Wireless Sector Selection Using Load and Signal Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face interference and congestion due to uneven load distribution across sectors, with existing server selection solutions failing to consider neighbor cell loads, leading to degraded performance as demand for mobile broadband access increases.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for selecting a serving sector in wireless networks based on effective load values and pilot signal channel quality values, allowing for load balancing by moving access terminals from heavily loaded sectors to lightly loaded ones, thereby improving system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current server selection solutions based on purely downlink channel quality are used, then downlink performance is optimized, but load distribution across sectors becomes uneven and neighbor cell loads are ignored
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the selection parameters from purely downlink channel quality to a composite metric that includes both downlink pilot signal channel quality and uplink effective load values. This parameter expansion allows the system to consider both signal quality and actual load conditions when selecting serving sectors, resolving the contradiction between optimizing downlink performance and achieving balanced load distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where access terminals report uplink effective load values and pilot signal channel quality values to base stations. This feedback loop enables the base stations to make informed serving sector selection decisions that balance load across sectors while maintaining good signal quality, addressing both performance optimization and load distribution concerns.
2Adaptability or versatility
If more access terminals access wireless networks to meet growing demand, then mobile broadband access availability increases, but interference and network congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic serving sector selection where access terminals can be reassigned to different sectors based on changing load conditions and signal quality measurements. This dynamic adaptation allows the network to respond to varying demand patterns and redistribute terminals to less congested sectors, reducing interference while maintaining access availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by selecting serving sectors based on local conditions including both downlink signal quality and uplink load characteristics. Each access terminal receives service from the sector that provides the best local conditions for its specific requirements, rather than a uniform allocation strategy, thereby reducing overall interference and congestion.
3Illumination intensity
If access terminals are assigned to sectors based solely on downlink channel quality, then signal reception is optimized, but heavily loaded sectors accumulate more terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces asymmetry in the selection criteria by combining two different measurement perspectives: downlink pilot signal channel quality (signal reception) and uplink effective load values (terminal quantity). This asymmetric approach ensures that serving sector selection is not dominated by either signal strength alone or load alone, but by a balanced consideration of both factors.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communicating in a wireless network including receiving effective load values for sectors accessible to an access terminal of the wireless network. The effective load values represent effective loads on the sectors. The method also includes receiving pilot signal channel quality values of the sectors and selecting a serving sector, for the access terminal based on the effective load values and the pilot signal channel quality values.