INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT EMPLOYING FRACTIONAL TIME REUSE

• US 20090080386A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Black, Peter J., Nanda, Sanjiv, Yavuz, Mehmet
• Granted Patent: US 9,137,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/337
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0238 where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal
• 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: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Interference that occurs during wireless communication may be managed through the use of fractional reuse and other techniques. In some aspects fractional reuse may relate to HARQ interlaces, portions of a timeslot, frequency spectrum, and spreading codes. Interference may be managed through the use of a transmit power profile and/or an attenuation profile. Interference also may be managed through the use of power management-related techniques.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

identifying a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

sending an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not transmit during the first portion of the downlink timeslot.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, downlink traffic associated with the access point, and downlink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a timing offset used by another access point; and

sending an indication of the timing offset to the access point to synchronize timing of the access point and the another access point.

6. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to identify a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

a communication controller configured to send an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, the communication controller is further configured to send the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not transmit during the first portion of the downlink timeslot.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, downlink traffic associated with the access point, and downlink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the interference controller is further configured to determine a timing offset used by another access point; and

sending an indication of the timing offset to the access point to synchronize timing of the access point and the another access point.

11. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

means for sending an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising sending the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not transmit during the first portion of the downlink timeslot.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, downlink traffic associated with the access point, and downlink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a timing offset used by another access point; and

sending an indication of the timing offset to the access point to synchronize timing of the access point and the another access point.

16. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

send an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

17. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

18. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

transmitting on the first portion of the downlink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the downlink timeslot.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for transmitting that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for transmitting.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

23. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to identify a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

a communication controller configured to transmit on the first portion of the downlink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the downlink timeslot.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for transmitting that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for transmitting.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

28. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

means for transmitting on the first portion of the downlink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the downlink timeslot.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for transmitting that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for transmitting.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

33. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first portion of a downlink timeslot that will be used by an access point to transmit and a second portion of the downlink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to transmit in order to mitigate downlink interference; and

transmit on the first portion of the downlink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the downlink timeslot.

34. The computer-program product of claim 33, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the downlink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower downlink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the downlink timeslot.

35. A method of communication, comprising:

identifying a first portion of a uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

sending an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the uplink timeslot.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising receiving information relating to interference on the uplink, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on the information.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, uplink traffic associated with the access point, and uplink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

39. The method of claim 35, further comprising sending the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not receive during the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

40. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to identify a first portion of a uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

a communication controller configured to send an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the uplink timeslot.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, the communication controller is further configured to receive information relating to interference on the uplink, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on the information.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, uplink traffic associated with the access point, and uplink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, the communication controller is further configured to send the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not receive during the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

45. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first portion of a uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

means for sending an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the uplink timeslot.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, the communication controller is further configured to receive information relating to interference on the uplink, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on the information.

48. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the identification of the first and second portions is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, uplink traffic associated with the access point, and uplink traffic associated with at least one other access point.

49. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising sending the indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to not receive during the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

50. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first portion of a uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

send an indication of the first and/or second portion to the access point.

51. The computer-program product of claim 50, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets of the uplink timeslot.

52. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

receiving on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from receiving on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises determining when an access terminal associated with the access point transmits during different ones of the segments.

55. The method of claim 52, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for receiving that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for receiving.

56. The method of claim 52, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node or from an access terminal that is associated with the access point.

57. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to identify a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

a communication controller configured to receive on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from receiving on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises determining when an access terminal associated with the access point transmits during different ones of the segments.

60. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for receiving that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for receiving.

61. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node or from an access terminal that is associated with the access point.

62. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

means for receiving on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from receiving on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises determining when an access terminal associated with the access point transmits during different ones of the subsets.

65. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a portion of the timeslot for receiving that is different than a portion of the timeslot used by the neighboring access point for receiving.

66. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from a network node or from an access terminal that is associated with the access point.

67. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access point to receive and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access point to receive in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

receive on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from receiving on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

68. The computer-program product of claim 67, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

69. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

identifying a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access terminal to transmit and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access terminal to transmit in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

transmitting on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

71. The method of claim 69, wherein:

the access terminal receives power control commands that adjust the transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the identification of the first and second portions comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted during different subsets of the uplink timeslot.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises identifying at least one subset of the subsets that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the subsets.

73. The method of claim 69, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from an access point that is associated with the access terminal.

74. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to identify a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access terminal to transmit and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access terminal to transmit in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

a communication controller configured to transmit on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

76. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein:

the access terminal receives power control commands that adjust the transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the identification of the first and second portions comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted during different subsets of the uplink timeslot.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises identifying at least one subset of the subsets that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the subsets.

78. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from an access point that is associated with the access terminal.

79. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for identifying a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access terminal to transmit and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access terminal to transmit in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

means for transmitting on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.

81. The apparatus of claim 80, wherein:

the access terminal receives power control commands that adjust the transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the identification of the first and second portions comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted during different subsets of the uplink timeslot.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the identification of the first and second portions further comprises identifying at least one subset of the subsets that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the subsets.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises receiving an indication of the first and/or second portion from an access point that is associated with the access terminal.

84. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

identify a first portion of an uplink timeslot that will be used by an access terminal to transmit and a second portion of the uplink timeslot that will not be used by the access terminal to transmit in order to mitigate uplink interference; and

transmit on the first portion of the uplink timeslot and refraining from transmitting on the second portion of the uplink timeslot.

85. The computer-program product of claim 84, wherein the identification of the first and second portions comprises identifying at least one subset of a plurality of subsets of the uplink timeslot such that use of the at least one subset is associated with lower uplink interference than use of at least one other one of the subsets.