INTERFERENCE MANAGEMENT UTILIZING POWER AND ATTENUATION PROFILES

• US 20090086861A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 04/02/2009
• 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 9,374,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/346
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/367 Power values between minimum and maximum limits, e.g. dynamic range
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/40 during macro-diversity or soft handoff
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

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:

defining a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time;

defining maximum and minimum power levels for the transmit power profile;

defining a time period for the transmit power profile; and

sending at least one indication of the transmit power profile, the maximum and minimum power levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information relating to downlink interference; and

adapting the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on the information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information comprises at least one downlink measurement report received from at least one access terminal associated with at least one of the access points.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising adapting the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on downlink data traffic associated with the access points.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points, the method further comprising:

specifying different transmit power profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate downlink interference; and

sending the transmit power profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

6. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to define a transmit power profile, define maximum and minimum power levels for the transmit power profile, and define a time period for the transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

a communication controller configured to send at least one indication of the transmit power profile, the maximum and minimum power levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the communication controller is further configured to receive information relating to downlink interference; and

the interference controller is further configured to adapt the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on the information.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the information comprises at least one downlink measurement report received from at least one access terminal associated with at least one of the access points.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the interference controller is further configured to adapt the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on downlink data traffic associated with the access points.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points;

the interference controller is further configured to specify different transmit power profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate downlink interference; and

the communication controller is further configured to send the transmit power profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

11. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for defining a transmit power profile, maximum and minimum power levels for the transmit power profile, and a time period for the transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

means for sending at least one indication of the transmit power profile, the maximum and minimum power levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the means for sending is configured to receive information relating to downlink interference; and

the means for defining is configured to adapt the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on the information.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the information comprises at least one downlink measurement report received from at least one access terminal associated with at least one of the access points.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for defining is configured to adapt the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on downlink data traffic associated with the access points.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points;

the means for defining is configured to specify different transmit power profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate downlink interference; and

the means for sending is configured to send the transmit power profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

16. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

define a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time;

define maximum and minimum power levels for the transmit power profile;

define a time period for the transmit power profile; and

send at least one indication of the transmit power profile, the maximum and minimum power levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

17. The computer-program product of claim 16, further comprising codes for causing the computer to:

receive information relating to downlink interference; and

adapt the maximum and minimum power levels and/or the time period based on the information.

18. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points, further comprising codes for causing the computer to:

specify different transmit power profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate downlink interference; and

send the transmit power profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

19. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining a phase offset for a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

transmitting according to the transmit power profile and the determined phase offset.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining interference on a downlink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises selecting a phase offset associated with a relatively low level of interference on a downlink.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving at least one indication of maximum and minimum power levels and a time period for the transmit power profile from a network node, wherein the transmission is further based on the maximum and minimum power levels and the time period.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein a node that performs the transmitting is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

25. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to determine a phase offset for a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

a communication controller configured to transmit according to the transmit power profile and the determined phase offset.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the interference controller is further configured to determine interference on a downlink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises selecting a phase offset associated with a relatively low level of interference on a downlink.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the communication controller is further configured to receive at least one indication of maximum and minimum power levels and a time period for the transmit power profile from a network node, wherein the transmission is further based on the maximum and minimum power levels and the time period.

30. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining a phase offset for a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

means for transmitting according to the transmit power profile and the determined phase offset.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for determining determines interference on a downlink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises selecting a phase offset associated with a relatively low level of interference on a downlink.

33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the means for transmitting receives at least one indication of maximum and minimum power levels and a time period for the transmit power profile from a network node, wherein the transmission is further based on the maximum and minimum power levels and the time period.

35. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

determine a phase offset for a transmit power profile, wherein the transmit power profile specifies different power values over time; and

transmit according to the transmit power profile and the determined phase offset.

36. The computer-program product of claim 35, further comprising codes for causing the computer to determine interference on a downlink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

37. The computer-program product of claim 35, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

38. The computer-program product of claim 35, further comprising codes for causing the computer to receive at least one indication of maximum and minimum power levels and a time period for the transmit power profile from a network node, wherein the transmission is further based on the maximum and minimum power levels and the time period.

39. A method of communication, comprising:

defining a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time;

defining maximum and minimum attenuation levels for the receive attenuation profile;

defining a time period for the receive attenuation profile; and

sending at least one indication of the receive attenuation profile, the maximum and minimum attenuation levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving information relating to uplink interference; and

adapting the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on the information.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the information relates to uplink interference monitored at at least one of the access points.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising adapting the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on uplink data traffic associated with the access points.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points, the method further comprising:

specifying different receive attenuation profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate uplink interference; and

sending the receive attenuation profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

44. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to define a receive attenuation profile, maximum and minimum attenuation levels for the receive attenuation profile, and a time period for the receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

a communication controller configured to send at least one indication of the receive attenuation profile, the maximum and minimum attenuation levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein:

the interference controller is configured to receive information relating to uplink interference; and

the communication controller is configured to adapt the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on the information.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the information relates to uplink interference monitored at at least one of the access points.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the interference controller is further configured to adapt the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on uplink data traffic associated with the access points.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein:

at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points;

the interference controller is further configured to specify different receive attenuation profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate uplink interference; and

the communication controller is further configured to send the receive attenuation profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

49. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for defining a receive attenuation profile, maximum and minimum attenuation levels for the receive attenuation profile, and a time period for the receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

means for sending at least one indication of the receive attenuation profile, the maximum and minimum attenuation levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:

the means for sending receives information relating to uplink interference; and

the means for defining adapts the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on the information.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the information relates to uplink interference monitored at at least one of the access points.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the means for defining adapts the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on uplink data traffic associated with the access points.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein:

at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points;

the means for defining specifies different receive attenuation profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate uplink interference; and

the means for sending sends the receive attenuation profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

54. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

define a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time;

define maximum and minimum attenuation levels for the receive attenuation profile;

define a time period for the receive attenuation profile; and

send at least one indication of the receive attenuation profile, the maximum and minimum attenuation levels, and the time period to a plurality of access points.

55. The computer-program product of claim 54, further comprising codes for causing the computer to:

receive information relating to uplink interference; and

adapt the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on the information.

56. The computer-program product of claim 54, further comprising codes for causing the computer to adapt the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and/or the time period based on a quantity of active access terminal associated with the access points and/or based on uplink data traffic associated with the access points.

57. The computer-program product of claim 54, wherein at least a portion of the access points are neighboring access points, further comprising codes for causing the computer to:

specify different receive attenuation profile phase offset values for different ones of the neighboring access points to mitigate uplink interference; and

send the receive attenuation profile phase offset values to the neighboring access points.

58. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining a phase offset for a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

receiving according to the receive attenuation profile and the determined phase offset.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising determining interference on an uplink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

61. The method of claim 58, further comprising receiving at least one indication of maximum and minimum attenuation levels and a time period for the receive attenuation profile from a network node, wherein the reception is further based on the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and the time period.

62. The method of claim 58, wherein a node that performs the receiving is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

63. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to determine a phase offset for a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

a communication controller configured to receive according to the receive attenuation profile and the determined phase offset.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the interference controller is further configured to determine interference on an uplink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the communication controller is further configured to receive at least one indication of maximum and minimum attenuation levels and a time period for the receive attenuation profile from a network node, wherein the reception is further based on the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and the time period.

67. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein a node that performs the receiving is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

68. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining a phase offset for a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

means for receiving according to the receive attenuation profile and the determined phase offset.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the means for determining determines interference on an uplink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

70. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

71. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the means for receiving receives at least one indication of maximum and minimum attenuation levels and a time period for the receive attenuation profile from a network node, wherein the reception is further based on the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and the time period.

72. A computer-program product, comprising:

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

determining a phase offset for a receive attenuation profile, wherein the receive attenuation profile defines different attenuation values over time; and

receiving according to the receive attenuation profile and the determined phase offset.

73. The computer-program product of claim 72, further comprising codes for causing the computer to determine interference on an uplink, wherein the determination of the phase offset is based on the interference.

74. The computer-program product of claim 72, wherein the determination of the phase offset comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a phase offset that is different than a phase offset used by the neighboring access point.

75. The computer-program product of claim 72, further comprising codes for causing the computer to at least one indication of maximum and minimum attenuation levels and a time period for the receive attenuation profile from a network node, wherein the reception is further based on the maximum and minimum attenuation levels and the time period.