Interference-Limited UE Power Control for Macro Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LTE networks face inefficiencies in managing interference from macro cells, leading to wasted spectral resources and suboptimal performance for user equipment (UEs) due to lack of distinction between interference from controlled and non-controlled cells, resulting in uniform power distribution across resource blocks without considering the source of low SINR.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for determining and adjusting the power level of resource blocks shared among small cells based on feedback from UEs experiencing interference from non-controlled macro cells, using Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) reports to identify and mitigate macro interference, thereby optimizing SINR for UEs and minimizing resource waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If uniform power distribution is applied across all resource blocks, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but spectral resources are wasted and SINR performance deteriorates due to inability to address macro interference selectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating power distribution based on interference conditions. Specifically, resource blocks experiencing macro interference receive boosted power levels while those without interference maintain standard power levels. This selective approach optimizes SINR for affected UEs without unnecessarily increasing power across all resource blocks, thereby resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and spectral efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the power parameter dynamically based on interference measurements. The system adjusts power levels for specific resource blocks according to the interference conditions detected by UEs. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain simplicity in the base algorithm while achieving optimized spectral resource utilization through condition-based power adjustments.
2Reliability
If FFR partitions bandwidth to protect cell-edge users, then cell-edge rate and coverage improve, but sum network throughput and spectral efficiency deteriorate due to frequency resource isolation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into controlled and non-controlled cell categories, and further segments resource blocks into those affected by macro interference and those unaffected. This segmentation allows differential power allocation strategies to be applied to different segments, enabling cell-edge protection where needed while maintaining efficient spectrum utilization in other segments, thus resolving the throughput-coverage tradeoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing enhanced power specifically to resource blocks experiencing macro interference rather than uniformly across all cell-edge resources. This targeted approach maintains cell-edge coverage for affected UEs while allowing other resources to operate at standard power levels, preserving overall network throughput and spectral efficiency.
3Reliability
If power levels are increased to compensate for macro interference, then SINR for affected UEs improves, but overall network energy consumption and interference to other cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by boosting power levels only for resource blocks experiencing macro interference rather than increasing power across all resource blocks. This selective power enhancement improves SINR for affected UEs while minimizing additional energy consumption and limiting interference spill-over to other cells, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing power boosting only for the specific subset of resource blocks affected by macro interference rather than applying excessive power increases across the entire spectrum. This partial approach achieves the necessary SINR improvement for affected UEs while avoiding unnecessary energy consumption and reduced interference to other cells.
Data Source
AI summary
An example method is provided in one example embodiment and includes receiving feedback information from at least one controlled cell indicative of interference received at one or more user equipment devices served by the at least one cell. The at least one controlled cell is controlled by an operator associated with the at least one controlled cell. The method further includes selecting one or more user equipment devices that is determined to have received interference from at least one non-controlled cell that is greater than a predetermined threshold. The at least one non-controlled cell is not controlled by the operator associated with the at least one controlled cell. The method still further includes determining a power level for a subset of common resources from among a set of common resources shared among the at least one controlled cell based upon the received feedback information.