Split Base Station Interference Management via Centralized Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

3GPP 5G networks face coverage 'holes' with unbalanced Downlink (DL) and Uplink (UL) channel coverage, and capacity issues due to high demand or poor radio conditions, leading to suboptimal performance and interference at cell edges.

Innovation Solution

A method where the central unit of a split base station sends configuration messages to distributed units to report communication quality measurements, allowing for interference level computation and optimization, such as resource block reshuffling and handover recommendations to mitigate interference and improve capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If ultra-dense networks are deployed to meet high system capacity and coverage requirements, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but interference at cell edges increases and network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidinterference at cell edges

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where distributed units report communication quality measurements (including interference levels) to the central unit. The central unit computes overall interference levels based on these reports and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust resource allocation and configure distributed units to mitigate interference, thereby maintaining high network capacity while reducing cell edge interference through continuous monitoring and adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes operational parameters such as resource block allocation and frequency resource configuration based on reported communication quality measurements. The central unit adjusts these parameters in response to interference conditions, allowing the network to adapt to changing conditions and reduce interference at cell edges while maintaining high capacity through optimized resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If downlink and uplink channel coverage are unbalanced, then network deployment flexibility is improved, but communication quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork deployment flexibilityVSAvoidcommunication quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms where distributed units report communication quality measurements including downlink and uplink quality metrics to the central unit. The central unit analyzes these reports and configures distributed units to balance coverage, ensuring that deployment flexibility does not compromise communication quality through continuous monitoring and adjustment based on actual channel conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If resource allocation is optimized to improve capacity, then network efficiency is improved, but interference management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork efficiencyVSAvoidinterference management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the base station functionality into a central unit that performs high-level interference computation and resource allocation optimization, and distributed units that handle local resource configuration and reporting. This segmentation allows complex interference management to be distributed appropriately, improving network efficiency while managing complexity through functional decomposition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The central unit acts as an intermediary between distributed units and the core network, aggregating communication quality measurements from multiple distributed units and computing overall interference levels. This intermediary role simplifies interference management by centralizing the computation and coordination functions, allowing efficient resource allocation without each distributed unit needing to independently manage complex interference scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240098523A1Method, central unit, distributed unit, base station

Publication Date: 2024.03.21 NEC CORP

AI summary

A method is presented in which a central unit (5-2b) of a split base station apparatus in a cellular communication system sends, to a distributed unit (5-2a) of the split base station apparatus, a first message comprising an information element for configuring the distributed unit (5-2a) of the split base station apparatus serving a UE (3) to report current measurement data representative of communication quality measurements. The central unit (5-2b) receives, from the distributed unit (5-2a) of the split base station apparatus, in a second message sent in response to the first message, communication quality measurements for the cell and/or beam currently serving the UE (3) under control of the distributed unit (5-2a) of the split base station apparatus.