Coordinated set selecting method and device

• US 10,038,524 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2016
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wei, Yuxin
• Primary Examiner(s): Beharry, Noel R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thomas, Wilfred
• Application Number:
  US15/044,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20160164650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 11/0053 using co-ordinated multipoint transmission/reception co-ordinated antenna or beam-forming aspects H04B7/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/20 Selecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/27 between access points

Abstract

Disclosed are a coordinated set selecting method and device, which are applicable to a wireless communication system. The coordinated set selecting method comprises the following steps: determining a transmission manner adopted by a wireless communication system, the transmission manner being joint processing or coordinated scheduling/beamforming; and, directed to the transmission manner adopted by the wireless communication system, selecting a coordinated set according to a coordinated set selecting mechanism adapting to the transmission manner. According to the technical solution of the present invention, by considering transmission characteristics of different transmission manners, a reasonable coordinated set is selected to perform coordinated multi-point transmission.

Claims

1. A cooperating set selection method for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

specifying which one transmission mode of Joint Processing and Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized in the wireless communication system;

selecting, based on the specified transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, a cooperating set selection mechanism from among a plurality of different cooperating set selection mechanisms, a first cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Joint Processing is utilized as a transmission mode, a second cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized as a transmission mode, the first cooperating set selection mechanism being different from the second cooperating set selection mechanism; and

selecting, as a cooperating set, a set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming in accordance with the selected cooperating set selection mechanism, transmission nodes not selected as the cooperating set being not used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, wherein

the second cooperating set selection mechanism is based on a terminal, in which cooperating sets are individually selected for respective terminals in the same cell such that, for a first terminal in a first cell, a first cooperating set corresponding to a first set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected while, for a second terminal in the first cell, a second cooperating set corresponding to a second set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected, the second set of transmission nodes being different from the first set of transmission nodes.

2. The cooperating set selection method according to claim 1, wherein

the wireless communication system includes a homogeneous network and a heterogeneous network, and

in the selection of the cooperating set, a cooperating set selection mechanism for the homogeneous network or the heterogeneous network is adopted further according to different interference characteristics of the homogeneous network and the heterogeneous network.

3. The cooperating set selection method according to claim 2, wherein

in a case that the transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system is the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, the corresponding cooperating set selection mechanism includes the selection mechanism based on a terminal, and, regarding a first terminal of a selected cooperating set and a first cell where the first terminal is positioned, in a case that the first cell is positioned in the homogeneous network, a cell whose distance from the first cell is smaller than a predetermined distance threshold is selected as a candidate cooperating set on the basis of a distance criterion, whereas, in a case of the heterogeneous network, a candidate cooperating set is selected on the basis of not only the distance criterion, but also whether the first cell is a macro cell or a micro cell and whether or not the macro cell and a micro cell falling within a cover range of the macro cell use the same cell number, and then, based on a SLNR criterion of Signal to Leakage and Noise Ratio, a cell having smaller SLNR than a predetermined SLNR threshold is selected from the candidate cooperating set as a cooperating set for providing a service to the first terminal.

4. The cooperating set selection method according to claim 2, wherein

in a case that the transmission mode of Joint Processing is utilized by the wireless communication system, a candidate cooperating set is selected first, and then a cooperating cell-user pair set is selected on the basis of the selected candidate cooperating to form a multi-cell and multi-user transmission mode.

5. The cooperating set selection method according to claim 4, wherein

in order to select the candidate cooperating set, in a case that a first cell of a selected cooperating set is positioned in the homogeneous network, the candidate cooperating set is formed by selecting a cell whose physical distance from the first cell is smaller than a predetermined distance threshold on the basis of a distance criterion, whereas, in a case that the first cell is positioned in the heterogeneous network, an appropriate cell is selected on the basis of a signal quality criterion to form a candidate cooperating set, and a difference value between a first signal quality of the appropriate cell for an edge user of the first cell and a second signal quality of the first cell for the edge user is equal to or less than a predetermined difference value threshold.

6. The cooperating set selection method according to claim 4, wherein

in order to select the cooperating cell-user pair set, for the homogeneous network, a cell-user pair set with an orthogonality greater than a predetermined orthogonality threshold is selected, and then the cell-user pair set with a best overall signal quality is selected based on the signal quality criterion, whereas for the heterogeneous network, on the basis of the selection of the homogeneous network, and the cell-user pair set in which interference caused by a macro cell on a micro cell is smaller than a predetermined interference threshold is selected.

7. A cooperating set selection apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a memory; and

circuitry configured to

specify which one transmission mode of Joint Processing and Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized in the wireless communication system;

select, based on the specified transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, a cooperating set selection mechanism from among a plurality of different cooperating set selection mechanisms, a first cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Joint Processing is utilized as a transmission mode, a second cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Coordinated Scheduling/Beaming is utilized as a transmission mode, the first cooperating set selection mechanism being different from the second cooperating set selection mechanism; and

select, as a cooperating set, a set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming in accordance with the selected cooperating set selection mechanism, transmission nodes not selected as the cooperating set being not used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, wherein

the second cooperating set selection mechanism is based on a terminal, in which cooperating sets are individually selected for respective terminals in the same cell such that, for a first terminal in a first cell, a first cooperating set corresponding to a first set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected while, for a second terminal in the first cell, a second cooperating set corresponding to a second set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected, the second set of transmission nodes being different from the first set of transmission nodes.

8. The cooperating set selection apparatus according to claim 7, wherein

the wireless communication system includes a homogeneous network and a heterogeneous network, and in the selection of the cooperating set, a cooperating set selecting unit further adopts a cooperating set selection mechanism for the homogeneous network or the heterogeneous network according to different interference characteristics of the homogeneous network and the heterogeneous network.

9. The cooperating set selection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

in a case that the transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system is the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, the corresponding cooperating set selection mechanism includes the selection mechanism based on a terminal, and, regarding a first terminal of a selected cooperating set and a first cell where the first terminal is positioned, in a case that the first cell is positioned in the homogeneous network, a cell whose distance from the first cell is smaller than a predetermined distance threshold is selected as a candidate cooperating set on the basis of a distance criterion, whereas, for the heterogeneous network, a candidate cooperating set is selected on the basis of not only the distance criterion, but also whether the first cell is as macro cell or a micro cell and whether or not the macro cell and a micro cell falling within a cover range of the macro cell use the same cell number, and then, based on a SLNR criterion of Signal to Leakage and Noise Ratio, a cell having smaller SLNR than a predetermined SLNR threshold is selected in the candidate cooperating set as a cooperating set for providing a service to the first terminal.

10. The cooperating set selection apparatus according to claim 8, wherein

in a case that the Transmission mode of Joint Processing is utilized by the wireless communication system, a candidate cooperating set is selected first, and then a cooperating cell-user pair set is selected on the basis of the selected candidate cooperating set to form a multi-cell and multi-user transmission mode.

11. The cooperating set selection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

in order to select the candidate cooperating set, in a case that a first cell of a selected cooperating set is positioned in the homogeneous network, the candidate cooperating set is formed by selecting a cell whose physical distance from the first cell is smaller than a predetermined distance threshold on the basis of a distance criterion, whereas, in a case that the first cell is positioned in the heterogeneous network, an appropriate cell is selected on the basis of a signal quality criterion to form a candidate cooperating set, and a difference value between a first signal quality of the appropriate cell for an edge user of the first cell and a second signal quality of the first cell for the edge user is equal to or less than a predetermined difference value threshold.

12. The cooperating set selection apparatus according to claim 10, wherein

in order to select the cooperating cell-user pair set, for the homogeneous network, a cell-user pair set with an orthogonality greater than a predetermined orthogonality threshold is selected, and then the cell-user pair set with a best overall signal quality is selected based on the signal quality criterion, whereas for the heterogeneous network, on the basis of the selection of the homogeneous network, and the cell-user pair set in which interference caused by a macro cell on a micro cell is smaller than a predetermined interference threshold is selected.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including executable instructions, which when executed by a computer cause the computer to execute a cooperating set selection method for use in a wireless communication system, the cooperating set selection method including:

specifying which one transmission mode of Joint Processing and Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized in the wireless communication system;

selecting, based on the specified transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, a cooperating set selection mechanism from among a plurality of different cooperating set selection mechanisms, a first cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Joint Processing is utilized as a transmission mode, a second cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the specifying specifies the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized as a transmission mode, the first cooperating set selection mechanism being different from the second cooperating set selection mechanism; and

selecting, as a cooperating set, a set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming in accordance with the selected cooperating set selection mechanism, transmission nodes not selected as the cooperating set being not used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, wherein

the second cooperating set selection mechanism is based on a terminal, in which cooperating sets are individually selected for respective terminals in the same cell such that, for a first terminal in a first cell, a first cooperating set corresponding to a first set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected while, for a second terminal in the first cell, a second cooperating set corresponding to a second set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected, the second set of transmission nodes being different from the first set of transmission nodes.

14. A communication terminals in a wireless communication system, comprising:

a memory; and

circuitry configured to communicate with a cell in a cooperating set based on a transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system the transmission mode being Joint Processing or Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, wherein

which one transmission mode of Joint Processing and Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized in the wireless communication system is specified by the wireless communication system,

based on the specified transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, a cooperating set selection mechanism is selected from among a plurality of different cooperating set selection mechanisms by the wireless communication system, a first cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the wireless communication system specifies the Joint Processing is utilized as a transmission mode a second cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the wireless communication system specifies the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized as a transmission mode, the first cooperating set selection mechanism being different from the second cooperating set selection mechanism,

a set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is selected as the cooperating set based on the selected cooperating set selection mechanism, transmission nodes not selected as the cooperating set being not used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, and

the second cooperating set selection mechanism is based on a terminal, in which cooperating sets are individually selected for respective terminals in the same cell such that, for the communication terminal in a first cell, a first cooperating set corresponding to a first set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected while, for a second terminal in the first cell, a second cooperating set corresponding to a second set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected, the second set of transmission nodes being different from the first set of transmission nodes.

15. A communication method for use in a communication terminal in a wireless communication system, comprising:

communicating with a cell in a cooperating set based on a transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, the transmission mode being Joint Processing or Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, wherein

which one transmission mode of Joint Processing and Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized in the wireless communication system is specified by the wireless communication system,

based on the specified transmission mode utilized in the wireless communication system, a cooperating set selection mechanism is selected from among a plurality of different cooperating set selection mechanisms by the wireless communication system, a first cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the wireless communication system specifies the Joint Processing is utilized as a transmission mode, a second cooperating set selection mechanism being selected in a case that the wireless communication system specifies the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is utilized as a transmission mode, the first cooperating set selection mechanism being different from the second cooperating set selection mechanism,

a set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming is selected as the cooperating set based on the selected cooperating set selection mechanism, transmission nodes not selected as the cooperating set being not used in the wireless communication system for data transmission in the Joint Processing or the Coordinated Scheduling/Beamforming, and

the second cooperating set selection mechanism is based on a terminal, in which cooperating sets are individually selected for respective terminals in the same cell such that, for the communication terminal in a first cell, a first cooperating set corresponding to a first set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected while, for a second terminal in the first cell, a second cooperating set corresponding to a second set of transmission nodes to be used in the wireless communication system for data transmission is selected, the second set of transmission nodes being different from the first set of transmission nodes.