Mitigation of signal conflict in wireless communication networks

• US 10,034,182 B1
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Chukka, Chaitanya, Masters, Matthew J., Schmidt, Patrick Jacob, Wurtenberger, Andrew Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Chuck
• Application Number:
  US15/254,737
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 455418, 4554351, 455434
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/1264 Adjusting different parts or elements of an aerial unit
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/246 specially adapted for base stations
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/205 providing an omnidirectional coverage turnstile aerials H01Q21/26
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/06 over a restricted angle
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 3/08 for varying two co-ordinates of the orientation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/28 using beam steering
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0005 synchronizing of arrival of multiple uplinks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/006 using known positions of transmitter and receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0065 using measurement of signal travel time

Abstract

Detection and mitigation of signal conflict, such as a primary synchronization signal conflict, between broadcast cells in a wireless communication network is provided. Multiple broadcast cells may be provided in the network to provide sectors of coverage. A mobile communication device may operate within the network and attempt to attach to one or more of the broadcast cells. A synchronization signal conflict between neighboring broadcast cells may be identified and mitigated using one or more adjustments to the broadcast cells or signals emitted therefrom, which may allow for improved network performance, among other benefits.

Claims

1. A method for mitigating signal conflict in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

emitting a first signal from a first broadcast cell operating within the wireless communication network, the first signal comprising at least one synchronization signal of a physical layer identity group, the first signal emitted from a first transmitting and receiving component that is coupled to a first movement mechanism attached to the first broadcast cell;

emitting a second signal from a second broadcast cell operating within the wireless communication network, the second signal comprising the at least one synchronization signal of the physical layer identity group, the second signal emitted from a second transmitting and receiving component that is coupled to a second movement mechanism attached to the second broadcast cell;

attempting to attach a mobile communication device operating within the wireless communication network to at least one of the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell using the at least one synchronization signal;

identifying a synchronization signal conflict between the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell; and

mitigating the synchronization signal conflict by sending an instruction to at least one of the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism to modify an orientation of the first transmitting and receiving component and the second transmitting and receiving component relative to each other.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal conflict is identified based on an amount of time required for the mobile communication device to attach to the first broadcast cell or the second broadcast cell.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal conflict is identified by determining that the first signal from the first broadcast cell and the second signal from the second broadcast cell are transmitting towards each other along a line of sight between the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell with overlapping sectors of coverage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein mitigating the synchronization signal conflict further comprises at least one of:

modifying a power of at least one of the first signal and the second signal to adjust a coverage area thereof; and

modifying a frequency of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein mitigating the synchronization signal conflict comprises modifying an orientation of the first transmitting and receiving component using the first movement mechanism or modifying an orientation of the second transmitting and receiving component using the second movement mechanism.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein mitigating the synchronization signal conflict further comprises adjusting a radiation center of at least one of the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon identifying the synchronization signal conflict, sending a notification of the synchronization signal conflict to at least one of the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal conflict is identified locally by at least one of the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the synchronization signal conflict occurs remotely from the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell at a central server in communication with the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell, and wherein the central server includes a signal attachment time log that maintains a log of attachment times for mobile communication devices operating within the wireless communication network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one synchronization signal comprises a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal, the synchronization signal conflict being identified based on the primary synchronization signal.

11. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, perform a method of mitigating signal conflict in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

determining that a synchronization signal conflict exists between a first broadcast cell and a second broadcast cell operating within the wireless communication network,

the first broadcast cell emitting a first signal from a first transmitting and receiving component coupled to a first movement mechanism that is attached to the first broadcast cell, wherein the first broadcast cell is in communication with a mobile communication device, and

the second broadcast cell emitting a second signal from a second transmitting and receiving component coupled to a second movement mechanism that is attached to the second broadcast cell, wherein the second broadcast cell is in communication with the mobile communication device; and

mitigating the synchronization signal conflict by sending an instruction to adjust at least one of the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism to modify an orientation of the first and second transmitting and receiving components relative to each other.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein mitigating the synchronization signal conflict further comprises sending an instruction to modify at least one of a channel, a frequency, and a power of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the instruction comprises an instruction to modify at least one of a horizontal and a vertical orientation of at least one of the first and second signal transmitting and receiving components.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the synchronization signal conflict is determined based on:

a time required for the mobile communication device to attach to the first broadcast cell or the second broadcast cell, or

a failure of the mobile communication device to attach to the first broadcast cell or the second broadcast cell.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 11, wherein the synchronization signal conflict is determined based on:

a line of sight between the first and second transmitting and receiving components;

the first and second signals transmitting over a common channel; and

the first and second signals using a common primary synchronization signal.

16. A system for mitigating signal conflict in a wireless communication network, the system comprising:

a first broadcast cell configured to emit a first signal using a first transmitting and receiving component that is coupled to a first movement mechanism attached to the first broadcast cell, the first signal comprising at least one synchronization signal of a physical layer identity group;

a second broadcast cell configured to emit a second signal using a second transmitting and receiving component that is coupled to a second movement mechanism attached to the second broadcast cell, the second signal comprising the at least one synchronization signal of the physical layer identity group; and

one or more processors configured to;

determine that a synchronization signal conflict exists between the first broadcast cell and the second broadcast cell; and

mitigate the synchronization signal conflict by sending an instruction to adjust at least one of the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanisms to modify;

an orientation of the first and second transmitting and receiving components relative to each other.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processers determine that the synchronization signal conflict exists based on an amount of time required for a mobile communication device to attach to the first broadcast cell or the second broadcast cell or a failure of the mobile communication device to attach to the first broadcast cell or the second broadcast cell.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein mitigating the synchronization signal conflict further comprises modifying at least one of the first and second signals by adjusting at least one of a channel, a frequency, and a power thereof.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more processors are located at a central server that is in communication with the first and second broadcast cells.