Anti-interference apparatus and method in wireless communication system

• US 8,838,107 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2009
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Hwang, Sung-Soo, Yun, Sang-Boh, Lee, Joo-Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US12/993,546
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070881A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 455/423, 455/422.1, 455436-444, 455/501, 455/522, 455/63.1, 455/68, 455/69, 370/252, 370/328, 370/331, 370/332, 370/333
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for reducing the interference caused by a femtocell in a wireless communication system. The method comprises the steps of: measuring the intensity of a signal received from a terminal when the transmission mode is deactivated; and controlling the transmission mode to be activated according to the signal intensity, and thus has the advantage of decreasing the influence effects caused by the femtocell and reducing the power consumption in a femto base station.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a transmission mode in a femto base station of a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

when the transmission mode of the femto base station is deactivated, measuring a signal strength of a signal received from a terminal;

determining whether to activate the transmission mode of the femto base station according to the signal strength of the signal received from the terminal; and

controlling to activate the transmission mode or to maintain deactivation state of the transmission mode of the femto base station according to the determination result.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlling of the transmission mode of the femto base station to be activated comprises:

comparing the measured signal strength with a reference value; and

if the signal strength is greater than the reference value, controlling the transmission mode of the femto base station to be activated.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the controlling of the transmission mode of the femto base station to be activated comprises increasing a transmit power gradually and converting the transmit power of the femto base station into an ON state.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

if the signal strength is less than or is equal to the reference value, maintaining the deactivation state of the transmission mode of the femto base station.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if a handover completion signal for a terminal having provided a service is received in a state in which the transmission mode of the femto base station is activated, determining whether a terminal providing a service exists; and

if a terminal providing a service no longer exists, controlling the transmission mode of the femto base station to be deactivated.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if a call connection with a terminal providing a service is released in a state in which the transmission mode of the femto base station is activated, determining whether a terminal providing a service exists; and

if a terminal providing a service no longer exists, controlling the transmission mode of the femto base station to be deactivated.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the controlling of the transmission mode of the femto base station to be deactivated comprises decreasing a transmit power of the femto base station gradually and converting the transmit power of the femto base station into an OFF state.

8. An apparatus for controlling a transmission mode in a femto base station of a wireless communication system, the apparatus comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving a signal;

a signal strength measurement unit for measuring a signal strength of a signal received through the receiving unit; and

a transmission mode controller for, when the transmission mode of the femto base station is deactivated, determining whether to activate the transmission mode of the femto base station according to the signal strength of the signal received from the terminal, and for controlling to activate the transmission mode or to maintain deactivation state of the transmission mode of the femto base station according to the determination result.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, when the transmission mode of the femto base station is deactivated, in case that the signal strength is greater than a reference value, the transmission mode controller controls the transmission mode of the femto base station to be activated and, when the transmission mode of the femto base station is deactivated, in case that the signal strength is less than or is equal to the reference value, the transmission mode controller controls to maintain the deactivation state of the transmission mode of the femto base station.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein, when controlling the transmission mode of the femto base station to be activated, the transmission mode controller increases a transmit power of the femto base station gradually and converts the transmit power into an ON state.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a transmitting unit activated or deactivated according to the control of the transmission mode controller.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein, in a state in which the transmission mode of the femto base station is activated, when a terminal providing a service no longer exists, the transmission mode controller controls the transmission mode of the femto base station to be deactivated.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when controlling the transmission mode of the femto base station to be deactivated, the transmission mode controller decreases a transmit power gradually and converts the transmit power of the femto base station into an OFF state.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when a handover completion signal for a terminal having provided a service is received, the transmission mode controller determines whether a terminal providing a service exists.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein, when a call connection with a terminal having provided a service is released, the transmission mode controller determines whether a terminal providing a service exists.

16. A method for controlling a transmission mode in a femto base station of a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

When the transmission mode of the femto base station is deactivated, measuring a signal strength of a signal received from a terminal;

determining whether the terminal is in active communication with the femto base station according to the signal strength; and

controlling a transmission mode of the femto base station according to whether at least one terminal is in active communication with the femto base station.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the femto base station transitions to an active transmission mode if at least one terminal is in active communication with the femto base station.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

performing a handover procedure of the terminal to the femto base station from a macro base station with which the femto base station has overlapping coverage.