Performance degradation handling between radio access network nodes

A method for performance degradation handling between a first radio access network node that operates in a first frequency band and provides network access for subscribers of a first mobile network operator and a second radio access network node that operates in a second frequency band and provides network access for subscribers of a second mobile network operator, the method being performed by a central network node, the method comprising:

• obtaining, from the first radio access network node, an indication of performance degradation as identified by the first radio access network node, the performance degradation impacting the network access for the subscribers of the first mobile network operator, wherein the indication specifies a particular direction relative the first radio access network node from which the performance degradation is identified as originating and identifies the second radio access network node as causing the performance degradation, wherein the first radio access network node determined the particular direction;
• obtaining, from the second radio access network node, reporting of a spatial antenna beam pattern as updated by beamforming parameter values being adjusted, wherein the second radio access network node provides network access for its subscribers according to the spatial antenna beam pattern as updated;
• and
• forwarding the indication of the performance degradation towards the second radio access network node.

A first radio access network node for performance degradation handling between the first radio access network node that is configured to operate in a first frequency band and to provide network access for subscribers of a first mobile network operator and a second radio access network node that is configured to operate in a second frequency band and to provide network access for subscribers of a second mobile network operator, the first radio access network node comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to cause the first radio access network node to:

• identify a performance degradation impacting the network access for the subscribers of the first mobile network operator, wherein identifying the performance degradation comprises i) determining a particular direction relative the first radio access network node from which the performance degradation originates and ii) determining that the performance degradation is caused by the second radio access network node;
• provide, towards the second radio access network node, an indication of the performance degradation, wherein the indication provided towards the second radio access network node specifies the determined particular direction and identifies the second radio access network node as causing the performance degradation;
• identify further performance degradation impacting the network access for the subscribers of the first mobile network operator, wherein the further performance degradation is identified as caused by the second radio access network node;
• provide, towards the second radio access network node, a request for time-wise synchronization of operation with the second radio access network node;
• and
• jointly determine, with the second radio access network node, time-wise scheduling in the particular direction.

A central network node for performance degradation handling between a first radio access network node that operates in a first frequency band and provides network access for subscribers of a first mobile network operator and a second radio access network node that operates in a second frequency band and provides network access for subscribers of a second mobile network operator, the central network node comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to cause the central network node to:

• obtain, from the first radio access network node, an indication of performance degradation as identified by the first radio access network node, the performance degradation impacting the network access for the subscribers of the first mobile network operator, wherein the indication specifies a particular direction relative the first radio access network node from which the performance degradation is identified as originating and identifies the second radio access network node as causing the performance degradation, wherein the first radio access network node determined the particular direction;
• obtain, from the second radio access network node, reporting of a spatial antenna beam pattern as updated by beamforming parameter values being adjusted, wherein the second radio access network node provides network access for its subscribers according to the spatial antenna beam pattern as updated;
• and
• forward the indication of the performance degradation towards the second radio access network node.

A second radio access network node for performance degradation handling between a first radio access network node that is configured to operate in a first frequency band and to provide network access for subscribers of a first mobile network operator and the second radio access network node that is configured to operate in a second frequency band and to provide network access for subscribers of a second mobile network operator, the second radio access network node comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to cause the second radio access network node to:

• obtain an indication of performance degradation as identified by the first radio access network node, the performance degradation impacting the network access for the subscribers of the first mobile network operator, wherein the indication specifies a particular direction relative the first radio access network node from which the performance degradation is identified as originating and identifies the second radio access network node as causing the performance degradation, wherein the first radio access network node determined the particular direction;
• and
• reduce beamforming gain in the particular direction by adjusting beamforming parameter values as applied when providing network access for the subscribers of the second mobile network operator, wherein the beamforming parameter values are adjusted by application of a spatial filtering mask to the beamforming parameter values.