Mitigating Interference Between Terrestrial and Non-Terrestrial Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

The interference between terrestrial and non-terrestrial wireless communication networks, caused by overlapping frequency bands, leads to degraded performance at non-terrestrial network receivers.

Innovation Solution

A method for mitigating uplink interference in terrestrial network cells to non-terrestrial network receivers by receiving information about user equipment (UEs) served by terrestrial network cells and performing actions to reduce expected interference, such as adjusting UE transmission power or deferring uplink transmissions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If terrestrial network and non-terrestrial network operate on overlapping frequency bands, then network capability and resource utilization are improved, but interference to non-terrestrial network receiver increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork capabilityVSAvoidinterference to non-terrestrial network receiver

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network entity performs preliminary identification of UEs that may cause interference to NTN receivers before the interference occurs. By evaluating UE transmission parameters and predicting potential interference scenarios in advance, the system can proactively apply mitigation measures such as power reduction or transmission deferral, preventing interference before it degrades NTN receiver performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The network entity acts as an intermediary between terrestrial network UEs and non-terrestrial network receivers. It receives information from TN cells about served UEs, evaluates their potential interference impact, and coordinates mitigation actions by signaling to specific UEs to adjust their transmission behavior, thereby mediating the coexistence of TN and NTN on overlapping frequencies

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If UE transmission power is increased to improve terrestrial network performance, then uplink signal quality in TN is improved, but interference to non-terrestrial network receiver worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink signal qualityVSAvoidinterference to non-terrestrial network receiver

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The mitigation approach applies local quality by treating different UEs differently based on their individual interference potential. Instead of uniformly reducing power for all UEs, the network entity identifies specific UEs whose transmissions may interfere with NTN receivers and applies targeted power reduction or deferral only to those local cases, preserving overall TN uplink quality while protecting NTN receivers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes transmission parameters (power level, timing) of identified UEs based on their interference risk. The network entity can signal UEs to reduce transmission power or defer transmissions to specific time slots, adjusting parameters in real-time to balance TN uplink performance with NTN interference protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250056299A1Minimizing interference between terrestrial network signals and non-terrestrial network signals

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide a method for wireless communications at a network entity, generally including receiving information regarding one or more user equipments (UEs) served by one or more terrestrial network (TN) cells, wherein the one or more TN cells operate in a first frequency band that at least partially overlaps with a second frequency band of a non-terrestrial network (NTN); and performing one or more actions, based on the information, to mitigate expected uplink (UL) interference to the NTN caused by the UEs.