Relay Node Scheduling to Avoid Self-Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE-Advanced mobile communication systems, simultaneous transmission and reception processes in Un and Uu radio bearers cause interference to the relay node's receiver, leading to signal overlap and degradation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a mobile communication method that synchronizes System Frame Numbers (SFN) between radio base stations and relay nodes, using time division multiplexing and notifying relay nodes of Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) subframe timings to avoid interference, allowing for controlled transmission and reception scheduling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If simultaneous transmission and reception processes are performed in Un and Uu radio bearers, then communication efficiency is improved, but interference occurs to the relay node's receiver

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidinterference to relay node receiver
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the transmission and reception processes into separate time slots using time division multiplexing. The relay node performs reception process in Un radio bearer during first time slots and transmission process in Uu radio bearer during second time slots, preventing simultaneous operation that causes self-interference while maintaining communication efficiency through coordinated scheduling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic alternating transmission and reception cycles between Un and Uu radio bearers. The relay node alternates between receiving from the base station and transmitting to mobile stations in a periodic manner, ensuring that transmission signals do not overlap with reception periods, thus eliminating self-interference while maintaining continuous communication flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If time division multiplexing is implemented to avoid interference, then receiver interference is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereceiver interferenceVSAvoidscheduling complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the base station receives capability information from relay nodes indicating their support for time division multiplexing operations. The base station then adjusts scheduling decisions based on this feedback, optimizing the allocation of time slots for transmission and reception while accounting for individual relay node capabilities and current traffic conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic scheduling that adapts to changing traffic conditions and relay node states. The time slot allocation between Un and Uu radio bearers is not fixed but dynamically adjusted based on real-time requirements, allowing the system to optimize performance while managing complexity through flexible, condition-based scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2410807B1Mobile communication method, wireless base station, and relay node
Publication Date: 2013.02.20 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP2410807B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2410807B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2410807B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A mobile communication method according to the present invention includes the steps of: (A) notifying, from a radio base station (DeNB) to a relay node (RN), a predetermined timing, when setting a connection between the radio base station (DeNB) and the relay node (RN); (B) scheduling, at the radio base station (DeNB), to transmit a downlink signal to the relay node (RN) at the predetermined timing; and (C) scheduling, at the relay node (RN), to transmit a downlink signal at a timing other than the predetermined timing.