Methods and apparatus for characterizing noise in a wireless communications system
First Claim
1. A method of operating a sectorized base station including a first sector and a second sector in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) communication system using a set of available tones, the method comprising:
- determining a first set of tones in a first set of FDM symbols;
transmitting to the first sector a set of known symbols in the first set of tones in a first FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power;
determining a second set of tones in a second set of FDM symbols, wherein the second set of FDM symbols are a subset of the first set of FDM symbols;
restraining from transmitting any power to the first sector in the second set of tones in a second FDM symbol in the second set of FDM symbols;
determining a third set of tones in the first set of FDM symbols;
transmitting to the second sector the set of known symbols in the third set of tones in a third FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power;
determining a fourth set of tones in the third set of FDM symbols; and
restraining from transmitting any power to the second sector in the fourth set of tones in a fourth FDM symbol in the third set of FDM symbols.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Improved pilot signal sequences which facilitate multiple channel quality measurements, e.g., through the use of different signal pilot transmission power levels, are described. In various implementations the transmitted pilot sequences facilitate determining the contribution of interference from other sectors of a cell using the same tones, e.g., in a synchronized manner, as the sector in which the pilot signal measurements are being made. To measure noise contributions from neighboring sectors a sector NULL pilot, e.g., a pilot with zero power, is transmitted in an adjacent sector at the same time a pilot signal with a pre-selected, and therefore known, non-zero power is transmitted in the sector where the received pilot signal measurement is made. To facilitate background noise measurements, a cell NULL is supported in some embodiments. In the case of a cell NULL, all sectors of a cell transmit a Null pilot, on a tone that is used to measure background noise. Since no power is transmitted in the cell on the tone during the measurement, any measured signal on the tone is attributable to noise, e.g., background noise which may include inter-cell interference.
101 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of operating a sectorized base station including a first sector and a second sector in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) communication system using a set of available tones, the method comprising:
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determining a first set of tones in a first set of FDM symbols; transmitting to the first sector a set of known symbols in the first set of tones in a first FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a second set of tones in a second set of FDM symbols, wherein the second set of FDM symbols are a subset of the first set of FDM symbols; restraining from transmitting any power to the first sector in the second set of tones in a second FDM symbol in the second set of FDM symbols; determining a third set of tones in the first set of FDM symbols; transmitting to the second sector the set of known symbols in the third set of tones in a third FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a fourth set of tones in the third set of FDM symbols; and restraining from transmitting any power to the second sector in the fourth set of tones in a fourth FDM symbol in the third set of FDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A sectorized base station including a first sector and a second sector for operating in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) communication system using a set of available tones, the sectorized base station comprising:
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means for determining a first set of tones in a first set of FDM symbols; means for transmitting to the first sector a set of known symbols in the first set of tones in a first FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; means for determining a second set of tones in a second set of FDM symbols, wherein the second set of FDM symbols is a subset of the first set of FDM symbols; means for restraining from transmitting any power to the first sector in the second set of tones in a second FDM symbol in the second set of FDM symbols; means for determining a third set of tones in the first set of FDM symbols; means for transmitting to the second sector the set of known symbols in the third set of tones in a third FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; means for determining a fourth set of tones in the third set of FDM symbols; and means for restraining from transmitting any power to the second sector in the fourth set of tones in a fourth FDM symbol in the third set of FDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer readable medium embodying instructions for performing a method of operating a sectorized base station including a first sector and a second sector in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) communication system using a set of available tones, the method comprising:
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determining a first set of tones in a first set of FDM symbols; transmitting to the first sector a set of known symbols in the first set of tones in a first FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a second set of tones in a second set of FDM symbols, wherein the second set of FDM symbols is a subset of the first set of FDM symbols; restraining from transmitting any power to the first sector in the second set of tones in a second FDM symbol in the second set of FDM symbols; determining a third set of tones in the first set of FDM symbols; transmitting to the second sector the set of known symbols in the third set of tones in a third FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a fourth set of tones in the third set of FDM symbols; and restraining from transmitting any power to the second sector in the fourth set of tones in a fourth FDM symbol in the third set of FDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A wireless communication device for operating a sectorized base station including a first sector and a second sector for operating in a frequency division multiplexing (FDM) communication system using a set of available tones, the wireless communication device comprising:
a processor configured to perform a method, the method comprising determining a first set of tones in a first set of FDM symbols; designating for transmitting to the first sector a set of known symbols in the first set of tones in a first FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a second set of tones in a second set of FDM symbols, wherein the second set of FDM symbols is a subset of the first set of FDM symbols; restraining from transmitting any power to the first sector in the second set of tones in a second FDM symbol in the second set of FDM symbols; determining a third set of tones in the first set of FDM symbols; designating for transmitting to the second sector the set of known symbols in the third set of tones in a third FDM symbol in the first set of FDM symbols at a predetermined power; determining a fourth set of tones in the third set of FDM symbols; and restraining from transmitting any power to the second sector in the fourth set of tones in a fourth FDM symbol in the third set of FDM symbols. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
Specification