NETWORK NODES AND METHODS

• US 20130294364A1
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Published: 11/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Jul, Eric B., Claussen, Holger
• Granted Patent: US 9,894,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 13/20 having an orthogonal variable spreading factor [OVSF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0466 the resource being a scrambling code
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Methods and network nodes of a wireless telecommunications system are disclosed. One method of controlling transmissions with a base station of a wireless telecommunications system comprises the steps of: determining a set of neighbouring base stations, each base station in the set of neighbouring base stations utilising an identical carrier and scrambling code to support transmissions with that base station; and allocating base stations in the set of neighbouring base stations different spreading codes for transmissions with those base stations. By allocating each base station in the set of base stations sharing the same carrier and scrambling code different spreading codes, interference in transmissions between the base stations can be controlled.

Claims

1. A method of controlling transmissions with a base station of a wireless telecommunications system, said method comprising:

determining a set of neighbouring base stations, each base station in said set of neighbouring base stations utilising an identical carrier and scrambling code to support transmissions with that base station; and

allocating base stations in said set of neighbouring base stations different spreading codes for transmissions with those base stations.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of allocating comprises:

allocating different spreading codes based on operating characteristics of base stations in said set of neighbouring base stations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said stop of allocating comprises:

allocating spreading codes based on a traffic demand of base stations within said set of neighbouring base stations.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

allocating spreading codes based on a minimum expected traffic demand of base stations within said set of neighbouring base stations.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

restricting allocation of spreading codes based on a minimum quality of service required for transmissions with base stations within said set of neighbouring base stations.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

allocating spreading codes based on a size of said set of neighbouring base stations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said allocating comprises:

allocating spreading codes based on a spreading code reservation requirement for expected future spreading code allocation.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said allocating comprises:

reselecting spreading codes based on a change in said operating characteristics.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said spreading codes are orthogonal spreading codes.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said orthogonal spreading codes comprise a hierarchical tree of spreading orthogonal codes, different levels of said hierarchical tree of spreading orthogonal codes providing orthogonal spreading codes of different lengths and each level of said hierarchical tree of spreading orthogonal codes providing a number of orthogonal spreading codes having identical lengths.

22. The method of claim 4, wherein the allocating comprises allocating a group of spreading codes that optimise achievement of the minimum expected traffic demand.

23. The method of claim 6, wherein the allocating comprises allocating a group of spreading codes that optimise achievement of the minimum quality of service.

24. The method of claim 6, wherein the allocating comprises allocating a different spreading code to each base station in the set.

25. The method of claim 6 wherein the allocating comprises allocating spreading codes for at least the number of base stations in the set.

26. A computer program product operable, when executed on a computer to perform the method of claim 1.

11. A network node, comprising:

determining logic operable to determine a set of neighbouring base stations of a wireless telecommunications system, each base station in said set of neighbouring base stations utilising an identical carrier and scrambling code to support transmissions with that base station; and

allocation logic operable to allocate base stations in said set of neighbouring base stations different spreading codes for transmissions with those base stations.

27. The network node of claim 11, wherein the allocation logic is operable to allocate different spreading codes based on operating characteristics of base stations in the set of neighbouring base stations.

28. The network node of claim 11, wherein the allocation logic is operable to allocate spreading codes based on a traffic demand of base stations within the set of neighbouring base stations.

29. The network node of claim 11, wherein the allocation logic is operable to allocate spreading codes based on a minimum expected traffic demand of base stations within the set of neighbouring base stations.

30. The network node of claim 11, wherein the allocation logic is operable to restrict allocation of spreading codes based on a minimum quality of service required for transmissions with base stations within the set of neighbouring base stations.

31. The network node of claim 11, wherein the allocation logic is operable to allocate spreading codes based on a size of the set of neighbouring base stations.

12-21. -21. (canceled)