SINR Estimation Using Correlation Coefficients for Cellular Coverage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for estimating signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) in cellular radiocommunication networks are inadequate, especially at cell edges, as they assume a single 'frozen' serving cell, which is not realistic due to the random phenomenon of shadowing, leading to inaccurate coverage predictions.

Innovation Solution

The method involves selecting multiple cells with the highest mean receive powers, calculating their SINR ratios on a logarithmic scale, determining the correlation coefficient between these ratios, and estimating characteristic parameters such as the maximum SINR and its variance to account for multiple potential serving cells, thereby improving SINR estimation accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single frozen serving cell is assumed for SINR estimation, then the calculation complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision of SINR deteriorates, especially at cell edges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecalculation complexityVSAvoidSINR estimation accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the serving cell selection into multiple candidate cells (typically the strongest and second strongest cells). Instead of assuming a single frozen serving cell, the method divides the estimation into segments by considering multiple potential serving cells and their respective SINR contributions, thereby improving accuracy while managing complexity through structured segmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic serving cell selection by allowing the serving cell identity to vary based on shadowing conditions. Rather than freezing the serving cell assumption, the method dynamically determines which cell (strongest or second strongest) actually serves as the serving cell at each location, making the estimation adaptive to random shadowing variations and improving precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If multiple cells are considered for serving cell selection, then the SINR estimation accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSINR estimation accuracyVSAvoidcalculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by considering only the top two candidate cells (strongest and second strongest) for serving cell selection rather than all possible cells. This partial consideration of multiple cells provides significant accuracy improvement over single-cell assumption while avoiding the excessive complexity of evaluating all potential serving cells across the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of serving cell selection from a single fixed cell to a probabilistic selection between multiple cells based on shadowing conditions. By introducing probability distributions and correlation coefficients as new parameters, the method achieves higher estimation accuracy while managing complexity through parameter-based modeling rather than exhaustive computation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the serving cell identity is determined statistically considering shadowing, then the reliability of coverage prediction improves, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage prediction reliabilityVSAvoidserving cell identification difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces correlation coefficients as an intermediary parameter that mediates between the serving cell selection and SINR estimation. Instead of directly measuring complex shadowing effects, the method uses correlation coefficients to represent the statistical relationship between candidate serving cells, simplifying the detection and measurement while improving coverage prediction reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a statistical model (copy) of the serving cell selection process that replicates the effects of shadowing without requiring direct measurement of shadowing conditions. By copying the statistical behavior through probability distributions and correlation coefficients, the method achieves reliable coverage prediction while avoiding the complexity of direct shadowing measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS20240365130A1Estimation of characteristic parameters of a reception quality at a location in a cellular radiocommunication network using mean-approximation of correlation coefficients

Publication Date: 2024.10.31 ORANGE SA

AI summary

A method for estimating characteristic parameters of a reception quality at a location of a cellular radiocommunication network including: selecting, from a set of network cells, at least two cells associated with the highest mean receive powers of a useful signal at the location; determining, on the logarithmic scale, at least two signal-to-interference plus noise ratios at the location for the useful signal received from each of the at least two cells selected; determining a correlation coefficient between the at least two signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios determined on the logarithmic scale, determining a maximum between the at least two signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratios determined on the logarithmic scale; estimating characteristic parameters of a reception quality at the location from the maximum and the correlation coefficient.