Coordination for PBCH

• US 10,165,455 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2014
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Dimou, Konstantinos, Bergman, Johan, Eriksson, Erik, Kazmi, Muhammad, Wallen, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Sarwar, Babar
• Application Number:
  US14/913,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20160212636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0035 Resource allocation in a cooperative multipoint environment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/02 Arrangements for optimising operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/245 from a network towards a terminal

Abstract

According to one aspect there is provided a method in a first network node of a telecommunication network. The network has a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of operation. The first mode of operation is interspersed between periods of a second mode of operation. The number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode than in the second mode. The method comprises determining first data regarding a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted by a first base station. The first data comprises at least timing information about the timing of the time windows of the first mode of operation. The method also comprises sending the first data to a second network node that controls operation of a second base station neighboring the first base station.

Claims

1. A method in a user equipment comprising:

receiving information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted in a neighbouring cell to the cell serving the user equipment, the broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition, and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

using said information relating to the broadcast channel repetition pattern of the neighbouring cell to perform one or more radio operations, wherein said information comprises (i) timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition in the neighbouring cell and (ii) information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same broadcast channel repetition pattern, and wherein the one or more radio operations comprise mitigating interference generated by broadcast channel transmissions from the neighboring cell.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said one or more radio operations further comprise at least one of:

reading of broadcast information transmitted in the neighbouring cell;

acquisition of system information transmitted in the neighbouring cell; and

acquisition of a system frame number for the neighbouring cell.

3. A method, in a network node of a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition, and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the method comprising:

transmitting to one or more user equipments served by a serving cell information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted in a neighbouring cell, wherein the information comprises (i) timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition in the neighbouring cell and (ii) information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same broadcast channel repetition pattern.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein said information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern further comprises at least one of:

information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell;

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and differential information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell;

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern of a reference cell and differential information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell; and

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern of a reference cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same broadcast channel repetition pattern.

5. A user equipment for use in a telecommunication network, the user equipment comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said user equipment is operative to:

receive information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted in a neighbouring cell to the cell serving the user equipment, the broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition, and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

perform one or more radio operations using said information relating to the broadcast channel repetition pattern of the neighbouring cell, wherein said information comprises (i) timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition in the neighbouring cell and (ii) information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same broadcast channel repetition pattern, and wherein the one or more radio operations comprise mitigating interference generated by broadcast channel transmissions from the neighboring cell.

6. The user equipment as claimed in claim 5, wherein said one or more radio operations further comprise at least one of:

reading of broadcast information transmitted in the neighbouring cell;

acquisition of system information transmitted in the neighbouring cell; and

acquisition of a system frame number for the neighbouring cell.

7. A network node for use in a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the network node comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said network node is operative to:

transmit to one or more user equipments served by a serving cell information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted in a neighbouring cell, wherein the information comprises (i) timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition in the neighbouring cell and (ii) information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same channel repetition pattern.

8. The network node as claimed in claim 7, wherein said information relating to a broadcast channel repetition pattern further comprises at least one of:

information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell;

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the serving cell and differential information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell;

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern of a reference cell and differential information about the broadcast channel repetition pattern being used in the neighbouring cell; and

information about a broadcast channel repetition pattern of a reference cell and an indication whether or not the neighbouring cell has the same broadcast channel repetition pattern.

9. A method, in a first network node of a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition, and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the method comprising:

determining first data regarding a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted by a first base station, wherein said first data comprises at least timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

sending said first data to a second network node that controls operation of a second base station neighbouring the first base station.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first network node sends the first data to the second network node so as to co-ordinate the timing of the broadcast channel repetition pattern with any broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by a second base station in a neighbouring cell to a cell of the first base station and wherein the first network node determines whether a number of user equipments served by the first base station and/or the second base station that support interference cancellation is above a threshold amount and,

in the event that said number is not above the threshold amount, the first network node co-ordinates with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station is substantially simultaneous with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station;

and

in the event that said number is above the threshold amount, the first network node co-ordinates with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station does not substantially overlap with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first network node sends the first data to the second network node so as to co-ordinate the timing of the broadcast channel repetition pattern with a broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by a second base station in a neighbouring cell to a cell of the first base station and wherein the first network node co-ordinates with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station does not substantially overlap with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station.

12. A method, in a second network node of a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition, and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the method comprising:

the second network node receiving, from a first network node, first data regarding a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted by a first base station from a first network node, wherein said first data comprises at least timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

the second network node generating at least one control signal based on said control data for controlling broadcast transmissions of a second base station.

13. A network node for use in a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the network node comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said network node is operative to:

determine first data regarding a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted by a first base station, wherein said first data comprises at least timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

send said first data to a second network node that controls operation of a second base station neighbouring the first base station.

14. The network node as claimed in claim 13, wherein the network node is further operative to send the first data to the second network node so as to co-ordinate the timing of the broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by the first base station with any broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by a second base station in a neighbouring cell to a cell of the first base station and wherein the network node is further operative to determine whether a number of user equipments served by the first base station and/or the second base station that support interference cancellation is above a threshold amount and,

in the event that said number is not above the threshold amount, the network node is further operative to co-ordinate with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station is substantially simultaneous with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station;

and

in the event that said number is above the threshold amount, the network node is further operative to co-ordinate with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station does not substantially overlap with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station.

15. The network node as claimed in claim 13, wherein the network node is further operative to send the first data to the second network node so as to co-ordinate the timing of the broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by the first base station with a broadcast channel repetition pattern transmitted by a second base station in a neighbouring cell to a cell of the first base station and wherein the network node is further operative to co-ordinate with the second network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station does not substantially overlap with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station.

16. A network node for use in a telecommunication network having a plurality of base stations which are operable to transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern comprising at least one time window of a first mode of broadcast channel repetition, wherein the first mode of broadcast channel repetition is interspersed between periods of a second mode of broadcast channel repetition and wherein the number of repetitions of a broadcast channel in a given period is greater in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition than in the second mode of broadcast channel repetition, the network node comprising a processor and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processor whereby said network node is operative to:

receive, from a first network node, first data regarding a broadcast channel repetition pattern to be or being transmitted by a first base station, wherein said first data comprises at least timing information about the timing of the at least one time window of the first mode of broadcast channel repetition; and

generate at least one control signal based on said control data for controlling broadcast transmissions of a second base station.

17. The network node as claimed in claim 16, wherein the network node is further operative to determine the status of the first base station.

18. The network node as claimed in claim 17, wherein determining the status of the first base station comprises determining whether or not the first base station is at least one of:

synchronised with the second base station;

time aligned with the second base station; and

broadcasting the same master information block content as the second base station.

19. The network node as claimed in claim 18, wherein the network node is further operative to, in the event that the second base station is synchronised with the first base station and broadcasting the same master information block content, co-ordinate with the first network node such that the first and second base stations both transmit a broadcast channel repetition pattern and that periods of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first and second base stations are substantially simultaneous.

20. The network node as claimed in claim 18, wherein the network node is further operative to, in the event that the second base station is not synchronised with and/or not broadcasting the same master information block content as the first base station, co-ordinate with the first network node such that a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the second base station does not substantially overlap with a period of operation in the first mode of broadcast channel repetition of the first base station.