UE Coordination for Co-Channel Interference Cancellation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wireless communication systems face challenges in maintaining link quality due to co-channel interference, which occurs when multiple UEs use the same air interface resources, leading to signal degradation and inefficient data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The formation of user equipment-coordination sets (UE-coordination sets) where UEs share and exchange signal-related information to enable joint reception and transmission, allowing for interference cancellation and improved link quality by synchronizing with base stations and processing I/Q samples to decode and transmit data effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple UEs use the same air interface resources for downlink transmission, then spectral efficiency and network capacity are improved, but co-channel interference occurs causing link quality degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespectral efficiencyVSAvoidco-channel interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful co-channel interference into a beneficial signal by having the interfering UE transmit a dedicated signal on the same resources. The target UE uses this previously harmful interference signal as reference information to cancel the co-channel interference through signal processing, thereby enabling reliable communication while maintaining high spectral efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a coordinated signal transmission mechanism where UEs exchange reference signals through a coordinated process managed by base stations. This intermediary signal exchange enables interference cancellation without requiring physical separation or resource reallocation, resolving the contradiction between spectral efficiency and interference mitigation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If UEs transmit downlink signals using the same time-frequency resources, then network capacity increases, but link quality deteriorates due to interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork capacityVSAvoidlink quality
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the interfering UE transmits reference signals that contain information about the interference characteristics. The target UE uses this feedback information to accurately model and cancel the interference, enabling reliable communication at high network capacity without traditional interference avoidance techniques

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If conventional interference avoidance techniques are used, then link quality is maintained, but network efficiency and spectral utilization are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelink qualityVSAvoidnetwork efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the fundamental parameter of interference handling from avoidance to utilization. Instead of avoiding co-channel interference by separating resources, the system changes the approach to actively manage and cancel interference signals, allowing full spectral utilization while maintaining link quality through signal processing parameter adjustments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4029170B1User equipment coordination for co-channel interference mitigation
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 GOOGLE LLC
  • EP4029170B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4029170B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4029170B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques and apparatuses are described for enabling user equipment to coordinate for interference cancelation. In some aspects, base stations (121, 122) form a user equipment-coordination set (410) by pairing a first UE (111) of a first base station (121) with a second UE (112) of a second base station (122). The UE (111) receives a first downlink transmission (440) from the first base station (121). The UE 111 receives, from the second UE (112), information regarding a second downlink transmission (420) of the second base station (122). Based on the received information, the UE (111) can model and cancel interference from the second downlink transmission (430) of the second base station (122) to a reception of a first downlink transmission by the first base station (121) to the first UE (111).