UE-to-UE Interference Measurement in TDD Cellular Systems

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular communication systems using Time Division Duplex (TDD), uplink and downlink transmissions often interfere due to shared spectrum, leading to degraded performance and communication obstructions between users in different cells, which existing methods have not adequately addressed.

Innovation Solution

A method where User Equipment (UE) measures and reports uplink signal interference to the network, enabling interference-aware configuration and suppression, allowing for improved scheduling, link adaptation, and beamforming to mitigate UE-to-UE interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If TDD spectrum sharing is used to increase spectral efficiency, then system capacity is improved, but interference between uplink and downlink transmissions occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem capacityVSAvoidinterference between uplink and downlink
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary interference measurement during uplink timeslots by capturing uplink signals from neighboring cells before they cause interference to downlink transmissions. This advance measurement allows the system to proactively identify and characterize interference sources, enabling subsequent interference mitigation actions to be taken before performance degradation occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where measurement information about uplink interference is reported back to the network device, which then uses this information to configure downlink transmissions. The network device adjusts downlink resource allocation, power levels, or beamforming parameters based on the measured interference characteristics, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously optimizes performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If uplink transmissions from neighboring cells are allowed to increase system utilization, then resource efficiency is improved, but UE-to-UE interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource efficiencyVSAvoidUE-to-UE interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The network device performs preliminary interference measurement during uplink timeslots by capturing uplink signals from neighboring cells before they cause interference to downlink transmissions. This advance measurement allows the system to proactively identify and characterize interference sources, enabling subsequent interference mitigation actions to be taken before performance degradation occurs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where measurement information about uplink interference is reported back to the network device, which then uses this information to configure downlink transmissions. The network device adjusts downlink resource allocation, power levels, or beamforming parameters based on the measured interference characteristics, creating a closed-loop control system that continuously optimizes performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If interference measurement and reporting is implemented to reduce interference, then transmission quality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission qualityVSAvoidmeasurement and reporting complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

User equipment automatically performs interference measurement and generates reports without requiring complex manual configuration or intervention. The UE autonomously identifies uplink signals from neighboring cells, measures their characteristics, and reports the findings to the network device, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high transmission quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3332559B1Enabling interference-aware configuration of at least one transmission and/or interference suppression in a cellular communication system
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3332559B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP3332559B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3332559B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

There is provided mechanisms to obtain, report and/or use measurement information representing so-called UE-to-UE interference between UEs (10, 20) to enable interference-aware configuration of at least one transmission and/or interference suppression in a cellular communication system.