INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT USING RESOURCE UTILIZATION MASKS SENT AT CONSTANT PSD

• US 20070105574A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Sampath, Ashwin, Julian, David, Prakash, Rajat, Gupta, Rajarshi, Jain, Nikhil, Horn, Gavin, Stamoulis, Anastasios, Li, Husheng
• Granted Patent: US 9,204,428 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0816 with collision avoidance

Abstract

Systems and methods are described that facilitate evaluating conditions of nodes (e.g., access points, access terminals, etc.) in a wireless communication environment to determine a level of disadvantage for a given node relative to other nodes. A first node may receive a resource utilization message (RxRUM) and may determine a level of disadvantage for a node that sent the RxRUM. The first node may then compare its own level of disadvantage to the sending node in order to permit a determination of an appropriate course of action in response to the RxRUM.

Claims

1. A method of wireless data communication, comprising:

receiving at least one resource utilization message (RxRUM) at a first node from at least one second node, wherein the first node and the at least one second node are operatively coupled;

determining a condition of the at least one second node as a function of information associated with the at least one RxRUM;

comparing the determined condition to a condition of the first node; and

determining whether to transmit data over a first channel from the first node based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of whether to transmit data triggers the first node to refrain from transmitting any data if the comparison indicates that the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an amount of interference caused by the first node to the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the interference determination comprises:

estimating a channel gain associated with the at least one second node,

selecting at least one of a transmission power level and a transmission power spectral density for a potential transmission from the first node to the at least one second node, and

determining whether an amount of interference caused by the potential transmission is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the at least one RxRUM was transmitted at a known constant power spectral density (PSD).

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interference determination is based on the known constant power spectral density.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising ignoring the at least one RxRUM if the comparison indicates that the condition of the first node is worse than the determined condition.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the determined condition to the condition of the first node comprises comparing a weighted value associated with the first node to a weighted value associated with the at least one second node.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting data as a function of the weighted values associated wit the first node and the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is substantially equal to the determined condition, wherein the first node weighted value is indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to the at least one second node weighted value.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a data signal on the first channel.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on the first channel.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on a second channel to request to send data on the first channel

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending the request to transmit data based on a number of the at least one RxRUM exhibiting a same weighted value as the weighted value of the first node.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the interference determination is performed as a function of at least one predetermined value associated with the at least one RxRUM, wherein the at least one predetermined value is employed to generate a metric value that is compared to a predetermined RxRUM-rejection threshold (RRT) value.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power spectral density for an RxRUM (RUM_Rx_PSD), a transmit power spectral density for an RxRUM (RUM_Tx_PSD), and a power spectral density for a potential data transmission by the first node (Data_Tx_PSD).

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power level for an RxRUM, a transmit power level for an RxRUM, and a power level for a potential data transmission by the first node.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein RRT is defined as a rise over thermal value.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to transmit comprises dividing resources that are available to the first node into at least one set of channels comprising the first channel, and the at least one RxRUM indicates that a first subset of the at least one set of channels is unavailable.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting a request for a second subset of available channels of the at least one set of channels.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising transmitting, over a second channel of the at least one set of channels, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message that designates at least one resource over which the first node prefers to transmit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one resource comprises the first channel.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting an indication that the first node is entitled to the at least one resource.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting an indication that the first node is not entitled to the at least one resource.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising transmitting a pilot with the request-to transmit message.

27. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, over a second channel, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

28. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, a resource utilization message (TxRUM) that indicates a potential transmission from the first node.

29. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the at least one RxRUM is a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining whether the RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node is an only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising transmitting a request to transmit data and a resource utilization message (TxRUM) to the at least one second node if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node is the only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising transmitting a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node has a weighted value indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to at least one weighted value of at least one other received RxRUM.

33. The method of claim 28, further comprising probabilistically transmitting a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node and at least one other received RxRUM have a worse weighted value relative to at least one weighted value of those remaining received RxRUM, wherein the probability is based on a number of the received RxRUM having the worse weighted value.

34. The method of claim 28, wherein the TxRUM comprises a weighted value.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the node comprises an access point.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the node comprises an access terminal.

37. An apparatus that facilitates wireless data communication, comprising:

a receiver at least one resource utilization message (RxRUM) at a first node from at least one second node, wherein the first node and the at least one second node are operatively coupled;

a determination module that determines a condition of the at least one second node as a function of information associated with the at least one RxRUM;

a comparison module the determined condition to a condition of the first node; and

wherein the determination module further determines whether to transmit data over a first channel from the first node based on the comparison.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination of whether to transmit data triggers the first node to refrain from transmitting any data if the comparison indicates that the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination module determines an amount of interference caused by the first node to the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the interference determination comprises:

estimating a channel gain associated with the at least one second node,

selecting at least one of a transmission power level and a transmission power spectral density for a potential transmission from the first node to the at least one second node, and

determining whether an amount of interference caused by the potential transmission is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the at least one RxRUM was transmitted at a known constant power spectral density (PSD).

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the interference determination is based on the known constant power spectral density.

43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination module ignores the at least one RxRUM if the comparison indicates that the condition of the first node is worse than the determined condition.

44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the comparison module compares a weighted value associated with the first node to a weighted value associated with the at least one second node.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising a transmitter that transmits data as a function of the weighted values associated with the first node and the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is substantially equal to the determined condition, wherein the first node weighted value is indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to the at least one second node weighted value.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a data signal on the first channel.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on the first channel.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on a second channel to request to send data on the first channel

49. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the transmitter sends the request to transmit data based on a number of the at least one RxRUM exhibiting a same weighted value as the weighted value of the first node.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the interference determination is performed as a function of at least one predetermined value associated with the at least one RxRUM, wherein the at least one predetermined value is employed to generate a metric value that is compared to a predetermined RxRUM-rejection threshold (RRT) value.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power spectral density for an RxRUM ((RUM_Rx_PSD), a transmit power spectral density for an RxRUM (RUM_Tx_PSD), and a power spectral density for a potential data transmission by the first node (Data_Tx₁₃ PSD).

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power level for an RxRUM, a transmit power level for an RxRUM, and a power level for a potential data transmission by the first node.

53. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein RRT is defined as a rise over thermal value.

54. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination module divides resources that are available to the first node into at least one set of channels comprising the first channel, and the at least one RxRUM indicates that a first subset of the at least one set of channels is unavailable.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a transmitter that sends a request for a second subset of available channels of the at least one set of channels.

56. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message.

57. The apparatus of claim 54, further comprising a transmitter that sends, over a second channel of the at least one set of channels, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

58. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message that designates at least one resource over which the first node prefers to transmit.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one resource comprises the first channel.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a transmitter that transmits an indication that the first node is entitled to the at least one resource.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a transmitter that transmits an indication that the first node is not entitled to the at least one resource.

62. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a transmitter that transmits a pilot with the request-to transmit message.

63. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a transmitter that transmits, over a second channel, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

64. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a transmitter that transmits a resource utilization message (TxRUM) that indicates a potential transmission from the first node.

65. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the determination module determines whether the at least one RxRUM is a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node.

66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the determination module determines whether the RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node is an only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, further comprising a transmitter that transmits a request to transmit data and a resource utilization message (TxRUM) to the at least one second node if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node is the only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a transmitter that transmits a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node has a weighted value indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to at least one weighted value of at least one other received RxRUM.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, further comprising a transmitter that probabilistically transmits a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node and at least one other received RxRUM have a worse weighted value relative to at least one weighted value of those remaining received RxRUM, wherein the probability is based on a number of the received RxRUM having the worse weighted value.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the TxRUM comprises a weighted value.

71. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the node comprises an access point.

72. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the node comprises an access terminal.

73. An apparatus that facilitates wireless data communication, comprising:

means for receiving at least one resource utilization message (RxRUM) at a first node from at least one second node, wherein the first node and the at least one second node are operatively coupled;

means for determining a condition of the at least one second node as a function of information associated with the at least one RxRUM;

means for comparing the determined condition to a condition of the first node; and

wherein the means for determining further determines whether to transmit data over a first channel from the first node based on the comparison.

74. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the determination of whether to transmit data triggers the first node to refrain from transmitting any data if the comparison indicates than the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

75. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for determining determines an amount of interference caused by the first node to the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is better than the determined condition.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the interference determination comprises:

estimating a channel gain associated with the at least one second node,

selecting at least one of a transmission power level and a transmission power spectral density for a potential transmission from the first node to the at least one second node, and

determining whether an amount of interference caused by the potential transmission is equal to or exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the at least one RxRUM was transmitted at a known constant power spectral density (PSD).

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the interference determination is based on the known constants power spectral density.

79. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the determining means ignores the at least one RxRUM if the comparison indicates that the condition of the first node is worse than the determined condition.

80. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for comparing compares a weighted value associated with the first node to a weighted value associated with the at least one second node.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits data as a function of the weighted values associated with the first node and the at least one second node if the condition of the first node is substantially equal to the determined condition, wherein the first node weighted value is indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to the at least one second node weighted valued.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a data signal on the first channel.

83. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on the first channel.

84. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting a request-to-send message on a second channel to request to send data on the first channel

85. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the means for transmitting sends the request to transmit data based on a number of the at least one RxRUM exhibiting a same weighted value as the weighted value of the first node.

86. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the interference determination is performed as a function of at least one predetermined value associated with the at least one RxRUM, wherein the at least one predetermined value is employed to generate a metric value that is compared to a predetermined RxRUM-rejection threshold (RRT) value.

87. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power spectral density for an RxRUM (RUM_Rx_PSD), a transmit power spectral density for an RxRUM (RUM_Tx_PSD), and a power spectral density for a potential data transmission by the first node (Data_Tx_PSD).

88. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein the at least one predetermined value is based on at least one of a received power level for an RxRUM, a transmit power level for an RxRUM, and a power level for a potential data transmission by the first node.

89. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein RRT is defined as a rise over thermal value.

90. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for determining divides resources that are available to the first node into at least one set of channels comprising the first channel, and the at least one RxRUM indicates that a first subset of the at least one set of channels is unavailable.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, further comprising means for transmitting that sends a request for a second subset of available channels of the at least one set of channels.

92. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message.

93. The apparatus of claim 90, further comprising means for transmitting that sends, over a second channel of the at least one set of channels, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

94. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the data comprises a request-to-transmit message that designates at least one resource over which the first node prefers to transmit.

95. The apparatus of claim 94, wherein the at least one resource comprises the first channel.

96. The apparatus of claim 94, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits an indication that the first node is entitled to the at least one resource.

97. The apparatus of claim 94, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits an indication that the first node is not entitled to the at least one resource.

98. The apparatus of claim 94, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits a pilot with the request-to transmit message.

99. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits, over a second channel, a request to transmit data over the first channel.

100. The apparatus of claim 73, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits a resource utilization message (TxRUM) that indicates a potential transmission from the first node.

101. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the means for determining determines whether the at least one RxRUM is a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node.

102. The apparatus of claim 101, wherein the means for determining determines whether the RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node is an only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

103. The apparatus of claim 102, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits a request to transmit data and a resource utilization message (TxRUM) to the at least one second node if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node is the only RxRUM that has been received by the first node.

104. The apparatus of claim 100, further comprising means for transmitting that transmits a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if a RxRUM generated by a receiver of the first node has a weighted value indicative of a worse degree of disadvantage relative to at least one weighted value of at least one other received RxRUM.

105. The apparatus of claim 100, further comprising means for transmitting that probabilistically transmits a request to transmit data with the TxRUM if the RxRUM generated by the receiver of the first node and at least one other received RxRUM have a worse weighted value relative to at least one weighted value of those remaining received RxRUM, wherein the probability is based on a number of the received RxRUM having the worse weighted value.

106. The apparatus of claim 100, wherein the TxRUM comprises a weighted value.

107. The apparatus of claim 73 wherein the node comprises an access point.

108. The apparatus of claim 73, wherein the node comprises an access terminal.

109. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions for data communication, wherein the instructions upon execution cause the machine to:

receive at least one resource utilization message (RxRUM) at a first node from at least one second node, wherein the first node and the at least one second node are operatively coupled;

determine a condition of the at least one second node as a function of information associated with the at least one RxRUM;

compare the determined condition to a condition of the first node; and

determine whether to transmit data over a first channel from the first node based on the comparison.

110. A processor that facilitates data communication, the processor being configured to:

receive at least one resource utilization message (RxRUM) at a first node from at least one second node, wherein the first node and the at least one second node are operatively coupled;

determine a condition of the at least one second node as a function of information associated with the at least one RxRUM;

compare the determined condition to a condition of the first node; and

determine whether to transmit data over a first channel from the first node based on the comparison.