UE Measurement Overhead Reduction via Selective Transmit Point Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face high overhead costs in user equipment (UE) measurements due to redundant processes and resource consumption, which can be optimized by focusing on strong transmit points and reducing interference measurement rates, especially for cell-edge UEs.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for selecting serving virtual transmit points (VTPs) that prioritize UE-centric criteria, such as location and quality of service, by scheduling UE measurements based on measurement parameters and reducing overhead through techniques like muting non-significant transmit points and adjusting measurement frequencies according to VTP configuration selection rates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If UE measurements are made for all TPs to ensure accurate channel selection, then measurement accuracy is improved, but overhead cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel measurement accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and focuses measurements only on strong TPs (those above a threshold or within top-N strongest), excluding weak TPs from measurement. This extraction principle reduces the number of measurements required while maintaining accuracy for the most relevant transmit points, directly resolving the contradiction between measurement completeness and overhead reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different measurement strategies to different TPs based on their local characteristics - strong TPs are measured with higher priority and frequency, while weak TPs are measured less frequently or not at all. This local differentiation optimizes resource allocation by concentrating measurement efforts where they provide the most value, balancing accuracy requirements with overhead constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If measurement frequency is increased to track channel changes, then measurement accuracy is improved, but overhead cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechannel tracking accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement overhead time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic measurement scheduling where the measurement frequency and resources are adjusted based on current channel conditions, UE location, and VTP configuration selection rates. This dynamic approach allows the system to increase measurement frequency when needed (e.g., for cell-edge UEs or rapidly changing conditions) while reducing it during stable periods, optimizing the trade-off between tracking accuracy and overhead time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs periodic measurement schemes where measurements are taken at regular intervals rather than continuously, with the period adjusted based on channel stability and importance of the TP. This periodic action reduces overhead by eliminating redundant measurements during stable conditions while maintaining adequate tracking accuracy through appropriately tuned measurement intervals.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Measurement precision

If all VTP configurations are measured equally, then configuration selection accuracy is improved, but overhead cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveVTP configuration selection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different measurement resource allocation to different VTP configurations based on their local characteristics - configurations with higher selection probabilities or those serving critical UEs (e.g., cell-edge) receive more measurement resources, while less important configurations receive fewer resources. This differentiated approach optimizes the balance between configuration selection accuracy and measurement resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3531752B1Method and controller for low-overhead user equipment measurements
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3531752B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531752B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531752B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3C

AI summary

An embodiment method includes receiving, by a user equipment, a first reference signal in a first allocated time frequency resource for UE measurement and receiving, by the UE, a second reference signal in a second allocated time frequency resource for UE measurement. A reference signal density of the first allocated time frequency resource is different from a reference signal density of the second allocated time frequency resource in time or frequency domain.