Uplink Component Carrier Segmentation for Heterogeneous Network Interference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Interference occurs in heterogeneous network environments when user equipment (UE) in a macro cell transmits signals that interfere with femtocells operating in the same frequency band, particularly due to the difficulty in reducing the power of the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) without affecting the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) level.
Innovation Solution
A method where the base station (BS) differentiates between uplink Component Carriers (CCs) used for control information transmission and those not used, allowing for reduced transmit power on PUCCH-less CCs to minimize interference, by designating specific CCs for PUCCH transmission and others as PUCCH-less, and controlling the allocation of CCs to UEs to mitigate interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE transmits PUCCH on uplink CC in heterogeneous network, then control information can be transmitted, but interference with femtocell increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments uplink component carriers into two types: PUCCH transmission CCs and PUCCH-less CCs. This segmentation allows the system to transmit control information on dedicated carriers while avoiding interference with femtocells on other carriers, resolving the contradiction between reliable control transmission and interference reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the characteristics of different uplink CCs. PUCCH transmission CCs are configured for control information transmission with higher power, while PUCCH-less CCs are configured for data transmission with reduced power to avoid femtocell interference. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing high-power transmission where needed and low-power transmission where interference must be avoided.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If transmit power of PUCCH is reduced to minimize interference, then interference with femtocell decreases, but control information transmission reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting uplink CCs into PUCCH transmission CCs and PUCCH-less CCs, the patent allows control information to be transmitted on dedicated carriers with appropriate power levels, while other carriers operate at reduced power. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by separating the functions of control transmission and data transmission to different carrier sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces PUCCH-less CCs as intermediary carriers that carry data information at reduced power levels, acting as a buffer between the high-power PUCCH transmission CCs and the sensitive femtocell operations. This intermediary structure allows the system to maintain control transmission reliability while minimizing interference through power reduction on data carriers.
3Productivity
If multiple uplink CCs are allocated to UE, then data transmission capacity increases, but interference management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments uplink CCs into distinct PUCCH transmission CCs and PUCCH-less CCs, providing a clear classification that simplifies interference management. UE can be configured with multiple CCs of each type, and the base station can automatically manage power levels based on the CC type, reducing the complexity of interference coordination while maintaining high data capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by configuring different power levels and transmission characteristics for PUCCH transmission CCs versus PUCCH-less CCs. This parameter differentiation allows the system to scale data capacity by adding more PUCCH-less CCs at reduced power levels without proportionally increasing interference management complexity, as the power reduction automatically mitigates interference.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for mitigating interference in a wireless communication system supporting heterogeneous networks are disclosed. When the wireless communication system includes a first network and a second network, the method includes generating information indicating whether each of uplink component carriers is used for transmission of control information in the first network, and transmitting the information to a UE. A component carrier used for transmission of control information in the first network is different from a component carrier used for transmission of control information in the second network.