Uplink Signal Configuration for Interferer Identification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In heterogeneous wireless communication networks, identifying and managing uplink interference from user equipment (UE) to network nodes is challenging, especially in scenarios where downlink measurements are insufficient to determine interference relations, leading to inefficient carrier selection and interference coordination.

Innovation Solution

The method involves identifying specific UEs causing interference by configuring uplink signals with defined frequencies, timings, and codes, allowing interfered network nodes to detect these signals and adjust resource allocations to mitigate interference, and coordinating UE transmissions to avoid interfering frequencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If downlink measurements are used to identify interference relations, then the measurement process is simple, but the identification accuracy is insufficient leading to inefficient carrier selection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference identification accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement and identification complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of measuring downlink signals to identify uplink interferers, the patent inverts the approach by having the interfered network node directly detect uplink signals from UEs. This inversion enables accurate identification of uplink interference sources without relying on imperfect downlink measurements, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces configured uplink signals as intermediaries between the interfered network node and the interfering UEs. These signals act as mediators that enable the interfered node to detect and identify interferers through controlled signal transmissions, providing a structured approach that improves identification accuracy without significantly increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If uplink signal detection is implemented to identify interferers, then interference identification accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional signaling and coordination

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference identification accuracyVSAvoidsignaling and coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the interfered network node pre-configure uplink signal parameters (frequency, timing, code) before actual interference detection. This preparation enables the node to efficiently detect and identify interferers without requiring complex real-time signal generation and coordination, thereby improving identification accuracy while managing signaling complexity through advance configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If resource allocation is adjusted to mitigate interference, then interference management effectiveness improves, but the coordination overhead between network nodes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterference management effectivenessVSAvoidnetwork coordination overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the interference mitigation function to the serving network node, which directly controls the interfering UEs. When the interfered node identifies an interferer, it provides information to the serving node that independently adjusts resource allocation for the specific interfering UE. This extraction reduces the need for continuous complex coordination between network nodes while maintaining effective interference management through targeted resource adjustments at the serving node level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2702820B1Generating uplink signals from user equipment nodes to identify interferers to a network node
Publication Date: 2019.07.03 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2702820B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2702820B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3B
  • EP2702820B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method is disclosed that can be performed in at least one network node which provides wireless communications service for user equipment nodes (UEs). The method includes detecting uplink interference at an interfered network node. Responsive to the uplink interference, an uplink transmission having a defined configuration is initiated from a UE, which is served by a serving network node. The uplink signal is detected using the defined configuration at the interfered network node. The UE is identified responsive to the detected uplink signal as being a contributor to the uplink interference. An uplink transmission by the UE and/or by another UE served by the serving network node is controlled to reduce uplink interference.