RAN Node LBT Information Exchange for Shared Spectrum MLB

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobility load balancing (MLB) solutions for unlicensed spectrum do not adequately account for the unique properties of shared spectrum, leading to suboptimal decisions due to incomplete information about channel availability and usage, which can result in inefficient handover processes and resource allocation.

Innovation Solution

Exchanging additional types of information between radio access network (RAN) nodes, including details on listen-before-talk (LBT) procedures, such as successful and failed LBT operations, channel occupancy times, and energy detection thresholds, to provide a deeper understanding of channel conditions and optimize MLB decisions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional LBT information is exchanged between RAN nodes, then the quality of MLB decisions is improved, but the signaling overhead and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel condition assessment accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The LBT information is segmented into different types (successful LBT operations, failed LBT operations, channel occupancy times, energy detection thresholds) and exchanged selectively based on the specific MLB decision needs, rather than transmitting all possible information continuously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameters being exchanged from basic load information to detailed LBT-specific parameters (such as number of successful/failed LBT operations, channel occupancy time, energy detection threshold), enabling more precise channel condition assessment while managing signaling overhead through selective parameter exchange

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If detailed LBT information is collected and exchanged, then MLB decision quality improves, but the processing complexity and information management burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMLB decision reliabilityVSAvoidinformation processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

RAN nodes perform preliminary measurements and collection of LBT information (successful operations, failed operations, occupancy times) before MLB decisions are required, so that when MLB decisions need to be made, the necessary information is already prepared and available, reducing real-time processing complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where LBT information is continuously measured, exchanged between RAN nodes, and used to inform subsequent MLB decisions, creating a closed-loop system that improves reliability while managing complexity through iterative refinement rather than complex one-time processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20240414759A1Exchanging LBT information between ran nodes

Publication Date: 2024.12.12 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

According to some embodiments, a method performed by a first network node operating in shared spectrum comprises obtaining radio resource status information from one or more wireless devices, wherein the radio resource status information comprises channel occupancy information (e.g., successful listen-before-talk (LBT) procedures, failed LBT procedures, etc.), and transmitting the radio resource status information to a second network node.