RIC Cell Selection for COMP Using Signal Direction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radio access network (RAN) intelligent controllers (RIC) face challenges in selecting the optimal cell to perform coordinated multi-point (COMP) functions due to reliance solely on the reception strength of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) from neighbor cells, which may lead to the selection of cells that do not substantially cause interference.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a RIC and method that select a cell to perform a COMP function by considering both the transmission direction (or beamforming direction) of downlink traffic signals from neighbor cells and the reception strength of SSBs from these cells, thereby increasing the likelihood of selecting a cell that actually causes interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If cell selection for COMP function is based solely on SSB reception strength, then the selection process is simple, but the accuracy of identifying interfering cells is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameters from only SSB reception strength to include both SSB reception strength and transmission signal direction. This allows the system to maintain a relatively simple selection process while significantly improving the accuracy of identifying cells that actually cause interference to the target UE.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to cell selection by considering the directional information of transmission signals in addition to the scalar SSB reception strength. This dimensional expansion enables more accurate identification of interfering cells without substantially complicating the overall selection mechanism.
2Measurement precision
If cell selection considers both SSB reception strength and transmission signal direction, then the accuracy of selecting interfering cells is improved, but the complexity of the selection process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces additional selection parameters (transmission signal direction) that can be obtained from existing network measurements and signaling. While this increases measurement precision for identifying interfering cells, the additional complexity is managed by utilizing already-available directional information from beamforming operations rather than requiring new measurement mechanisms.
3Loss of time
If only SSB reception strength is used for cell selection, then the selection process is fast, but cells that do not substantially cause interference may be selected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds transmission signal direction as an additional parameter to the cell selection criteria. This allows the system to maintain relatively fast selection by using pre-available directional information from ongoing beamforming operations, while simultaneously improving the reliability of selecting cells that actually cause interference to the target UE.
Data Source
AI summary
According to various embodiments, a method of operating a network may include transmitting to a first user equipment (UE) connected to the network, at least one transmission signal for downlink traffic corresponding to the first UE based on a first direction, transmitting a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) configured by the network, based on a plurality of directions corresponding respectively to the plurality of SSBs, and identifying a degree of overlap between each of the plurality of directions corresponding respectively to the plurality of SSBs and the first direction.