Queuing far/far service requests in wireless network

• US 7,236,793 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2001
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IPR Licensing Incorporated (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Amalfitano, Carlo, Farley, Kevin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah; Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Daniel, Jr.; Willie J.
• Application Number:
  US09/773,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20020102985A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,337 Days
• Field of Search: 455/446, 455/452.1, 455/453, 455/63.1, 455/63.2, 455/63, 455/522, 455/67.1, 370/347
• US Class Current: 455/453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/20 Control channels or signalling for resource management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/542 using measured or perceived quality

Abstract

A technique for coordinating the operation of subscriber units such as in a wireless communications system so that high-probability-of-interference communications do not take place at the same time in adjacent cell sites. A base station becomes aware of expected periods or time slots of high relatively expected interference from remote units operating in a neighboring cell site, and then schedules only low interference level transmissions for its own remote units during such periods. Expected interference information can be exchanged by base stations directly, through a centralized base station controller-initiated schedule, or by relaying resource load status messages via remote units located near all boundaries.

Claims

1. In a wireless communication system in which remote subscriber units are located in cells, and at least two cells are located adjacent one another, each cell having a base station unit that coordinates communication with remote units located within its respective cell, a method comprising the steps of:

in an operating base station, determining the existence of communications occurring in adjacent cells;

receiving, by the operating base station, a report of an expected time of low interference communications from an adjacent base; and

scheduling transmission of high interference communications associated with a subscriber unit in the cell associated with the operating base station at the expected time of low interference communications in the adjacent cell.

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the report is a report of a service status message from the adjacent base station and is relayed from a subscriber unit located in the cell served by the serving base station.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein transmission scheduling further comprises:

assigning specific time slots to specific subscriber units; and

coordinating allocation of a time slot to a high interference communication in one base station with the allocation of a time slot for a low interference communication in an adjacent base station.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coordinated communications are reverse link signals traveling from the subscriber units towards the base stations.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the coordinated communications are forward link signals traveling from the base station towards the subscriber units.

3. In a wireless communication system in which remote subscriber units are located in cells, and at least two cells are located adjacent one another, each cell having a base station unit that coordinates communication with remote units located within its respective cell, a method comprising the steps of:

in an operating base station, determining the existence of communications occurring in adjacent cells;

receiving, by the operating base station, a report of an expected time of high and low interference communications from an adjacent base station; and

scheduling transmission of high interference communications associated with a subscriber unit in the cell associated with the operating base station at the expected time of low interference communications in the adjacent cell.

7. A method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

scheduling transmission of low interference communications associated with a subscriber unit in the cell associated with the operating base station at the expected time of high interference transmissions from the adjacent base station.

8. A wireless communication system comprising:

at least two cells located adjacent to one another, each cell having a base station unit that coordinates communication with remote units located within its respective cell;

a communications link for transmitting, to a first base station from a second base station, a report of an expected time of high and low interference communications from an adjacent base station; and

a resource allocator at the first base station for scheduling transmission of high interference communications associated with a subscriber unit in the cell associated with the first base station at the expected time of low interference communications in the adjacent cell.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the communication link is a wire line.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the communication link further comprises a resource allocation station.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the coordinated communications are reverse link signals traveling from the subscriber units towards the first base station.

12. The wireless communications system of claim 8, wherein the coordinated communications are forward link signals traveling from the first base station towards the subscriber units.