METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT

• US 20090046632A1
• Filed: 08/13/2008
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Rezaiifar, Ramin, Nanda, Sanjiv, Yavuz, Mehmet
• Granted Patent: US 8,923,212 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/04 Reselecting a cell layer in multi-layered cells
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/06 Reselecting a communication resource in the serving access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/08 Reselecting an access point
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/302 due to low signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/322 by location data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 60/21 Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

In some aspect restricted access nodes are assigned to a designated common channel while access terminals that are in active communication with a macro access node may selectively be assigned to the designated channel. In some aspect an access terminal associated with macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier when the access terminal is in the vicinity of a coverage area of a restricted access node. In some aspect an access terminal associated with a macro access node may perform a handoff to a different carrier based on location information. In some aspect access to a restricted access node is controlled based on policy and/or based on operation of an access terminal associated with the restricted access node.

Claims

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining whether an access terminal is active or idle;

assigning, based on the determination, the access terminal to a first carrier designated for restricted access nodes or to a second carrier; and

configuring the access terminal to use the assigned carrier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the second carrier if the access terminal is idle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the first carrier if the access terminal is active.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the assignment of the carrier is further based on mobility of the access terminal.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining the mobility based on information received from the access terminal regarding signals the access terminal receives from at least a portion of the restricted access nodes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the first carrier if mobility of the access terminal is less than or equal to a threshold mobility.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the second carrier if mobility of the access terminal is greater than or equal to a threshold mobility.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted access nodes are restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the restricted access nodes comprise femto nodes and/or pico nodes.

10. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a mode determiner configured to determine whether an access terminal is active or idle; and

a carrier selector configured to assign, based on the determination, the access terminal to a first carrier designated for restricted access nodes or to a second carrier, and further configured to configure the access terminal to use the assigned carrier.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the second carrier if the access terminal is idle.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the first carrier if the access terminal is active.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the assignment of the carrier is further based on mobility of the access terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the restricted access nodes are restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

15. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining whether an access terminal is active or idle;

means for assigning, based on the determination, the access terminal to a first carrier designated for restricted access nodes or to a second carrier; and

means for configuring the access terminal to use the assigned carrier.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the second carrier if the access terminal is idle.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the first carrier if the access terminal is active.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the assignment of the carrier is further based on mobility of the access terminal.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the restricted access nodes are restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

20. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

determine whether an access terminal is active or idle;

assign, based on the determination, the access terminal to a first carrier designated for restricted access nodes or to a second carrier; and

configure the access terminal to use the assigned carrier.

21. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the second carrier if the access terminal is idle.

22. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the access terminal is assigned to the first carrier if the access terminal is active.

23. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the assignment of the carrier is further based on mobility of the access terminal.

24. The computer-program product of claim 20, wherein the restricted access nodes are restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

25. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier;

receiving a second set of signals from a second access node on the first carrier; and

determining, based on the second set of signals, whether to perform a carrier switch to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the determination is further based on the first set of signals.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for an access terminal that performs the switch.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier switch comprises an active handoff if an access terminal that performs the carrier switch is in active communication with the first access node.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the carrier switch comprises scanning for the signals on the second carrier if an access terminal that performs the carrier switch is idling on the first access node.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the second access node comprises a femto node or a pico node.

33. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier, and further configured to receive a second set of signals from a second access node on the first carrier; and

a carrier selector configured to determine, based on the second set of signals, whether to perform a carrier switch to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination is further based on the first set of signals.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for an access terminal that performs the switch.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

38. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier, and for receiving a second set of signals from a second access node on the first carrier; and

means for determining, based on the second set of signals, whether to perform a carrier switch to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the determination is further based on the first set of signals.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for an access terminal that performs the switch.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

43. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

receive a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier;

receive a second set of signals from a second access node on the first carrier; and

determine, based on the second set of signals, whether to perform a carrier switch to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

44. The computer-program product of claim 43, wherein the determination is further based on the first set of signals.

45. The computer-program product of claim 44, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

46. The computer-program product of claim 43, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for an access terminal that performs the switch.

47. The computer-program product of claim 43, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

48. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving, at a first access node, information regarding a first set of signals that an access terminal received from the first access node on a first carrier;

receiving information regarding a second set of signals that the access terminal received from a second access node on the first carrier; and

determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, whether to invoke a carrier switch to cause the access terminal to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the determination is further based on the information regarding the first set of signals.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein the carrier switch comprises an active handoff if the access terminal is in active communication with the first access node.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein the carrier switch comprises scanning for the signals on the second carrier if the access terminal is idling on the first access node.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

55. The method of claim 48, wherein the second access node comprises a femto node or a pico node.

56. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive information regarding a first set of signals that an access terminal received from a first access node on a first carrier, and further configured to receive information regarding a second set of signals that the access terminal received from a second access node on the first carrier; and

a carrier selector configured to determine, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, whether to invoke a carrier switch to cause the access terminal to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the determination is further based on the information regarding the first set of signals.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

61. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving information regarding a first set of signals that an access terminal received from a first access node on a first carrier, and for receiving information regarding a second set of signals that the access terminal received from a second access node on the first carrier; and

means for determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, whether to invoke a carrier switch to cause the access terminal to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the determination is further based on the information regarding the first set of signals.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

66. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

receive information regarding a first set of signals that an access terminal received from a first access node on a first carrier;

receive information regarding a second set of signals that the access terminal received from a second access node on the first carrier; and

determine, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, whether to invoke a carrier switch to cause the access terminal to receive signals from the first access node on a second carrier.

67. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the determination is further based on the information regarding the first set of signals.

68. The computer-program product of claim 67, wherein the first set of signals indicates that carrier-to-interference associated with the first access node is less than or equal to a threshold.

69. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the determination further comprises determining, based on the information regarding the second set of signals, that the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

70. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

71. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a first set of signals from at least one first access node on a first carrier;

determining location information; and

determining whether to search for a second set of signals from a second access node on a second carrier based on the determined location information.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the determination of the location information comprises determining a geographic location of an access terminal that receives the first set of signals.

73. The method of claim 71, further comprising performing a handoff to the second access node if the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

74. The method of claim 71, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

75. The method of claim 71, wherein the second access node comprises a femto node or a pico node.

76. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier;

a location determiner configured to determine location information; and

a search controller configured to determine whether to search for a second set of signals from a second access node on a second carrier based on the determined location information.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the determination of the location information comprises determining a geographic location of an access terminal that receives the first set of signals.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising a handoff controller configured to perform a handoff to the second access node if the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

79. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

80. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier;

means for determining location information; and

means for determining whether to search for a second set of signals from a second access node on a second carrier based on the determined location information.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the determination of the location information comprises determining a geographic location of an access terminal that receives the first set of signals.

82. The apparatus of claim 80, further comprising means for performing a handoff to the second access node if the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

83. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.

84. A computer-program product, comprising:

computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

receive a first set of signals from a first access node on a first carrier;

determine location information; and

determine whether to search for a second set of signals from a second access node on a second carrier based on the determined location information.

85. The computer-program product of claim 84, wherein the determination of the location information comprises determining a geographic location of an access terminal that receives the first set of signals.

86. The computer-program product of claim 84, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises codes for causing the computer to perform a handoff to the second access node if the second access node is a preferred access node for the access terminal.

87. The computer-program product of claim 84, wherein the second access node is restricted to not provide at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, paging, and service to at least one node.