METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MITIGATING INTERFERENCE IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

• US 20100222061A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 09/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Malladi, Durga Prasad, Damnjanovic, Jelena M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/447
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/12 Fixed resource partitioning

Abstract

Techniques to mitigate inter-cell interference using joint time and frequency division are described. A frequency band is divided into multiple non-overlapping frequency subbands. The transmission timeline is divided into T_in and T_out time intervals. Data is exchanged with users in at least one inner region of a cell on the entire frequency band in the T_in time intervals. Data is exchanged with users in multiple outer regions of the cell on the multiple frequency subbands in the T_out time intervals. The frequency band may be partitioned into three frequency subbands. Data may then be exchanged with users in first, second and third outer regions on first, second and third frequency subbands, respectively. The regions in which the users are located may be determined based on pilot and/or other measurements.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to exchange data with a first set of users in a first time interval based on a first frequency reuse scheme, and to exchange data with a second set of users in a second time interval based on a second frequency reuse scheme; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first frequency reuse scheme is associated with a frequency use factor of one, and wherein the second frequency reuse scheme is associated with a frequency use factor of less than one.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor selects the first set of users from among users in an inner region of a sector or a cell, and sends data to the selected users in the inner region on a frequency band in the first time interval.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor selects the second set of users from among users in multiple outer regions of a cell, and sends data to the selected users in the multiple outer regions on different frequency subbands in the second time interval.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor selects the second set of users from among users in multiple outer regions of a cell, and sends data to the selected users in the multiple outer regions in different parts of the second time interval.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor selects the second set of users from among users in an outer region of a sector, and sends data to the selected users in the outer region on a frequency subband in the second time interval.

7. An apparatus comprising:

means for exchanging data with a first set of users in a first time interval based on a first frequency reuse scheme; and

means for exchanging data with a second set of users in a second time interval based on a second frequency reuse scheme.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for exchanging data with the second set of users comprises

means for selecting the second set of users from among users in multiple outer regions of a cell, and

means for exchanging data with the selected users in the multiple outer regions on different frequency subbands in the second time interval.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the means for exchanging data with the second set of users comprises

means for selecting the second set of users from among users in an outer region of a sector, and

means for exchanging data with the selected users in the outer region on a frequency subband in the second time interval.

10. A terminal comprising:

at least one processor configured to exchange data with a base station on a frequency band in a first time interval if the terminal is located in an inner region of a sector or a cell, and to exchange data with the base station on a frequency subband in a second time interval if the terminal is located in an outer region of the sector or cell, the frequency subband being one of multiple frequency subbands formed with the frequency band; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

11. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor determines the region in which the terminal is located based on an active set for the terminal.

12. The terminal of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor obtains pilot measurements for base stations, and determines the region in which the terminal is located based on the pilot measurements.

13. A method comprising:

exchanging data with a base station on a frequency band in a first time interval if a terminal is located in an inner region of a sector or a cell; and

exchanging data with the base station on a frequency subband in a second time interval if the terminal is located in an outer region of the sector or cell, the frequency subband being one of multiple frequency subbands formed with the frequency band.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

obtaining pilot measurements for base stations, and

determining the region in which the terminal is located based on the pilot measurements.

15. An apparatus comprising:

means for exchanging data with a base station on a frequency band in a first time interval if a terminal is located in an inner region of a sector or a cell; and

means for exchanging data with the base station on a frequency subband in a second time interval if the terminal is located in an outer region of the sector or cell, the frequency subband being one of multiple frequency subbands formed with the frequency band.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

means for obtaining pilot measurements for base stations, and

means for determining the region in which the terminal is located based on the pilot measurements.

17. A method comprising:

exchanging data with a first set of users in a first time interval based on a first frequency reuse scheme; and

exchanging data with a second set of users in a second time interval based on a second frequency reuse scheme, wherein the first and second frequency reuse schemes are different.

18. A computer readable storage medium encoded thereon with instructions that when executed cause an apparatus to perform a method, said method comprising:

exchanging data with a first set of users in a first time interval based on a first frequency reuse scheme; and

exchanging data with a second set of users in a second time interval based on a second frequency reuse scheme, wherein the first and second frequency reuse schemes are different.

19. A base station comprising:

at least one processor configured to exchange data with a first set of users in a first time interval based on a first frequency reuse scheme, and to exchange data with a second set of users in a second time interval based on a second frequency reuse scheme;

a memory coupled to the at least one processor; and

an antenna coupled to the at least one processor configured to transmit data to the first set of users and the second set of users, wherein the first and second frequency reuse schemes are different.