UTRAN Power Management via Short-Term BLER Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Outer Loop Power Control (OLPC) algorithms in UTRAN networks fail to meet quality targets in a timeframe relevant to user perception, leading to inefficient power management and poor user experience due to non-uniform error distribution during calls, which results in either excessive power consumption or poor service quality.

Innovation Solution

The method involves measuring Block Error Rate (BLER) over short intervals (seconds) to track quality targets effectively, using a short-term BLER calculation that balances capacity and quality constraints, with specific metrics to limit very low and high error intervals, and implementing counters for uplink and downlink cases to optimize OLPC performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If OLPC algorithms use long-term BLER measurement to meet quality targets, then the overall BLER target is achieved, but the quality target is not met in timeframes relevant to user perception

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality target fulfillmentVSAvoidresponse time to quality target
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the long-term BLER measurement into multiple short-term BLER measurements taken over different time windows. Each short-term measurement evaluates quality over a period relevant to user perception (e.g., a few seconds), allowing the system to detect and respond to quality issues promptly while still achieving the overall long-term quality target.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If OLPC algorithms transmit higher power to reduce errors, then error-free periods improve quality, but power consumption increases and capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall qualityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic power adjustment based on short-term BLER measurements. The OLPC algorithm continuously monitors quality over short time windows and adapts the SIR target and transmit power in real-time, increasing power only when short-term measurements indicate quality degradation and reducing power when quality is sufficient, thereby optimizing the trade-off between reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If OLPC algorithms use short-term BLER measurement, then quality target is met in user-relevant timeframes, but measurement precision requires statistical averaging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality response timeVSAvoidBLER measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies statistical averaging over multiple short-term measurement windows to achieve reliable BLER estimates. By taking multiple measurements over slightly overlapping or sequential time windows and averaging them, the system obtains sufficiently precise quality metrics within timeframes relevant to user perception, balancing measurement accuracy with responsive quality control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2071737B1Method of management of power in UTRAN networks
Publication Date: 2016.03.09 VODAFONE GRP PLC
  • EP2071737B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2071737B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2071737B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Method of management of power in UTRAN networks that measures the BLER (block error rate) during short intervals of time, in the range of seconds, implementing, at least, a quality constraint and a capacity constraint in order to reflect the user's perception of the service quality.