# US 11,910,424 B2 · Reducing interference from devices at extraordinary altitudes > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,910,424 B2 - Document ID: US11910424B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/808,111 - Filed: 2022-06-22 - Published: 2022-10-13 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2017-08-08 - Assignees: IPCom GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: IPCom GmbH & Co.KG - Inventors: Andreas Schmidt; Maik Bienas; Martin Hans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11910424B2 ## CPC - H04W 36/00: Hand-off or reselection arrangements - H04W 72/541: using the level of interference - H04B 7/185: Space-based or airborne stations; {Stations for satellite systems}(H04B7/204 takes precedence) - H04B 7/18504: {Aircraft used as relay or high altitude atmospheric platform} - H04B 7/18506: {Communications with or from aircraft, i.e. aeronautical mobile service} - H04W 36/16: Performing reselection for specific purposes - H04W 36/20: for optimising the interference level - H04W 72/21: in the uplink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards the network - H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals - H04W 72/27: between access points - H04W 72/51: based on terminal or device properties - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract A method of reducing interference in a mobile communication system is provided to reduce interference caused by a first user equipment, UE, device operating in a cell at a significantly higher altitude than other UE devices in the cell so as to cause interference. The method detects that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude and reduces interference caused by the first UE device operating at the extraordinary altitude by controlling the operation of the first UE device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of reducing interference in a mobile communication system caused by a first user equipment, UE, device operating in a cell at a significantly higher altitude than other UE devices in the cell so as to cause interference, the method comprising: detecting that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude; and reducing interference caused at a non-serving base station of the mobile communication system by the first UE device operating at the extraordinary altitude by controlling the operation of the first UE device, wherein in the method: a base station serving the first UE device in the cell determines, using a radio link between the first UE device and the serving base station, that an altitude of the first UE device exceeds a threshold and having determined that the altitude of the first UE device exceeds the threshold configures the first UE device to report altitude measurements of the first UE device, the reported altitude measurements being used by the serving base station to detect that the first UE device is operating at an altitude considered by the mobile communication system to be an extraordinary altitude. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the extraordinary altitude is configurable by a network operator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein cellular coverage provided by the mobile communication system is subdivided into coverage layers and the mobile communication system detects when the first UE device transitions from a low altitude layer to a high altitude layer resulting in a handover procedure being performed. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the serving base station of the mobile communication system determines the altitude of the first UE device by determining an angle of a radio beam oriented towards the first UE device. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile communication system varies what is considered to be an extraordinary altitude by maintaining a database of altitudes considered to be extraordinary altitudes for particular locations or cells. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the serving base station exchanges information with one or more neighbouring base stations, informing the one or more neighbouring base stations of resource occupation data of the first UE device for enabling the at least one neighbouring base stations to perform detection and measurement of signals originating from the first UE device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the exchange is performed by sending a request message including at least one of an identifier of the first UE device, an identifier of the serving cell, at least one interference threshold value. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more neighbouring base stations transmit messages to the serving base station reporting a degree of interference caused by the first UE device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the information transmitted by the serving base station includes a repetition indicator indicating to the one or more neighbouring base stations that they should perform repeated detection and measurement of the signals originating from the first UE device and provide repeated reporting messages to the serving cell base station. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the serving base station reduces interference caused by the first UE device by performing one of: reducing an uplink transmit power of the first UE device; configuring the first UE device to have a longer hibernation cycle; turning off a radio transmitter of the first UE device; applying a service limitation to the first UE device; reconfiguring physical resources to be used by uplink traffic of the first UE device; triggering handover of the first UE device to another cell or frequency; switching from an omnidirectional uplink transmission characteristic to a directional uplink transmission characteristic; applying special cell admission control methods; triggering handover to another radio access technology; and engaging in an uplink resource occupation coordination process. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the first UE device reports its capability for performing altitude related interference suppression to the serving base station.