UE Signal Quality Measurement on Radio Resource Element Subsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous networks, existing signal quality measurement methods, such as RSRQ, provide average signal quality across multiple channels, which is not accurate for individual channels due to unknown interference patterns, leading to unreliable measurements and increased downlink interference.
Innovation Solution
User Equipment (UE) receives a signal measurement configuration to measure and report signal quality parameters for specific subsets of radio resource elements within a time-frequency grid, allowing for individual channel quality assessment, thereby improving measurement accuracy and interference management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If RSRQ is measured as an average across multiple channels (PDCCH, PCFICH, PDSCH), then the measurement covers all downlink channels, but the measurement accuracy for individual channels deteriorates due to unknown interference patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the downlink channels into separate measurement groups (PDCCH, PCFICH, PDSCH) and performs individual RSRQ measurements for each channel rather than averaging them. This segmentation allows the UE to report channel-specific RSRQ values, enabling the network to identify and manage interference patterns on a per-channel basis, thereby resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and measurement precision.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If coordination schemes like ABS or fractional PDCCH load are used to reduce downlink interference, then interference on control channels is reduced, but undesirable interference patterns are created that undermine reliable measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE measures and reports RSRQ values for individual channels (PDCCH, PCFICH, PDSCH) separately. This feedback enables the network to identify specific channels experiencing interference and adjust coordination schemes dynamically, creating a closed-loop system that maintains measurement reliability while managing interference. The network can use these per-channel measurements to optimize ABS patterns or PDCCH load distribution without creating harmful interference patterns.
3Productivity
If pico base station coverage is expanded to increase network capacity, then more UE traffic is handled by pico cells, but downlink interference increases and signal quality decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling per-channel RSRQ measurements that allow the network to identify specific locations and channels where interference occurs. This localized measurement capability enables targeted interference management strategies, such as adjusting transmission power or resource allocation on specific channels in specific geographic areas, thereby maintaining network capacity while mitigating downlink interference in affected regions.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) receives a radio signal which includes a time-frequency grid of radio resource elements. A UE detector measures a signal quality parameter associated with a subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid. The subset of the radio resource elements is less than a total number of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid and corresponds to an individual radio channel. Radio circuitry in the UE reports to a network node the signal quality parameter measured for the subset of the radio resource elements in the time-frequency grid to enable an operation related, for example, to the individual radio channel.