RS-SINR Reporting for Accurate Throughput Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current radio communication systems face challenges in accurately estimating throughput during band balancing due to the reliance on RSRQ, which is influenced by load conditions, and lack a method for reporting SINR from user equipment to the base station.

Innovation Solution

User equipment is equipped with a measurement unit to calculate RS-SINR for the physical downlink control channel and a reporting unit to transmit this measurement to the base station based on predefined triggers, enabling more accurate throughput estimation in band balancing target cells.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If RSRQ is used for throughput estimation in band balancing, then the estimation can be performed using existing measurement mechanisms, but the accuracy of throughput estimation deteriorates due to load condition dependencies and wider throughput ranges at higher RSRQ values

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidthroughput estimation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from RSRQ to RS-SINR (Reference Signal Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio). This parameter change eliminates the dependency on load conditions that plagues RSRQ-based estimation. The RS-SINR provides a more direct and accurate indication of the signal quality and achievable throughput, as it directly measures the ratio of desired signal power to interference and noise power, enabling accurate throughput estimation across all load conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If RS-SINR measurement and reporting is implemented, then the throughput estimation accuracy is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional measurement and reporting mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethroughput estimation accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and reporting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing reference signal infrastructure in LTE systems, which are already transmitted for channel estimation and demodulation purposes. The same reference signals are reused for RS-SINR measurement, eliminating the need for dedicated measurement signals. Additionally, the measurement results are reported using existing uplink control channels (PUCCH or PUSCH) that are already allocated for feedback purposes. This multi-functional use of existing resources minimizes the additional complexity introduced by the new measurement and reporting mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If RSRQ-based band balancing control is used, then the system can maintain simplicity in control mechanisms, but the resource allocation efficiency deteriorates due to inaccurate throughput estimation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol mechanism simplicityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the user equipment measures RS-SINR on the downlink and reports the measurement results to the base station via uplink control channels. The base station uses this feedback information to make informed band balancing decisions, such as determining whether to trigger handover or adjust resource allocation. This feedback loop enables accurate, real-time assessment of signal quality and throughput potential, significantly improving resource allocation efficiency while maintaining control mechanism simplicity through standardized feedback procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3110199B1User device and RS-SINR reporting method
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP3110199B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3110199B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3110199B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Some schemes for reporting an RS-SINR measured at user equipment to a base station are disclosed. One aspect of the present invention relates to user equipment, comprising: a measurement unit configured to measure an RS-SINR (Reference Signal-Signal to Interference and Noise Ratio) for a reference signal in a physical downlink control channel transmitted from a base station; and a reporting unit configured to report the measured RS-SINR to the base station in accordance with a predefined reporting trigger.