Interference management employing fractional frequency reuse

• US 8,824,979 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Issued: 09/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Yavuz, Mehmet, Black, Peter J., Nanda, Sanjiv
• Primary Examiner(s): Jain, Ankur
• Application Number:
  US12/212,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20090081970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,176 Days
• Field of Search: 455/114.2, 455/447, 455/63.1, 455/127.2, 455/73, 455/338, 455/458, 455/414.4, 455/422.1, 375/130, 375/138, 375/242
• US Class Current: 455/114.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0228 with direct estimation from sounding signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0005 Time-frequency
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0023 Time-frequency-space
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0066 Requirements on out-of-channel emissions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0089 due to addition or removal of users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0092 Indication of how the channel is divided
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/10 Dynamic resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/243 taking into account interferences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/247 where the output power of a terminal is based on a path parameter sent by another terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/248 where transmission power control commands are generated based on a path parameter

Abstract

Interference that occurs during wireless communication may be managed through the use of fractional reuse and other techniques. In some aspects fractional reuse may relate to HARQ interlaces, portions of a timeslot, frequency spectrum, and spreading codes. Interference may be managed through the use of a transmit power profile and/or an attenuation profile. Interference also may be managed through the use of power management-related techniques.

Claims

1. A method of communication, comprising:

determining a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks; and

sending the spectral mask from a radio network controller to an access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving information relating to interference on a wireless communication link, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the information,

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information relates to interference monitored at the access point and/or at least one other access point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the determination of the spectral mask is based on information received from at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point; and

the information relates to downlink channel quality at the at least one access terminal or downlink data rate at the at least one access terminal.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one of the group consisting of:

a quantity of deployed access points, traffic associated with the access point, and traffic associated with at least one other access point.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending an indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to use a different spectral mask.

9. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to determine a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from plurality of spectral masks; and

a communication controller configured to send the spectral mask from a radio network controller to an access point.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication controller is further configured to receive information relating to interference on a wireless communication link, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the information.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

the determination of the spectral mask is based on information received from at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point; and

the information relates to downlink channel quality at the at least one access terminal or downlink data rate at the at least one access terminal.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication controller is further configured to send an indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to use a different spectral mask.

15. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks; and

means for sending the spectral mask from a radio network controller to an access point.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for determining is configured to receive information relating to interference on a wireless communication link, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the information.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the determination of the spectral mask is based on information received from at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point; and

the information relates to downlink channel quality at the at least one access terminal or downlink data rate at the at least one access terminal.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by at least one access terminal associated with the access point and/or associated with at least one other access point.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the means for sending is configured to send an indication or another indication to another access point to instruct the another access point to use a different spectral mask.

21. A computer-program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

determine a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks; and

send the spectral mask from a radio network controller to an access point.

22. The computer-program product of claim 21, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

23. The computer-program product of claim 21, further comprising codes for causing the computer to receive information relating to interference on a wireless communication link, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the information.

24. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

determining a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on interference-related feedback from at least one other device, and wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises receiving the spectral mask from a network node; and

transmitting information in accordance with the spectral mask.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the information is transmitted by an access point.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising determining downlink interference, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the downlink interference.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein:

the determination of the interference comprises receiving information from at least one access terminal associated with the access point; and

the received information relates to downlink channel quality at the at least one access terminal or downlink data rate at the at least one access terminal.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by at least one access terminal associated with the access point.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a different spectral mask than a spectral mask used by the neighboring access point.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the access point is restricted to not provide, for at least one node, at least one of the group consisting of:

signaling, data access, registration, and service.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the information is transmitted by an access terminal.

33. The method of claim 32, further determining uplink interference, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the uplink interference.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein:

the access terminal receives power control commands that adjust a transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted different spectral components of a frequency spectrum allocated for uplink transmission.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the determination of the spectral mask further comprises identifying at least one of the spectral components that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the spectral components.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by the access terminal.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the determination of'"'"'the spectral mask comprises receiving the spectral mask from an access point that is associated with the access terminal.

38. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

an interference controller configured to determine a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on interference-related feedback from at least one other device, and wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises receiving the spectral mask from a network node; and

a communication controller configured to transmit information in accordance with the spectral mask.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the information is transmitted by an access point.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein:

the interference controller is further configured to determine downlink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask is based on the downlink interference.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a different spectral mask than a spectral mask used by the neighboring access point.

43. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the information is transmitted by an access terminal.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

the interference controller is further configured to determine uplink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask is based on the uplink interference.

45. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

the communication controller is further configured to receive power control commands that adjust a transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted different spectral components of a frequency spectrum allocated for uplink transmission.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the determination of the spectral mask further comprises identifying at least one of the spectral components that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the spectral components.

47. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by the access terminal.

48. An apparatus for communication, comprising:

means for determining a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on interference-related feedback from at least one other device, and wherein the means for determining the spectral mask comprises means for receiving the spectral mask from a network node; and

means for transmitting information in accordance with the spectral mask.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the information is transmitted by an access point.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein:

the means for determining is configured to determine downlink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask is based on the downlink interference.

52. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a different spectral mask than a spectral mask used by the neighboring access point.

53. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the information is transmitted by an access terminal.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein:

the means for determining is configured to determine uplink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask is based on the uplink interference.

55. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein:

the means for transmitting is configured to receive power control commands that adjust a transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted different spectral components of a frequency spectrum allocated for uplink transmission.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the determination of the spectral mask further comprises identifying at least one of the spectral components that is associated with lower transmit power than at least one other one of the spectral components.

57. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on at least one downlink measurement report provided by the access terminal.

58. A computer-program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising codes for causing a computer to;

determine a spectral mask associated with a lowest interference from a plurality of spectral masks, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on interference-related feedback from at least one other device, and wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises receiving the spectral mask from a network node; and

transmit information in accordance with the spectral mask.

59. The computer-program product of claim 58, wherein:

a frequency spectrum is allocated for transmission; and

the determination of the spectral mask comprises identifying at least one spectral component of the spectrum such that use of the at least one spectral component is associated with lower interference than use of at least one other spectral component of the spectrum.

60. The computer-program product of claim 58, wherein the information is transmitted by an access point.

61. The computer-program product of claim 60, further comprising codes for causing the computer to determine downlink interference, wherein the determination of the spectral mask is based on the downlink interference.

62. The computer-program product of claim 60, wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises communicating with a neighboring access point to select a different spectral mask than a spectral mask used by the neighboring access point.

63. The computer-program product of claim 58, wherein the information is transmitted by an access terminal.

64. The computer-program product of claim 63, further comprising codes for causing the computer to receive power control commands that adjust a transmit power of the access terminal based on uplink interference, wherein the determination of the spectral mask comprises determining transmit power levels that were used when the access terminal transmitted different spectral components of a frequency spectrum allocated for uplink transmission.