Virtual Cell Management for Interference and Resource Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
In heterogeneous networks with cells of different sizes, managing virtual cells to simultaneously improve intercell interference and radio resource efficiency is challenging due to tradeoffs in frequency reuse and environmental factors like small cell placement and traffic distribution.
Innovation Solution
A cell management apparatus and method that determine a distance threshold value based on overall load, allowing for flexible virtual cell management by confirming load and using different management methods to optimize the formation of virtual cells, prioritizing cells with lower traffic, and grouping cells based on predefined policies to harmonize interference reduction and resource efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the same physical cell identifier (PCI) is assigned to two or more adjacent cells to form one virtual cell, then interference at a cell edge is improved, but the operation efficiency of radio resources deteriorates due to reduced frequency reuse
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the virtual cell management flexible and adaptable to changing network conditions. The system dynamically determines distance threshold values based on overall load conditions and adjusts virtual cell formation accordingly. This allows the network to switch between aggressive virtual cell formation (when load is low) to maximize interference mitigation, and conservative formation (when load is high) to preserve frequency reuse efficiency, thus resolving the static tradeoff between interference reduction and resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of distance threshold value based on overall load conditions. When overall load is low, a larger distance threshold is used to form virtual cells more aggressively, improving interference mitigation. When overall load is high, a smaller distance threshold is used to limit virtual cell formation, preserving frequency reuse benefits. This parameter adaptation allows the system to optimize the balance between interference reduction and resource efficiency under different operating conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual cells are managed in a heterogeneous network environment with small cells installed irregularly, then flexibility in network deployment is improved, but severe tradeoff occurs depending on environmental factors such as number of small cells, distance between cells, and traffic amount
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making virtual cell management decisions specific to each cell's local environment. The system evaluates individual cell characteristics including distance to neighboring cells, local traffic load, and overall network load conditions. This localized assessment allows each cell to be optimally integrated into virtual cells based on its specific context, rather than applying uniform virtual cell formation rules across the entire heterogeneous network, thus reducing severe tradeoffs in diverse environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts virtual cell formation based on real-time environmental factors including the number of small cells, their irregular placement, distance between cells, and traffic distribution. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to flexibly respond to heterogeneous deployment scenarios, optimizing the balance between interference mitigation and frequency reuse efficiency for each specific environmental configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention suggests a cell management apparatus and a method for operating a cell management apparatus, capable of harmoniously satisfying effects of improving intercell interference and enhancing operation efficiency of radio resources in managing virtual cells, particularly in managing virtual cells in a heterogeneous network environment in which cells having different sizes coexist.