Uplink Power Control Algorithm Selection for Interference Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current uplink power control methods in wireless communication networks, particularly in heterogeneous environments, fail to optimally balance transmit power for maintaining Quality-of-Service (QoS) while controlling inter-cell interference and maximizing battery life, as they do not adequately consider the impact of transmit power on neighboring cells.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method for uplink power control that obtains information on radio resource utilization, downlink geometry, and uplink performance of both serving and neighboring wireless access points to select an appropriate power control algorithm, thereby minimizing interference and optimizing network throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If uplink transmit power is increased to maintain QoS for cell-edge users, then Quality-of-Service is improved, but inter-cell interference increases and UE battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating power control strategies based on user location and cell conditions. Cell-center users receive full pathloss compensation (α=1) while cell-edge users receive fractional compensation (α<1), creating locally optimized power control that adapts to specific spatial conditions rather than applying a uniform approach across the entire cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic power control parameters that adapt to changing radio conditions, load situations, and user locations. The network can dynamically adjust the fractional pathloss compensation factor α based on current interference levels, cell load, and user distribution, making the power control system responsive to real-time conditions rather than static.
2Reliability
If full pathloss compensation (α=1) is applied to maximize fairness for cell-edge users, then QoS is improved, but total uplink capacity and interference control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cell into different spatial regions (cell-center and cell-edge) and applies different pathloss compensation factors to each region. Cell-center users receive α=1 for maximum fairness, while cell-edge users receive α<1 to control overall interference and maintain total uplink capacity, achieving local optimization rather than uniform treatment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pathloss compensation factor α from a fixed value to a variable parameter that can be adjusted based on user location, cell load, and interference conditions. This allows the system to optimize the trade-off between fairness and capacity by dynamically tuning α rather than being constrained to a single fixed value.
3Productivity
If fractional pathloss compensation (α<1) is applied to control interference, then total uplink capacity is maintained, but fairness for cell-edge users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different fractional compensation factors to different spatial regions: cell-center users receive higher α values (closer to 1) maintaining fairness, while cell-edge users receive lower α values (less than 1) to control interference. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying fractional compensation only where necessary rather than uniformly across all users.
4Device complexity
If uplink power control considers only serving cell parameters, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to control inter-cell interference and maximize network throughput deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the downlink geometry metric as an intermediary that indirectly reflects uplink interference conditions without requiring direct measurement of neighboring cell uplink signals. The UE calculates downlink geometry based on downlink reference signal measurements from serving and neighboring cells, which serves as a proxy for determining appropriate uplink power control parameters and reducing interference to neighboring cells.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method performed by the apparatus for uplink power control of a wireless device in a radio communication network is provided. The method comprises obtaining (110) information pertaining to at least two of (a) radio resource utilisation of a serving wireless access point and at least one neighbouring wireless access point, (b) downlink geometry, and (c) uplink performance of the wireless device; and selecting (130) an uplink power control algorithm based on the obtained information.