Method and apparatus for using MBSFN subframes to send unicast information
First Claim
1. A method of sending information in a wireless communication network, comprising:
- sending system information declaring a subframe as a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe;
sending signaling to at least one station to indicate that the MBSFN subframe carries unicast information;
sending a reference signal in a first part of the MBSFN subframe in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; and
sending unicast information in a second part of the MBSFN subframe to the at least one station recognizing the MBSFN subframe as carrying unicast information.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques for sending information in a wireless network are described. The network may support (i) regular subframes used to send unicast information and (ii) multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes used to send broadcast information and having lower overhead than the regular subframes. In an aspect, MBSFN subframes may be used to mitigate interference. A first base station may cause high interference to stations (e.g., UEs) served by a second base station. The first base station may reserve a subframe for the second base station, send system information conveying the reserved subframe as an MBSFN subframe to its stations, and transmit in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with an MBSFN subframe format. The second base station may skip the first part and may send unicast information to its stations in the remaining part of the reserved subframe. In another aspect, MBSFN subframes may be used to support additional base station capabilities.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. A method of sending information in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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sending system information declaring a subframe as a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe; sending signaling to at least one station to indicate that the MBSFN subframe carries unicast information; sending a reference signal in a first part of the MBSFN subframe in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; and sending unicast information in a second part of the MBSFN subframe to the at least one station recognizing the MBSFN subframe as carrying unicast information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
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means for sending system information declaring a subframe as a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe; means for sending signaling to at least one station to indicate that the subframe carries unicast information; means for sending a reference signal in a first part of the MBSFN subframe in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; and means for sending unicast information in a second part of the MBSFN subframe to the at least one station recognizing the MBSFN subframe as carrying unicast information. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of receiving information in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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receiving, at a station, signaling information indicating that a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe carries unicast information for the station; receiving a first part of the MBSFN subframe carrying a reference signal sent in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; receiving a second part of the MBSFN subframe carrying unicast information for the station; and processing the second part of the subframe to recover the unicast information for the station. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
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receiving signaling information indicating that a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe carries unicast information for the apparatus; means for receiving a first part of the MBSFN subframe carrying a reference signal sent in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; means for receiving a second part of the MBSFN subframe carrying unicast information for the apparatus; and means for processing the second part of the MBSFN subframe to recover the unicast information for the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
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at least one processor configured to; receive signaling information indicating that a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe carries unicast information for the apparatus; receive a first part of the MBSFN subframe carrying a reference signal sent in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; receive a second part of the MBSFN subframe carrying unicast information for the apparatus; and process the second part of the MBSFN subframe to recover the unicast information for the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer program product, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to; receive signaling information indicating that a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe carries unicast information for a station; receive a first part of the MBSFN subframe carrying a reference signal sent in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; receive a second part of the MBSFN subframe carrying unicast information for the station; and process the second part of the MBSFN subframe to recover the unicast information for the station.
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28. A method of mitigating interference in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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reserving a subframe by a first base station for a second base station; sending a reference signal in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format, comprising sending the reference signal in first M symbol periods of the reserved subframe, where M is one or greater and is dependent on number of antennas at the first base station; and sending no transmissions or transmissions at a low transmit power level in a remaining part of the reserved subframe to reduce interference to stations served by the second base station. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
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means for reserving a subframe by a first base station for a second base station; means for sending a reference signal in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format, comprising means for sending the reference signal in first M symbol periods of the reserved subframe, where M is one or greater and is dependent on number of antennas at the first base station; and means for sending no transmissions or transmissions at a low transmit power level in a remaining part of the reserved subframe to reduce interference to stations served by the second base station. - View Dependent Claims (33)
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34. A method of sending information in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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receiving an indication of a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station; sending no transmissions in a first part of the reserved subframe, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and sending transmissions in a second part of the reserved subframe to stations served by the second base station, comprising; sending a reference signal in the second part of the reserved subframe, sending control information in at least one symbol period in the second part of the reserved subframe, and sending unicast information in remaining symbol periods in the second part of the reserved subframe to the stations served by the second base station. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
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means for receiving an indication of a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station; means for sending no transmissions in a first part of the reserved subframe, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and means for sending transmissions in a second part of the reserved subframe to stations served by the second base station, comprising; means for sending a reference signal in the second part of the reserved subframe, means for sending control information in at least one symbol period in the second part of the reserved subframe, and means for sending unicast information in remaining symbol periods in the second part of the reserved subframe to the stations served by the second base station.
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37. A method of receiving information in a wireless communication network, comprising:
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receiving by a station a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station, the subframe comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and processing the second part of the subframe to recover unicast information sent by the second base station to the station, comprising; recovering a reference signal from the second part of the subframe, recovering control information from at least one symbol period in the second part of the subframe, and recovering the unicast information from at least one remaining symbol period in the second part of the subframe. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39)
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40. An apparatus for a wireless communication station, comprising:
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means for receiving by a station a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station, the subframe comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and means for processing the second part of the subframe to recover unicast information sent by the second base station to the station, comprising; means for recovering a reference signal from the second part of the subframe, means for recovering control information from at least one symbol period in the second part of the subframe, and means for recovering the unicast information from at least one remaining symbol period in the second part of the subframe. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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42. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor configured to; send system information declaring a subframe as a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe; send signaling to at least one station to indicate that the subframe carries unicast information; send a reference signal in a first part of the MBSFN subframe in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; and send unicast information in a second part of the MBSFN subframe to the at least one station recognizing the MBSFN subframe as carrying unicast information.
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43. A computer program product, comprising:
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a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to; send system information declaring a subframe as a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe; send signaling to at least one station to indicate that the subframe carries unicast information; send a reference signal in a first part of the MBSFN subframe in accordance with a MBSFN subframe format, wherein the reference signal is sent on a resource element from an antenna and no symbols are sent on the resource element from other antennas; and send unicast information in a second part of the MBSFN subframe to the at least one station recognizing the MBSFN subframe as carrying unicast information.
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44. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor configured to; reserve a subframe by a first base station for a second base station; send a reference signal in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format, comprising sending the reference signal in first M symbol periods of the reserved subframe, where M is one or greater and is dependent on number of antennas at the first base station; and send no transmissions or transmissions at a low transmit power level in a remaining part of the reserved subframe to reduce interference to stations served by the second base station.
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45. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to reserve a subframe by a first base station for a second base station; code for causing the at least one computer to send a reference signal in a first part of the reserved subframe in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format, comprising sending the reference signal in first M symbol periods of the reserved subframe, where M is one or greater and is dependent on number of antennas at the first base station; and code for causing the at least one computer to send no transmissions or transmissions at a low transmit power level in a remaining part of the reserved subframe to reduce interference to stations served by the second base station.
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46. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor configured to; receive an indication of a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station; send no transmissions in a first part of the reserved subframe, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and send transmissions in a second part of the reserved subframe to stations served by the second base station, comprising; sending a reference signal in the second part of the reserved subframe, sending control information in at least one symbol period in the second part of the reserved subframe, and sending unicast information in remaining symbol periods in the second part of the reserved subframe to the stations served by the second base station.
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47. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to receive an indication of a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station; code for causing the at least one computer to send no transmissions in a first part of the reserved subframe, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and code for causing the at least one computer to send transmissions in a second part of the reserved subframe to stations served by the second base station, comprising; sending a reference signal in the second part of the reserved subframe, sending control information in at least one symbol period in the second part of the reserved subframe, and sending unicast information in remaining symbol periods in the second part of the reserved subframe to the stations served by the second base station.
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48. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:
at least one processor configured to; receive by a station a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station, the subframe comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and process the second part of the subframe to recover unicast information sent by the second base station to the station, comprising; recovering a reference signal from the second part of the subframe, recovering control information from at least one symbol period in the second part of the subframe, and recovering the unicast information from at least one remaining symbol period in the second part of the subframe.
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49. A computer program product, comprising:
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising; code for causing at least one computer to receive by a station a subframe reserved by a first base station for a second base station, the subframe comprising a first part and a second part, the first part comprising a reference signal sent by the first base station in accordance with a multicast/broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframe format; and code for causing the at least one computer to process the second part of the subframe to recover unicast information sent by the second base station to the station, comprising; recovering a reference signal from the second part of the subframe, recovering control information from at least one symbol period in the second part of the subframe, and recovering the unicast information from at least one remaining symbol period in the second part of the subframe.
Specification