Dynamic Traffic Steering for Tropospheric Ducting Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tropospheric ducting interference in telecommunications networks, particularly in 5G networks using frequency bands like n41, leads to degraded user experiences due to uplink signal interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system and method for dynamic traffic steering that identifies layers experiencing ducting, reallocates user devices to other layers, and prioritizes handoffs based on throughput and service sensitivity to mitigate interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traffic is steered to avoid ducting interference, then user experience is preserved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of ducting-affected layers and pre-calculates alternative layer mappings before traffic steering is needed. By proactively detecting ducting conditions and preparing mitigation strategies in advance, the system can rapidly steer traffic without complex real-time decision-making, thus preserving user experience while managing network complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary traffic steering mechanism that sits between the radio access network and user devices. This intermediary layer monitors ducting conditions, identifies affected layers, and automatically redirects traffic to alternative layers, shielding user devices from the complexity of ducting mitigation while maintaining service quality
2Reliability
If user devices are reallocated dynamically, then interference is mitigated, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by selectively reallocated user devices only in cells or sectors where ducting interference is detected, rather than performing blanket reallocation across the entire network. This targeted approach mitigates interference in affected areas while minimizing unnecessary signaling overhead in unaffected areas
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of layer assignment dynamically based on ducting conditions. By monitoring environmental parameters (temperature, pressure, humidity) that indicate ducting and adjusting layer allocation accordingly, the system achieves interference mitigation through parameter-based control rather than extensive signaling
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for ducting-based traffic steering. A telecommunications network manager can identify when tropospheric ducting is experienced, or expected to be experienced, at a network layer band and dynamically adjust traffic steering. Specifically, the manager can reallocate user devices to layers that are not experiencing or not anticipated to experience ducting. A load capacity of different layers is monitored such that devices are not transferred to already-overloaded layers. Once ducting is no longer experienced at the layer, any offloaded devices can be transferred back to their original layer.