COORDINATED MULTI-POINT COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING COORDINATED MULTI-POINT TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION

• US 20120207093A1
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: LI, Chi-Fang
• Granted Patent: US 9,100,985 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/024 Co-operative use of antennas of several sites, e.g. in co-ordinated multipoint or co-operative multiple-input multiple-output [MIMO] systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/10 adapted for operation in multiple networks, e.g. multi-mode access points

Abstract

A coordinated multi-point communications system is provided. A first center site is operative to serve one or more user equipment located under coverage of a first cluster. Multiple first remote devices are connected to the first center site and operative to receive downlink signals from the first center site and transmit the downlink signals to the one or more user equipment and/or receive uplink signals from the one or more user equipment and transmit the uplink signals to the first center site. The first center site and the first remote devices form the first cluster to support coordinated multi-point transmission and reception for simultaneously transmitting and/or receiving the downlink and/or uplink signals to and/or from the one or more user equipment, and at least one of the first remote devices is further connected to at least a second center site of a second cluster adjacent to the first cluster.

Claims

1. A coordinated multi-point communications system, comprising:

a first center site, operative to serve one or more user equipment located under coverage of a first cluster; and

a plurality of first remote devices, connected to the first center site and operative to receive downlink signals from the first center site and transmit the downlink signals to the one or more user equipment and/or receive uplink signals from the one or more user equipment and transmit the uplink signals to the first center site,

wherein the first center site and the first remote devices form the first cluster to support coordinated multi-point transmission and reception for simultaneously transmitting and/or receiving the downlink and/or uplink signals to and/or from the one or more user equipment, and

wherein at least one of the first remote devices is further connected to at least a second center site of a second cluster adjacent to the first cluster.

2. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first remote device connected to the second center site is further operative to receive downlink signals from the second center site and transmit the downlink signals to at least one user equipment served by the second center site and/or receive uplink signals from the user equipment served by the second center site and transmit the uplink signals to the second center site.

3. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a switch device, operative to selectively connect the first remote device to the first center site or the second center site.

4. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first remote device connected to the second center site comprises:

at least one antenna;

at least one radio frequency module; and

a switch device, operative to selectively connect the first remote device to the first center site or the second center site.

5. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first center site and the second center site are evolved node B.

6. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first remote devices are remote radio heads.

7. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 6, wherein the first remote device is connected to the second center site via an optical fiber.

8. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first remote device is connected to the second center site via the air interface.

9. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 8, wherein the first remote devices are relay nodes.

10. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein the first and second center sites control signal transmission and/or reception of the first remote device in a time division manner.

11. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, wherein one or more resource elements of the first remote device connected to the second center site is/are reserved for and controlled by the second center site for signal transmission and/or reception.

12. The coordinated multi-point communications system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a plurality of second remote devices, connected to both of the first center site and the second center site,

wherein the second center site and the second remote devices form the second cluster.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

simultaneously transmitting the downlink signals to a user equipment located in coverage boundary of the first cluster via the second remote device and at least one of the first remote devices adjacent to the second remote device, wherein the transmission is triggered and controlled by the first center site.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

connecting at least one of the first remote devices adjacent to the second remote device to a second center site of the second cluster; and

simultaneously transmitting downlink signals to a user equipment located in coverage boundary of the second cluster via the second remote device and the at least one of the first remote devices connected to the second center site,

wherein the transmission is triggered and controlled by the second center site.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the second remote device in a time division manner by the first center site and a second center site of the second cluster.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

reserving one or more resource elements in a sub-frame of the second remote device for the first center site for controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the second remote device.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the at least one of the plurality of second remote devices transmitting the first downlink signals is further connected to the first center site and the method further comprises:

controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the at least one of the plurality of second remote devices in a time division manner by the first center site and the second center site.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

reserving one or more resource elements in a sub-frame of the at least one of the plurality of second remote devices for the first center site for controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the at least one of the plurality of second remote devices.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

simultaneously transmitting second downlink signals to a second user equipment located in coverage boundary of the second cluster via the at least one of the plurality of first remote devices and the at least one of the plurality of second remote devices,

wherein the second user equipment is served by the second center site and the transmission is initiated and controlled by the second center site.

13. A method for controlling coordinated multi-point transmission and reception in a wireless communications system, comprising:

connecting a plurality of first remote devices to a first center site to form a first cluster to support coordinated multi-point transmission and reception, wherein the first center site is operative to serve one or more user equipment located under coverage of the first cluster and the first remote devices are controlled by the first center site to simultaneously transmit downlink signals to the one or more user equipment and/or simultaneously receive uplink signals from the one or more user equipment; and

connecting at least one second remote device to the first center site, wherein the second remote device belongs to a second cluster adjacent to the first cluster.

18. A method for controlling coordinated multi-point transmission and reception in a wireless communications system, comprising:

simultaneously transmitting first downlink signals to a first user equipment located in coverage boundary of a first cluster via at least one of a plurality of first remote devices and at least one of a plurality of second remote devices,

wherein the first remote devices are connected to a first center site to form the first cluster and the first user equipment is served by the first center site,

wherein the second remote devices are connected to a second center site to form a second cluster, and

wherein transmission of the first downlink signals is initiated and controlled by the first center site.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the plurality of first remote devices transmitting the second downlink signals is further connected to the second center site and the method further comprises:

controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the at least one of the plurality of first remote devices in a time division manner by the first center site and the second center site.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

reserving one or more resource elements in a sub-frame of the at least one of the plurality of first remote devices for the second center site for controlling signal transmission and/or reception of the at least one of the plurality of first remote devices.