TN Downlink Scheduling With PRB Blanking for NTN Interference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-terrestrial network (NTN) downlink co-channel interference poses significant challenges in terrestrial network (TN) downlink operations, leading to degraded service quality, reduced data throughput, and communication disruptions due to overlapping beam and cell coverage areas using the same frequency bands.

Innovation Solution

A TN scheduler predicts interference conditions by determining overlapping beam and cell coverage areas, utilizing a spectrum blanking engine to deactivate implicated sub-bands in affected cells through physical resource block (PRB) blanking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If NTN and TN share the same frequency bands for downlink communications, then spectrum utilization is improved, but co-channel interference occurs between NTN beams and TN cells

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespectrum utilizationVSAvoidco-channel interference

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frequency spectrum into different sub-bands and divides time into discrete time instances. The TN scheduler segments bandwidth resources and applies spectrum blanking to specific sub-bands affected by NTN interference, rather than blanking entire frequency bands. This allows partial utilization of the spectrum while avoiding interference in specific segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes the bandwidth allocation parameters of TN cells based on predicted NTN beam locations and coverage areas. The TN scheduler adjusts the active sub-bands and resource blocks in real-time according to the temporal and spatial parameters of NTN operations, optimizing spectrum utilization while avoiding interference.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If TN cells operate continuously on overlapping frequencies, then data throughput is maintained, but service quality degrades due to interference from NTN beams

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata throughputVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having the TN scheduler predict future NTN beam locations and coverage areas in advance. Based on these predictions, the scheduler proactively adjusts TN bandwidth allocation and applies spectrum blanking before interference occurs, preventing service quality degradation rather than reacting to it afterward.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic action through discrete time-instance scheduling and periodic updates of NTN beam location predictions. The TN scheduler continuously monitors and adjusts bandwidth allocation in periodic time slots, ensuring that service quality is maintained through regular interference avoidance while maximizing data throughput during interference-free periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If spectrum blanking is applied to avoid NTN interference, then service quality is improved, but bandwidth resource utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidbandwidth resource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing spectrum blanking only in specific sub-bands and spatial locations where NTN interference occurs, rather than applying it uniformly across the entire frequency spectrum. The TN scheduler identifies implicated sub-bands and applies blanking selectively, maintaining high bandwidth utilization in non-affected frequency regions while ensuring service quality in affected regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Object-affected harmful factors

If real-time interference prediction and spectrum blanking are implemented, then co-channel interference is mitigated, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveco-channel interferenceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by having the TN scheduler autonomously predict NTN beam locations, identify interference conditions, and adjust bandwidth allocation without requiring complex external coordination with NTN systems. The terrestrial network independently manages its own interference avoidance through integrated prediction and scheduling functions, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260039376A1Non-terrestrial network downlink co-channel interference management on terrestrial network downlink

Publication Date: 2026.02.05 BOOST SUBSCRIBERCO LLC

AI summary

Approaches are described herein for mitigating non-terrestrial network (NTN) downlink co-channel interference on a terrestrial network (TN) downlink. For example, for any designated times, a TN scheduler can predict locations and orientations for satellites of the NTN and their illuminated beam coverage areas. The TN scheduler can determine interference conditions for each of the designate times by determining instances in which a cell coverage area of the TN is overlapped by one or more of the beam coverage areas and in which the overlapping beam and cell use an implicated sub-band of overlapping downlink frequencies. A spectrum blanking engine can schedule TN bandwidth resources for each of the designated times based on deactivating communications in the implicated sub-bands in the implicated cells according to the interference conditions.