniques such as time-domain blanking or frequency-domain filtering. This mediator enables 5G to coexist with radar systems without requiring fundamental changes to the core 5G architecture
2Reliability
If signal processing techniques are implemented to mitigate interference, then coexistence capability is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The signal processing chain is segmented into distinct functional blocks: a pulse detection unit that identifies interferer presence, a parameter extraction unit that characterizes the interferer (pulse width, repetition frequency, power level), and a mitigation application unit that applies appropriate countermeasures. This segmentation allows each block to be optimized independently and enables selective activation of mitigation techniques based on detected interference severity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes processing parameters based on detected interferer characteristics. When pulsed interference is detected, the system adjusts time-domain windowing parameters, frequency-domain filter bandwidths, and receiver gain settings to match the specific interferer profile. This parameter adaptation enables effective mitigation while minimizing impact on normal 5G operation when no interference is present
3Reliability
If interfered signal samples are set to zero, then interference mitigation is achieved, but signal processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex iterative signal processing methods with direct algebraic operations. Instead of using computationally intensive techniques like iterative interference cancellation or machine learning-based classification, the system applies closed-form solutions: detecting pulses through threshold-based power comparison, characterizing interferers through simple statistical measures, and mitigating interference by zeroing identified samples or applying analytical filter coefficients. This substitution of mechanical/iterative processes with direct calculations dramatically reduces processing time
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are described herein for processing techniques to coexist with high-power pulsed interferers. A wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may receive, from a base station (BS) or an external radar detector, a message that includes a plurality of interference descriptor parameters indicating time domain information of one or more interference signals. The plurality of interference descriptor parameters may include a reference pulse time/delay, a pulse width, and a pulse repetition frequency (PRF). The WTRU may set, from a plurality of input signals, using the time domain information determined based on the reference pulse time/delay, the pulse width, and the PRF, one or more interfered signal samples in the plurality of input signals to zero. The WTRU may decode an output signal generated from the plurality of input signals. The output signal may include one or more signal samples and the one or more interfered signal samples set to zero.