TDD Base Station Scheduling Using Smart Antenna AOA
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Time Division Duplex (TDD) networks, existing Coordinated Scheduling (CoSC) methods do not effectively utilize smart antenna technology to suppress inter-cell interference, which affects network performance.
Innovation Solution
A method for UE scheduling in a TDD network that incorporates smart antenna information, such as Signal-to-Neighboring Path Loss (SNPL) and Angle of Arrival (AOA), from neighboring cells to minimize interference by scheduling UEs that generate less interference based on their location and directional signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If coordinated scheduling is implemented without smart antenna information, then system throughput is improved through interference coordination, but inter-cell interference suppression effectiveness is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the scheduling parameters from conventional resource allocation to include smart antenna parameters (AOA, beamforming vectors). By incorporating these additional parameters, the scheduling decision process can identify and suppress inter-cell interference more effectively while maintaining system throughput.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces smart antenna information (AOA measurements, beamforming vectors) as an intermediary between cells in the coordinated scheduling process. This intermediary enables more precise interference identification and suppression by providing spatial and directional information about interfering signals.
2Reliability
If smart antenna technology is used for intra-cell interference suppression only, then uplink and downlink performance are improved, but inter-cell interference is not suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges intra-cell smart antenna technology with inter-cell coordinated scheduling by combining AOA measurements and beamforming vectors from multiple cells. This integration allows the system to simultaneously achieve intra-cell performance improvement and inter-cell interference suppression through unified scheduling decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the scheduling dimension from conventional resource domain to include spatial and angular domains through smart antenna parameters. By adding these dimensional aspects (AOA, beamforming directions), the system can suppress inter-cell interference that cannot be addressed by traditional scheduling alone.
3Ease of operation
If UE scheduling is based only on conventional parameters, then scheduling simplicity is maintained, but interference suppression capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the scheduling system multi-functional by enabling it to handle both conventional scheduling tasks and smart antenna-based interference suppression through a unified framework. The base station uses existing smart antenna capabilities for dual purposes: intra-cell beamforming and inter-cell interference coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes copied smart antenna information (AOA measurements and beamforming vectors) from neighboring cells through coordination messages. This copying approach allows interference suppression without requiring complex real-time measurements at each cell, maintaining operational simplicity while improving interference capability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach improves network performance by reducing inter-cell interference, enhancing both uplink and downlink performance without requiring modifications to existing UEs, and can be applied to TD-SCDMA and TD-LTE networks.
Implementation Method 1
The smart antenna is able to identify spatial signal signature such as Angle Of Arrival (AOA) which is also called as Direction of Arrival (DOA) of the signal
Implementation Method 2
use it to calculate beamforming vectors, to track and locate the antenna beam on the target
Implementation Method 3
Due to the coherence between uplink and downlink, a TDD base station may use AOA information collected in uplink to do downlink beam forming
Implementation Method 4
In the downlink, the beamforming points to a particular UE and UEs in other directions will suffer less interference
Implementation Method 5
in the uplink, the base station receiver will focus on signal from this UE's direction, hence will be less interfered by signals from other directions
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to Coordinated Scheduling for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) network. In a method for User Equipment (UE) scheduling by a base station in a TDD network, the base station receives scheduling decision from at least one neighboring cell of the base station, and schedules a UE among a plurality of UEs in the serving cell of the base station based on the scheduling decision from the at least one neighboring cell and based on smart antenna information. The inter-cell interference is suppressed and therefore the network performance is improved.