Synchronized Uplink-Downlink Channel Hopping for Interference Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE technology, face challenges in efficiently managing channel selection and interference measurement across multiple channels, leading to suboptimal performance in channel quality and signal strength assessment.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for wireless communication that allows concurrent tuning to multiple channels, measuring interference or signal strength, and re-tuning based on these measurements to enable effective channel selection and reporting to the base station for improved channel quality assessment and selection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the base station and user equipment tune to multiple channels for interference measurement, then channel quality assessment is improved, but the complexity of synchronized tuning and measurement coordination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel quality assessmentVSAvoidtuning coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station determines the channel hopping pattern in advance and communicates it to the user equipment before measurements are performed. This preliminary determination of the hopping pattern allows both devices to synchronize their tuning to multiple channels without complex real-time coordination, thereby improving channel quality assessment while managing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The user equipment measures interference on multiple channels according to the hopping pattern and reports channel quality information back to the base station. This feedback mechanism enables the base station to make informed channel selection decisions based on actual measured conditions, improving overall channel quality assessment accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system performs interference measurement on multiple channels, then channel selection performance is improved, but the time required for measurement and re-tuning increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel selection performanceVSAvoidmeasurement and re-tuning time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements channel hopping measurements periodically according to a predetermined pattern. The base station and user equipment alternate between measuring on different channels in a systematic sequence, allowing measurements to be distributed over time rather than concentrated in one extended period. This periodic approach improves channel selection reliability while managing the time loss through efficient scheduling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The channel hopping pattern is determined in advance by the base station, allowing both the base station and user equipment to prepare their tuning schedules beforehand. This preliminary planning reduces the actual measurement and re-tuning time by eliminating real-time coordination delays, thus improving channel selection performance without excessive time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3232723B1Synchronized uplink-downlink hop for measurements
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3232723B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3232723B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3232723B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of wireless communication is provided which includes communicating with a base station on a first channel and tuning to a second channel concurrently with the base station tuning to a second or third channel. The method also includes measuring interference on the second channel and re-tuning to the first channel concurrently with the base station re-tuning to the first channel. The method further includes reporting channel quality, based on the interference, to the base station to enable channel selection.