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FeICIC (Further enhanced intercell interference coordination)

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Introduction:

In recent years, the demand for high data rates and better coverage in wireless communication systems has increased rapidly. The interference between neighboring cells has become a major problem that limits the performance of wireless communication systems. Therefore, intercell interference coordination (ICIC) has been introduced to mitigate the impact of intercell interference. FeICIC (Further Enhanced ICIC) is an evolution of ICIC, which further enhances the interference management mechanism and provides better performance in heterogeneous networks.

Overview of FeICIC:

FeICIC is a technique that reduces intercell interference in heterogeneous networks. A heterogeneous network is a network that comprises different types of cells, such as macrocells, microcells, and picocells. In heterogeneous networks, interference management becomes more challenging due to the different characteristics of the cells.

FeICIC uses a combination of techniques to mitigate intercell interference. These techniques include almost blank subframes (ABS), fractional power control, and cell range expansion (CRE).

Almost Blank Subframes (ABS):

One of the key techniques used in FeICIC is ABS. ABS is a mechanism that allows a cell to turn off its transmission during specific subframes to reduce intercell interference. In ABS, a subframe is almost blank, meaning that it only transmits control information, and no data is transmitted during that subframe.

ABS is particularly useful in HetNets where the interference from neighboring cells can be very high. ABS allows the interfering cell to switch off its transmission during the subframe, thus reducing the interference on the victim cell. The victim cell can then use the subframe to transmit its own data without interference.

Fractional Power Control:

Another technique used in FeICIC is fractional power control. Fractional power control adjusts the power level of the interfering cell to reduce the interference on the victim cell. This technique is particularly useful in HetNets where the transmit power of different cells can vary significantly.

Fractional power control is based on the principle that reducing the transmit power of the interfering cell reduces the interference on the victim cell. However, reducing the power level too much can cause the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to drop, resulting in poor quality of service. Therefore, fractional power control adjusts the power level of the interfering cell to a level that provides a good balance between reducing interference and maintaining a good quality of service.

Cell Range Expansion (CRE):

The third technique used in FeICIC is cell range expansion (CRE). CRE is a technique that extends the coverage of a cell to reduce intercell interference. In CRE, the cell increases its coverage area by reducing its power level at the cell edge. This allows the cell to provide coverage to areas that would otherwise be covered by a neighboring cell.

CRE is particularly useful in HetNets where the coverage areas of the different cells can overlap significantly. By extending the coverage area of a cell, CRE reduces the interference between neighboring cells and provides better coverage to users at the cell edge.

FeICIC Implementation:

FeICIC can be implemented in different ways depending on the specific network configuration and requirements. In this implementation, the macrocell is the primary cell, and the picocells are the secondary cells. The primary cell uses ABS to reduce the interference from the secondary cells. During the ABS subframes, the secondary cells turn off their transmission to reduce the interference on the primary cell.

The secondary cells use fractional power control to reduce the interference on the primary cell during the non-ABS subframes. The secondary cells also use CRE to extend their coverage area and reduce the interference on the primary cell. By using these techniques, FeICIC provides better interference management and improves the overall performance of the network.

FeICIC Benefits:

FeICIC offers several benefits that make it a valuable technique for interference management in heterogeneous networks. Some of these benefits include:

  1. Improved Performance: FeICIC improves the performance of heterogeneous networks by reducing intercell interference. This results in higher data rates, better coverage, and improved quality of service.
  2. Flexible Implementation: FeICIC can be implemented in different ways depending on the specific network configuration and requirements. This allows network operators to tailor the implementation to their specific needs.
  3. Cost-effective: FeICIC is a cost-effective technique for interference management as it utilizes existing infrastructure and does not require additional hardware or spectrum.
  4. Compatible with existing standards: FeICIC is compatible with existing 3GPP standards and can be used in conjunction with other techniques such as Carrier Aggregation (CA) and Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP).

Conclusion:

In conclusion, FeICIC is an effective technique for reducing intercell interference in heterogeneous networks. It uses a combination of techniques such as ABS, fractional power control, and cell range expansion to mitigate the impact of intercell interference. FeICIC provides several benefits such as improved performance, flexible implementation, cost-effectiveness, and compatibility with existing standards. With the increasing demand for high data rates and better coverage in wireless communication systems, FeICIC is a valuable tool for network operators to improve the overall performance of their networks.