RESOURCE PARTITIONING INFORMATION FOR ENHANCED INTERFERENCE COORDINATION

• US 20110275394A1
• Filed: 04/12/2011
• Published: 11/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Damnjanovic, Aleksandar, Luo, Tao, Wei, Yongbin, Yoo, Taesang, Agashe, Parag Arun, Ji, Tingfang, Prakash, Rajat, Song, Osok, Kitazoe, Masato, Vajapeyam, Madhavan Srinivasan
• Granted Patent: US 9,392,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/54 based on quality criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for partitioning resources for enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) are provided. Certain aspects involve broadcasting a message indicating time-domain resource partitioning information (RPI), where a user equipment (UE) may be operating in idle mode. With the RPI, the UE may be able to identify protected resources with reduced/eliminated interference from neighboring cells. The RPI in this broadcasted message may be encoded as a bitmap as an alternative or in addition to enumeration of the U/N/X subframes. Other aspects entail transmitting a dedicated or unicast message indicating the time-domain RPI, where a UE may be operating in connected mode. With the RPI, the UE may be able to determine channel state information (CSI), make radio resource management (RRM) measurements, or perform radio link monitoring (RLM), based on one or more signals from a serving base station during the protected time-domain resources.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) corresponding to time domain resource assignments between a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in a heterogeneous network; and

identifying one or more protected time domain resources based on the time domain RPI, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received from the serving access point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the interfering access point is one of the non-serving access points and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with the serving access point.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the interfering access point is associated with a closed subscriber group (CSG) to which the UE does not belong.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received in a broadcast message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the time domain RPI in the broadcast message is associated with a first access point different from a second access point that transmitted the broadcast message, the first and second access points being in the heterogeneous network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a system information block (SIB).

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving a neighbor list from the serving access point, wherein the neighbor list carries the time domain RPI in the SIB.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving comprises receiving, from the serving access point, the broadcast message comprising the time domain RPI corresponding to the serving access point and wherein the identifying comprises deriving the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points based on the protected time domain resources for the serving access point.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the deriving comprises considering the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points to be the same as the protected time domain resources for the serving access point.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving comprises receiving, from the one or more non-serving access points, the broadcast message comprising the time domain RPI about the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the broadcast message comprises a system information block type 1 (SIB1) from the one or more non-serving access points.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a master information block (MIB).

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the broadcast message while the UE is in idle mode.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI comprises at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the at least one of the dedicated message or the unicast message while the UE is in connected mode.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising determining, at the UE, received power of a reference signal from the serving access point during the one or more protected time domain resources.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising at least one of determining channel state information (CSI), making radio resource management (RRM) measurements, or performing radio link monitoring (RLM), at the UE, based on one or more signals from the serving access point during the one or more protected time domain resources.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources for RRM are the same as the protected time domain resources for RLM.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein a single information element (IE) is used to indicate the protected time domain resources for both RRM and RLM.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the indication of the time domain RPI comprises:

receiving a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with the serving access point; and

receiving a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with at least one of the non-serving access points.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the second IE comprises a cell identity (ID) for each of the at least one of the non-serving access points.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising at least one of determining channel state information (CSI), making radio resource management (RRM) measurements, or performing radio link monitoring (RLM), at the UE, based on one or more signals from the at least one of the non-serving access points during the second protected time domain resources.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are common to the serving access point and the one or more non-serving access points.

27. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) corresponding to time domain resource assignments between a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in a heterogeneous network; and

at least one processor configured to identify one or more protected time domain resources based on the time domain RPI, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received from the serving access point.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the interfering access point is one of the non-serving access points and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with the serving access point.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the interfering access point is associated with a closed subscriber group (CSG) to which the apparatus does not belong.

33. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received in a broadcast message.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the time domain RPI in the broadcast message is associated with a first access point different from a second access point that transmitted the broadcast message, the first and second access points being in the heterogeneous network.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a system information block (SIB).

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the receiver is configured to receive a neighbor list from the serving access point, wherein the neighbor list carries the time domain RPI in the SIB.

37. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the serving access point, the broadcast message comprising the time domain RPI corresponding to the serving access point and wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify the one or more protected time domain resources by deriving the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points based on the protected time domain resources for the serving access point.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the deriving comprises considering the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points to be the same as the protected time domain resources for the serving access point.

39. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the one or more non-serving access points, the broadcast message comprising the time domain RPI about the one or more protected time domain resources for the one or more non-serving access points.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the broadcast message comprises a system information block type 1 (SIB1) from the one or more non-serving access points.

41. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a master information block (MIB).

42. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the broadcast message while the apparatus is in idle mode.

43. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI comprises at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the at least one of the dedicated message or the unicast message while the apparatus is in connected mode.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine received power of a reference signal from the serving access point during the one or more protected time domain resources.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one processor is configured to at least one of determine channel state information (CSI), make radio resource management (RRM) measurements, or perform radio link monitoring (RLM) based on one or more signals from the serving access point during the one or more protected time domain resources.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources for RRM are the same as the protected time domain resources for RLM.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein a single information element (IE) is used to indicate the protected time domain resources for both RRM and RLM.

49. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the receiver is configured to receive the indication of the time domain RPI by:

receiving a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with the serving access point; and

receiving a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with at least one of the non-serving access points.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the second IE comprises a cell identity (ID) for each of the at least one of the non-serving access points.

51. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein the at least one processor is configured to at least one of determine channel state information (CSI), make radio resource management (RRM) measurements, or perform radio link monitoring (RLM) based on one or more signals from the at least one of the non-serving access points during the second protected time domain resources.

52. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are common to the serving access point and the one or more non-serving access points.

53. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) corresponding to time domain resource assignments between a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in a heterogeneous network; and

means for identifying one or more protected time domain resources based on the time domain RPI, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

56. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received from the serving access point.

57. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the interfering access point is one of the non-serving access points and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with the serving access point.

59. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received in a broadcast message.

69. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI comprises at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

78. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are common to the serving access point and the one or more non-serving access points.

58. (canceled)

60-68. -68. (canceled)

70-77. -77. (canceled)

79. A computer-program product for wireless communications, the computer-program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having code for;

receiving, at a user equipment (UE), an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) corresponding to time domain resource assignments between a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in a heterogeneous network; and

identifying one or more protected time domain resources based on the time domain RPI, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

80. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

81. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

82. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received from the serving access point.

83. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the interfering access point is one of the non-serving access points and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with the serving access point.

85. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is received in a broadcast message.

95. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI comprises at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

104. The computer-program product of claim 79, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are common to the serving access point and the one or more non-serving access points.

84. (canceled)

86-94. -94. (canceled)

96-103. -103. (canceled)

105. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

participating in time domain resource partitioning in a heterogeneous network; and

transmitting an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) identifying one or more protected time domain resources, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

106. The method of claim 105, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

107. The method of claim 105, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

108. The method of claim 105, wherein the transmitting comprises broadcasting the indication of the time domain RPI.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is broadcast from an access point associated with the one or more protected time domain resources.

110. The method of claim 108, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is broadcast from a first access point and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with a second access point different from the first access point.

111. The method of claim 108, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a system information block (SIB).

112. The method of claim 111, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in one or more information elements (IEs) of the SIB.

113. The method of claim 108, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a master information block (MIB).

114. The method of claim 105, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted using at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

115. The method of claim 114, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted to a user equipment (UE) operating in a connected mode.

116. The method of claim 115, further comprising:

transmitting a reference signal; and

receiving, from the UE, an indication of a received power of the reference signal determined during the one or more protected time domain resources.

117. The method of claim 115, further comprising:

transmitting one or more signals; and

receiving, from the UE, an indication of channel state information (C SI) based on the one or more signals determined during the one or more protected time domain resources.

118. The method of claim 115, wherein the protected time domain resources are used by the UE for radio resource management (RRM) or radio link management (RLM) procedures.

119. The method of claim 118, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources for RRM are the same as the protected time domain resources for RLM.

120. The method of claim 115, further comprising:

receiving a report, from the UE, indicating radio conditions; and

determining, based on the report and the time domain resource partitioning, the one or more protected time domain resources identified by the time domain RPI.

121. The method of claim 120, wherein the radio conditions comprise information relating to a proximity of the UE to one or more non-serving access points.

122. The method of claim 121, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise time domain resources partitioned for the one or more non-serving access points.

123. The method of claim 121, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise time domain resources partitioned for a serving access point.

124. The method of claim 105, wherein the time domain resources are commonly partitioned for a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in the heterogeneous network.

125. The method of claim 105, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with a first access point in the heterogeneous network; and

transmitting a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with one or more second access points different from the first access point.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the first access point transmitted the indication of the time domain RPI.

127. The method of claim 105, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are dependent on a physical cell identity (PCI) of an access point being measured.

128. The method of claim 127, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are configured for a range or a set of PCIs.

129. The method of claim 128, wherein the range or the set of PCIs corresponds to a power class of access points.

130. The method of claim 128, wherein the range or the set of PCIs corresponds to access permissions of access points.

131. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

at least one processor configured to participate in time domain resource partitioning in a heterogeneous network; and

a transmitter configured to transmit an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) identifying one or more protected time domain resources, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

132. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

133. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

134. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcast the indication of the time domain RPI.

135. The apparatus of claim 134, wherein the apparatus is an access point associated with the one or more protected time domain resources.

136. The apparatus of claim 134, wherein the apparatus is a first access point and wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are associated with a second access point different from the first access point.

137. The apparatus of claim 134, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a system information block (SIB).

138. The apparatus of claim 137, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in one or more information elements (IEs) of the SIB.

139. The apparatus of claim 134, wherein the time domain RPI is broadcast in a master information block (MIB).

140. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted using at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

141. The apparatus of claim 140, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted to a user equipment (UE) operating in a connected mode.

142. The apparatus of claim 141, further comprising a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit a reference signal and wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the UE, an indication of a received power of the reference signal determined during the one or more protected time domain resources.

143. The apparatus of claim 141, further comprising a receiver, wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit one or more signals and wherein the receiver is configured to receive, from the UE, an indication of channel state information (C SI) based on the one or more signals determined during the one or more protected time domain resources.

144. The apparatus of claim 141, wherein the protected time domain resources are used by the UE for radio resource management (RRM) or radio link management (RLM) procedures.

145. The apparatus of claim 144, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources for RRM are the same as the protected time domain resources for RLM.

146. The apparatus of claim 141, further comprising a receiver configured to receive a report, from the UE, indicating radio conditions and wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine, based on the report and the time domain resource partitioning, the one or more protected time domain resources identified by the time domain RPI.

147. The apparatus of claim 146, wherein the radio conditions comprise information relating to a proximity of the UE to one or more non-serving access points.

148. The apparatus of claim 147, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise time domain resources partitioned for the one or more non-serving access points.

149. The apparatus of claim 147, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise time domain resources partitioned for a serving access point.

150. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the time domain resources are commonly partitioned for a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in the heterogeneous network.

151. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the transmitter is configured to:

transmit a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with a first access point in the heterogeneous network; and

transmit a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with one or more second access points different from the first access point.

152. The apparatus of claim 151, wherein the apparatus is the first access point.

153. The apparatus of claim 131, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are dependent on a physical cell identity (PCI) of an access point being measured.

154. The apparatus of claim 153, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are configured for a range or a set of PCIs.

155. The apparatus of claim 154, wherein the range or the set of PCIs corresponds to a power class of access points.

156. The apparatus of claim 154, wherein the range or the set of PCIs corresponds to access permissions of access points.

157. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for participating in time domain resource partitioning in a heterogeneous network; and

means for transmitting an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) identifying one or more protected time domain resources, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

158. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

159. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

160. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to broadcast the indication of the time domain RPI.

166. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted using at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

176. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the time domain resources are commonly partitioned for a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in the heterogeneous network.

177. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the means for transmitting is configured to:

transmit a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with a first access point in the heterogeneous network; and

transmit a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with one or more second access points different from the first access point.

179. The apparatus of claim 157, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are dependent on a physical cell identity (PCI) of an access point being measured.

161-165. -165. (canceled)

167-175. -175. (canceled)

178. (canceled)

180-182. -182. (canceled)

183. A computer-program product for wireless communications, the computer-program product comprising:

a computer-readable medium having code for;

participating in time domain resource partitioning in a heterogeneous network; and

transmitting an indication of time domain resource partitioning information (RPI) identifying one or more protected time domain resources, the one or more protected time domain resources being time domain resources in which use by an interfering access point is limited.

184. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources comprise an almost blank subframe (ABS) associated with the interfering access point.

185. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the time domain RPI comprises a bitmap with one or more bits set to a value indicating the one or more protected time domain resources.

186. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the transmitting comprises broadcasting the indication of the time domain RPI.

192. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the indication of the time domain RPI is transmitted using at least one of a dedicated message or a unicast message.

202. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the time domain resources are commonly partitioned for a serving access point and one or more non-serving access points in the heterogeneous network.

203. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting a first information element (IE) indicating first protected time domain resources associated with a first access point in the heterogeneous network; and

transmitting a second IE indicating second protected time domain resources associated with one or more second access points different from the first access point.

205. The computer-program product of claim 183, wherein the one or more protected time domain resources are dependent on a physical cell identity (PCI) of an access point being measured.

187-191. -191. (canceled)

193-201. -201. (canceled)

204. (canceled)

206-208. -208. (canceled)