SEMI-PERSISTENT SCHEDULING GRANTS IN HETEROGENEOUS NETWORKS

• US 20120093096A1
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Barbieri, Alan, Xu, Hao, Vajapeyam, Madhavan Srinivasan, Damnjanovic, Aleksandar
• Granted Patent: US 8,634,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0025 Transmission of mode-switching indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Time division multiplexing (TDM) partitioning is one of the inter-cell interference coordination (ICIC) mechanisms considered for a heterogeneous network (HetNet) ICIC in a co-channel deployment. For example, in subframes that are pre-allocated to an evolved Node B (eNB), neighbor eNBs may not transmit, hence interference experienced by served user equipments (UEs) may be reduced. Semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants may have various available periodicities, which may not be compatible with TDM partitioning. Therefore, a UE may miss an SPS opportunity that was scheduled for a subframe that was not usable by the UE. Hence, using SPS grants with small periodicities in a heterogeneous network with TDM partitioning may require changes which may include adjusting the periodicities of the SPS grants, rescheduling of uplink SPS messages based on resource partitioning information (RPI), and/or determining RPI based on current SPS grants.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

determining resource partitioning information (RPI), having a first periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs;

sending a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a second periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on the RPI; and

exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the UE according to the SPS grant message.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second periodicity is an integer multiple of the first periodicity.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the usable subframes include subframes that are not protected.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending comprises sending the SPS grant message in a usable subframe.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the sending comprises sending the SPS grant message in a subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

upon sending the SPS grant message in the subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE, ensuring that the subframe is protected.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

ensuring that periodic repetitions of the subframe, indicated by the RPI, are protected for SPS opportunities indicated by the SPS grant message.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving an uplink transmission or sending a downlink transmission in a subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein the SPS grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to an SPS opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the SPS opportunity is unknown or not usable by the UE.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the offset is included in a downlink control information carrying the SPS grant message or is obtained, by the UE, from upper layers.

14. The method of claim 3, wherein the SPS grant message indicates a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for use in protected subframes and at least a second MCS for use in other subframes.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein a difference between the first MCS and at least the second MCS is indicated by upper layers or is included in the SPS grant message.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein at least the second MCS is indicated by a second SPS grant message.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the indication of at least the second MCS is offset from the indication of the first MCS.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein uplink transmissions on the protected subframes and uplink transmissions on the other subframes have different power control setpoints.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one power control setpoint is provided by upper layers or in the SPS grant message.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein a power control setpoint associated to the uplink transmissions on the other subframes is represented as a difference with respect to a power control setpoint associated to the uplink transmissions on the protected subframes.

21. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for determining resource partitioning information (RPI), having a first periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs;

means for sending a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a second periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on the RPI; and

means for exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the UE according to the SPS grant message.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second periodicity is an integer multiple of the first periodicity.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

means for determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

26. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine resource partitioning information (RPI), having a first periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs, send a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a second periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on the RPI, and exchange the scheduled transmissions with the UE according to the SPS grant message.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the second periodicity is an integer multiple of the first periodicity.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to identify that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE and determine the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

31. A computer-program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for determining resource partitioning information (RPI), having a first periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs;

code for sending a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a second periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on the RPI; and

code for exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the UE according to the SPS grant message.

32. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the second periodicity is an integer multiple of the first periodicity.

33. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

34. The computer-program product of claim 31, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

35. The computer-program product of claim 31, further comprising:

code for identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

code for determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

36. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

receiving a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a first periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on resource partitioning information (RPI) having a second periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs; and

exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving Node B according to the SPS grant message.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the first periodicity is an integer multiple of the second periodicity.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the usable subframes include subframes that are not protected.

41. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the SPS grant message in a usable subframe.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein the receiving comprises receiving the SPS grant message in a subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

upon receiving the SPS grant message in the subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE, determining that the subframe is protected.

45. The method of claim 44, further comprising:

determining that periodic repetitions of the subframe, indicated by the RPI, are protected for SPS opportunities indicated by the SPS grant message.

46. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

sending an uplink transmission or receiving a downlink transmission in a subframe whose usability is unknown by the UE.

47. The method of claim 38, wherein the SPS grant message comprises an offset from a subframe corresponding to an SPS opportunity, wherein the offset indicates a subframe for use if the subframe corresponding to the SPS opportunity is unknown or not usable by the UE.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the offset is included in a downlink control information carrying the SPS grant message or is obtained from upper layers.

49. The method of claim 38, wherein the SPS grant message indicates a first modulation and coding scheme (MCS) for use in protected subframes and at least a second MCS for use in other subframes.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein a difference between the first MCS and at least the second MCS is indicated by upper layers or is included in the SPS grant message.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein at least the second MCS is indicated by a second SPS grant message.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the indication of at least the second MCS is offset from the indication of the first MCS.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein uplink transmissions on the protected subframes and uplink transmissions on the other subframes have different power control setpoints.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein at least one power control setpoint is provided by upper layers or in the SPS grant message.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein a power control setpoint associated to the uplink transmissions on the other subframes is represented as a difference with respect to a power control setpoint associated to the uplink transmissions on the protected subframes.

56. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for receiving a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a first periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on resource partitioning information (RPI) having a second periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs; and

means for exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving Node B according to the SPS grant message.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the first periodicity is an integer multiple of the second periodicity.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

means for identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

means for determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

61. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a first periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on resource partitioning information (RPI) having a second periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs and exchange the scheduled transmissions with the serving Node B according to the SPS grant message.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the first periodicity is an integer multiple of the second periodicity.

63. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

64. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

65. The apparatus of claim 61, wherein the at least one processor is configured to identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE and determine the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

66. A computer-program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for receiving a semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grant message identifying one or more subframes for scheduled transmissions, wherein the SPS grant message, having a first periodicity, is determined based, at least in part, on resource partitioning information (RPI) having a second periodicity, wherein the RPI includes information that identifies subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs; and

code for exchanging the scheduled transmissions with the serving Node B according to the SPS grant message.

67. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the first periodicity is an integer multiple of the second periodicity.

68. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the RPI further includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are not usable by the UE.

69. The computer-program product of claim 66, wherein the scheduled transmissions are exchanged on usable subframes.

70. The computer-program product of claim 66, further comprising:

code for identifying that a missed uplink SPS opportunity was scheduled for a subframe identified by the RPI as usable by the UE; and

code for determining the missed uplink SPS opportunity as an empty transmission for sake of implicit release based on the identifying.

71. A method for wireless communications, comprising:

determining resource partitioning information (RPI) that includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs, wherein the RPI is determined based, at least in part, on current semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the current SPS grants are for at least one of the serving Node B and the one or more non-serving Node Bs.

73. The method of claim 71, wherein the RPI remains the same to a prior RPI based, at least in part, on the current SPS grants.

74. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining resource partitioning information (RPI) that includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs, wherein the RPI is determined based, at least in part, on current semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the current SPS grants are for at least one of the serving Node B and the one or more non-serving Node Bs.

76. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the RPI remains the same to a prior RPI based, at least in part, on the current SPS grants.

77. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to determine resource partitioning information (RPI) that includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs, wherein the RPI is determined based, at least in part, on current semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants.

78. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the current SPS grants are for at least one of the serving Node B and the one or more non-serving Node Bs.

79. The apparatus of claim 77, wherein the RPI remains the same to a prior RPI based, at least in part, on the current SPS grants.

80. A computer-program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for determining resource partitioning information (RPI) that includes information that identifies one or more subframes that are usable by a user equipment (UE) and protected due to cooperative partitioning of resources between a serving Node B and one or more non-serving Node Bs, wherein the RPI is determined based, at least in part, on current semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) grants.

81. The computer-program product of claim 80, wherein the current SPS grants are for at least one of the serving Node B and the one or more non-serving Node Bs.

82. The computer-program product of claim 80, wherein the RPI remains the same to a prior RPI based, at least in part, on the current SPS grants.