Radio Unit Energy Detection for Front-Haul Load Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications networks using Instant Uplink Access (IUA) and switched front-haul, there is a risk of overloading the front-haul with Frequency Domain (FD) data due to speculative scheduling of uplink transmissions, leading to reduced quality of service.

Innovation Solution

The radio unit detects uplink transmission energy from User Equipments (UEs) and decides whether it is above or below a threshold. If above, FD data is sent to the central control unit; if below, a message indicating no data will be sent is transmitted, preventing unnecessary data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If speculative scheduling is used for instant uplink access, then access latency is reduced, but front-haul overload occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess latencyVSAvoidfront-haul data load
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The radio unit performs preliminary detection of uplink transmission energy before actually transmitting FD data to the central control unit. By detecting whether transmission energy exceeds a threshold in advance, the system can prevent unnecessary data transmission over the front-haul while still enabling instant access for legitimate transmissions, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced latency and avoided overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If FD data is transmitted for all scheduled UEs, then scheduling flexibility is improved, but front-haul capacity is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling flexibilityVSAvoidfront-haul capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The radio unit uses feedback from energy detection to control FD data transmission. By continuously monitoring transmission energy and comparing it against a threshold, the system dynamically adjusts whether to send FD data or not, maintaining scheduling flexibility for active UEs while preventing capacity exhaustion of the front-haul connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of transmission energy threshold to control FD data flow. By adjusting this threshold parameter, the system can adapt to different traffic conditions and maintain the balance between scheduling flexibility and front-haul capacity utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If energy detection threshold is set low, then more UEs are served, but false transmissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of active UEsVSAvoidtransmission accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes the energy detection threshold parameter to achieve the desired balance. By carefully setting this parameter, the system can distinguish between legitimate transmissions from active UEs and false signals, thereby maintaining both productivity in serving multiple UEs and reliability in transmission accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3957120B1Central control unit, radio unit and methods in a wireless
Publication Date: 2025.06.04 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3957120B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3957120B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3957120B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method performed in a radio unit for handling FD data representing one or more UEs to a central control unit associated with the radio unit in a wireless communications network is provided. The communications network comprises a switched fronthaul. An uplink transmission energy from the one or more UEs is detected (503) and it is decided (504) whether the detected uplink transmission energy from the respective one or more UEs is above or below a first threshold. When it is decided that the detected uplink transmission energy from any of the one or more UEs is above the first threshold, the radio unit sends (505) the FD data representing those respective one or more UEs to the central control unit. When it is decided that the detected uplink transmission energy from any of the one or more UEs is below the first threshold, the radio unit sends (506) a message to the central control unit which message indicates that no FD data will be sent representing those respective one or more UEs. Furthermore, the radio unit also refrains from sending the FD data representing those respective one or more UEs to the central control unit.