Multi-step Reference Signal Configuration for Wireless Interference Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing remote and local interference between base stations and user equipment, particularly due to the difficulty in identifying and mitigating interference caused by multiple aggressor base stations, which can lead to reduced communication quality and increased latency.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a multi-step reference signal configuration and detection method, where cell group identifiers are used to identify and isolate the source of interference, allowing for targeted interference mitigation by grouping cells and assigning unique identifiers to refine the detection process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cell group identifiers are used to identify interfering cells, then interference identification capability is improved, but device complexity and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference identification capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the identification process into multiple steps: first identifying cell groups that cause interference, then progressively narrowing down to specific cells within those groups. This segmentation allows victim devices to identify interference sources without needing to process information from all cells simultaneously, reducing complexity while maintaining identification precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to interference identification by organizing cells into groups and sub-groups. Instead of identifying individual cells directly in a flat structure, the system adds a grouping layer that simplifies the identification process and reduces the search space, thereby managing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If multi-step reference signal detection is implemented, then interference mitigation precision is improved, but processing time and latency increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference mitigation precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having aggressor cells pre-transmit reference signals with their cell group identifiers before actual data transmission. This allows victim devices to identify potential interference sources in advance and prepare mitigation strategies, reducing processing time during actual interference events while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses periodic reference signal transmissions from aggressor cells, allowing victim devices to detect and identify interference sources at regular intervals. This periodic action balances the need for precise interference identification with acceptable latency, as devices don't need to continuously process all possible interference sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If cell grouping is used to manage interference, then network controllability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork controllabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple cells into cell groups, each represented by a single cell group identifier. This merging reduces signaling overhead because the network only needs to manage and transmit identifiers for groups rather than individually for each cell, while still maintaining the ability to control and identify interference from specific cells within those groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3857787B1Multi-step reference signal configuration and detection for interference management
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3857787B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3857787B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3857787B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A core network may organize a set of base stations into a set of cell groups, each cell group including one or more base stations, the cell groups being organized based on potential of each base station to cause interference, by downlink transmission, to reception of uplink transmissions at remote base stations. The core network may identify cell group identifications for each cell group and configure the set of base stations with respective cell group identifications so that signals transmitted from individual base stations of each cell group include the respective cell group identification, and so that remote base stations whose uplink transmissions are interfered with can identify the cell group of base stations causing the interference. The number of base stations in a cell group may be iteratively reduced based on identifying the interference.