Unlicensed Carrier Load Balancing via Intrinsic Cell Channel Load
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for controlling radio channel deployment in unlicensed spectrum face challenges in accurately determining channel load for mobility and load balancing, leading to misleading resource status reports due to interference from neighboring nodes, especially in congested networks with multiple contending systems.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load and obtains neighbor cell channel load information, using predetermined indicators to initiate channel deployment operations, such as adjusting Discovery Signal Measurement and Timing Configuration, to improve load balancing and mobility control by comparing intrinsic and neighbor cell loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If channel load information is obtained from neighboring access nodes in unlicensed spectrum, then mobility and load balancing can be performed, but the channel load information becomes misleading due to interference from other contending systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments channel load information into two distinct components: intrinsic cell channel load (generated only by the cell itself) and total channel load (including interference from neighboring nodes). This segmentation allows the system to separately identify and evaluate the reliable intrinsic load versus the misleading external interference, enabling accurate mobility and load balancing decisions based on the intrinsic component alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that filters channel load information by separating intrinsic cell contributions from external interference. The access node acts as an intermediary that requests and processes channel load indicators from neighboring nodes, then selectively uses only the intrinsic component for decision-making, thereby mediating between the need for load information and the problem of interference contamination.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Listen-Before-Talk operation is applied in unlicensed spectrum, then coexistence with other radio technologies is achieved, but uplink transmission performance is hampered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the LBT procedure from the uplink transmission path and applies it only to downlink transmissions from access nodes. By taking out the LBT requirement from uplink communications, the system maintains coexistence capability through downlink LBT while eliminating the performance degradation that would result from applying LBT to uplink transmissions.
3Productivity
If carrier aggregation is used to combine licensed and unlicensed spectrum, then transmission capacity is increased, but complexity of channel deployment control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments channel deployment control into distinct procedures for licensed and unlicensed carriers. For licensed carriers, traditional total channel load information is used, while for unlicensed carriers, the new intrinsic cell channel load indicator is used. This segmentation simplifies the overall control complexity by providing carrier-specific solutions rather than requiring a single complex mechanism to handle both spectrum types.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods, nodes and computer program products for controlling radio channel deployment when using un-licensed carriers in a wireless communication network. In particular, the present disclosure relates to method for mobility and/or load balancing target selection when using un-licensed carriers. When performed in an access node, the method for controlling radio channel deployment in the un-licensed spectrum comprises to determine (S41) unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load in a cell served by the access node based on one or more predetermined channel load indicators and to obtain (S42) neighbor cell channel load information, from one or more neighboring access nodes. The neighbor cell channel load information comprises unlicensed carrier channel load in respective cells based on the one or more predetermined channel load indicators. The method further comprises to initiate at least one channel deployment operation based on an outcome of one or more comparative operations comprising the determined unlicensed carrier intrinsic cell channel load and/or the obtained neighbor cell channel load information.